Our Citizenship is in Heaven

Philippians 3:18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ

Home is where the heart is. Traveling is great, but it is always good to be home. As followers of Christ, our citizenship is in heaven. This means that we are not citizens of this world but just passing through it as though visiting. When we are visiting a place we don’t spend a lot of time and energy on that place. Otherwise, we leave it all behind when it is time to go home. So the message here is to have our focus on our true home in heaven and while we are in this world, live as though we are only visiting. Notice that Paul says “their mind is on earthly things” in reference to those who live as enemies of the cross. In contrast, as believers, our minds are to be on heavenly things, where our home is. We walk by faith, not by sight. We follow the path of Christ even though it may be contrary to what we want, contrary to what seems reasonable or even contrary to what everyone else is doing. Keeping your eyes on heavenly things is keeping your eyes on Christ and doing His will.

YBL COM Bible Study Materials available

Concentrating on the Majors (COM)

The COM is for those who want to learn or review a basic introduction to the bible and its most essential truths. Vital Christian principles are explained in this study and topics covered range from how to be sure of your salvation, to experiencing God's forgiveness to how to grow in your relationship with God.

Download YBL COM Bible Study

YBL Jackson Spring Banquet

May 23, 2011
Hilton Hotel, Jackson, MS
11:30- 1:00 p.m.

Mark your calendar and save the date for the 2011 YBL Jackson Spring Banquet. Our speaker will be Frank Harrison, Chairman and CEO of Coca Cola Considated, the largest indepent Coca Cola bottling company in the U.S.

Click Here to Register Now!

For more information contact the YBL Jackson office at 601-957-6860 or go to our website at www.ybljackson.org.

Let us be beacons for the truth

Take a look at this article http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/24/whos-hell-michigan-pastors-book-sparks-debate-eternal-torment/ and you will see a perfect example of why we need to be doing what we are doing in guiding men to the truth of God's word. It is very easy for people to get confused and to be swayed by emotional arguments that sound really convincing if you aren't really sure what is right. This pastor has fallen into this trap. He has subordinated the word of God to his own reason, which he believes will better guide him to truth. He found an ally in author Rob Bell's book which I guess in his mind persuaded him to abandon the truth of God's word about hell. He basically is saying that Rob Bell has it right even though it goes against what thousands and thousands of godly Christian men and women have believed for centuries, probably because he feels bad that some people will end up in hell. And in his position as a pastor he will potentially lead many unsuspecting others astray. This is why it is so important to be diligent in the pursuit of biblical truth. We need to be able to recognize the counterfeit. Obviously, just because someone has been to seminary or is in a position of authority in the church doesn't mean they can't be deceived. When people can't recognize error themselves, they are easily led astray.

2 Cor. 4:4 says that Satan "has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel". 2 Tim. 2:26 says that Satan holds them captive and uses them to do his bidding. Sometimes Satan is able to get blinded people into church leadership. Many times he comes disguised as the "angel of light", hard to recognize unless you know the truth. This has happened numerous times throughout the history of the church. Some leader goes down the path of error and takes many with him. Then a split occurs as those who know the truth stand up to the error. The Protestant Reformation is one example and the cults are others.

My friends, heaven and hell are real places that Jesus taught about. He also gave us access to the truth that will lead us from hell into heaven. Pay attention to Him. Be alert and sober. No one will be able to blame someone else for leading them astray when they stand before him on judgment day.

Let us be beacons for the truth for there are many who are speaking and teaching error and leading many astray. "For the time will come when they will no endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their won desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths." 2 Tim. 4:3-4.

YBL announces keynote for Spring Banquet

Join YBL as we welcome Mr. Frank Harrison, Chairman & CEO of Coca-Cola Consolidated, Charlotte, North Carolina as the keynote speaker of the 2011 Spring Banquet, Monday, May 23 at the Jackson Hilton. Read more about this event.

Does Science contradict the Bible?

Does science contradict the Bible? In short, no. That is if it is good science. Science is simply the study and investigation of God's creation to understand how it works. God created our world and God wrote the Bible. God is truth. He never lies and He doesn't change. Therefore, the Bible and science can not contradict each other. If they seem to, then our understanding of one or the other is flawed. Why does the scientific world seem to be so biased against the biblical world view? Click this link to listen to Dr. James Tour, who is ranked as one of the Top 10 chemists in the world over the past decade, explain why this may be a false perception and why he believes that science and the Bible are compatible.

http://www.rzim.org/resources/listen/letmypeoplethink.aspx?archive=1&pid=2056