Lines in the Sand, the Road to Salvation

There are many who will agree with me and many who will not.

Regardless of what people do or don't believe, I have a responsibiility to state the words that I know come from God.

Jesus is returning.
The Church will be leaving.
7 years of the most troublesome times are coming to this planet.
Billions will be dying.

Where will you be spending it?

If you are relying on your good deeds in life, you will be still here to go through those 7 horrible years.
Anything YOU have done isn't enough to save you.
Only what Jesus has done for you can save you.  But YOU have to ask Him for it.
You have to.  He cannot open the door to your heart when the only knob is on your side of it.

Jesus loved you enough to die for you. He took your place.  He paid the price for your sin and mine.  But YOU need to ask for His gift of Salvation. You have to believe in Him as your personal Lord and Savior. You.

It's not going to matter what kind of car or truck you drive.
It's not going to matter what lands you have flown to.
It's not going to matter where your house is.
It's not going to matter what kinds of clothes you own.

None of that is going to matter if you are left behind.

Only after it happens will you then realize you missed the boat. That everything you have valued is now worthless.

Only then will you realize you needed a Savior.

Only then will you see just how evil, evil can be.

I say none of that to scare you, but to get you to see that YOU need to choose.

Soon there will be no more time to choose.

Life isn't just going to go on, Life isn't just going to get better.  In case you haven't seen the news headlines lately, this world is spiraling towards chaos.  Control is the undercurrent word.  How can the government control you.  How can the government get YOU to want them to control you.

They arleady control what you see, what you hear, how you work. They control the information you take in.

But they cannot decide the Spirtual decision facing you.  Lines are being drawn in the sand.  Christians and Israel on one side and those who don't believe on the other side.  Which side are you on?
There is no 'not choosing'.  Not an option.

You need to choose.

Only you can do that. 

Here's how...

The following is from www.allaboutgod.com:

The Roman Road: Follow this Map
The Roman Road provides a detailed map for our salvation and eternal fellowship with God. Just follow these steps: 

1. We must acknowledge God as the Creator of everything, accepting our humble position in God's created order and purpose. Romans 1:20-21

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." 

2.We must realize that we are sinners and that we need forgiveness. None of us are worthy under God’s standards. Romans 3:23 

“For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” 

3.God gave us the way to be forgiven of our sins. He showed us His love by giving us the potential for life through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:8 

“But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

4.If we remain sinners, we will die. However, if we repent of our sins, and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will have eternal life. Romans 6:23 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

5.Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you are saved. Romans 10:9-10 

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” 

6.There are no other religious formulas or rituals. Just call upon the name of the Lord and you will be saved! Romans 10:13 

“For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” 

7. Determine in your heart to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life today. Romans 11:36

"For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen."
The Roman Road: Are You Ready?
The Roman Road shows you the path – are you ready to accept God’s gift of Salvation now? If so, believe in what Jesus Christ did for you on the cross, repent of your sins, and commit the rest of your life to Him. This is not a ritual, just a prayerful guideline for your sincere step of faith:

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)

If you decided to receive Jesus today, welcome to God's family. Now, as a way to grow closer to Him, the Bible tells us to follow up on our commitment.

Get baptized as commanded by Christ.

Tell someone else about your new faith in Christ.

Spend time with God each day. It does not have to be a long period of time. Just develop the daily habit of praying to Him and reading His Word. Ask God to increase your faith and your understanding of the Bible.

Seek fellowship with other followers of Jesus. Develop a group of believing friends to answer your questions and support you.

Find a local church where you can worship God.

Hope...

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

I read these words this morning and wonder, could this be the day? 

How often do you consider that this could be the day you see Jesus face to face?

World events are a chorus of chaos.  Overlapping and gaining strength.  False accusations fly with such intensity that people aren't permitted time to weigh the facts.

Even when facts are shown people rage in denial.  Denial of what God created man and woman to be.  Denial at the cherishing of the unborn.  Denial within the church at staying the course in integrity from the pulpit. Denial is everywhere.  The push to entertain rather that spurring people to worship in Churches has infected the Church.  Pastors who really are hired hands.  No true concern for the flock. 

Truth is, Jesus is God.
Truth is He created them male and female, with but one purpose for each.
Truth is we are to have Pastors who Shepherd the flock as Scripture says.
Truth is God's Word is the final Word.

Men and women will rage against those who are Christians and who are Jews.  Because God has set His seal on Christians and has chosen Israel. 

Human denial, human refusal to believe what Jesus has said will end in eternal punishment. 

But the message is and has been about hope.

Hope for all in Jesus Christ alone for Salvation.

Hope springs eternal in Jesus Christ.

Hope is alive in Him.

Hope is free for the taking.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

Hope is available to all who would but ask.

It matters not where we came from. 
   He already knows.
It matters not what we have done.
   He already knows.
It matters not what we woke up to today.
   He already knows.

He already knows and still says "Come..."

Don't Mess...

In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? Psalms 56:4

Blackaby today wrote: "Some feel that they demonstrate great faith by continually asking God for miracles. They assume that in every situation God wants to do the spectacular. They presume, for example, that God wants to heal anyone who is sick or provide a miraculous escape from every difficulty."

Whereas Blackaby was writing about faith that doesn't ask, I think God's taking recent events for me a different direction.
But it relates to the verse above.

You see, and I know many won't agree with me on this, God does consider death an answer to prayer.  We don't due to our selfish desire to keep those we care about here. But that too is not where this is going this time. 

I did like where Blackaby later went in today's devotional though.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They merely informed Nebuchadnezzar they would not bow to him. There's no recorded prayer by them to God about this.

In my life, I have seen mountains of evidence to show me that God really does not forsake those whom are His.  I have seen such things happen all because of NOT praying, but trusting, that God would deliver me.

The worst thing that anyone in this world can do to me is to try to paint a bullseye on my back.  Because as long as I am serving my God, they cannot harm me.

