QUESTION: Hi Bruce.  What is your view on Christians who have completely come to the end of their rope and are considering suicide? I am talking about those that have given their lives to the Lord and have a personal relationship and are going through a very dark time in their lives and have completely lost all hope.  Do people who commit suicide go to heaven?

ANSWER: Well, my answer may shock a whole lot of people and it may be completely wrong--I don't know.  So don't believe me--check the Word and seek God for yourself.  That having been said, before I give your question a try let me lay a little groundwork.   

One of the things that so makes me tremble inside is lack of compassion in the Christian body.  This is not to say I believe it is rampant in the body--in my experience Christians are the most loving, caring, giving, and gracious people there are out there.  But as we all know none of us is perfect and within that a lack of compassion sometimes sadly jumps out of us--and being the stumbling, bumbling child of God that I am, I have no doubt I'm often as guilty of that as anyone out there.  Amen and amen. 

But just like anyone reading this page I've heard many stories of people going through terrible tragedies like divorce or a rebellious kid or whatever... and they are met with self-righteous "one-liners" or even judgments coming from their brothers and sisters, and from my angle that's just plain heartbreaking.   

By way of example, a long time ago I had a friend who would jump all over me whenever I was "off" in the least, or told him I was feeling down or whatever.  "Well you just need to stand on the Word!"  "You need to stop confessing that you're feeling down!"  "Have you tried fasting and praying?"  "You're looking at circumstances and not the Word of God!"  On and on and... I'm sure most people know what I'm talking about.  And my reaction?  "Well, that's wonderful Mr. Super-Christian.  I wish I was half the mighty man of God that you are (sarcasm entirely intended)."   

And there are two interesting things about that.  Number one, technically he's probably right.  I mean if we had any idea what we are fully afforded in the goodness and grace of God we'd all be dancing merrily through the streets no matter our circumstances or how we woke up feeling on any given day.  At the same time I would discover that his "hard" words and condemning ways were pretty much due to his own struggles with the same things--for anyone to "be down" in front of him was for him to feel threatened by his own "downness," and jumping on that in other people was just him fighting it within himself.  And there's that ugly word: Self.  I tell you, that one will get a guy in trouble 100% of the time as it so contradicts the character of God.  And again, amen! 

Another story with a different twist...  Recently I had a pastor friend contact me and go on and on about how he was going to confess something so embarrassing--something that absolutely no one knew about him because he was so ashamed and felt so defeated because of it.  (Making a joke here) he was so over-the-top about it I thought he was going to tell me he was hanging out at the adult bookstore or something, but believe it or not it was simply that he went through times of depression.  Somehow he was under the impression that wasn't allowed for a Christian.   

Now I don't know what is worse, depression or feeling condemnation about it--in fact I do know--undoubtedly the condemnation.  And it is all so terribly heartbreaking (the condemnation) because if there is one characteristic that is most central to the heart and Person of Jesus Christ it is compassion.  Glory to the living God. 

Now as if I haven't drilled the point enough, one of the things that so jumped at me while filming Matthew is how Jesus never had harsh words for anyone no matter their circumstance, or crime, or brokenness, or failure, or struggle... (and here's the "rub," as we say) except for the religious--the guys who claimed to have their spiritual ducks all in a row--the guys who claimed to know better.  To them Jesus said, "Woe to you!"  I tell you, if that isn't a caution flag to us in the body, I don't know what is.  Yikes!  

So for my money there is only one place for a true believer to be--on your face humbled before the living God, on your face crying out in thankfulness for your own brokenness being covered by His grace, on your face in humility before brothers and sisters ("One command I give you, 'love one another.'") and humbly reaching out to the unsaved in love, displaying the grace of almighty God to the world around us.  Hey, does that sound like a kingdom plan, or what!  Glory to Jesus! 

And there's another thing about situations of depression and despair.  It's time to be really honest now...  Who among us has truly never been there?  I hope there are those who say, "Me, me, me!" but for some reason, I think that "Me, me, me" is a remarkable few and far between if even one.  And again, amen. 

Yes, as long as you and I are in this "tent of flesh" we are subject to brokenness and things going wrong, fears and confusion flooding in, bad choices leading to bad circumstances and bad feelings, feeling like all of life is caving in all around us, loneliness, unfulfilled longing...  It just comes with living in a creation that is broken and infested with sin.   

I mean even Paul had times of despair--I don't remember where it is in Acts where he's so down about His life and how it's all going (I think it was when he first went to Ephesus--man, what a Bible scholar am I...) Jesus Himself pays him a personal visit and says, "Keep going..."  Man, how deep did Paul go that Jesus felt He needed to go to that extent to lift him up.  Yes, we're all human--even the so-called "giants." 

So all that to say, I don't go for that "theology" that because you're a Christian you should never be down and always full of joy and smiling and all, and that if things go wrong it's because you have no faith or are saying the wrong words and all that stuff.  Sure, we can drill ourselves deeper and deeper into the ground when we get our eyes off Jesus, but really, to think we should never be down or even "deep down" is really just plain pie-in-the-sky falsity.   

In fact, it's one of the things that breaks my heart--to see guys on platforms with these pretend, fakey "I'm so wonderful and my life is perfect" smiles plastered across their faces.  Perfect hair (often of a color not commonly found in nature), perfect teeth, perfect suits, perfect families...  Always "up, up, up!"  This "whatever you do, don't let them see the cracks" kind of window dressing. 

