"The Narrow Road": Blogs By Shane Kastler

How God Draws Sinners

2009-12-14T19:31:09-06:00

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:44)

The Bible teaches that all people should turn from their sin and place their faith in Christ as Lord. And while the offer stands, the question remains: “who will come to Christ.” Jesus taught a very sobering reality that the answer to that question is “no one.” Indeed because of the devastating effects of the sin curse no one will naturally turn to Christ. They need supernatural help. The Apostle Paul taught that: “The natural man does not accept things taught by the Spirit of God; they are foolishness to him and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

For any person to be saved, their spiritually dead condition must be altered. They must be brought to life. Or as Jesus taught, they must be “born again.” (John 3:3) This supernatural act is brought about by God. If you have any desire to turn from sin and embrace Christ; it is because God first drew you to Himself. He convicted you. He gave you a new nature; and he gave you a spiritual re-birth. The cold hard truth is that you would have never come to Christ without God first working in your heart through the power of the gospel.

Have you given your life to Christ and submitted to him as Lord? Seek the Lord while he may be found. Pray for his grace to come to your heart. Perhaps as you read this, God is at work drawing you. Maybe he’s convicting you of the sin in your life. Rejoice that he would show a sinner like you such mercy! Repent! And turn to Him. No one comes to Him unless the Father draws them. Is the Father drawing you?

Worshiping The Creator vs. Worshiping Creatures

2009-12-07T21:50:47-06:00

When it’s all said and done…everyone is a worshiper of someone, or something. In fact when you really boil it down to its simplest point, you worship one of two things. Either you worship the Creator, or you worship the creature. The Bible speaks of sinners in this way, saying: “For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” (Romans 1:25 NASB)

    When we think of idolatry, we usually think of people bowing down to a statue of some sort. That certainly is idolatry, but many other things can be idols as well. Your “god” is whatever you devote your life to. Whatever is most important to you. Whatever you ascribe the greatest “worth” to. Because that which you ascribe the greatest worth to is the very thing in life that you worship. You might argue that you don’t ascribe worth to anything. Yet in truth, you probably ascribe the greatest worth to yourself and your own desires. If so, then ironically, YOU are your own idol.

    Maybe your idol is a person or a group of people such as your family. You should love your family, but you should love God more. Maybe your idol is money. Maybe it’s a sports team. Maybe it’s a house. Maybe it’s a job. Maybe it’s a car. It doesn’t matter what it is. If your “god”…is not GOD…then you are an idolater. And you will one day perish in Hell because of your idolatry.

It doesn’t matter what “creature” you worship. No creature compares to the Creator. God the Father sent his Son Jesus Christ to live a perfect life on this earth, then die a sacrificial death to pay for sinners who would turn to him in repentance and faith. Those who do this worship the Creator. Jesus is their Lord and Heaven is their future. Those who elevate anything else above God are idolaters. And will perish unless they repent and give God the worship He deserves.

    Who, or what do you worship? Who or what is your idol? Who or what is your god? Forsake them all and turn to Christ. Don’t worship and serve a creature. Worship and serve the Creator, “who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Undeserved Grace

2009-11-17T18:02:00-06:00

The Bible teaches that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) And because of this we all rightfully deserve the eternal judgment of God. The Lord calls us to perfection…and every single one of us has fallen short. At this point most people simply relax because they know that God is a God of grace….but what if He wasn’t? Have you ever considered that? Have you ever stopped to think that grace, by definition is something you receive that is undeserved?

The gospel is called the “gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). God could have simply chosen to send all people to eternal Hell because of our sin. But instead, He chose to send His very own son, Jesus Christ to pay the price for sinners like you and me. Jesus came and lived a perfect life, which none of us could ever do. Then Jesus died a sacrificial death to pay the price for those who would turn to Him in repentance and faith. It’s pretty amazing when you really stop to think about what we deserve and then think about what we’ve been given because of the grace of God.