Scripture is clear that I am in Jesus's hands. He is in the Father's hands.  Name one entity in this universe who is strong enough to get past either of them. There is none.

Those who have tried, I have seen My God take apart in ways that I never dreamed possible.  I don't gloat over their calamity.  That wouldn't be right either.  It's what they tried that establishes my faith even deeper.  All without asking for a miracle.

I fear no man as long as I am obeying Jesus.  It is no license to be stupid but it's freeing to know that my obedience establishes His divine protection.  It's throughout the Old Testament.  When Israel obeyed, nobody could touch them.
When they did not, their enemies got through.

In recent days I have seen the rumblings of people towards me not being as favorable as they were not so long ago.
My only prayer concerning them is for them to be saved. Not that God would enact any form of revenge.  That would be tantamount to being like James and John asking Jesus if He wanted them to call down fire from Heaven to destroy some people.

Newsflash people.  You're going to be mistreated by people in this world who are not believers.  There's a time and place for righteous anger.  But be sure of that before you go there.

Like many of those you read about in the Old Testament, the Lord was working and He admonished them to hold their hand else they would be interfering with what He was doing.

I have but one chief calling. To take up my cross and follow Christ. To do that requires Loving the Lord your God with all my heart, all my mind, all my soul and all my spirit.  Then also to love my neighbor as myself. 

There's no where in there does it state that they will get it every time.  Those who are in Christ are in the light. Those who are not are in darkness.  Those still in darkness don't like the light because it exposes their deeds.

Prayer is more than a powerful tool. It's our method of communication with our Savior.  It is the garden implement that tends to the soil of our hearts as much as it communicates to our Lord.

Jacob prayed about his brother who was coming at him.  God changed the hearts of both.

Joseph went through many heavy job changes.  I can relate to that.  But notice that there's no recorded prayer about being thankful for going through each one. In the end, when he is reunited with his family, he tells them at that point he understands.  That although their motives were evil God meant them for good. To bring about the salvation of Israel.  You don't see a prayer of thanks at being thrown in jail. No prayer of thanks at being sold as a slave.

But through it all God was there. The Lord was with him

In my life, if ever I am described, my hope is that would be how people would describe me. 

I undoubtedly will end up with people not looking upon me favorably for whatever their reasons.  But that's not my problem.
Scripture says that the Lord knows the thoughts and intentions of man.  Someone decides to have a beef with me He will know about it long before me.

I am to keep on doing what He has for me to do.  The story's that I could tell of ways He's delivered me would astound many. By no means could they be seen as a coincidence.  It's my Lord's deliverance.

Miracles still happen. Even without a prayer.  God never sleeps.  He is always ever mindful of what's going on in this world.  His Plan will always be successful.
His Words will always come to pass.

I have seen people so bitter that their misery is hidden even from themselves.

Wow. 

Bitterness and rage at what doesn't fit what they think is right.  Snapping off at people rather than a peaceful conversation.  Ironically they claim that people aren't listening to them.  It's they who are driven into such anger and bitterness that they cannot listen.  I do not fear them.  They just need to know that with God there is no separation of Church and State.  No separation between my faith in God and my work.  God is just as much a part of my life at work as He is outside of it.  Mess with me you mess with my Savior.  Simple as that. My job, according to Colossians 3:23-24 is "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."

I do not boast in what I can do. I boast in what God had done and is doing. 

I am:
His workmanship: Ephesians 2:10
His Child: 1 John 3:1
Protected by Him: John 10:28-29
To Obey these:  Matthew 22:36-40
Take up my cross: Luke 9:23

Be it at work or home or anywhere, those are important things to me.  Fear no man or woman. 

I am so thankful that my Jesus loves me enough to not leave me as He found me, but is working out His words through me and to me. 

I may not be a Paul, or a John or even a Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. But I am David who is loved by my Savior.  He has a plan for me and it's been awesome so far.

What I deserve vs What God Gives

In recent days I have shared with others how much God has blessed me, blessed us.  On several occasions I have been told that they are glad, because after all that I have been through, that I have earned it.

That couldn't be farther from the truth.

I don't see, and maybe it's because on this side of eternity I am unable to, how I deserve any good thing.  I am ever knowledgable about my sin. In this body, in this world, it is everywhere I go.

I know that I am saved and forgiven.  But maybe this is my own 'thorn in the flesh'. To keep me from exalting myself. That I would be ever aware of my failings and how I could have done better for Jesus.

I am the one who, like Joseph, had been given a chance to see what I am doing now for God over 20 years ago.  Then, like Israel, I spent most, if not more than, those 20 years in the wilderness. I jumped the gun and spent decades dealing with the repercussions of that.

I know the passage as well am most do of God causing all things to work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

But wow. I certainly gave Him a lot to deal with to get to this point.  I have often referred to events in my life as Spiritual surgeries.  To an artist, a sculptor, essentially that is as close as it gets to the focus, the intensity, of the procedures when changes need to happen.  The smallest or large strokes required have to be executed exactly or the only result is to begin again.

If I have been blessed with anything, it's that I do not remember much of events in my life.  The major stuff, I tend to remember, but most stuff I don't.  However, when it comes to where I have failed God, both fortunately and unfortunately there's reminders presented to me.

Have I been blessed? Oh, yes, way more than I deserve.  Way more than I deserve.
I know that I am forgiven, but as I said, I am reminded of my times in which I fell short. 

I have on many occasions prayed as King David, who am I, and what is my house that you have blessed me so?

In one the last books of the Left Behind series, there's a scene of one of the key characters and their seeing and approaching Jesus in Heaven.  Their life goes through their mind as Jesus comforts them.  His only response is to call out 'unworthy!'  I can relate to that in my life.  I know that I am blessed beyond all measure, but in me, I feel so unworthy.
I know that God's ways are higher than mine, and I know that He casts my sins as far as the east is from the west. His enemy sends reminders of where I messed up. 
What I try to do is keep on trying to praise my Jesus.  Focusing on things above not on things here below as He says in the New Testament.  Praying for others. Trying to keep from stumbling.  Getting back up, and moving forward.  The race of life isn't over yet. There's still a finish line up ahead. 