Come on guys, people are going through real life things out here and if there's anything we need from leadership it's "real," not "keep things pretty at all cost."  We need real life encouragement, strengthening, more of Jesus and more of Jesus, solid kingdom principles for conducting real life and facing life's real challenges and its challenging dynamics; down to earth, genuine realness, hands-on guidelines for walking in the glory and power and leadership of the living God.  In other words, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!"  Glory to Jesus!   

And speaking of Jesus... He said some remarkable words during the Last Supper as recorded by John (I think at the end of Chapter 16).  He said, "In this world you will have trouble."  You see, he didn't pull any punches or fill people with false hope or pretend that if you came to Him you'd never face another day of problems.  He told it like it is--"the world is a mess and sometimes that means life will be a mess."  But then he goes on--"But take heart (in other words, "take your strength in this") for I have overcome the world."  In other words, "No matter what it is, take My hand, keep your eyes on Me, and step by step I'll pull you through."  Glory to Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! 

We have a hope, guys, that is so much bigger than any hopelessness.  At the same time, times of hopelessness come--hey, the world is a real place and it presents us with a lot of real difficulties, and in those times of weakness or fatigue (which no one should ever feel bad about) the enemy loves to come and play games in your head and try to convince you/me of things that aren't true--such as "life isn't worth living," and "God doesn't really care."  All sorts of nonsense floods in and sometimes it can get terribly "dark" in that place, and well, it's anything but nice, that is for sure.   

But it doesn't mean you're a failure as a person or as a child of God.  It just means that you're a human like all us other humans living real life in a broken universe.  And it doesn't mean God is displeased or scowling at you or even as some people think, crossing your name from the Lamb's Book of Life.  Are you joking with that?  That would mean none of us is in there and Jesus died for nothing!  Yikes, yikes, double yikes! 

So I'm a bit of a realist--there are very real struggles that a few quick words and even all the success in the world as a believer can't sweep out of a guy's head in an instant.  I have no doubt that all of our struggles no matter what kind are met by Jesus with 100% compassion, grace, mercy, hope...   

"There is therefore no condemnation in Christ Jesus."  Hey, those are some words to cling to in times of struggle and words to remember when we're confronted by friends who are going through struggle.  "There is NO condemnation in Christ Jesus."  Glory to Jesus! 

I'm going to guess there is no one out there, including the giants of Christianity that have never once been so down that they thought, "Man, I wish God would just take me. I've had enough."  Again, read Paul's letters.   

Does something like that disqualify you as a Christian?  I certainly hope not, otherwise heaven is going to be a pretty empty place.  And if someone actually succumbs and takes their own life, does that disqualify them?  Forgive me, but all theological discussion (that probably amounts to just that--discussion) aside, who am I to say?  Who on earth can possibly make a call like that?  Am I God?  Is this or that expert God?  "Who can know the mind of God?" the Scripture says, and I for one say, "Not me, baby!" 

At the same time, I'm one who thinks God's mercy is a whole lot bigger than any of us thinks it is.  I mean, "it is not the Father's will that even one should be lost," so I have a funny feeling our glorious God is working overtime and then some making sure that when that day of days comes heavenly glory is packed full of precious souls.  Souls of people who lived real lives and made real mistakes, souls of people who got depressed and struggled with fear and confusion, souls of people the enemy did everything he could to destroy but couldn't...  And why, you ask?   

BECAUSE GOD AND HIS GRACE AND HIS LOVE AND HIS MERCY AND HIS GOODNESS AND HIS COMPASSION AND HIS CARE AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HIS HOLINESS AND HIS POWER TO SAVE AND THE STRENGTH OF HIS ARM AND HIS WAYS WHICH ARE NEVER OUR WAYS AND HIS THOUGHTS THAT ARE SO INCREDIBLY FAR ABOVE AND BEYOND OUR THOUGHTS AND HIS PLAN FOR REDEMPTION AND HIS POWER TO REDEEM AND HIS GLORIOUS GLORY AND ON AND ON... IS JUST PLAIN A WHOLE LOT BIGGER THAN ANY OF OUR FOOLISHNESS, OUR FOLLY, THE ENEMY'S SCHEMES AGAINST US, OUR MISTAKES AND DEPRESSIONS, OUR THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE OR ANGER OR WHATEVER--EVEN OUR THOUGHTS OF ANGER TOWARD HIM... HE'S JUST A WHOLE LOT BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER...  

So walk tall in confidence of His goodness and grace and smile upon you; and when you fall like we all do in whatever way you may fall, cry out to Him and cry out to Him and depend on His love and depend on His love...  Don't ever forget, He's a whole lot bigger!  Amen, amen, amen, and amen!  Glory to Jesus!

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QUESTION:  How are we all going to be judged in the end? Sometimes thinking of the way we are going to be judged doesn’t fit with forgiveness. If we’re truly forgiven why are we still going to be judged?

 

ANSWER:  That kind of sounds like one of those intellectual trick questions like, "Can God make a rock so big even He can't move it?"  But I understand where you're coming from...

 

God's "judgment" is simple and clear--where do you stand with Jesus?  Did you embrace Him or reject Him.  Did you receive His offer of forgiveness or spurn it?  Therein is the simple, clear, and unarguable line. 

