Tag: Grace

If it's evil, It's from Satan James 1:17 If it's Good, It's from God If you want God's help, Put God First. Draw near to God and He will Draw near to you. James 4:8a

In Christ We Find Refuge: Comfort When Storms Rage

October 17, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

So many of us look at the wreckage of storms, the sudden loss of life, the weight of sickness, the shock of accidents, or other heartbreaking tragedies and want to blame God. I know this temptation. The questions rise quickly: Why, God? Why me? Why us? Why such good people?

Yet Scripture is clear. Moral evil, including temptation to sin, the intent to destroy, and every effort to separate us from our Creator, comes from Satan, not from God. Only good gifts come from the Father of lights (James 1:17). God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself tempts no one (James 1:13). He never entices us toward sin. Instead, when trials come, He is faithful to provide a way of escape so we can endure (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Those who are in Christ can be comforted even in the worst storms, whether the storm is physical or deeply personal. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in every affliction so that we, in turn, can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3–4).

The path to peace and lasting comfort in this fragmented world is not found in demanding answers for every “why.” It is found in keeping our primary focus on drawing near to God, receiving His grace by doing His will, living with grateful hearts, and remembering the sacrifice of Jesus and the message of eternal life He secured for us. Satan wants nothing more than to drive a wedge between you and God in the middle of your pain. Do not let him.

In Christ we find refuge.
Satan is the evil one.

God First!

(See: Psalm 46:1–3; James 1:13–17; James 5:16; 2 Corinthians 1:3–5; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Romans 8:20–22; John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8; James 4:8)

Live as if you soul's eternity depends on your choices

Choices make a difference

October 12, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Deuteronomy 30:15–20

15 “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity;
16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.
17 But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them,
18 I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it.
19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,
20 by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Joshua 24:14–15

14 “Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Matthew 7:13–14

13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

John 3:16–18

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Related passages (NASB1995)

Romans 10:9–10: “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Hebrews 2:3: “how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,”
Hebrews 3:12–15: “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said, ‘Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me.’”
2 Thessalonians 1:7–9: “and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,”

Narrow Path - Eternal life with Jesus, Highways to nowhere - utter darkness. Which path are you on?

Highways to Nowhere: My Journey Back to the Narrow Path

August 13, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

My journey from a young adult to now has involved many turns, curves, pains, peaks, and valleys. Many of my early choices were enough to make bystanders dizzy. I would strongly recommend against anyone following the highways to nowhere that cross our straight-and-narrow path. I was taught and contentedly started down the narrow path. However, as a youthful adult, I began testing the exit ramps on those wide-open highways; they appeared so fun and fast. Many highways cross the narrow pathway towards heaven, and those on them seem to be having a great time. In my youthful years, the narrow path felt slow, lonely, and dull, while the highway travelers were going so fast they seemed to have time for loneliness, which looked so appealing in those lonely moments.

Although I was not hitchhiking, those highway travelers would occasionally stop with great big smiles on their faces and exuberantly offer me highway rides, and every once in a while I would accept short rides but found myself quickly missing the peace, comfort, contentment, and safety the straight and narrow path offers; however, the highway rush enticed me, so I started putting my thumb up now and then to catch that thrill. After a while, those highway rides became longer and faster; my adrenaline surged! Eventually, I was no longer catching rides; I was driving, navigating those highways, and with so many others rapidly going nowhere fast, almost completely losing sight of that straight and narrow path I once cherished. Without realizing it, I became the big-smile driver in my speedy convertible, offering rides to travelers on that straight and narrow path, spending years with the wind blowing through my hair, speeding down highways to nowhere; I looked like I was going somewhere fast, when I was actually going nowhere at all. Occasionally, I would reflect on the peace and comfort I once knew and was surprised when I found myself feeling trapped and remembering the comfort of that ole pathway; yet, if I thought too profoundly about it, I would stop reflecting and floor the gas pedal.

Periodically, when I offered rides to someone on that straight and narrow path with words of wisdom, they would say no to even the shortest ride, reminding me of my years traveling that path. Their declines began piquing my curiosity and helped me reflect and realize how confused and lost I had become. I found myself admiring their rejection of my offer and started realizing the highways were truly taking me nowhere and becoming less intriguing; I started longing for the peace, comfort, tranquility, and surety I once had on that narrow pathway.

Finally, I realized getting off those entangled spaghetti highways was necessary; the loneliness I felt on the path I once walked was not gone, just hidden for a while; only now it was coupled with emptiness, an emptiness I’d never felt before. My realization meant a dramatic change, but I knew it was the right choice; I needed to get off those highways to become whole again. I started my departure with a commitment to change direction, to exit those highways and never look back, to return to that narrow path to heaven again; so, like never before, I studied and learned more about that narrow pathway that takes us to heaven and its eternal reward. The more I learned, the more I questioned why I allowed myself to accept that first highway ride, for with God we have direction, purpose, and a goal; without God, we have emptiness with no hope of eternal life.

I now have great admiration for those few who have consistently said no to those Highway offers and stayed true to that narrow path for most, if not all, of their lives. My choices taught me that my example and everyone’s examples have tremendous trickle-down effects that influence others. If we truly care about family, friends, or people, we need to be mindful of our influence and do our best to serve God as a Christ-like example so that anyone following our lead will realize we are going somewhere, that we are on a path that leads to a heavenly home with our Creator where there are no tears, sickness, or sorrow. And that Highway, well, the highway eventually ends in eternal darkness with no hope. Utter darkness! Jesus is the light, and without God we are empty.

I am thankful for God’s grace and the path he set for us all to follow. For it is by God’s grace, through our obedient faith in hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, and being baptized for the forgiveness of our sins and living faithfully thereafter, that we can walk the eternal pathway that makes us whole and takes us to eternal life with Jesus.

