FROM THE HEART OF DR. REXELLA VAN IMPE

Where’s My Eraser?

I’ll never forget my first day of kindergarten. I was barely five years old, but I remember it as vividly as if it had happened yesterday.

Making new friends with all my classmates was exciting, the bright and cheery decorations in our homeroom were beautiful, and my teacher seemed very nice.

But the thing that caught my attention and completely fascinated me was…the blackboard.

Watching the teacher take chalk and draw simple pictures and write letters on the board was interesting. But then she took something in her hand, wiped it back and forth across the surface of the blackboard, and instantly every mark she had made disappeared! I watched in wide-eyed astonishment, absolutely intrigued.

Before my kindergarten year was over, I had the opportunity to try it for myself. I made some chalk marks on the board, then used the eraser to make them go away. I never tired of it. The eraser was my favorite discovery.

Although I’m normally not a person who dwells on the past a great deal, I do often reflect on the blessings and good things God has sent into my life. My husband, Jack, and I make it a point to recall and give thanks for the ministry opportunities, friends, and victories the Lord has given us-and continues to bestow upon us. Somehow it seems my mind is like a recorder.

Your life, the movie

An article from Smithsonian Magazine written by Dr. Wilbur Penfield, director of the Montreal Neurological Institute, explains why I felt that way. He wrote: “Your brain contains a permanent record of your past that is like a single, continuous strip of movie film, complete with sound track. This film library records your whole waking life from childhood on.”

Do you ever have “home movies” from your past running in your mind? Sometimes that’s a good thing, but it can also be painful to be reminded of events and people that have hurt us, or things we have done to injure others.

Perhaps there are incidents in our past that we hope nobody else knows about, and sometimes the devil will replay these hidden shames to torment us.

“Oh, you’re such a bad person,” he says. “Just look at what you did. How can you pretend to be so good when you’re really so rotten?” Revelation 12:10 exposes the devil as the “accuser of our brethren” who accuses us before God day and night. But the good news is that we don’t have to worry about his accusations.

Jack refers to Dr. Penfield’s article in one of the devotionals in his Soul Food book. His comments there certainly helped me better understand the concept of the “book of remembrance” mentioned in the Bible. Truly God is the great Bookkeeper. He has a record of my life in a heavenly book that has my name on it-Rexella Shelton Van Impe. God has kept a record book on all of humanity-every single person who has ever lived.

But just as He has written everything down, good and bad-every failure, fault, and sin-He also has the ability and divine desire to erase everything bad on my record. Oh, praise God for a heavenly eraser that deletes every wrong word or thought or deed!

That eraser, of course, is the blood of Christ. And it washes us clean! It wipes everything off the blackboard!

God’s heavenly eraser leaves no trace behind. Isaiah 1:18 declares, Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. And Psalm 103:12 says, As far as the east is from the west-and they never meet-so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Forgiven and forgotten

When our sins are forgiven, they are forgotten. God promises in Hebrews 10:17-And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. In fact, the prophet Micah rejoiced that God will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19). Then, according to D. L. Moody and Billy Sunday (I don’t know who said it first), He puts up a great-big sign that says, NO FISHING ALLOWED!

God doesn’t want us to go fishing there, looking for and finding the past. He wants us to forget it just as He has. Yet I think that sometimes after God has erased the blackboard of our lives, we keep bringing up events and things that

God doesn’t remember any more. Our human nature has a tendency to go back and keep rerunning the old mental home movies of what we were like before God saved us and made us new creatures through Christ Jesus.

We must learn how to forget the past and look to our future in Christ. The apostle Paul, acknowledging that he was not perfect, cried out, But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).

Of course, the devil will try to remind us of our past. One of his tools of deception is to keep us looking back. He knows if he can make us feel that our past sins make us unworthy to do anything for God, we cannot be effective in the present.

But we can overcome the devil with our testimony of erased sins through the blood of Christ.

Then God can use our life story-our testimony-to reach other people who need to be set free from the shackles of sin. When others see us walking in victory, it gives them hope.

I heard a story about a little girl who said to her pastor, “I want you to know that I am saved.”

“That’s wonderful, honey,” he said. “Can you tell me which one of my sermons brought you to Christ?”

The little girl replied, “It wasn’t anybody’s preaching-it was my Aunt Mary’s practicing!”

Living the life of Christ day by day is not always easy, but there is such power in our testimony. In Romans 7:19, Paul talks about the struggle he faced every day in doing what was right. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Yet, just a few verses later, he declares, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (8:1).

