The Wooden Statue of Jesus in Peru

The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals.

A museum in Peru has an exhibit displaying some of the artifacts from an inquisition that took place in the history of that country. One is a large wooden statue of Jesus. When people were on trial, a judge would sit beside the statue, with ropes running from the head down the back of the wooden Jesus and under the judge’s table.

The accused would come forward and make his case to the wooden Jesus. He was led to believe that Jesus was hearing the details of each case. However, the wooden Jesus was just a dummy, and the judge was the one who was pulling the strings. If he thought a person was correct, he pulled the ropes that moved the wooden head up and down, showing Jesus approved and declared him innocent.

If the judge didn’t like what he heard, he would pull the ropes that moved the wooden head from right to left, back and forth, signaling Jesus’ disapproval. The accused was declared guilty and sentenced to death.

 I can’t help but wonder if those standing before the statue truly believed it actually was Jesus nodding and shaking his head, or if someone might be pulling strings under the table. Maybe they were afraid to ask.

One day every person will stand before the real Jesus to give account for their lives, and He is no dummy. No one will be able to pull strings to control Him. Those who received Him as Lord and Savior will be excited to see Him, and He will give approval and declare them innocent.

Those who refuse to believe Him will be terrified to see Him shake His head in disapproval (Matt. 25:31-46). But the good news is there’s still time to be in that first group. When the saints go marching in, you can be in that number, if you will ask Him right now to save you.

CREATION VS EVOLUTION: Iron Hammer found inside Cretaceous Limestone

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Can God Forgive a Mass Murderer?

The following comes from my book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals.

Adolf Hitler was one of the evilest men who ever lived. He murdered 6 million Jews, plus millions of other people during World War II. But suppose Hitler saw the light, was truly repentant of his sins, and asked Jesus to save him. Would God forgive him? And what about the Japanese pilot who led the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941?

Mitsuo Fuchida admired Hitler, and even sported the same little mustache. He was the pilot who led the attack on Pearl Harbor, which started WWII. More than 2,400 Americans were killed, and Fuchida became a hero in Japan.

 

Later, Jacob DeShazer, an American prisoner of war during WWII, was being tortured for 40 months in a Japanese prison camp. During that time, DeShazer underwent a spiritual awakening and became a Christian. He forgave his enemies and began treating the prison guards with love. After the war, he became a Christian missionary to Japan.

 

When Fuchida heard about the radical change in DeShazer’s behavior, he was confounded. He couldn’t understand why he didn’t want to kill his enemies. After learning about Jesus, the Japanese pilot who led the attack on Pearl Harbor repented of his terrible act of evil and converted to Christianity. He learned to love the United States, renounced his warrior past and traveled throughout the U.S., Japan and Europe preaching the Word of God, salvation and forgiveness.

 

In 1950, Fuchida and DeShazer became friends after meeting each other. The two former enemies embraced each other as brothers and spent the rest of their lives preaching God’s Word together and the need to forgive others. (The entire story about Fuchida and DeShazer is in T. Martin Bennett’s book, The Wounded Tiger, Dynamis Books, 2023).

 

God forgave Fuchida because he repented and put his faith in Jesus to save him. And if you will repent and believe in Him (Mark 1:15), He will forgive you for whatever evil you have done.

READ SERMON: JONAH 4—The Pity Party

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Inviting a Bear Into Your Tent

The following comes from my book, Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals.

Several years ago, a man went camping in Glacier National Park in Montana. Campers should never take food into their tent because the smell attracts bears. This man caught some fish one evening and wanted to cook them for breakfast, so he brought them into his tent for the night. Sure enough, a bear smelled the fish, which invited it into the tent. You can figure out the unfortunate ending.

You don’t want to invite bears into your tent, and you don’t want to invite the devil into your life. Paul said, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger. Do not give the devil an opportunity” (Eph. 4:26-27). John Piper says, “Harbored anger is the only thing the Bible explicitly says opens a door and invites the devil in.” When you hold on to anger without resolving it, you’re opening a door and inviting Satan to attack you.

We get angry when others are doing what we don’t want them to do, or they’re not doing what we want them to do. Someone once told me, “A friend of mine keeps asking God to take away his anger, but he doesn’t want to deal with the issues that are making him angry. He can’t figure out why he’s always angry.” Much of our anger is based on our unrealistic expectations of others.

Is there an issue that’s making you angry, but you don’t want to deal with it? If so, you’re giving the devil an opportunity to attack you. “Do not let the sun go down on your anger” means don’t bring fish into your tent at night. You’ll sleep a lot better knowing that bears aren’t sniffing at your door.