 

Forgiveness is a gift--it's the most valuable gift in universal reality, though it is seldom perceived that way.  I mean, if we had any idea of what we've truly been forgiven of and saved from, and the goodness that awaits us in that state of forgiveness... I don't think we'd care about anything else in life at all--we'd just be jumping for joy and full of excitement all the time.  Glory to Jesus!

 

The thing about forgiveness as with any gift is though it may be offered it is not always received.  And I can promise you, Jesus is working around the clock, unrelenting in His effort to assure that people receive His offer.  "It's not His will that even one be lost."  Amen!  So whatever judgment that anyone will see (oh, what a horrific thought) is certainly not His doing.  It's that person's doing in rejecting His Person, if you know what I mean.  There can be no unrighteousness remaining if the day is going to come where "every tear is wiped away." 

 

So God's forgiveness is real and true--it's us as individuals who insist on remaining untrue, who stand in rebellion and refuse what is obviously the only way to go.  It's so heartbreaking--there is nothing more heartbreaking.  And the interesting thing is, it's more heartbreaking to God than any one of us.  I mean, he "hand-formed us in our mother's wombs."  Can you imagine releasing your own "baby" to eternal judgment?  I tell you, there will be more tears shed in heaven on that day than all the others put together.  Oh Father, have mercy.

 

God is forgiveness--that's who He is.  At the same time there are some who are not interested in Him, and therefore not interested in forgiveness.  In that tragic and heart-rending decision they send themselves to judgment.  They literally choose hell.  They literally decide they'd rather have hell than Jesus.  

 

So it's not a matter of an unfeeling or unmerciful God--it's a matter of man's pride and arrogance--man choosing against mercy and forgiveness.  Man saying, "I'd rather burn in hell than bow my knee."  And again, "Dear God, have mercy."

ANSWER:  Well, my answer is going to sound cliché but it's just the truth:  We know we're forgiven because He told us we were--in His blood, of course.  That's where that word "faith" comes in.  Faith in what?  Faith in Jesus--that He is who He says He is and things are as He says they are--glory to His Name!  But it all boils down to that line, "we are saved by faith (belief in things unseen) in/through His grace (His free gift of forgiveness/eternal life).  We trust in His forgiveness because He said it though we can't see it with our eyes--like we can our sin.  Yikes! 

Paul wrote in Philippians... "Forgetting what is behind I press on to win the prize which has been won for me in Christ Jesus."  He was talking about pressing past his sin.  Walk in freedom, brother--freedom and forgiveness.  "Press on."  Seek God every step of the way.  He is faithful to forgive and faithful to redeem.  Glory to the Name of Jesus!

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QUESTION: Dear Mr. Marchiano: I want to know what do you think about drugs and how can we protect kids from them. They are exposed in many places and I know that prayer is our number one tool. There are times when many parents asked themselves where did I go wrong? Many could say it only happens in non-believers' families, broken homes... But the reality is not that. I appreciate your answer to this matter before hand.

ANSWER: Oh you precious girl... I'm going to give you a name: "Precious." That way I can address you personally and keep your identity under wraps. Besides, it's a common African name for young girls like you and I just love Africa, so that's kind of cool...

Anyway, Precious, my heart just broke when I read your question because it obviously comes from your own experience and I just want to bless you, precious Precious (that's a good one!). The Lord loves you so, so much, Precious. You don't have the slightest thing to be ashamed of, and whether your parents "went wrong" somewhere or whatever, who knows... The bottom line is that we live in a broken world where "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," and so broken things happen--broken things like kids getting involved in stuff that hurts them.

And here's a really cool thing, Precious, and it should bless your socks off (are you wearing socks?). A kid like you messing up in the ways your email seems to tell me you messed up is no different than me in the different areas where I've messed up or any of your school friends who didn't mess up in the same way but still mess up!

Does that make sense? "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," and in God's eyes there is no one type of sin that's worse than another. You've messed up in your way and I've messed up in mine, and even though they are different ways, it all is the same to God: A mess!

So... all that to say, you hold your head up, girl--you've got absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. I'm going to tell you a secret... There are other kids around you that everyone thinks are these perfect kids and maybe they're the top kids in the youth group and they would never smoke or drink or take drugs or any of that stuff that we tend to view as real bad--but maybe they lie the brains out! Maybe they cheat in school or treat other kids badly. Maybe they fool around with their boy/girlfriends. Maybe they steal money from their parents. I don't know... But the point of all that is even though we look at the drugs and think, "Oh, that's terrible," and we look at these other things and think they're not such a big deal--to God they are just as big of a deal.

Again, it's all the same in God's eyes and we are all guilty in one way or the other, so... Hold your head high, little sister. And tell your parents that they are blessed to have such a precious Precious who realizes her mistakes and humbly lays them before God--God who forgives and forgives, a thousand times forgives and says, "Move on, Precious. You are precious to me--I love you. You are so deep in My heart. So just "move on." It's all behind you so just move on. I love you, I love you, I love you!" Jesus!

So go, girl! jump right back into the swimming pool of life and smile big because God's got a huge plan for you. Just stay your humble self before Him, don't let anything the other kids say mean more to you than what He says in His Word ("I love you and you are precious!"), and just go, go, go! Now go hug your Dad and Mom. Tell them everything is a-ok. Glory to the Name of Jesus!