I will respectfully disagree with those who say that I deserve these blessings.  It's all God's Grace.

His granting me unmerited favor.  That's what Grace is.  I am grateful for that.
I didn't earn it and don't deserve it but He gives it to me.  Yes I have been through a lot, but, as it was with Joseph, God's idea of on-the-job training is way different than ours. 

He loves me, that's all I need to know.

My Jesus I love thee
I know thou art mine

As the hymn goes. Soon I too will see Jesus face to face.  I firmly believe the Rapture of the Church is near. 

I know in whom I have believed. Do you?

As I said before millions thought they had a today.  Now they don't.  Now they fully realize that deciding when they were alive meant a Heaven or Hell difference.  There are no atheists in Hell.  There are countless millions who have had their theology corrected.  They are all very aware that Jesus is who He says He is.
But now all they have is an eternal separation from God.  They are not partying.  Read what Jesus Himself said of the conditions there. 

Don't put it off. Where I am today is where God was showing me that I would be 20 plus years ago. Telling people, showing people, they need a Savior. To throw out the life preserver.  To show the way to be saved.  Once you are dead there's no second chances.

If you aren't sure, Google 'Roman's Road'.

Be sure.  Millions will get no second chances today.  They won't have a tomorrow.  I fear not what tomorrow may bring.  Jesus has me safe in His hands.

My life is not my own.  It's a work in progress by my Savior.  To tell others what God wants to do for them.

Do you Listen? Can you Hear?

Blackaby writes "Every time we prepare to worship the Lord, we ought to do so with anticipation that Almighty God may have something to say to us. Whenever we open our Bibles, we should expect that God has something to tell us in our time with Him. We ought to be far more concerned with what God will say to us during our prayer times than with what we intend to tell Him. When you receive a word from your Lord, whether it be of praise or of correction, consider it joy that Almighty God would speak to you."

What goes into your time with God?
Anything?  A list perhaps? A time of silence?  Music?

Many things can go into my time with God.  But I think that one of the greatest is when I shut up.  Yes. When I open in prayer then say nothing.  I admit I don't do that often enough.

The most powerful thing you can or will ever do in this life is to pray.  When the newly transformed Disciples who were now Apostles prayed, even the Earth took notice.  Read the book of Acts. Look at what happened in the nearly days of the Church. 

But how often are our prayer times filled with a list of our wants? Our desires.  Things that would make us happy. 
Many get discouraged because it appears that God didn't perform like a genie and instantly make it a yes answer.

For starters God isn't a genie.

Secondly answers to prayer take on different forms and in multiple ways. Yes, no, not right now or hang on. I have something better in mind.

Persistence in prayer shows that we are in earnest in our prayers.  That's important too.

But do we ever pray for better understanding?
But do we pray for greater knowledge of God?
But do we pray for our eyes to be opened?
Are we praying for those who hurt us? That Jesus would intervene in a way that is right to HIM and not necessarily us?
It is oh so easy to be a James and John, want to call fire to come down from Heaven to deal with people.  Read the Old Testament.  It did happen before.

Do we pray for our relationship with Jesus?

Do we only pray for the food on the table and the hands that prepared it?

Are we ever just in silence before God to learn about being near Him?

Steven Curtis Chapman has several versions of a song called "Be Still".

Be still and know that he is god
Be still and know that he is holy
Be still oh restless soul of mine
Bow before the prince of peace
Let the noise and clamor cease

Be still and know that he is god
Be still and know that he is faithful
Consider all that he has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that he will never change
Be still

Be still and know that he is god
Be still and know that he is god
Be still and know that he is god
Be still
Be speechless

Be still and know that he is god
Be still and know he is our father
Come rest your head upon his breast
Listen to the rhythm of
His unfailing heart of love
Beating for his little ones
Calling each of us to come
Be still
Be still

I often pray for my eyes to be opened. 
That He would provide understanding.
That I would understand.  As Scripture says who knows the mind of God but the Spirit within Him? God says if any man lacks wisdom he is to but ask.

It's interesting that yesterday an analogy came to me at a picnic. God calls us to be the light of the world. Not to be flamethrowers.  "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16.
We shouldn't be forcefully pushing people to Christ.  We can no more make someone become saved than we can make a seed break forth from the ground.
The Spirit causes growth.  Not us.

We will do more in our prayers for those we know who are not saved than a thousand words said to them.  Our actions will speak volumes.  Not our badgering.

Scripture says that the prayers of a righteous man avails much.   

James 5:16 "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

So what happens in your prayers?
We serve a living Savior...He lives...
I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today I know that He is living, whatever men may say, I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer And just the time I need Him He's always near.

Our Jesus is but a prayer away.
His loving kindness is forever to those who are His.

The door is open to anyone who wants His free gift of Salvation.  A relationship awaits those who would come.

If you are one of His sheep then you know His voice.  Stop n listen for it today.
Jesus said that if you don't hear His voice then you are not His sheep. 

Come to Christ today.  Become one of His. Hear Him. Listen.

What Jesus Sees

In 2 Samuel 9 there's a man mentioned named Mephibosheth.  The son of King David's best friend Jonathan.  He was crippled in both feet yet was given a place of honor at the King's table.  To be gazed upon by the King whenever he ate.

Mephibosheth questioned it. But the King won out.  To King David, to see Mephibosheth was to be continually reminded of Jonathan.  This story comes from Morning and Evening by C.H. Spurgeon for today.   But consider it well.