What’s the secret? Being willing to say, “Where’s my eraser?” Jesus came into the world for a purpose-not only to set the example of a perfect life and to show us God on earth and what we can be though Him, but also to erase the blackboard of our lives again and again! I often find myself saying in my prayer, “Lord, thank You for that eraser.”

Let me make it clear that I certainly am not suggesting that we nonchalantly fail more and sin more, expecting God to erase whatever we do. That’s not what I mean at all. The truth is that even when we do our best to live righteously, there are times when we will not make the right choices. And in those times we can and should say, “Where’s my eraser?”

God is much better at forgiving than we are at sinning!

Eugene Peterson, the pastor who produced The Message a contemporary language version of the Bible, observed that “God is much better at forgiving than we are at sinning.”

Even when we think that we have absolutely gone too far, that we’ve really done it this time, or that what we have done is totally unforgivable, God stands waiting for us with open arms. No matter how “good” we have been at sinning, He is much better at forgiving. No matter what we’ve done (or failed to do), it’s never too bad to be forgiven…and to be erased!

Sin brings shame, but confession brings confidence. The Bible says, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). We can be victorious in the Lord. We can live a life like Aunt Mary that draws others to Jesus. We may have failed yesterday. We may fail today. But we can ask Him to erase our failures and sins.

Then we can begin anew each day.

There’s a beautiful old hymn called, “An Evening Prayer,” that captures the idea of asking God to erase the blackboard of our lives at the end of each day. It says:

If I have wounded any soul today,
If I have caused one foot to go astray,
If I have walked in my own willful way,
Dear Lord, forgive.
Forgive the sins I have confessed to Thee,
Forgive the secret sins I do not see,
O guide me, love me, and my keeper be,
Dear Lord, Amen

Recently I was witnessing to an acquaintance about accepting God’s forgiveness and beginning a new life in Christ. Oh, how this person wanted to do it, but he kept struggling with some really bad sins-truly evil practices-that he feared had ruined his chance for redemption and taken him beyond forgiveness.

God hates sin…but loves sinners

I shared the amazing truth of Romans 5:6-that Christ died for the ungodly. “It’s true that God hates sin,” I told this friend, “but that does not diminish His love for sinners. He died for the very sins that He hates.

“There is nothing in your life that cannot be forgiven-no stains that He cannot erase,” I said. “When God erases your sins and you begin a new life, not only is your future clean, but your past is clean also. That means every mention of your past failure is erased in God’s book. It will never again be found in those heavenly pages where the greatest Bookkeeper of all records your deeds. “

So far the person I’ve been witnessing to has not given his heart to God and accepted Christ as his Savior. I am praying that the Lord will continue to deal with his troubled heart and love him into His kingdom.

The world we live in today is so troubled and filled with strife, so confused and far from God that many people are filled with fear and anxiety. From a natural standpoint, it would be easy to get our blackboard filled up with worry and dread.

If we as believers study and understand the Word, we see that prophecy is coming true. Every day the news points to the coming of the Lord. But those without the Lord-those who do not know that today’s news points to Christ’s coming-must get dreadfully discouraged. There is no hope outside of Christ.

But we do not have to be sad or fearful because Jesus said, Let not your heart be troubled…I will come again (John 14:1, 3). He also declared, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

If we take our eyes off the Lord and start looking at the world around us, then we’re going to falter. The Gospels tell how Peter started walking on the water to Jesus, and then was distracted by the stormy seas and began to sink. The same thing can happen to us. When we get that sinking feeling, like Peter, we need to cry out to the Lord for help. We need to ask him to erase the turmoil and lack of faith in our hearts. The only cure is to say, “Lord, I missed the mark again. Please erase it, forgive it, and help me start again.”

No regrets! No fear!

You know, because of God’s heavenly eraser, we don’t have to regret the past or fear the future. God has forgiven our past, and He is already in our future. But the only way to get to the future is to live today.

We have absolutely no control over what happened yesterday-and to a large extent, we can’t determine what will come tomorrow. The only time we can really use is now, today, where we are living this minute. We wake up every morning to a clean, fresh page God has given us that is labeled TODAY. And, as I’m sure you’ve heard, it is a gift-that’s why it is called the present!

I challenge you to start living your life to the fullest. Because we know the Lord, this is the most exciting time to be alive since the dawn of creation. Give your best to the Lord. Do your best to make a difference in your family, your neighborhood…in your world. Who knows if God has brought you to the world for just such a time as this?