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QUESTION: Dear Bruce, I'm writing this because I need to tell someone and there's absolutely no way I could tell anybody I know. I can't believe I'm actually doing this but here it goes. I suppose the best way to start this is to say that I'm 16 now and until recently God was the center of my world. I had accepted Jesus as my Savior and He was my Best Friend. A little while ago I was surfing the web when I stumbled onto some porn site. There's no good reason for why I stayed on it but I did and there's no good reason for why I didn't go to Jesus but I didn't. It was the first thing ever I tried to hide from Him. I couldn't get what I had seen out of my head. I don't know why but I went back to that site. I got sucked into this world and while it didn't become the center of my world it did push God out of that place. I still prayed but it was really routine and meaningless. I finally got to the point where I would look at myself in the mirror and just want to throw up so I made a commitment to just quit. I haven't been to a porn site since and now I'm trying to get my life back. I want to go back to God but I don't know how. I'm so ashamed and I'm so scared. What if He doesn't want me back? How can I go back after I turned my back on Him? I miss Him so much and I just want my Daddy back but I just can't seem to go to Him. I don't know what to do anymore. Scared, lost, and confused.

ANSWER: I have responded to this email personally because it was so important and needed immediate attention. But I wanted to share it with everyone because I don't think this (get ready to be surprised) girl is so alone in this. Whether it's the porn or just the sense of condemnation and fear of God rejecting her because of bad choices made, I can promise you, she's far from alone. So I just needed to answer publicly, too, to help folks out there who are secretly harboring these kinds of things: the sin and the sense of failure and condemnation.

It's interesting, but condemnation even because of simple temptation not acted on--I've run into it all over the place, especially in kids and teenagers. It's like as much as they understand grace and that they walk in a sin nature, they don't quite get it. They think because they're saved that means they'll never again do bad thing or have a temptation. Really, I've met kids who have just given up on Jesus because of the temptation they struggle with--something we all struggle with--something the apostle Paul struggled with!! I mean, talk about a guy who should have been free from sin!

In fact, let's talk about Paul for a minute, because if we can understand what he understood--as long as a person walks in human flesh he/she will struggle with human temptation and a sin nature--man, the freedom from condemnation that can flow!

Check out what Paul writes in Romans 7--and as I begin to quote him I think, man, here this girl feels she can't tell anyone (which is as heartbreaking as can be, and I hope it is just how she feels and not a reflection of her pastor or father/mother) and Paul blasts his dirty laundry in a letter that will be canonized in the Bible for the whole world to see! He writes, "I have the desire to do what is good but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep doing."

I tell you, wow, wow, double wow! Next to Jesus this guy is probably the premier captain of all Christianity, and he's blowing it in sin like that!! He goes on in verse 24--check this out--"What a wretched man I am!" Are you kidding? Paul, a wretch??

But then he goes on--and you can just feel the rest in his soul in the knowledge of God's grace like no one else--in the knowledge that no matter what happens He is a child of God and God smiles on him through and through. He says, "Who will rescue me from this... Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Glory to Jesus! Let's face it--we're sinners. We harbor a sin nature--the best of us does. In spite of that, God not only accepts us but adopts us as His children (Ephesians 1:5)! He loves you! No matter what, He's the living God and He loves you! And freedom is found in running to Him with all the dirt and all the mistakes and all the ugly places and things that cause shame. "Freedom," He cries! "Be free, be free!"

And Paul literally celebrates this grace that so covers his darkest corners in the first verse of Chapter 8--maybe one of the most important verses in the whole Bible--astounding, remarkable, mind-blowing, life-altering, sin-removing, hope-birthing, confidence-enhancing, peace-establishing, joy-exploding... words. Words for this precious girl and everyone who reads these words whether it be something as haunting and ensnaring as what this little girl has tapped into or some other habit or brokenness or past sin or abortion or you-name-it-fill-in-the-blank....

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus... through Christ Jesus the law of the Sprit of Life set me free from the law of sin and death" Oh glory, glory, glory, glory to His Name!

So I tell you, my precious sister--just like I did in the email I sent you--be free! He loves you and is so excited that you care enough to concern yourself with how He feels, and even more delighted that you want Him. Hallelujah! He has a future for you--you haven't ruined it. He has a precious and beautiful personal future for you, too--no, you haven't ruined that, either. And in the strength of His Spirit and all the different ways He girds you up through it, you have all the equipping you need to cast this filth aside forever! He is so much bigger than that stuff--so much bigger than any sin--and His heart says, "Be free!" Glory to the Name of Jesus!

In terms of practical things, you know that you need to "flee from the evil," as the Word says to do and you're doing it. That means doing whatever it takes--throw that stinking computer out the window if you need to--to cut this thing off from you. I would also suggest you tell your mom/dad assuming they'll love you and respond like Jesus and not get all freaked out on you. And I suggest that only because it's tough to go it alone--someone to be accountable to will be like a pillar of strength for you.

And finally, as Paul also writes in Philippians 3, "Forget what is behind" and "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has called you." And I can promise you, most precious little sister--and everyone who identifies with you--it's an incredible prize! You're an adopted daughter of the living God--march forward in the confidence of His grace.

"I'll never leave nor forsake you," He says--no matter anything, no matter what. He loves you, He loves you, He loves you.... JESUS!!

