Exploring the Bible Archives - As It Is in Heaven

February 2, 2023June 25, 2023

Seek Him While He Is Near

While Christmas has long passed, one story I always remember is that of the Three Wise Men. They are such a great representation of following God’s signs even without having solid faith. And through following God’s call and seeking Him out, they found what they had been looking for.

Those who seek God’s kingdom and righteousness…

In the Gospel of Luke (and also Matthew), the visit of the magi (wise men) is recorded.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Luke 2:1-6

This story is amazing to read when you really look at it and understand its significance. It’s interesting to know that the magi weren’t Jews. They were gentiles, and yet they still looked for and came to the Christ. They knew the prophecies about the coming of the Christ, but God’s own people – the Israelites – didn’t.

We always think there were three of them because three gifts were mentioned, but were there really three wise men?

January 12, 2023January 12, 2023

Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Hello everyone. I hope you had a good restful and safe Christmas and New Year’s holiday celebrations. Christmas has passed but that doesn’t mean we should forget what it’s all about. While many people celebrate Christmas in various ways, for Christians, it’s the time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus (who wasn’t really born on Dec. 25). But we should know that Jesus’s birth was only one part of God’s plan for salvation. Jesus’s birth was important, yes, but as believers living today, we should look forward to the time of the second coming. Before Jesus could come again, he had to complete a few things first. Let’s learn more about them.

December 27, 2022December 27, 2022

You Have to See It to Believe It! – Reflecting on Shincheonji’s 100,000 Graduation

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” Revelation 19:6-7

I don’t know if you’ve heard the news – whether through a newspaper or on the Internet – but on November 20, 2022, Shincheonji Church of Jesus (New Heaven New Earth Church) held a large graduation ceremony for those who had completed their Bible study program at their study centers. These were graduates from all around the world. The event was held in Daegu at the Daegu Stadium. This was the second graduation ceremony they had with over 100,000 graduates – 106,186 to be exact. The first one was three years ago – which was the first of any kind in the world. And I was at both of them.

November 28, 2022June 25, 2023

Interview with Gabriella: A Summary and Reflection

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November 23, 2022June 25, 2023

Have You Meditated on God’s Word Today? – The Psalms Series

I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.

Psalms 119:15

Meditating For Beginners

Have you ever meditated before? It’s become more popular in recent decades as people are wanting to better their physical, emotional, and for some, spiritual health. I’ve also done it in the past but haven’t been consistent in practicing meditation now. Meditation is beneficial for clearing your thoughts, relaxing, and focusing one’s mind. If you haven’t tried it before, you can start now. Just follow these four easy steps:

Find a quiet space.
Sit still and close your eyes.
Focus on breathing in and out deeply and slowly.
Do this for short amounts of time (5-10 minutes each) and then gradually build up to longer periods (20+ minutes).

Meditation can really help you when you’re feeling anxious, stressed, or angry. But when you’re meditating, what are you thinking about? It’s good to clear your mind and think about nothing at first. But after that, what’s your next step? If you’re a believer in God and Jesus, then we should think about God’s Word and what it means for us today.

Continue reading “Have You Meditated on God’s Word Today? – The Psalms Series“

August 22, 2022October 22, 2022

5 Bible Verses about Trusting God

photo of people reaching each other s hands

What is Trust?

Trust – it’s one of the most complicated things in the world when it comes to human relationships. This value is something built over time, it’s the foundation of human interaction. One wrong move and that trust you built with someone is broken and changed forever. Cheating, lying, and breaking promises are all key components to breaking your trust with someone. Does this sound familiar? Think about our relationship with God.

From the time of Adam, up until now, God’s chosen people have constantly broken their covenants (promises) with God and cheated on him with other gods repeatedly. In other words, God’s people strayed and gave their sacrifices and hearts to other gods. Yet each time His people betrayed, they were given more chances to fix what they had broken, but they never did. Yet in Revelation, God creates a new thing, a New Heaven and New Earth that become the people that will never betray Him and will live eternally by His side (Rv 21). So if we are living in a time when we have the chance to be trusted by God and become His people, then it’s important to ask why should we trust God?

A better question; why shouldn’t we trust Him?

June 27, 2022June 27, 2022

5 Great Bible Verses for Anxiety

Anxiety is a mental illness that causes frequent feelings of worry, unease, and nervousness. These feelings plague many of us in different ways. And not everyone who experiences anxiety is diagnosed; anxiety is a feeling many people experience from time to time. Maybe it’s your first day at a new school, or you are preparing for a job interview – that nervous feeling is all anxiety.

June 18, 2022June 18, 2022

“Until Death Do Us Part” – And Then Some: The Marriage God and Jesus Desire for Us

Marriage is such an important life step for everyone who decides to take it. Two people decide to spend the rest of their lives together in a loving and life-long commitment. It’s a life-changing event where you are no longer by yourself; you have to think of your partner, too, when making certain decisions. When you enter university, you begin life as an adult and oftentimes parents or other people ask, “So when are you going to get married?”, especially as you grow older. And if you’re not married by a certain age, people may begin to wonder about you. I guess these days, that sort of pressure is lessened as more and more people are getting married later in life, or not at all.

As a single man in my late-30s, who’s also the oldest child in my family, I’ve definitely been asked more than once about when I’m going to get married and “settle down”. When I look at all my friends and younger siblings who’ve gotten married, and some who’ve gotten divorced, it makes me wonder if I really want that. But I’m not here to disparage marriage in any way. In fact, I think it’s a beautiful thing because it’s also an important thing to God and Jesus. There’s a deeper spiritual meaning to it all, so let’s find out what the marriage God and Jesus desire for us today.

May 18, 2022May 22, 2022

How to be a Good Christian Wife (Spiritually) – The Proverbs Series

Ladies, take note. (Guys, don’t leave quite yet).

A lot of us are concerned with making our faith shine through our physical relationships. Whether it’s trying to be the kind of spouse God expects us to be, or looking for a godly partner, it’s a hot topic in many Christian circles today.

If you read through Proverbs 31, you’ll see a section on a wife of noble character. A woman that makes and sells clothing, gets up while it’s dark, plants a vineyard, and whose lamp doesn’t go out at night.

She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
Proverbs 31:18

Ah, so this is why I still haven’t found a husband! Time to buy a lamp, keep it on all night, and then tell the world on Instagram.

Not quite.

I’m sure you can gather that this is NOT what God intended. But do you know what it’s really saying?

April 19, 2022April 19, 2022

Are You a Spiritual Shapeshifter? – Becoming Different Things to Win People for Christ

If you could have any X-Men power, what would it be? Would you want to heal like Wolverine? Or have telepathy like Professor X? Or maybe the power over ice like Iceman? One power that seems very advantageous is Mystique’s power. Hers is the ability to shapeshift her very body into any other person so she can fulfill her mission – whatever it may be. That ability could definitely be a danger to some people, but an asset to others. As neat as a physical ability like that could be, have you ever thought of being a spiritual “Mystique”?

In 1 Corinthians 9, the Apostle Paul talks about “becoming all things to all people” for the sake of the gospel. What does Paul mean when he says this, and what does it mean for us as believers today? Let’s find out.