READ SERMON: JONAH 3—The God of Another Chance

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Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net 

The Bird on the Window Sill

The following comes from my new book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals. NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.

A woman was awakened one night by a pecking sound. She got up, went to the window, and saw a moth flying back and forth inside the window pane as if it was trying to avoid something. A sparrow was outside on the window sill, pecking at the moth and trying to get in. The moth couldn’t see the glass, but it could see the bird attacking it. The bird couldn’t see the glass either, and was frustrated because it couldn’t get to the moth.

The moth was safe because a barrier protected it from its enemy. God’s hand of protection is like that window of glass. Although the barrier seemed invisible to the moth and bird, it protected the moth from harm. You can’t see God’s invisible hand of protection either, but His hand keeps Satan from touching His people. “The Lord is faithful. He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thess. 3:3). “The Son of God keeps [God’s children] safe, and the evil one cannot touch them” (1 John 5:18 NCV).

When God sent the plagues on the Egyptians, the Lord protected Israel from the judgments. “But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel” (Ex. 9:4). He knows how to protect His people, even during times of calamity. “You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap” (Prov. 3:25-26 NLT).

We can trust God to protect us because our safety is found in Him. “The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to Him and are safe” (Prov. 18:10 NLT). Whenever you feel in danger, remember to run into God’s strong fortress. “I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God in whom I trust!’” (Psalm 91:2).

READ SERMON: JONAH 2—When You Hit Bottom

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Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
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The Bus Driver and the Bus Stop

The following comes from my new book, MORE Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals.

A little boy was standing on a sidewalk in the middle of a block, obviously waiting for something. An older man asked him what he was waiting for. “I’m waiting for the bus.” The man said, “The bus won’t stop here. The bus stop is on the next block.” “I know,” the boy replied, “but the bus will pick me up here.” 

The man said, “Listen sonny, if you want to catch the bus, you had better start walking right now to the bus stop. It’s not going to stop here.” “No sir, I’m going to wait right here.” “Okay, suit yourself, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

As the man walked away, he heard the screeching of brakes. He turned around and couldn’t believe his eyes. The bus actually stopped in the middle of the block for the boy. The bus door opened, and as the boy climbed on board, he turned and yelled, “Hey Mister. My dad is the bus driver!”

It helps to know your Daddy is the bus driver of the universe. God the Father will do things for His children that He won’t do for others. The favor of God means His blessing is on your life. It’s like God saying, “I’m doing you a favor.” King David had God’s favor on his life. He said, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6). Not “every now and then,” but every day of his life. God’s favor brought David through every trial.

God’s favor was also with Joseph. “Joseph found favor in His sight” and “the Lord caused all that he did to prosper” (Gen. 39:3-4, 23). Many people treated him horribly, but it couldn’t stop God’s favor. The Lord turned their evil around for his good (Gen. 50:20). You also can find favor with Him. “The Lord favors those who fear Him” (Ps. 147:11). It’s nice to know our Dad is driving the bus and will take us to the right destination.

READ SERMON: JONAH 1—Unwelcome Assignments

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Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
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Cheating on Chemistry Tests

The following comes from my book, Amazing Stories & Daily Devotionals.

When I was in college, many of the students in my chemistry class cheated on their tests by getting the answers ahead of time; others by copying answers off those seated next to them. The tests were always difficult. If a question was answered incorrectly, it counted as negative points, which kept people from guessing at the correct answer.

I refused to cheat, even though I was failing the class. I realized my honesty was also being tested by God, and I didn’t want my integrity to fail in His eyes. By God’s grace alone, I did well on my final exam and passed the class.

Years later, I preached at a church where I told about how I was failing chemistry, but I refused to cheat on my chemistry tests because I wanted to please God. Three years later, I received an email from a girl I didn’t know. She said, “When I was a freshman, I heard you say that you didn’t cheat because you wanted to please God more than get a good grade. I want you to know that after hearing your sermon, I quit cheating on tests the rest of high school.”

Integrity means that you live right, not because a private eye is following you around and reporting on what you’re doing. You live right because you want to please God. “Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10).

Integrity stands up for truth and makes right choices. You’re honest in business dealings. You’re the same in private as you are in public. If you will live with integrity, you won’t fail the test when you stand before God. No one will get away with cheating at His Final Exam.

LISTEN TO THIS MUSIC VIDEO with lyrics: By Faith We See the Hand of God

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Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net