Religion column written by Dr. Bob Allen:

What would Jesus say to us today?

The Lord Jesus is saying the same thing He has always said. His word abides forever; be of good cheer I have overcome the world! You say, Bob Is it possible to be of good cheer today in this broken down, beat up world that seems to be upside down? Yes, you can, if you will learn to trust and hold on to the One who has already overcome it all.

Matt28:18 .Jesus then said, “All power in heaven and earth has been given unto me.” So let’s lock onto Him today.

I want to share with you an old high court decision. If you think things look hopeless today in our world just listen to this:

The Lord Jesus was tried by the highest court in the land as a common criminal.  I read in the scriptures today how He was spit upon, beaten, mocked, and then hung on a bloody tree. It can’t get any worse than that. I feel sure all of the apostles’ hopes and dreams of ever becoming a part of a great kingdom came crashing down.

Jesus no longer looked like a man with a kingdom, or a man who could bring in a kingdom. In fact, He looked quite small when surrounded by soldiers who mocked, beat, and spit upon Him. I can almost hear Peter saying, when he denied Jesus, “I don’t know the man”. Peter and the other disciples had just come through the greatest experience one could ever imagine, that of spending three and one half years with the Master. They experienced a time no one on the earth will ever experience, but them Peter even paid his and the Lord’s taxes with coins from the mouth of a fish. That’s big!

Matt 17:27  Jesus said to Peter “notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up, and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shall find a piece of money take, and give unto them for Me and thee.” You would think that Peter would have been locked in forever after that, but he still denied Jesus. My friend, you can’t take the stand or walk the walk based on other peoples’ strength. You can’t stand on what other people say; not even a preacher’s. Notice, Jesus gave direction to Peter about the fish, but it was not enough to keep Peter from denying Him. You must have the Spirit in you, and you must develop your faith out of the Spirit and the word.  Jesus said, my word is Spirit and it is life.

Peter was caught up in a vision along with James and John. They saw Jesus in His future glorious state. They saw Moses and Elijah and heard the Father Himself say, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him.” After all of this and even after hearing the Father’s voice, it was not enough for Peter until the Spirit was in him.

• It was a time of watching water turned into wine.
• A time of watching the blind see and the deaf hear.
• A time of seeing the dead raised to life.
• A time of watching the lame walk.
• A time of watching a multitude being fed with five loafs and two fishes.

Then came the  crucifixion.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Everything came crushing down in one day!  I think these men must have felt like rats in a sinking ship. They went fishing. I guess they wanted to get back to business as usual, after all when it’s over, it’s over.  They needed to do a lot of thinking. I don’t think any of us can imagine what these men were going through.

Three days later, when our Master rose from the dead, would be the GREATEST DAY IN ALL HISTORY. The day that Jesus said, be of good cheer I have overcome the world; should be held as the greatest day on earth for all mankind. (John16:33)

The Kingdom of God had come. We now have a two party system: the Kingdom of this world (Satan’s), and the Kingdom of our God.

• Things changed  from the darkness of days, to  great light
• The power of sin and death was broken
• All power in heaven and earth was giving unto our King, but just look at the price He paid for it.

1 Peter 2:24 Peter said ^”Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” Be very sure that sin is dead in your life, and that your righteousness shines forth.

1 Peter 3:18 ”For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh,(killed)but quickened by the Spirit”. I hope you are not suffering because of sin, because that would make you “un smart,” or quite dumb.

2Cor5:21 ”For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” That should tell you how much God values you. I think that makes you righteous, and priceless. This should give you good understanding of the love God has for you.

Rom 1:8” there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Be sure you feel this way. Know who God says you are; following the leading of the Holy Spirit and walk away from the things of the flesh.

My friend, He has made you right. He has put you right .You are a son or a daughter now. You are now justified meaning,” just as if I’d never sinned.”

Jesus spoke much about the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God.  We now have to make a choice. The kingdom of this world is ruled by Satan. He is walking around masquerading as an angel of light seeking to draw you in.

2Cor11:14 Paul said, ”and no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”

They are now two roads to travel on; the devils hwy, or the hwy that leads to the straight gate, and that takes you to heaven

Matt 7:21-22 ”Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in there”. Oh! My friend remembers the road that takes you to the wide gate is paved with lies, and will lead you straight to Hell.

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it. Make sure you take the hwy to heaven.

John3:3 ”You must be born again.”  Live it, and walk toward that narrow Road.