When the Father looks upon a believer in Jesus Christ, He sees not that individual. He sees Jesus.  Jesus took our place.
If you are not a believer then He indeed sees you in all your filthy mess of sin.
In Christ the Father sees no spot or wrinkles. Nothing out of place. Perfection.

When all of those who have been saved are saved they come together to be the bride of Christ.  A perfect bride, without any imperfections. 

There's much to go through in this life to achieve the cleanliness of perfection physically.  People struggle and strive for it yet never achieve it.  But Scripture says God looks at the inner man.  Separating the thoughts from the intentions.  Think about that!  Can even YOU do that? Can you know where your thoughts end an an intention begins?
Jesus can and does. 
In the life of every single believer He sees the person they will be when He is done.
Scripture says we are His workmanship.
Each person has a piece of that perfection that, when brought together becomes that perfect Bride.

For those of you who haven't come to Christ, you have no part in that. Your sins remain.  But you can have all that washed away today!  Seek out the Savior of this world.  Seek out the free gift He provided.
It is as simple as asking.
It is as simple as asking.
Let me say that again.
It's as simple as asking.

You don't need to go do a list of things first, before you will be accepted.
You don't need to go straighten out your life before you ask. You can't do it.
You don't need anything but to ask.

Don't look upon your current condition and judge yourself unworthy. There's always going to be that voice to tell you that.  It's Satan.  He knows that Salvation works and will try to keep you and everyone from achieving it.
Don't look at your past and say 'How can God ever forgive what I have done?'

To answer that, you need to realize, my friend,  that when Jesus was on that Cross.  ALL the sin of all humanity was heaped upon Him.  Every single thing from every single person who ever HAS lived or WILL live. Including every single deep dark sin you have or ever will have committed. 

He still says to you...'Come...'

Jesus loved YOU so much that He made the way possible to be so easy that a child would understand it.
His Father will never have a change of mind or heart about you. 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

That's the promise of God the Father right there. 

What about your sins? You say they are too great? There's so many of them? Again. When you come to Christ He remembers them no more.  Well if you won't take it from me, here, read it from Him:

Psalms 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us."

Can YOU see a way for the east and west to meet?  

They are gone, history.  For you to keep looking back on them is like going through life only looking at your rearview mirror.  Sooner or later you're gonna wreck.

Look at the past as something to help you, not hinder you.  It's the present and future that matter. 

So my reader consider today coming today to Jesus.  Make this Memorial day your new Birthday in Christ.

In this world you will have trouble but Jesus said He overcame the world.  I can only make it through this world without going crazy because Jesus has kept His promise to never leave me alone. 
If your life is filled with troubles and tragedy and you can't take any more.  If you can see you're not able to go it alone anymore.  There's hope to be had in Jesus.   He's got the only working life preserver.

You don't have to go it alone anymore.  You don't have to be alone anymore.

Look up the Roman's Road online.

Your Salvation is at hand.  Your life may not immediately change but you will be changed.  You will be remembered and will be heard by your Savior.  You will see the hand of God in your life.  Your sin stains will be washed away.  You will be given new clothes to wear.

You will have hope where there was none.

Accepting Reality

There can be no acceptance by those who live in darkness to the Light of this world as long as they reject it.  Sounds simplistic enough but the truth is this, no the darkness of this world isn't getting stronger.  No, like what happens in virtually every sci-fi movie n TV show made, there will not be some grand event by mankind to reclaim morality and all that goes with it.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and THE Life. NO man or woman comes to the Father but through Him.  Evil is on the rise, most of the professing Church is infected by worldly ideas of greatness.  Jesus said that if they (the World) hates Him they will hate us too.  He goes on to say that people will infiltrate the Church to find out what it really is. That people in the Church will accumulate for themselves teachers who tell them what they want to hear.
People don't want to hear of how ugly sin is. They don't want to hear of how evil sin is and that it's responsible for what you see in the news.  Jesus only healed 2 kinds of people. Those truly sick or those who were demon possessed.  No psychological this or that. Which means there are only two kinds of people today. Those who are truly sick or those who are demon possessed.  But Churches today want to only talk about one side of the Christian life. The joy, the blessings, even the treasures mentioned in the Bible. Yet they tend to neglect to mention the fact that there's a war going on. Not everyone who name's the name of Jesus as their Savior will have a joyous happy life.  Many in the world die almost immediately after confessing Jesus as Lord. There are indeed promises in the Bible for believers, but the greatest was "today you shall be with Me". We, like everyone, are not promised a tomorrow.  We are promised that a man’s enemies will be members of his own household.  We are promised that we will have life more abundant.  Meaning deeper lows and higher highs than we could ever get through without Jesus.  Listing God's promises is a good reminder but it doesn't take the place of a relationship with Jesus.  Paul had times in his life when he despaired of it.  Sound joyful and full of blessings?  Hardly.  We who follow Christ need to be on our knees more, praying more, getting truly discipled to be who The Father meant us to be in Christ.  Want to change the world?  Here's your chance. Pray. Confess, let go of what you are holding onto. Forgive. Both yourself and others. Talk to Jesus.  Tell Him about your hurts, your pain.  We don't have a Savior who doesn't understand. He went through it all.  Tired of hearing about shootings, abortions etc? Pray.  The power of the believer is in his or her prayers.  We won't see the end of them, but we might just save a few.  Jesus said He was the Light of the world. That the darkness did not understand it. So He taught people, not just His Disciples but the crowds that followed Him. In the Temple.  Wherever the Father lead Him to go.  We are the Light in this world if we have Jesus.  People are going to be haters.  It's not us they hate, but the Light.  To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. We have nothing to fear. If something happens to me, in the blink of an eye I stand before Jesus.  So tell me is that a bad thing? 
Hardly.  Before Christ comes, the cup of the Gentiles must be full. It's getting there. Quickly.
Gentiles are anyone who isn't a Jews.  The iniquities or sins of the Gentiles are filled a cup of wrath that will be dealt with by Jesus. The time is coming.  The atrocities against man, the abortions, mass murders, genocide, rapes, thefts, murders are increasing. Jesus said it would be that way before He returns.  I am ready, are you?