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QUESTION: Dear Bruce, How I can get the feeling of the presence of Jesus again? I became Christ when I was 14 years old. I had had a lot of wounds from my family, but after knowing Jesus I felt happy and I felt his love and presence. Now after the last 10 years a deep loving relationship has diminished and never come back. I wish that I could escape into the "felt " love and arms of Jesus.

ANSWER: First let me point out that this question comes all the way from Denmark. That just blesses my soul, and the reason I mention it is for all the American brothers and sisters. For some reason we tend to think locally instead of globally, and it is remarkable to "hear" another believer all the way on the other side of the world dealing with the same stuff that we deal with over here--so many of us, anyway. We're all family, that's for sure.

It's so difficult to answer you because I don't know you--I don't know your circumstances or the path your life has taken or maybe the things that have happened to cause this sense of "separation" from Jesus. I know that it is not an unusual experience--in fact, I'm walking through a similar time right now--where the only thing that says "Jesus is with you" is His Word! Amen!

And maybe that's the answer--we walk by faith, not by sight. We are called to "take Him at His Word." And I don’t' know about anyone else, but most of the time it seems that the only place His Word looks like His Word is in His Word.

But we have a simple choice in these "dry" times--to either walk blindly trusting that though we can't "feel" His presence He is as close as He always was, or to trust our feelings more. And the Scripture that jumps into my head as I write that is, "The heart is deceptive above all things." I tell you, I don't trust my feelings as far as I can throw them. Amen!

There are also things we do that create that sense of gap. Light and darkness cannot exist together. If we sow to the flesh we reap in the flesh. If we sow to the Spirit of God, we reap a harvest of His Spirit. I don't know--something to think about and reflect on and be honest with.

But outside of that, one of the things that is SO important to understand is that it's not about "feelings." It's about commitment. To use an allegory, I've never been married, but I can promise you, 10 years down the line a person doesn't wake up with the same "glitter" in his/her eyes that was there on the honeymoon. A vibrant and exciting love, over the years, boils down to commitment and day to day walk.

I think it's the same way with Jesus. For me, anyway, as much as I love Him it's not always easy and in those times there is only commitment.

So now that I have told you everything you don't want to hear, let me get to the good stuff. I think of the Scripture, "In His presence is fullness of joy." Well, that's great, but how do I get "in His presence"? There is only one way--you fall on your face (figuratively speaking) and cry out to Him with everything you are in worship. Worship is the ticket to His presence. And worship is a whole lot more than just singing. It's a person laying his/her life down, casting all his/her crowns, just "giving it all up" for Jesus. And I would cry out to Him and cry out to Him and keep crying out to Him with everything I was, searching your souls, confessing everything you can think of, trusting Him to show you what in your life causes the separation (if indeed it isn't just the enemy's deceptions), and then repenting your socks off and clearing every possible "idol" you may have inadvertently adopted, and just going for it and going for it and not taking no for an answer from Him and just going for it. Amen!

I know an African guy who came to understand a place of deep anger in his heart about someone who'd hurt him in the past. He wasn't going to put up with that so he told his wife he was going "into the bush" so God could deal with him and he wasn't coming out until it was resolved. He packed some food and hiked in. He sat under a tree and said, "God, I'm going to sit here until You take this anger out of my heart." He sat there for DAYS, and as he told me the story, "I was praying and praying and I just felt it lift." He knew it was gone, marched out of the bush and resumed his life.

Now I tell you, that story embarrasses me. But it's that kind of all-out, not taking no for an answer, DESPERATION for God that guarantees a life FULL of His presence and glory, His leadership and blessing. Glory, glory, glory to Jesus!

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QUESTION: Bruce, Jesus said, "Unless you become like little children..." How do you know when you get there?

ANSWER: Hey, we'll spend our entire lives moving toward and growing into "getting there." It's a lifelong process, to be sure, and it will go on till the day we cross that line and then get seriously childlike in His heavenly personal presence. Hey, we'll be giggling like 2 year-olds that day, and man, won't that be fun!. Glory to Jesus!

But sophistication and adult "crusty-ness" is a big enemy. There's even Christian crusty-ness--where we become so self-important and intolerant and just looking down our noses at the world and all. But I can tell you, I pray almost daily, "Lord, give me innocence--cut away my sophistication!"

I remember when I was born again and just seeing God everywhere and this world of His love was just one big "wow!" And then stepping out to do Matthew--man, just yesterday I happened to see some scenes and the memories just flooded back and the main memory was all the innocence of the time and just like a kid watching God do incredible things and just enjoying the ride. I tell you, I don't want to lose that for anything. Glory to Jesus!

You'll laugh, but recently I flew to South Africa. And I've done it so many times...here I was just plodding along and praying for an upgrade and being the boring experienced "business" traveler. Man, I remember the first time I looked down on the African continent from the air and my eyes almost popped out of my head. I just couldn't believe I was there.

But I caught myself "being sophisticated," and it bugged me. I never want to lose my fascination with what God is doing or that giggle with watching Him do it, and I can tell you, it's a thing that one has to fight for and shake himself into and press into with prayer.

We "adults" can become so boring. We even start dressing boring and just plopping in front of the TV or sitting around eating and blup, blup, blup... Yuck! I tell you, I am convinced the Lord wants our lives to be adventure, whatever that means within the framework of our respective responsibilities. He wants us to fully invest ourselves in the fullness of what He's given us as if tomorrow "ain't never gonna come," and just enjoy.

