Monday, March 7, 2011

Bell Found in Coal

This bell was found  
inside a lump of coal

Mr. Newton Anderson found this bell inside of a lump of coal in 1944. The coal was from a mine near his home in West Virginia. The lump was dropped and it broke. Newton found the bell encased inside.

The significance of this is so great your life's eternal destiny may be weighing in the balance. Read on.

The image on the top bears a striking resemblance to a demon worshiped by the Babylonians. They both have wings, pronounced facial marks and an ibex horn on the head.

I know what you're thinking. "O.K., what is the purpose of this?"

Would you just stop and think with me for a moment? Here is a bell made of brass with an iron clapper found in a lump of coal that is supposedly "300 million years old." None of this fits present theories. A nuclear activation analysis test done at the University of Oklahoma revealed that the Anderson Bell contained a strange combination of brass that did not fit any known metal mixtures or workings.

Genesis 4:22 says Tubal-Cain was "an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron..." This civilization had an abrupt ending in a universal colossal flood described in Genesis chapter seven. (This is not an isolated artifact. Many such artifacts have been found.) *This artifact was encased in vegetation that was buried and eventually formed into coal. Thousands of years later it ended up in the coal bin of Newton Anderson's father.

The Bible is the Word of God. Jesus said in Matthew 5:18 "for verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Not the smallest portion of the Bible is false and all the Scripture will be fulfilled in its entirety.

Just as a day of judgment came to a civilization thousands of years ago and they perished in the flood, the Bible says to us today, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (Heb. 9:27)

The Day of Judgment Can be a Joy
Some day everyone will stand before God in judgment. One of the exciting joys of the Bible is the crystal clear fact that on the day of your judgment you can stand before God without condemnation. You will not have to give account for your sins, because of what Christ did for you.

God loves you -- will you give him a few more minutes of your time and read on?

The way to heaven is not what you may think.

Centuries ago God wrote through the Apostle John: "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the son of god hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (I Jn 5:11-13)

Do you have the Son?
This Scripture is talking about Jesus Christ the Son of God. It shows us that a person either has Christ and eternal life or does not have Christ and eternal life.

It's not some goody goody thing.  You see -- eternal life is in Christ. It's not something you can work for or produce in your life through your own efforts.

The Bible says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9)

Going to heaven is -- are you ready? -- totally, completely, and entirely a gracious gift of God. This is why your religion may not be helping you. You may be obeying all the rules that your religion gives you, but that will not produce eternal life or bring joy into your life. Most of my frustrations as a boy growing up came as a result of my religion. The only way you can have eternal life and the joy that accompanies it is to have Christ.

How do you receive Christ?
1) The Bible says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) That means that you and I are sinners and we need to admit that to God. 
2) The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23a) God's Word says that we receive the wages, death, because of our sin. This is physical, spiritual and eternal separation from God.
3) "...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23b) Look at this! God is offering us the Gift of Eternal Life. God can do this because Christ suffered the wages and punishment, DEATH. We would all have to die and be eternally separated from God. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Christ paid the debt. God's holy and unchanging character demands that your sin be punished. Christ satisfied God's holy demand by taking the punishment for every one of your sins. Will you believe in your heart that he died for you?

Let's suppose you get a $500.00 traffic ticket, but don't have a dime to pay the fine. A friend finds out and goes to court with you. The judge after hearing testimony says, "That will be $500.00, please." Your friend steps up, pulls out his wallet, and says, "I'll pay your debt." At this point you have a choice. You can let him pay it by receiving his gift or you'll have to pay it, which means that you will go to jail. God is eternal. If you pay your own sin debt it means punishment forever for every sin. If you receive Christ's payment, you are forgiven and free.

How do you receive God's payment?
4) The Biblical demand is "...repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 20:21) This demand is more than just asking god for forgiveness. Many people have asked God to forgive them for sins numerous times yet they have never experienced a change in their lives.

The change comes through Christ
Before you can receive Christ and experience the change He can bring in your life, you need to be willing to repent. In the Bible repentance means that you are willing to change your attitude toward God and turn from sin. Why don't you right now confess to God that you have sinned against Him and that with His help you are willing to turn from your sin. Now you need to receive Christ as your Savior. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." John 1:12)

Say the following prayer to Jesus:
"Lord Jesus, I ask that you forgive me for sinning. I don't want to sin anymore. Come into my heart and be my Savior and my Lord. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins."

If you have made this decision for Christ, write and tell me.
Norm Sharbaugh
P.O. Box 215
Brownsburg, IN 46112-0215