What Shall We Say

A Memorial is when we think on some act or event in as much as it is an object.

There is a Vietnam War Memorial. The Lincoln Memorial. The various Civil War Memorials. 

In their own way, those side of the road Memorials stand out.  The song 3 Wooden Crosses. 

At its root it's paying respect and honor to some person or people.  In the New Testament many of the Saints of God are named in memory of them. The things they did.  A woman who poured perfume over Jesus to anoint Him for burial.  The Widow's mite story.  The various acts of the Disciples.  What John the Baptist did.

We know brave men and women who have went beyond great lengths to serve our country.  Or even have engaged in great battles within their own bodies fighting terrible disease. 

Both in memory of what He did and is doing, we remember Jesus.  He is both remembered in memory of what He did on the cross as well as is doing at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. 
His universally monumental sacrifice eclipses every event in human history.
He was beaten. Whipped. Scourged. Spit upon. Mocked. Ridiculed. Nailed to a cross.  Hung up for all the universe to see.
The symbol of the cross is a Memorial of a kind. An empty cross represents the fact and truth that He is no longer there. His work at saving mankind is finished.
His work at interceding for mankind had began when He sat down at the Father's right hand.

No one greater has ever lived and is living than Jesus Christ. 

This world is not my home because of My Savior.
The possessions that I truly have are safe in Heaven because of My Savior.
The life I try to live is only because of My Savior.  I owe Him my life.  I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Him.

My life as a believer is never going to be summed up from where I went or what I did for me.  It will not be about where I went or what famous people I knew.  It will not be about the cars that I drive nor the house in which I live.  It will not be about sporting events or movies that I have seen.  It will not be about which television shows that I liked.  It will not be about where I have traveled to. 

My Life will be seen for what I did as a Believer representing Christ.  My knowledge of things is worthless compared to knowing Jesus.  My abilities are worthless compared to knowing Jesus.  I stumble and fall every day. But He stays with me, lifts me up, cleans me off and we begin the day once more.

I am never alone.  In my sin He is there, in my walk through life, He is there.  In my good times and bad He is there.  He keeps His promises even when I fail Him. He continues to work with me and through me for His good pleasure. 

So I look back at what He did for me 2000 years ago and at the same time I thank Him for what He is doing now. The Memorial, the Memory and the Activity of my Living Lord and Savior. 

I am in awe and am amazed daily that since the beginning of this blog that every single day Jesus gives me something to say.  Something to share with all of you.
I loved to write but didn't know what to write about. I loved to share about Jesus when I first came to Him in the 70's. But was quickly silenced by kids in my elementary school who overwhelmed me with their mocking and harassment. Now I get to shout it from my home to all the world thanks to Jesus.  He made a way.

Jesus's love is the root of what we remember in Memorial of His obedience 2000 years ago to His Father.
Jesus's love is the root of what enabled Him to rise again from the dead.
Jesus's love for you.

Jesus loves you.

A Memorial

Most think on a memorial from a distance.  The Lincoln Memorial. Mount Rushmore.  The Vietnam War Memorial. The Civil War Memorials.  Arlington National Cemetery.

They have been in our minds from time to time but for the Believer, our Memorial and Hope was 2000 years ago.  A cross we have never seen yet plays out upon our hearts.  We have read the story of what Jesus went through and how He went through so much to save us.

But other religions have memorials too.
To Buddhism to Islam etc.  The big difference is our Savior lives!  Those other religions may have had someone step up and attempt to be something but they are all dead. Never to return.  In fact the interesting part is they are all now acknowledging the truth.  That Jesus Christ IS King.  Unfortunately there's nothing they can do about it.  They are in Hell.

Whereas with Jesus and a life spent with Him, you get to experience how alive He really is.  Even today.  No man can take the life of a believer in Jesus without His permission.  The power of God is what protects each and every Believer in Jesus Christ.  Through the Holy Spirit.

So others may try to worship those who are dead and will remain so, we worship He that is alive forever more.  He arose from the dead, appearing before over 500 people.  His coming back from the grave proved that He indeed is the Son of God.

So our Memorial is unlike any other. It's as alive now as it was 2000 years ago. We wave not a flag of any country, but the banner of the Lord of Hosts.

The best part is He IS indeed coming back.  He IS returning.  Our living Memorial.  Our Living Lord is coming back to take home those who are His.  We have no land, no country, no nation that is of this world.  Ours is of the Kingdom of God in the Heavenly places.

Even so come quickly Lord Jesus. Amen.

The War to Come, the War is Now

Psalms 2

Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against HisAnointed, saying,
“Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”

He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
Then He will speak to them in Hisanger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

“I will surely tell of the decree of theLord:

He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give thenations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them likeearthenware.’”

Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
Worship the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

Look at our world today. 
Look at the hatred of nations against Christianity and Israel.  All this 'hate speech' and its directed at those who have to do with God! 

This was written thousands of years ago yet rings true today.  It is a vain thing to do battle with Jesus Christ.  He is the Creator-God. You are not. The rulers of this world are not.

This is but one passage that came to me this morning after reading what was going on in the world today. 

Satan is thoroughly manipulating the nation's of the world.  Revelation tells of the endgame.  An ultimate war between Jesus and Satan.  The battleground will be throughout the world.  The cost will be human souls.  Hatred and animosity toward Israel.  Christianity as well.  Trying to shut down every mention of anything Biblical.  Trying to push Israel off the planet.

It's war people.  War. You are not just on the sidelines.  You are both the prize and the weapon.  Whomever wins over your soul wins.

Well let me tell you. Those who come to Christ will be the only winners.   Everyone who thinks their rage against God is worth something is blowing smoke.  Everyone who says they aren't deciding, they aren't in this fight...have already joined the side against Jesus. 
Jesus has spoken and His Word is the final answer.  There are no bystanders.