And then our simple excitement about Him--what a wonder He is! The other night I was preaching and just talking about the kingdom of God and how exciting that is and I was about to come out of my shoes and it was kind of funny, but I could see a lot of folks looking at me like I was crazy. Man, I don't want to ever get lukewarm and set in my blah, blah ways, and Mr. Bible Expert who knows everything but doesn't know anything, if you know what I mean.

Watch your little kids--what are they doing that we need to return to? For one, they're having a blast. Funny thing about kids, but they just turn everything into great fun. Give them a puddle of mud and they'll make it fun, and I tell you, there's something in that for you and me to learn. And they don't "think" or analyze this and debate this and that. They just trust--dad is who he says he is, mom is going to feed us...

And that's really what Jesus is talking about--that childlike trust, childlike dependency on Him, childlike excitement about Him, unsophisticated "crawling into His lap" with all the dirt on our grubby little hands and not wondering, "Is he going to kick me off because I'm too dirty or..." Just coming to Him and coming to Him and seeking Him like a kid clings to dad and mom and just never wants to let go.

So in prayer, just seek that child-likeness before Him that is so precious--He is a reward-er of that prayer. And then take steps--when you feel yourself getting boring and stodgy, snap out of it. Jump into the swimming pool instead of sitting there reading a magazine. Take a run through the sprinklers--take a walk in the rain--turn off the a/c and roll down the windows and let the wind ruin your hair. Get dirty, get wet, get sweaty, get fun again! Then just sit back and enjoy His goodness--His goodness that is all ours just for the seeking.

Enjoy! Glory to Jesus!

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QUESTION: Hi! I hope you can answer this question for me because it would mean a lot to me if you do. How can a person be 100% sure of their salvation and know that if they died they'd go to Heaven? Is there anyway to be completely sure of that without any doubts, and is it possible to lose your salvation? Thanks, Bruce! God bless you!

ANSWER: Yeah, now you're getting me into some real "controversial" stuff. This is one of those issues that has been doctrinally debated from almost day one--and if I may, that just breaks my heart. It's so simple and God's heart is so pure and powerful, and the issue of salvation is so clear-cut and fundamental... And the fact that people are confused about the very thing they should be excited about and living joyfully because of is evidence of how incredibly heartbreaking it it.

Here Jesus sheds His blood and then we get intellectual and start theologically debating it. We use the word "grace" which means free and unmerited, and then we start putting technicalities and conditions on it. It's so very heartbreaking... Lord, have mercy...

But forgive me for my simple-ness, but what's to debate? The Son of the living God gave His life to pay my sin-debt and offers "the FREE GIFT of eternal life" to anyone who deeply and sincerely asks for it. And it's that simple, and that clear, and amen, and amen. Look at the last page of your bible and you'll read the words, "Come all you who are thirsty, and drink the free gift of the water of life." And again, it's that simple and that clear--thirsty for God? Did you come to Him in your heart? BINGO--it's free and you're in! Glory to Jesus!

Another Scripture reads, "As many as received Him He gave the right to become sons of God." Again, it's so clear--did you receive Him? Did you ask Him and invite Him into your life and heart? Again, BINGO--it's free and you're a child of God. Hallelujah!

Read the book of Romans and Hebrews--it's all about how in the early church there were guys trying to put conditions on salvation, and the heart cry of the writers under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is obvious--"Stop it!"

Now the problem comes in with Scriptures like "repent and be baptized...," and "believe in your heart and confess with your mouth and you will be saved." For some, those present us with "technical acts" that sound like a means to salvation, and I can fully understand how one can come to that conclusion. And before I go on, I'm the first to say I know absolutely nothing, so don't rest on my words. I have no bone to pick with anyone who feels differently than I do--in fact, best to just hedge your bet and cover your bases on all sides, and just go out and get baptized and declare your love for Jesus publicly. That way all the issues are put to rest in your own mind and you can just move on and get about the business of just enjoying your salvation as it was so meant to be enjoyed.

But just to step back and think, "Does that seem consistent with God's heart?" And what I mean is, does it seem like God, to predicate our eternal lives on whether or not a certain human action took place as opposed to basing it completely on HIS SON'S ACTIONS and what's going on in our hearts in relation to them? God judges the hearts of men, not their outward religious activities. I mean, if it isn't so, then the Pharisees of Jesus' time are up in heaven in the front row seats--they were the kings of technically following "the letter of the law."

And then there are the practical issues that salvation based on human action presents that, again, just don't fit with who God is. I mean, what if I make a decision to follow Jesus, I sincerely and seriously ask Him to be my Savior, then plan my baptism for the next Sunday. Oops--car accident and I don't make it to Sunday. Who on earth would actually think God's response to that is, "Sorry kid, you didn't get baptized..." Or maybe it's the middle of the night and I pray and ask Jesus to be my Savior and free me from my sins, and then I don't make it to the morning. "Sorry kid, you didn't declare it publicly."

Seems kind of silly, doesn't it? Well that's because it is. Salvation is FREE and completely the product of Jesus' blood, and God looks at a man or woman's heart in relation to that. There is no formula, no specific prayer to pray, no nothing. There is just your heart and how seriously you mean it when you say, "Jesus, I need You! Come!" He knows who is truly His, and I can promise you, it is His delight. Glory to His Name!