Proverbs 3:5-7
Proverbs 4:26-27
Matthew 3:3
John 14:1–31
Revelation 21:4
Luke 13:24
Proverbs 14:12
Proverbs 16:25
Romans 10:17
Mark 16:16
Acts 17:30
Romans 10:9-10
Acts 2:38
Acts 22:16
1 Peter 3:21
Matthew 5:16
1 Timothy 4:12
Titus 2:7
James 5:19-20

God First!

When death was on everyone's mind COVID19

Fear Not: Be Prepared Instead – COVID-19

July 31, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Fauci, taking the Fifth 111 times, took me back in time, when social media blocked our content if we referred to the names of certain medicines already on the market that many said helped. Where doctors who disagreed with Fauci were dismissed and banned by mainstream media and referred to as quacks by that media. A time when friends lost family and death was on everyone’s mind; many were kept from family in their last days, and one friend spent months on a ventilator as this man claimed science while discarding science, harming many, yet being lifted as if a hero when, in fact, all indications are he was lying to gain. People screamed at others for not wearing a mask. A time when I remember telling someone I was not vaccinated, and they seemed to become quietly disgusted—a time when I wrote the following.

“I’ve been enjoying life for almost 62 years, and while this may seem long to a 20-year-old, It’s very short in my mind. From time to time, I’ve seen and experienced many different Illnesses. I’ve either suffered or seen others suffer from diseases like flu, pneumonia, colds, diabetes, mono, dementia, mobility loss, hearing, eye issues, etc. I’ve lost loved ones to accidents, cancer, heart failure, and liver problems. I’ve experienced a friend being murdered and know others who have lost loved ones to crime. Life is difficult at times.

Today we have the threat of Covid19, a manufactured virus that brings death and extreme anxiety as we fear the horrible pain, suffering, and loss it causes. COVID’s existence spurs division among family, friends, and countries. Many feel the need to isolate themselves and fear being around others. Hugs and closeness fade from reality into memories as fears of catching or spreading COVID reign and are adopted as the new norm.

Today, a scratchy throat, the slightest sniffle, sneeze, cough, or faintest fever instills worry and fear.

So, what do we do?

We take precautions, use hand sanitizers, wash hands, pay attention to distancing, some wear masks, and some fight over mask effectiveness. I think most who refuse mask mandates object most to the idea of governments’ abuse of power. (I’m not debating this here, just pointing it out)

All this said: I personally refuse to let fear control my life! Instead, I trust in God!

My Trust in God does not mean I will not die of this virus someday. It does not mean I will not lose loved ones to it.

One ICU nurse stated: “It takes who it takes.” Since this is true of every ailment, it adds perspective.

I contracted COVID a few months ago, and it hit me hard. In 2019, I found myself close to death with blood clots in my lungs, and I’ve had other close calls with accidents. The fact is, we are going to die of something someday, and none of us know when.

So, what actions should we be taking? And what do I mean by “Trust in God”?

Some dare blame God for this evil virus, but no evil comes from God; evil is Satan’s territory. Some blame God for the death of loved ones. However, death is certain, and as stated earlier, “none of us know when,” so rather than blame, why not prepare? How? By learning, sharing, and teaching others about Jesus. Jesus is the pathway to an eternal life where death, sickness, and pain have no existence. None!

This life is not the end; it’s the beginning!

When we are “In Christ,” We take advantage of the grace God has extended; our sins have been forgiven, and our forever home is with God. If we are in Christ and pursue a Christ-like life, we can live without fear of death. So why worry? In Christ, we can count it all joy; in James 5:16, God points out that the prayers of the righteous avail much, so let us live fully, using our time to pursue righteousness and have our prayers well heard. There is great comfort in the confidence that our loved ones went on to paradise from this earth.

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

Always be prepared

Matthew 24:36-51 (No one knows the Day or Hour)
2 Timothy 4:7-8 (Fight the good fight)
2 Corinthians 1:3-11 (God of all Comfort)
Philippians 4:4-7 (The Peace of God)

In Christ

Grace: – Ephesians 2:8, Romans 3:24, Titus 2:11, Acts 15:11
Belief/Faith: – Hebrews 11:1, John 8:24, Romans 10:17, Acts 3:19
Repentance: – 2 Cor. 7:9-10, Luke 13:3-5, Acts 17:30
Confess: – Romans 10:9-10, Matthew 10:32-33, Luke 12:8-9

Baptism by immersion for forgiveness of sin: – Matthew 16:15-16, 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, John 3:5, Matt 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:5, Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12, Acts 8:36-39, Mark 1:9-10, John 3:23

God First!“

Let God’s Word Speak –

October 13, 2021 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Today God has approximately 7.5 billion souls on this earth, and Jesus died for each and every one of us. Scripture tells us how to respond to God’s Love and Grace

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. “‭‭

“because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. ‬‬“Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”‭‭
(1 Peter‬ ‭3:20-21‬ ‭ESV)‬‬

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ²By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ³Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. ⁵For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷For one who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. ¹¹So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
(Romans 6:1-11)

Grace: – Ephesians 2:8, Romans 3:24, Titus 2:11, Acts 15:11
Belief/Faith: – Hebrews 11:1, John 8:24, Romans 10:17, Acts 3:19
Repentance: – 2 Cor. 7:9-10, Luke 13:3-5, Acts 17:30
Confess: – Romans 10:9-10, Matthew 10:32-33, Luke 12:8-9
Baptism by immersion for forgivness of sin: – Matthew 16:15-16 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, John 3:5, Matt 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:5, Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12, Acts 8:36-39, Mark 1:9-10, John 3:23

Tag: Grace

In Christ We Find Refuge: Comfort When Storms Rage