So. Which are you?  Jesus says that you are either going to be written down in His book of life or you are not.  Those who are not are cast into the lake of Fire. 

Jesus wrote the book. He wrote how all this history of the universe was going to play out.  But the choice of who says yes or no to His free gift of Salvation is in YOUR hands.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23

Which means you if you haven't received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. 

Please look up Romans Road my readers.  Look it up.  Your eternal destiny depends on whether or not you are one of Jesus's own. 

The days are drawing to a close on the opportunity to go with Jesus at His return. 

Indeed people will be saved throughout the 7 year Tribulation that's coming but the worst kind of hell on Earth is what you will be living through. 

I say that not to scare you but to impress upon you the urgency of the hour.  If you are relying on anything other than what Jesus did on a cross to save you, you will be headed for Hell. 

Jesus says HE is the only way.

Decide today.  Let go of the idea that you will when you feel like it.  Millions died yesterday who thought they had time.  They are now in Hell.

Let go of the idea that as soon as you're good enough, have given up on the bad things in your life that you will. Millions died yesterday who wasted their efforts and are now in Hell. 

Let go of your anger at God over whatever reasons you have. Millions in Hell rage at God and it profits them nothing. They are still there.

Let go of trying to get your life straight first. That's what coming to Christ fixes. Only the Creator of you knows how to make things right within you. He already knows every sin every fault every problem you have.  He can handle it.  Just come. 

Jesus is waiting...for you.

Right Before Your Eyes

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning? John 8:24-26

Oh reader. Consider the words of Jesus Christ Himself.  He speaks to you this day.

Read that again and open up your eyes! Open up your heart!  Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father but through Him.

In this world we still have people who refuse to believe in Jesus.  We still have people who say as they did to Jesus's face back then. "What signs do you show us?" 

Consider your life.  Stop and really look at it.  There are signposts everywhere.  Even in the life of one who is a believer in Jesus Christ there are signposts.

You can refuse to believe that Jesus is real and that what He said is real or you can go on being a pawn and believe the lies you have told all your life.

Pawn? Yes. God has an enemy named Satan.  He uses lies and deception. Very cunning lies. Anything he can say or do to keep the truth about your hope from getting to your ears and into your heart.

If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ then you are able to be used of Satan. 

You have none of the protections that come with being in a right relationship with God.  Those in Christ are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Through the shed blood of Jesus.  God's grace and mercy follow the believer everywhere. 

The love of Jesus grows within them. He is faithful to them in their walk of life.

But consider, if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ then his enemy is just as faithful in trying to keep you from getting saved. 

Satan is a very sore loser. He wants the Throne of God. He will sacrifice everything and everyone he can in his attempt to get there. But he is a created being.  Everyone and everything is created except for God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. 

Listening to Satan's lies and going along with them makes people pawns of his.

But go back to the words of Jesus.

Unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.

1 sin is a death penalty in the eyes of God.
A sin.

1 sin cancels out every good thing you could ever do in your life. One.

Only by coming to Christ and receiving His free gift of Salvation can you be saved.

You absolutely need something more than what good you think you can do. You need Jesus.

From your earliest days Jesus had shown you many things about Himself.  In the lives of others, in the world around you.  There's evidence.  You can deny it all you want but there's evidence.  Satan will twist it to keep you from seeing it as God's truth but it's there.

Are you tired of the hate, the anger, the weariness of your life? Are you tired of stress and worry because you just don't know what will happen today let alone tomorrow?  Are you panicked about circumstances you can't change?

Jesus is the answer.  Dear reader Jesus is your answer!  In ways that I can't explain Jesus has removed stress, worry, anger, and all sorts of other things from my heart, mind and soul.  But only by coming to Christ was it possible!

The world around me is in chaos.  It's only going to get worse because Satan believes the Bible.   Yes you read that right .  Satan believes the Bible.

He knows everything in it yet rejects it because if it remains true then he is done for.  Finished.  But consider what Jesus said on that cross where Satan thought he had won. "It is FINISHED!" Jesus won.
Not only did He provide a way to save mankind, He proved He...is...the...Son...of...God.

If you reject Jesus you will die in your sins.  A life spent for nothing. A life that will continue in Hell in torment apart from God.   Think about your life.  What had Jesus been saying to you from your beginning....

Not Freedom to waste

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

There's so many today who profess to be Christians, yet go off and do their own thing.  Give God maybe a Sunday morning or two and that's it.

Is that how you honor and respect the one who was tortured, humiliated, and brutally killed on a cross for everything YOU did?

Yes, He arose 3 days later to victory, but is that how you live out your life? 

I am just calling a spade a spade here. It's one thing if your job takes you away from Sunday's to go to church.  Quite another when you consider it optional.  That it doesn't really matter. 

We owe a life-debt to the one who took our place.  Taking up our cross is to bear up under the load of our lives with the full intent of living for the one who took our place.  It's not about ignoring our calling.
It's not about getting out of Hell free.  It's not a license to go on sinning like nothing ever happened. 

Well, Scripture says we will know people by their fruits.  We will be able to see if they are believers or not. We will see by their actions. Scripture also says we are not to continue in sin just because we have Christ's unmerited favor, or Grace as its called. That's in Romans.

In Corinthians it tells us we are part of the body of Christ.  Now, in a body, be it animal or human or even insect for that matter, every part has a purpose.   Nothing was randomly placed. Didn't just pop in there out of the blue and begin to do something.  When all parts of the body are doing their part, the body is in fantastic health.  When part of a body starts doing its own thing. Grows abnormally. Attacks other good cells. That's typically a disease.  The most commonly known is cancer.

If you aren't living your purpose in Christ, as a Christian, then what are you? 