The baptism, the act of telling people about your decision to receive Jesus--these are acts that flow out of a heart that is sincere and truly serious about God. Jesus lays these out as a path to follow if we truly mean it--a path that asks for obedience on our part--and I can also promise you, there is a spiritual dynamic to that obedience. So don't waste any time--go out and get baptized, go declare your love for Jesus--in your own heart, there will come a "release" in your spirit and a "sealing" of your already-gained salvation like you can't imagine. Praise His Name!

But again--these are only my feelings based on my study in the the Word of God. As I write I am well aware that there are hosts who will think I'm crazy or even speaking heresy, so don't take my word for it--or anyone else's for that matter. You GO TO THE WORD YOURSELF and satisfy yourself. No one can argue with that counsel! Amen!

And in terms of losing or not losing salvation, again, this is hotly debated and you're asking me to get into even more trouble. And again, just look through the Word FOR YOURSELF and seek learning from THE WORD. But if you want my feeling--and again, there are many who feel the opposite--your salvation is 100% secure. Again, it just doesn't seem consistent with the character of God, nor the fact that salvation is a "free gift" that God would just take it away for one reason or another. And if God is sitting up there watching us make mistakes after we're born again and saying, "Well, this one only made these mistakes and that's ok, but that one made those other mistakes or a bigger number of mistakes, so he can't come in..." Again, it just seems silly, and if that's the case then there is no "grace." If that's the case, then we're right back to salvation being the product of my righteousness, which means heaven is empty because we're all sinners and we all still sin after we get born again because we're imperfect and broken creatures and the only perfection is Jesus--whew!

I mean, read Paul's letters--he struggled with sin all the time and he never doubted his salvation for one second. In my feeling it doesn't make sense to think God would take a man's salvation away because he sins, because that means salvation isn't really salvation and again, heaven is then empty because in spite of our salvation we all still sin. Amen and amen!

Of course, that's no license to just go out and go crazy with sin--just the opposite. It's the beginning of freedom from being a slave to sin, and slowly but surely as we all grow in Jesus, sin lessens in our lives, God changes our desires and give us hunger for righteousness in place of how we hungered for junk, and we just grow and grow--glory to Jesus!

Of course, where one just continues on in sin and refuses God's leadership in an ongoing and consistent manner, well, one has to wonder if that guy's seeking of Jesus as Savior was really sincere and real in the first place. Sometimes people make emotional decisions that are not decisions of their spirit and they just carry on, but even that is not to be discounted. There's a spiritual explosion when someone even makes that kind of "empty" decision--God has planted a serious seed and gained a serious foothold, and the day will come when it's as real and deep in the spirit as real and deep can be. Hallelujah!

So I believe in a mighty salvation--God is a lot bigger than our mistakes, and fumbling around. The blood of Jesus is a whole lot more powerful than my foolishness, and His heart is not wrapped up in technicalities or formulas. He's God, and He just loves you like you'll never begin to know, and He's freed you from your sins 100%, and He's busy in the emotions and intellect of your life, "working out" your salvation in the sense of bringing everything that is you into full alignment with Him and His righteousness and goodness, so that you'll live every day in the fullness of everything your salvation 'is meant to be.

So rest in your heart--just the fact that you're concerned means you're serious about God and aware of your sinner's need for Him, and I have to guess that you are one who just loves Jesus with all your heart--and therein is your salvation. And check this Scripture out--1 John 5:11-13--

...God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

And the bottom line to that Scripture is the living God Himself saying to you and everyone struggling in the same way...

"Rest, my beloved... I love you--rest."

Glory to the Name of Jesus!

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QUESTION: Dear Bruce, I'm 17 and I was born with Cerebral Palsy. Watching you on Matthew has been refreshing for me. The way in which you interacted with people on the film makes me feel so loved and happy! What profound joy Jesus has to share! During the filming, what did you learn about Jesus' heart for the disabled? "Quazarzate, my Bru!"

ANSWER: Wow, you sound like an exceptional lady, and I can tell you, goodness just radiates from you. Praise Jesus!

Now, as you can imagine, you've thrown me a very tough question. I have met many, as you say it, 'disabled' folks and I often see that look in their eye of "Why doesn't Jesus heal me?" In the African crusade I just finished in December, there was a lady in a wheelchair who came every night and we prayed for her every night, and though I saw some people healed, she left every night still in that wheelchair, and I tell you, I cried tears for her before the Lord - "Why, Lord? Why?"

I just don't get these things, and I guess the bottom line is that God is God and I'm not, and who can understand His ways which His Word promises are "always just" even though they often don't look that way from our tiny, human perspective.

Anyway, all I can tell you is that you are a very brave young lady, to have Cerebral Palsy and such excitement about Jesus. I tell you, He looks on you with such a huge smile - I can just see Him up there in heaven bragging to all the angels about you. You bless His heart, that is for sure, and I can only dream that someday I would know and trust Him like you do. Praise God for you!

So how did Jesus feel about folks who were 'disabled'? HE LOVED THEM! It is so funny, but as an actor playing a character, it's all about the character's heart in relationship with people. In other words, my job was to look at every one of His people-encounters and just keep asking the question, "How would He feel about this guy?" That's the central key to playing a scene correctly - to get to how the character you're playing 'feels' about who he's dealing with.