Yes, there will be challenges. There will be times when you don’t know which way to turn or exactly what you should do. But keep on going with your hand in His. Don’t look at the challenges-just keep your eyes and heart on the Lord. The Bible says, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee (Isaiah 26:3).

That’s where I want to live from now on-how about you?

Remember; don’t be afraid to ask for the eraser when you need it!

A CLASSIC MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE

The Holy Spirit’s Titles and Attributes

Further proof of the Holy Spirit’s deity is found in His titles and attributes. He is called the Spirit of Grace, Holiness, Judgment, Knowledge, Life, Love, Might, Promise, Prophecy, Revelation, Supplication, Truth, Understanding, and Wisdom. He is described as omnipotent (all powerful) as to Christ’s resurrection, because Christ was quickened (made alive) by the Spirit (I Peter 3:18). He is also omniscient (knowing all things) because I Corinthians 2:10, 11 states: . . . the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. He is also omnipresent (everywhere at all times). The psalmist cries out in Psalm 139:7-10: Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. It is clear that the reference is directly pointing to the Holy Spirit in this contextual setting.

This same Spirit, like Christ, is Truth, for “the Spirit is truth” (I John 5:6) and also Holiness. His name the “Holy Spirit”, certainly verifies this attribute. Because of this title, it is He who copes directly with the sin nature in the believer and is the only existing power by which that nature is ever controlled. This does not imply superior holiness over the Father and the Son. It is impossible for the inner character of one Person in the Godhead to be more holy than that of another; distinction must lie then within the sphere of that which is the official responsibility of the Spirit. This third Person undoubtedly has a special appointment to manifest, as well as defend, the infinite holiness of God. This holiness of each member of the Trinity is praised by God’s angels in Isaiah 6:3 as they cry: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. There is no doubt about it – all these, and other scriptures clearly define His divinity and His standing as God the Holy Spirit.

HIS PERSONALITY

Second, let us consider the Person or personality of the Holy Spirit. He is definitely a person, distinct from the Father and the Son. He is not an energy or an influence but is distinctly personal, as are the Father and the Son. One of the reasons for not clearly understanding this truth is an unfortunate translation of the original Greek text into the English Bible. For instance, I refer to Romans 8:16, where we read: The Spirit ITSELF beareth witness with our spirit . . . (emphasis mine). Because the impersonal pronoun “it” is used instead of “he” many have regarded this blessed third Person as a mere influence. However, the majority of texts use the correct personal pronouns, as in John 16:13, 14: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. In discussing His departure, Christ informed the world that He would send another to take His place upon the earth. One can readily see that Christ was not sending an influence but another Person. John 14:16,17: And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

The Attributes of a Person

This same Holy Spirit has all the attributes of a person, as you and I do. He can speak (Acts 13:2). He strives with sinners (Genesis 6:3) and can be resisted (Acts 7:51). He can be vexed (Isaiah 63:10) and tested (Acts 5:9). He has feelings because Ephesians 4:30 states: And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. It is abundantly clear, then, that He does what other persons do.

Many people still have a difficult time thinking of the Holy Spirit as a person because of the term “spirit.” Religionists believe that the Father is a Person, as well as the Son, but reject this truth when it comes to the third member of the Trinity because of the label “spirit.” If this has been your theological interpretation, listen to this. The Father was and is a Spirit (John 4:24). The Lord Jesus Christ was a spirit who became flesh to die for sinners. Philippians 2:5-8 states that He was in the form of God (spirit form) but took upon himself the form of flesh. So originally all three were in spirit form. Presently, the Father and Holy Spirit – along with innumerable angels – are still in spirit form. Are they [the angels] not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Hebrews 1:14). On this basis, God the Father is not a person, Christ was not a person, and the Holy Spirit is not a person, nor are the myriads of angels personalities if “spirit” means a mere emanation from God. We now have only three emanations in eternity past and no source from which to emanate. Perish the thought! All three are persons. Just because human eyes cannot presently visualize the spirit world is no proof that the spirit world cannot be seen with spiritual eyes. We will possess these when the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed (I Corinthians 15:52). There are three Persons presently in heaven – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father and the Holy Spirit are still in spirit form. Only Christ is in the heavenlies with a human body. That is why Colossians 2:9 states: For in [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. This does not mean that the other two are not as much a reality as Christ. It only means that one of the three was chosen to take a body containing blood in order to die for sinners because without shedding of blood is no remission [for sin] (Hebrews 9:22).