Several Disciples thought about status being important.  Jesus taught that it shouldn't be that way among them. The last shall be first and the first shall be last.
Paul mentions that there are honorable and less honorable parts of the body. Some are the glue that helps hold it together.  Some are the eye, some are the hand. Some are elbows.  Each part has a function.  One should not be jealous of other parts nor should they try to be what they are not.

We live in a time in history when practically every fantasy, be it good or bad, legal or illegal, can be had.  Distractions abound.  Idols are everywhere.  For decades Television has been telling us to live in the moment.  Do it. Live for yourself.  If you don't, you will miss out.  Climb that corporate ladder.  Get all you can out of life. Don't take it from anyone.  You deserve it. You earned it.  If it feels good, do it.

Notice anything wrong with all that?  It's selfishness. It's self-centered.  It's also the very thing that Satan started with Adam and Eve with.

What we have in Christ isn't to be lavishly spent on ourselves.  It's to be used to show others that Christ wants a relationship with them.  Not gallivanting around everywhere avoiding God. Not being a workaholic trying to be the next millionaire.  Not immersed in a job or sports or anything to the end of all else.

We, who are in Christ, have a job to do.
We have a mission to complete.
We are Ambassadors of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ask Jesus.  He will show you what your role is. What He needs YOU to do.  Fear not concerning what it may be.  The Spirit will teach you, empower you, to do whatever it is. As Isaiah said, Here I am send me!

To be honest, that's the largest single problem that I messed up with (from my viewpoint) in my life.  I thought I knew what Jesus wanted of me and I jumped in before I knew how to swim.

But the opposite is the issue.  Not doing what we know God is wanting of us. We go on living our lives our way.  Not giving God the time of day until maybe next Sunday.  Is that you?

A very big indication is what consumes your thoughts.  Your actions are born out of your thoughts. 

Where do your thoughts take you?
Are they only on you, or are you asking Jesus what's next? 

If we are indeed praying Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done. On Earth as it is in Heaven.  Then what ought our priorities be?  Who is holding up the return of Christ?  Could it be Christians not doing what they should be?  Think about that.

Blessed Assurance

It's interesting that two of my devotional readings hit upon the same note.

Oh, believer, do not rest until you have full assurance of your position in Jesus. Let nothing satisfy you until, by the infallible witness of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with your own spirit, you are confident that you are a child of God. Don’t play around here—don’t let “perhaps” and “possibly” and “if” and “maybe” satisfy your soul. Build on eternal truths, and build on them truthfully. Get the “sure mercies of David” (Isaiah 55:3 NKJV), and surely get them.  - C.H. Spurgeon

Sometimes we desperately want others to believe that we have changed, that we are more godly, more devoted, more Spirit-controlled. It is not necessary, however, for those who have been truly transformed by Christ to convince others of the difference; the change will be obvious. Don’t become too introspective, always focusing on yourself and the small changes you see happening over time. If you have to prove to someone that God has really changed you, He has not. Those around you will surely notice when your life has been transformed by your relationship with Jesus. - Blackaby

If you are going to look at yourself, look through the lense of Scripture, as Dr. John C. Whitcomb would say it.

Look not at your successes or your failures.  God's view of our lives is more complex.  If indeed we are in Christ, the change will be noticed.  Our priorities will show it.  What's important to God becomes important to us.  It's not so much that incredible things will happen to us or for us, but within us. Where nothing in this world can touch.

If our priorities don't include God, then a reason to question exists. Getting saved by Jesus isn't about getting a get out of Hell free card.  It's not a season pass to go do what you want with your life once you come to Christ.

Taking up your cross is a serious business.  You can't hold onto other things while holding onto that cross.

Trying to convince ourselves that we are saved isn't it either.  Jesus speaks of many who say they did all kinds of things in His name...and tells them to go away. Because they never knew Him.

There was no relationship.  They were there by the fire of someone else who was saved to be warmed and to share in their blessings, but salvation wasn't in them. The seal of the Holy Spirit wasn't there. 

Like Spurgeon said, don't rest until you KNOW that you are a child of God. 

Take time to look at your life. Can you point to a real moment in time when you know that you came to Christ? 

Is there real fruit to show that the tree of life is part of you?   It's not about guilt or regrets.  Feeling sorry.  It's about newness of life.  It's about seeing and seeking to please the one who saved you. Is what's important to Jesus important to you?
Really?  This isn't a one time question.
It can be a daily question.  When you get up. When you are out and about.  When you are at work or school. 

What's important to you?  This is as much to me as you.  I look at what I am doing.  Where am I going.  Is this the path of God for me.  Am I going to the right Church. Am I spending time with Jesus. Does my prayer life reflect that. Looking at what motivates me.  What's important. What drives me. What am I not doing that I should be.  Have things in this life been more important than what God has for me to be doing.  Just because we are centuries ahead of Biblical times, idols still exist.  Are there any in my life? 

But the truth will show if your life is the reflection of one spent with Jesus.  He is the light of the world.  Like it says in the book of Acts. They knew these men.  They knew that they were 'uneducated', yet they could also see they were with Jesus.  Can the same thing be said of you? 

I know people who love to be warmed by the fire of someone else who is indeed saved.  They love the warm feelings. The warm fuzzies they get being around Christians.  I pray just about every day for them.  Their eternity depends on it.
My hope is that they indeed receive the free gift of Salvation themselves.  That they get over the thought that they need to be good enough first.  That they are too far gone for Jesus to save them.

Consider the people who the Bible shows us who are saved.  Former adulterers, former murderers. Former idoliters. Former homosexuals. Former...you name the sin, you likely can find someone in the Bible who God saved. Jesus took ALL the sin of mankind on Him on the cross. Every single sin of humanity. Paid the debt of sin for every single human being. The Bible says the wages of sin is death. A single sin means a death penalty. One.
Yet for those who come to Christ for His free gift of Salvation, it is wiped clean. No sin is counted against believers.  No penalty of death. The Bible says He casts our sins as far as the East is from the West. Remembering them no more.
But the better part is we get to live! Live for the one who saved us!  Freedom! It's nor freedom to go do what we want.  It's not freedom to go on sinning.  It's freedom to serve.  Rather than be served.
Our world tells us to go out and get what you want.  To be blatant. It tells you to be selfish.  Think about you and what makes you happy.  Forget about others.  They must accept you as you want to be known.  They must literally bow before your identity.  That's not what a Christian is to be like.  