So what about you? Is Jesus Christ the Lord of your life? Have you turned from that sin you were born into and placed your faith in Him as Lord? A relationship with Christ is the only way to salvation, because the cross of Christ is the only payment for sins. Apart from Christ we perish. In Christ we are saved. As the song says, the gospel of the grace of God is truly a gospel of “amazing grace.” But what’s even more amazing is that God chose to show us grace….even though He didn’t have to.

Is The Gospel Foolish?

2009-10-27T09:53:38-05:00

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18 NASB)
Many people in this world find the gospel foolish. Maybe if you’re honest, there was a time in your life when you found it foolish also. Maybe you even find it foolish now. Think about it. A man named Jesus lived 2000 years ago, and somehow because he was crucified as a criminal people have the chance to spend eternity in Heaven. On the surface, does that sound odd? Does it not make sense to you? Does it sound foolish? Now let’s explain it a little deeper.
We are sinners. God is perfectly holy and just. For a sinner to gain entrance into Heaven he must be perfect and his sins must be paid for. God’s standard is perfection and His justice requires a payment for wrongs committed. The problem for us is that the Bible teaches “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23) thus disqualifying us from Heaven. Because of sin we deserve nothing but God’s judgment in eternal Hell. Now the cross enters the picture.
Jesus, who was (and is) God became a man and “dwelt among us” (John 1:14). He was the only man to ever live a perfect, sinless life. Then he died a sacrificial death upon the cross. For those who repent of their sin and place their faith in Christ as Lord forgiveness is attained. Because God grants those “in Christ” credit for his perfect life. Then His justice is fulfilled because He punished Jesus upon the cross as a “substitute” for those who rightfully deserved God’s wrath.
To those who are perishing, this whole thing sounds ridiculous. But to those saved by the grace of God, this whole things sounds like a glorious and merciful manifestation of God’s power. So how does the gospel sound to you? If it still sounds foolish then keep reading God’s Word. Keep praying for God to make His plan clear. And start regularly listening to someone who accurately preaches the truth of the Bible. Eventually, by God’s grace, you too may see the power of God and the Divine wisdom of the cross.

Thy Will Be Done

2009-10-21T10:47:14-05:00

“And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, letthis cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39 NASB)
It would probably not surprise you to hear that God wants us to pray to Him. However, it might surprise you, to know why He wants us to pray to Him. Believe it or not, God doesn’t desire your prayers because He’s confused about what needs done in your life. No doubt you have many needs, as all people do. And by all means you should bring those needs to God in prayer. But in all of your prayers, never forget the petition that Christ made while praying in the garden: “Thy will be done.”
As Jesus prayed in the garden, he was facing something far worse than you and I could ever imagine. The next day he would be crucified. And while the physical pain he was to endure would be unimaginable…the spiritual pain would be even worse. For during that time, while Jesus hung upon the cross, he would be separated from His Heavenly Father. Because during that time, rather than having perfect communion with one another, the Father would pour His righteous wrath out upon the Son, in order to pay the price for sinners like you and I. That’s what the cross was all about. And when you consider what Jesus would face, you can see why he prayed that the cup might pass from him. But his ultimate prayer was this: “Thy will be done.”
Your prayers should be the same way. Ask, but submit. Seek His will, but be willing to accept it when His will is not the same as yours. True prayer doesn’t involve us telling God how to run the world. It involves God telling us how to live our lives.
Jesus fulfilled the Father’s perfect plan for our redemption. But you and I must turn from our sin in repentant faith and give our life to Christ if we are to take part in that redemption. Otherwise, you perish in eternal Hell because of your sins.
We can be saved because Jesus the Son was obedient to God the Father. He prayed “Thy will be done” and then He did it. Make the commitment to follow Christ as Lord today. And make the commitment to pray like Jesus did. God doesn’t need your counsel…but you and I desperately need His.

