In the Bible, the new testament the book of Acts chapter 10 We read about a man called Cornelius,
He was a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.
That means he gave money to people who needed it,
he was a volunteer,
from way back....
helping every one that he could...
And he prayed to God, always.
In other words...
”he was a good man” according to the way we would look at it.
Yet....
he was not saved!
He was seeking God,
but had not found him yet.
So, how do we explain this man praying and looking after his family and doing all the right things...
He probably thought he was a good man,
yet.....he felt in his heart,
there was something missing.
AS much as he prayed,
and did all that was right,
he was missing something...
God knew this, as God sees the heart.
How many people pray the Lords prayer, thinking they are doing the right thing...
they are praying....
like this man did
...But..
those who pray the Lord’s prayer,
do they just say it with their mouth,
and not really think about what they are saying as it is so familiar to them.
Cornelius, could see that there was something wrong with the religions, around him....
could see there was something missing,
but he did not know “what”
We now go to the apostle Peter.
He is on the roof top, of a house, and he has a vision.
A large sheet came down,
wherein were all manner of four footed beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven.
and a voice said, “Peter come and eat”
But Peter said,
Not so, Lord;
for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean.
Then the voice said
“What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.”
This could mean two things,
Peter now could eat anything, even if the law forbade it for the Jews to eat certain things,
it could also mean that
“the good news”
is for everybody and not just for the Jews.
Just at that time there were people at the door asking for him.
So he went down and asked them why they were looking for him.
They said, “Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one that fears God, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned of God by a holy angel to send for you into his house, and to hear words from you."
So here we see, he was a good man.
But still needed God....
Being good does not do it for you...
it’s just not enough.
So Peter went to Cornelius’ house, and asked him, why he was called for?
Cornelius said,
“Four days ago, until this hour,
I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house;
and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel, and said, "Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call a man called Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he is staying there, in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side."
That is why I sent for you and am glad you came....
we are now ready to hear what God has commanded you to speak.”
So, Peter explained to him that God is no respecter of person,
and all are welcome to come to him.”
Peter explained all that had happened and how Jesus,
the Son of God, was hung on a tree,
but God raised him up after three days....
and showed him to certain witnesses God had selected beforehand—not
to the general public,
but to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those listening! Peter asked,
“Can anyone object to my baptizing them, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”
So he did, baptizing them in the name of Jesus, the Messiah.
Afterwards Cornelius begged him to stay with them for several days.
This is a perfect example for those people who think they are “good people” here, they can see, being good is not good enough....
it is only through Jesus, that they will be accepted by God.
Blessings...
Yaddy
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