Crown Financial Ministries, following the late Larry Burkett’s advise, recommends that everyone, as young as 16 years old, should use a credit card for basic living needs. They warn listeners to pay it off as soon as the bill arrives. This after all, is a well pleasing sacrifice to the FICO score god. Is that the god that you serve as evidenced by your checkbook? Are you offering up your monthly sacrifices so that you can be acceptable to the FICO score god? Here is what the one true living God, Jehovah, said to His children through His Son, Jesus Christ about meeting our basic needs:

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? bAnd why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:25-34)

I urge you brethren, if you have a credit card, confess your sin to God, and repent by cutting it up. Then, seriously consider why you would turn to anyone (or anything) else but your Heavenly Father for all of your needs. Do you lack faith in Christ? Do you not believe that He is the Good Shepherd? Or, do you not know Him? Are you doing good works (going to Church, reading the Bible here and there, listening to Christian music, saying a simple prayer to “accept” Christ), but you’re not saved?

If you don’t really know God the Father, and Christ His Son (and this is eternal life), then please read this:

Answer these questions: Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever used the Lord’s name in vain? Have you ever disobeyed your parents? Have you ever murdered someone? Think again…have you ever hated someone or been angry at them without cause? If you answered yes, then Jesus says that you are a murderer at heart. Have you ever committed adultery? Think again…have you ever looked at someone with lust in your heart (a co-worker, celebrity, friend, church member)? If you answered yes, then Jesus says that you are an adulterer at heart. Have you ever coveted other people’s things? Is that why you’re in debt in the first place? Have you ever stolen something, even a small thing?

If you answered yes to any one or more of these questions, and if you were to die right now and stand before God (as we all will, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”(Hebrews 9:27), you would be found guilty of breaking His laws. In fact, you would be guilty of breaking ALL of His laws, “for whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”(James 2:10).

Where would God, who is holy, just and righteous, have to send you for breaking His laws? Heaven or Hell? The answer is Hell. In fact, as you’re reading this, the wrath of God is resting on you (John 3:36). This is the truth and I have included the scripture references for you to read these verses for yourself. It is a scary thing to think that you can worship or please God in your own way, make up an image of God according to your own likings (which breaks the second of the ten commandments), and to think that you are in right standing with God, only to find out upon death, that you will spend an eternity in Hell, separated from God:

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7: 21 -23).

BUT!!!! God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross to pay your sin debt. This is a debt that you could never repay with anything that you are or have or do. God in His infinite grace and mercy, loved us while were still yet sinners (which you are), and while you wared with Him in your heart, He already died for your sins! HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS IS THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE PAYMENT FOR YOUR DEBT.

WOW. This is why the children of God can sing wholeheartedly the song, “Amazing Grace.” But you are not yet a child of God. Yes, He paid the debt, but He requires the following from you:

1. Repent (turn away from your sins, stop living in darkness) and

2. Put your faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation and the forgiveness of your sins (not your “good” deeds which He calls filthy rags) .
Pray to God, confess that you’re a sinner, ask Him for forgiveness, and ask Him to grant you mercy and faith to believe in His Son Jesus Christ. Start reading your Bible so that you can love, know, and obey Christ (I recommend starting with John and 1 John).

Listen to men who faithfully and truthfully preach and teach God’s Word. There are many false preachers on Christian radio and especially on television. Pray and ask the Lord for discernment on who to listen to. There are very few pastors I will listen to on radio or online. Here is one that I recommend:

Paul Washer (scroll down) of Heart Cry Missionary Society.  Click here for one of my favorites sermons of his to listen to.

It’s not easy as just saying a simple prayer to become a child of God. Jesus said, “so likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33). He said another way, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) You must be willing even to die for your faith in Christ. Are you?

Then cry out to Jesus and look unto Him every moment for the rest of your life:

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2).

God is faithful. He will conform His children into the image of Christ, and keep them for eternity:

“Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”(Romans 8:30)

If you’re not sure whether you’re a child of God, study 1 John. It was written to let you know if you are obeying the true Gospel or a false Christ.

If you have any questions about repenting and putting your faith in Christ alone for salvation, eternal life, or walking with the Lord, please leave a comment. We would love the opportunity to teach you the Word of God, and how to love, know and obey Him. That is ultimately His will for this ministry.