What Awaits Beyond The Grave

2009-10-06T09:35:13-05:00

(Note: This article is scheduled to appear in the October 7 edition of the Linn County News.)
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 NASB)
Death is the great unknown. And for the majority of people in this world, it is their greatest fear. When you stop and think about it, much of your life is spent avoiding death. The way we live; the things we do; the food we eat; and the dangers we avoid all have to do with prolonging our life and dodging death. There’s nothing wrong with trying to live a long and healthy life. But if you are a Christian, then there is also no reason to fear death.
Deep down inside, everyone knows that their life on earth will not last forever. Death looms over the horizon for each and every one of us. For some it may be many decades away….for others it might be a few days away. Does the thought of dying appeal to you? Probably not. But what about the thought of what awaits on the other side of the grave?
For those who have turned from their sin in repentance and placed their faith in Christ as Lord; eternal joy awaits. Jesus spoke of Heaven as a place where no pain, death, sickness, or sorrow can enter. Heaven is a place where no sin exists. In fact we won’t even have the capability, nor the desire to sin in Heaven. For those who long to please God, that sounds glorious. And it will be.
But those who reject Christ in this temporal world won’t experience Heaven after they die. They will spend eternity in Hell. As glorious as Heaven is…Hell is just as miserable. The sin of rejecting an infinitely glorious God is an infinitely heinous crime. And will thus require an eternal punishment. Maybe you think eternal Hell is too harsh. If so, it’s because you don’t think much about God’s holiness, and you don’t think your sin is that big a deal. But it’s a big deal to God. So big in fact that He sent His very own son, Jesus Christ to pay the price for those who would turn to Him.
So what will it be with you? Heaven or Hell? Jesus or the World? Eternal joy or eternal torment? Life or death? Turn to Christ in repentance and faith today. Tomorrow might be too late.

Prayer Obedience: A Lesson From the Life of David

2009-09-15T09:35:14-05:00

By Shane Kastler
(Note: This article is scheduled to appear in the September 16 edition of the Linn County News.)
In the Old Testament, Israel’s King David was described as a “man after God’s own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14) David was not perfect. A study of his life shows that there were times when he fell into horrendous sin. Yet over the entire course of his life, you can also see an undying devotion to his Lord.
One of the traits that made David so holy was his prayer life. Before he became King, he was a valiant warrior. And before he entered into any battle, he would seek the Lord’s will as to whether or not it was a fight he should undertake. In 1 Chronicles 14, we read: “Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. David inquired of God, saying, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You give them into my hand?’ Then the LORD said to him, ‘Go up, for I will give them into your hand.” (1 Chronicles 14:9-10 NASB)
Not only did David seek the Lord’s will, but he also acted promptly once he knew it. Like David, you and I must be committed to seeking the Lord’s will in all things. And once we know what the Lord would have us do…we must do it. But once we know God’s will and do God’s will, we must remember that our relationship with God through prayer is not over. And when God blesses us, we must remember that it is He, not us who deserves the glory.
After David defeated the Philistines, the Bible tells us: “So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there; and David said, ‘God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.’ Therefore they named that place Baal -perazim. They abandoned their gods there; so David gave the order and they were burned with fire.” (1 Chronicles 14:11-12 NASB)
Not only did David give God the glory for the victory. He saw to it that the idols of the Philistines were destroyed. David wasn’t interested in the one, true God sharing attention with false idols. Through his prayer life and obedience, David brought glory to God. Can the same be said for you?

What Does It Mean To 'Repent Believe?'

