Moonwalk Faith

 “Neil Armstrong as most people in the world know was the first man to walk on the moon back in July Sixteenth of Nineteen Sixty Nine. The citizens of the world were in awe and one would think that this would be Armstrong’s greatest moment, but it was not. In Nineteen Ninety Four Armstrong visited the southern steps of the temple in Jerusalem and was overcome with emotion. He told the tour guide, “I am more excited stepping on these stones than I was stepping on the moon.” He then fell to his knees and kissed the steps where Jesus had walked and the church was born on the day of Pentecost. “One small step for man,” but what a giant leap of faith, that all mankind should make!

Jesus talking to the people during His first sermon says in chapter six, 

““Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ‭(NET‬‬) 

When most people share this verse, they always tend to reference money, as the following verses refer to  not serving money. But I believe it is more than just money that Jesus was referring to, because our treasures are anything that is put before God. Moths eat clothes that people buy in order to look good for others on social media, or social events, and generally use credit cards to live above their means. Rust eats metal and or other things that have been neglected or left in the rain and become worthless regardless of what was spent to buy them, or time to make, or to purchase it. We also know that the Bible refers to the enemy as the thief who comes to steal and destroy, and this is the robbery of our souls that keep us from following or believing in Jesus. We get robbed of property, ideas, music, and of our health by the things of this world that will never satisfy our desires. 

Neil Armstrong having walked on the moon counted that there is nothing in comparison to not physically seeing Jesus, but standing where Jesus walked as a greater treasure. Jesus words continue in Matthew as verse twenty two says, 

““The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. IF THEN THE LIGHT IN YOU IS DARKNESS, HOW GREAT IS THE DARKNESS!” (NET‬‬) (Emphasis added) 

His perspective was correct and his vision clear because he knew that nothing in this world or on the moon for that matter, really mattered in the end without Jesus. He saw the darkness of space and the light from the sun from space, and so he knew a little about light and darkness. After it was all said and done his focus stayed on Jesus. His eyes were healthy and like his blind trust that the rockets would get him to the moon and he would come back, so is what his faith was and should be for us. Habakkuk Two says,

“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITH.” (ESV) (Emphasis added)

The unrighteous and those living in the dark have souls that are puffed up, but the righteous shall live by faith. Paul quoted this verse many times, and the book of Hebrews is filled with many who walked by faith and though their lives were dark and or plagued by darkness, they remained faithful and true to God and The Name. 

So my question is, where are your eyes focused on and what treasures are you chasing that are leading you away from Jesus. My prayer is that we remember what Jesus finishes this section with, 

““No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].”‬ ‭(AMP‬‬) 

I can hear Jesus saying not only to Neil Armstrong, but also to anyone who will listen and repent and come to a saving knowledge of Jesus, “I love you to the moon and back, and to infinity and beyond, into eternity.” 

Jose Barajas

Running The Race To Finish Well (part 1)

by Jose Barajas

Being raised in a Catholic home meant that I was baptized as a child, and would take classes that prepared me for my first communion. Two things that have always struck me as being odd about the ceremonies I went through are A, baptizing a child goes against what scripture teaches us and B, my first communion was performed by a Spanish speaking priest. As a Hispanic family you would think nothing about it, except that I was raised to speak English not Spanish. So as you can guess I was clueless of what the Spanish priest was saying.  For all I know, I confessed to committing adultery and murder. 

All this to say, I don’t believe my sins were ever absolved or forgiven, because my heart was not really into it. Truth is, I know for a fact I was not changed. It never ceases to amaze me how many have, and still do, fall into the same trap of man’s traditions when it comes to confessing their sins. Yet they are never truly believed nor repented of their sins. I, of course, speak from experience and not just from the time I was a Catholic.