The Holy Spirit is God

In conclusion, I trust that you will realize that the Holy Spirit is God, that He is not a mere influence or emanation from the Father or the Son but a real person. When the Bible speaks about Him being the Spirit of God and of Christ, it means that He is the Spirit of the Father because He is sent of the Father. He is also the Spirit of Christ because He is sent by the Saviour. This blessed Holy Spirit is also received at the moment Christ is received. Listen to the Word of God. John 3:5 says: . . . Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Romans 8:9 says: . . . if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. One receives the Holy Spirit when he believes – in fact, it is impossible to believe and be saved apart from the Holy Spirit. This is why I Corinthians 12:13 declares: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body . . . . Every Bible scholar will tell you that the placing of an individual into Christ’s body accompanies salvation. Notice that it is the Holy Spirit’s baptism which produces the miracle. This baptism is not a second experience, but a transformation into Christ’s body performed by the Holy Spirit at salvation. Call your experience by other descriptive titles if you so desire but do not call it the “baptism” because that is a once-for-all experience which the Holy Spirit administers at salvation.

The promise of the Saviour takes place at salvation. Jesus said: . . .I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever . . . he . . . shall be in you (John 14:16,17). Paul could say: . . . the Holy Ghost . . . is given. unto us (Romans 5:5). This text in context teaches that the Spirit is given alike to all who are saved. The word us is not a select group of believers, but all who have been washed in the blood. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God . . . (I Corinthians 2:12). No consideration could even be given for a moment to the assumption that the Spirit is intended only for a restricted company among the saved. No, we have all been made to drink into one Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13). If you have salvation you have the Spirit; if you have not the Spirit you have never been saved. . . if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Romans 8:9). Now, the Spirit can have more of us and that is called the filling of the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) which we shall study in a later chapter. However, let’s get one thought straight: If you are saved, you have the Spirit; if you are lost, you do not. If you receive Christ today, the Father and Spirit will also become a part of you, as you become a partaker of the divine nature (II Peter 1:4). Do it now let the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit into your life.

CHANGED LIVES-one at a time

Please continue to preach the truth and I know you will. It grieves me greatly by the falling away of so many so-called spiritual leaders. Satan loves counterfeit religion. Pray for a great awakening into the spirit of truth. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth.

Lord I pray, that the voice of truth will never be silenced, that the truth will be heard by all, that the spiritual teachers will come to understand that the love of the kingdom can only come through truth not lies, it’s impossible for God to lie or be a part of one. Protect and bless JVIM as they are a voice of truth. Praise God, Amen

M. H.

Just letting you dear people know that I do enjoy the newsletter very much.  I am so glad to know there are people in the world who still proclaim the gospel, without changing.  You have been consistent ever since I first heard you on the radio back in the 70s.

B. B.

HIGHLIGHTED MINISTRY OFFERS

What You Need to Know About the Rapture

“Behold, I am telling you a mystery… we will all be

changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye”

I Corinthians 15:51-52

Mysterious yet intriguing, the rapture is one of the most fascinating prophetic subjects in the Bible.  But what is it?  When will it take place?  Why does is seem so hard to understand?

Dr. Charles C. Ryrie, compiler and author of The Ryrie Study Bible, clarifies the diverse views on this complex topic in a reader-friendly manner.  As you engage w this comprehensive guide, you will discover answers to these important questions.

•     How does prophecy benefit people today?
•     Why are the same scriptures interpreted so differently?
•     What events surround the rapture?
•     What is the millennium?
•     How do we benefit from a clear understanding of the rapture?

Using concise language and helpful diagrams, Ryrie explores the key events that surround the last days from a pretribulational perspective.  As you immerse yourself in this straightforward study, you will not only grow in your knowledge of the rapt and its key role in future events, but also experience the profound joy of knowing God’s glorious plan for the future!

What Happens After Life?

The Astounding Truth

About the Next Life

Will Change How You

Live Today

Do you wonder what happens when you die?  If so, you’ll appreciate this inspiring survey of the Bible’s encouraging teachings about the afterlife.  Each chapter is short enough to read in one sitting and zeroes in on a single reassuring truth.  You will quickly find your fears and doubts replaced with confidence int he truth that because you are a Christian…

•     Death is a transition into a wonderful life, not a fearful end.
•     You will enjoy eternity in a wonderful new body.
•     You will be reunited with Christian loved ones.
•     Sin, sorrow, sickness, and pain will be no more.
•     Best of all, you will enjoy face-to-face fellowship with God.

Bypassing philosophical arguments and contentious debates, this uplifting look at the clear teaching of the Bible will empower you to embrace the future with home and joy.