2009-09-02T09:03:38-05:00

(Note: This article is scheduled to appear in the September 2 edition of the Linn County News.)
It’s been said that the gospel is like a two-sided coin where one side is repentance and the other side is faith. Indeed, when a person is spiritually saved, repentance and faith are both present. The Apostle Paul wrote that everywhere he went he was “solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:21 NASB) Likewise, from the very beginning of his public ministry, Jesus proclaimed: “Repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
But what does it mean to “repent and believe?” Repent means to make a conscious effort to turn away from sin. Since the Bible teaches that all people are sinners, it should be no surprise to hear that all people need to repent. God’s standard is perfection, and we all fall short of that. (see Romans 3:23) When we repent, the Spirit of God convicts us of our sin and we are so grieved by it that we confess it to God and ask His forgiveness. But repentance is not simply a one-time confession. It’s a change of direction on the road of life. Repentance means that you’re making a commitment to no longer follow sin or the world’s ways. But that you’re going to follow something else….or more specifically someone else. That’s where “faith” comes in.
“Faith in Christ” means that you not only believe in His existence, or believe in His deity; but that you also commit yourself to following Him for the rest of your time on earth. Jesus never called anyone in Scripture to make a “one-time decision” for Him. He called people to make an “all or nothing” lifetime commitment to Him as Lord over their life. Are you willing to do that? Most aren’t. But this is the road to eternal salvation, and it’s a road of repentance and faith.
Christ died to save sinners like you and me. Commit your life to Him today, and be saved. If you find that you’re heart is cold towards God, then pray that He would change your heart. Heed the counsel of the Lord Jesus Christ: “Repent and believe the gospel.”

What God Are You Praying To?

2009-08-02T18:25:45-05:00

(Note: This article is scheduled to appear in the August 5 edition of the Linn County News.)
“The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.” (Psalms 24:1 NASB)
There are a lot of misunderstandings in our world today about prayer. Some people believe that prayer is meant to be a time in which we can set God straight on how things need to be. They figure that they know what their life needs so they’ll simply tell God to do it and he’ll dutifully jump through whatever hoop they order him to.
Others believe that God might be able to grant their request, but he might not. After all there are a lot of forces at work in the world and if God’s having a good day and ate his Wheaties that morning, he might be able to handle my problem. Both of these views regarding prayer are absolutely false and even dishonoring to the Lord. Here’s the truth about God and prayer…
God is in absolute control of our world and nothing is beyond his power. Furthermore, he doesn’t need our counsel since he is God and knows far better than we do how things should be. So what is the point of prayer? It’s a process where we bring our requests to God, in conjunction with reading his word, fellowshipping with his people, and worshipping in his house. By doing these things, God begins a process of conforming our will to his and sometimes even changes how and what we pray for. God is powerful enough to immediately grant any request we ask of him. He might do that. He usually doesn’t. The end result of prayer should be that we grow closer to God in the process and we love him more deeply regardless of whether or not he gives us everything we want.
The only way we should even dare approach God is through his son Jesus Christ. Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6 NASB) Apart from God the Son you cannot know God the Father. If you haven’t turned to Christ as Lord, then your first prayer should be one of repentance and faith. You should turn from your sin and commit your life to Jesus as Lord. Then, and only then, can you truly have a relationship with God, and begin the lifelong process of prayer and submission to His perfect will.

The Role of Good Works In a Christians Life

2009-07-15T14:57:12-05:00

(Note: This article is scheduled to appear in the July 15 edition of the Linn County News.)

“For the love of Christ controls us." (2 Corinthians 5:14)
It's probably not a surprise to anyone that God expects us to live holy lives. He calls all sinners to turn from their sin in repentance and follow Jesus Christ as Lord. The result of this initial commitment to Christ is a lifetime of "good works" which give evidence of our Christianity. "Good works" cannot earn our way to Heaven, but "good works" can show that a genuine change has come to our hearts.
One of the ways a Christian can gain assurance of salvation is by examining their life to see if there are "good works." But "good works" alone doesn't prove someone is a Christian. You must go deeper and examine the motivation that drives the good works. A non-Christian is capable of doing good works. Furthermore, a lot of people in this world do many good works in an attempt to gain God's favor, all the while they are still perishing in their sins because they haven't turned to Christ as Lord.
Our motivation for good works must not be merely a sense of duty. Nor should it be a begrudging attitude of trying to placate God. Our motivation should be out of a deep love for our Lord who died for us and a desire to consequently live for Him. Our motivation should be a love for other people and a desire to see them love and know Christ as Lord. Duty must not be a paramount motivation. Love must be.
The Apostle Paul wrote of this when he said: "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:1-2 NASB)
If a person is truly a Christian, then good works will exist...but so will love. Examine your life and see if the good works are there, but make sure the motivation behind them is just as honoring to God as the works themselves.