Safely Home
By Randy Alcorn

"This book has been recommended to me by more people than any other book. An incredible story." - Steve H.

"Is this the day I die?" wonders Li Quan as he endures persecution for his faith. Half a world away his college buddy, businessman Ben Fielding, steps on the plane to China. Reunited after 20 years, both men face decisions that will determine their destinies---and the fates of their nations and the world. 400 pages, softcover from Tyndale.

What does it mean to obey God?

It means we do our best to do what God tells us in the Bible.

Non-believers then say: If we have to obey God and do what the Bible says, I guess that means we can't have fun any more.

Research* shows exactly the opposite is true. Evangelical Christians have more fun and are the most happy. The closer a Christian follows the Bible, the less stressed out they are and happier they are. Overall 99% of Evangelical Christians say they are happy. Those who believe in the philosophy of eat, drink and be merry -- atheists -- are the least happy and most stressed out group of people. In other words, if we follow God's plan we are more likely to find happiness. If we follow man's plan (human wisdom), we are more likely to have a stressed out life.

So just looking at the results, looking at what works, Evangelical Christianity (believing the Bible is true and obeying God) is the way to personal happiness and less stress in your life. If you want to have fun, be a Bible-believing Evangelical Christian!

What does it mean to obey God? Does this mean we need to obey all the rules and laws in the Bible?

Jesus answers this question for us:

1) "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.'" (Mark 1:14-15 NASB)

Obeying God means we repent our sins and we accept and believe what God is telling us (the gospel).

2) "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." (John 3:16 NASB)

Obeying God means we believe in Jesus as our Lord and savior.

3) "Jesus replied, 'The most important commandment is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.'" (Mark 12;29-31 NLT)

Obeying God means that we love God and one another, and that our actions show our love for one another (see James 2:14-26).

4) "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20 NASB)

Obeying God means that we are not to keep the good news to ourselves. We are to share it with others.

What about all those laws in the Bible? Obeying God does not mean we need to obey all the laws in the Bible. The Bible is a progressive revelation of God. As history progressed God revealed more about Himself and how we should relate to Him. For example, some of the laws in the Old Testament have to do with ceremonial practices that were no longer necessary once Jesus died for our sins.

More information about the law. | More information about having fun.