I remember thinking long about Judas - how would Jesus feel? Then there's the Pharisees and the soldiers who nailed Him to the cross... Interesting questions, aren't they? And the same question goes for everyone Jesus encountered no matter who they were, no matter their circumstances, no matter where their heart was at... What was in His heart for them?

Well, it may sound very cliché', but I just kept coming back to the same thing over and over, and it is so obviously true - I mean, it's the bottom line of the entire Gospel message - "I have loved you with an everlasting love." "I have drawn you with loving kindness." "Your name is inscribed in the palm of My hand." In other words, "I love you, I love you, I love you..." Jesus!

So, my happy and delightful friend - He loves you. There is no doubt in heaven or on earth - He's the living God, and He loves you. And it is so obvious He has given you a special grace - a grace to live beyond circumstances that would make many just give up - a grace to be full of joy and goodness, to be 'free' of the physical, so to speak - a grace to know Him like very few do.

You're a blessing, young lady, and I can promise you - He loves you.

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QUESTION: There is one area in my life that I keep sinning, and it's getting frustrating. I keep trying to fight the temptation but I always seem to lose the fight. What am I doing wrong? Do you have any suggestions?

ANSWER: Well, let me be the one who completely frees you from any sense of condemnation - "Welcome to being human, and beyond that, welcome to being a Christian!"

But seriously - and if I'm remembering right, I brushed this topic in another question last time - as long as you and I are "in this tent of flesh" as the Apostle Paul wrote, we will struggle with sin. It's just part of being human, as "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." And I tell you, any Christian who says he has no struggles with anything, I can promise you, either he's seriously deluded or his name is Jesus. Amen!

Now here's the thing - that's no license to just throw your hands up and keep on sinning, and it's no excuse to base your sinning on. We have a responsibility as children of God to pursue godliness and righteousness with everything we've got. But even in that, we'll never see progress in that alone. It is only in the strength and power of the Spirit of God available by His grace and goodness that any of us can even begin to achieve any measure of freedom from sin.

I think of the Scriptures - right from the mouth of Jesus - "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Gee, I remember standing on a hilltop and speaking those lines - ah, precious memories!). And in the same speech, Jesus says, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Now, in that second line I have to think that Jesus knew He was inviting us to the impossible, but there's two big things going on there - he says to pursue it, but knowing full well we'll never get there on our own, He makes the point of how desperately we need Him to do it in us and for us. Glory to His Name!

And I can tell you, just by the fact that you are asking these kinds of questions and experiencing this kind of frustration means you're well on your way and the Spirit of God is hard at work within you. I mean, if not you wouldn't even care, and I can promise you, caring and wanting to do something about it is 99% of getting there.

So go for it! You're doing great, you're on your way, and I can promise you, one day at a time, one prayer at a time, one inch at a time... one day you'll look behind you and say, "Wow - it's gone! The 'need' is gone. Glory to Jesus!" Go, go, go!

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QUESTION: Hi Bruce. What do you think is the best way to share the Gospel? My brother has cancer and may pass away soon and he is going to die soon and he doesn't know the Lord. Thanks.

ANSWER: Wow, I'm humbled you would share something so close to you and so personal and obviously of the utmost priority and importance. I have never had to deal with such a situation, but I can only imagine. May the Lord literally surround you with His overwhelming grace through this, and even more, may your brother cry out to Him and may He be healed. Lord, do it! Praise Your most powerful Name!

All I can tell you is pray, pray, pray. If there is one thing that I'm learning and relearning and then learning some more is that it is ALL done in the praying - inviting God into the situation, inviting His light and obvious will into what is obviously a dark situation. And I tell you, just keep begging Him and begging Him and begging Him. God IS faithful. He will NEVER leave nor forsake you or your brother. And on top of all those things, He is HUGE, if you know what I mean - far bigger than the cancer or your brother's will. And His love for your brother is so big it makes yours look like a dot, if you can fathom that.

So resting on all that which is unarguably true, I tell you, pray, pray, pray. I don't know your brother, but there can be no doubt he is in a vulnerable place of heart. Beg the Lord to give you or someone else an opening to speak into his vulnerability. And the worst thing anyone can do is beat someone over the head with the Gospel. The best thing anyone can do is just love him and love him and 'be' the love of Jesus to him.

I tell you, when he sees your love for him and that your passion to see him know Jesus is born in that as opposed to some sense of feeling like you just want to convert him, I tell you, trust God to melt his heart and by His Spirit lead your brother into glory.

It may happen in final moments, it may happen in an hour. It may happen through you or through a doctor, orderly, or nurse. I knew a nurse who worked in a cancer ward and she used to lead patients to Jesus on a daily basis - they are just so vulnerable and open because of their situation.

Then again the Lord may heal your brother and create a massive testimony that will bring 1000's to Jesus. Don't limit God, and just beg Him in prayer for the biggest things. I mean, we just don't know the what and how of what He's up to. What's that line in Isaiah 55" "My ways are not your ways - My ways are higher than your ways."

So I tell you, just pray your brains out and keep praying your brains out, then love your brother in action and every way no matter what, and when the Lord gives you a chance to speak to your brother let him see your tears and your love for him and that the Gospel is coming from that place and no other. He would have to be made of stone to not hear the Holy Spirit's call through you and respond. Go in the strength and knowledge of an almighty God forging a path ahead of you. Glory to Jesus!

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