Like Andrew, we point people to Christ.  We will be wronged in this life.  We will give up things in this life.  This world is not our home.  We now belong to the Kingdom of God.

What do you show people?

When you look in the mirror.  Who do you see?   The turning point of the Prodigal Son was to see himself as God saw him.  One who had a need that only His Father could fill.  When he arrived near home, he saw that his Father had been earnestly waiting for him.  He hadn't set foot on the property yet when his Father ran to him.
His Father didn't need to hear about his failures.  Didn't need to hear about how bad he messed up.  Didn't need to hear about anything.  He was forgiven. The slate wiped clean.  The Father said his son who was dead is now alive.  Read that story again.  It's no fable. Countless millions have lived that story in their lives.
Help me. Save me. Is what a child would ask. That's what his son asked.  Have you a point in your life when you asked the same question of God?  Know today.  If you can't point to a time. Know today. 
Millions today woke up dead.  They have no second chance.  They have no do-over. There's no praying them out of Hell.
For many it happened so fast they never knew what hit them. 

Know today that you are saved.  Again Google 'Roman's Road'. Know without a doubt that you have a new Birthday in Christ.  Know that your name is written down in the Lamb's book of Life. 

Jesus loves you.  Jesus has more love to show you than you can possibly fathom.

Know today.  Right here, right now. Know.
Oh what a Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of Salvation, purchased of God, brought with Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story this is my song praising my Savior all the day long.

Jesus is right outside of the door of your heart. Only you have a doorknob to open it. He will not force His way in.  Bid Him enter while you may.

Know.
Know today. What greater day could you possibly have than to know you are forgiven and have a new life in Christ!

This Morning

This morning is not unlike any other.
However, this morning is still unique.

No, that's not a paradox.  How can it be both?

Today, if you are reading this, it means that God's granted you another day.  A day that is unique for you.  A day were His mercy is new. A day where it's up to you to ask "What are we doing today Lord?".

It likely has in it elements of your typical Monday.  Coffee, cleaning up. Making your bed.  But it also is one day closer to Jesus's return.  Are you living like it is?

It was important enough to Jesus to tell parables about.  The ruler, the land owner. Entrusting his vineyard to others.  That he would be back to get a return on his investment.  His reward was in his hand for each for what they did or didn't do while he was gone.

You see there's always only 2 options.

His way or your way.   Several workers knew their master.  They did well to work hard while he was gone.  One was more afraid than respectful.  Lived his own way while his master was gone and merely gave him back what was his. The master gave the worthless worker back his own words. That he knew what kind of master he had yet did nothing.  So he took from him and gave it to others who did do right.

Deep down we know.

We know we are to live a certain way of life. 

We know the right thing to. Yet in many cases we just don't do it.  We  choose not to.  The Bible says that he who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, sins.

So what aren't you doing today? We all face that choice.  Is it uncomfortable?

Do we please man or God?  Can we do both?  Yes. We can.  Dedicate your day to God.  Remember this day is a gift. Many didn't get one. Many were called out of this world. 

This gift does come with responsibilities.  We can either spend it on ourselves or on others.  Obedience to the one who gave us the gift should come first. 

In our world are millions who live for the moment.  Live for themselves.  Scripture says man does what's right in his own eyes.  What we should be doing is what's right in God's eyes.

So consider your day.  You're not in it alone.  Jesus is there. Would He approve of your thoughts and actions? 

My day begins with time with Jesus.  This is our day. Every day is our day. Not my day.

Is today your day with Jesus?

The Last Day...Coming Soon

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:35-40

There will indeed be those who will try to say they've never seen Jesus.  To which, I would gather, Jesus will prove them wrong and show them where they missed it.  All will have seen Jesus in the lives of Believers in some way, shape or form.  All will be without excuse.

The cool part is where Jesus says "all that the Father gives me will come to me". Think about that!  All who the Father knows that will say yes to Christ's Salvation, will be saved. Everyone who comes to Christ will never be turned away.

If that wasn't enough, Jesus's next words.  "I will certainly not cast out".  In Revelation many millions will be cast out. To the lake of fire. No Purgatory.  No torment in Hell. The very location of Hell will be cast into the Lake of Fire.  Whatever torment was in Hell will be a whole lot worse in the Lake of Fire.

Jesus says further that the Will of the Father is that He loses nobody. On the last day, all who are in Christ are raised to eternal life in Christ.  In His presence we will be safe forever.

I have, and many others have, said this before.  Choose today.  Right here, right now.  Where will you spend eternity?
Either choose life in Jesus Christ or choose a life apart from God that ends in the Lake of Fire. There are only two choices.

Your own 'good deeds' are not enough to save you.  Scripture says that those are but filthy rags.  Worthless.  Means nothing.  To further that point, many will say to Jesus didn't we do...didn't we say... He says to depart from Him, for You never knew Him.  Without Salvation in Jesus Christ alone, your good deeds mean nothing.  Without a right relationship with Jesus it means nothing.

You cannot go through life doing your own thing and expect God to say 'Oh, you weren't so bad after all, come on in.' Not when the dire circumstances of sin were and are so bad that the only cure for it was His own Son needing to have all the sins of mankind heaped upon Him on a cross to pay that price !!!  God's own Son had to DIE to pay the price for sin. Which means there IS NO OTHER WAY TO SALVATION!  NONE!  By coming back from the dead, Jesus proved who He was. God the Father said of Him, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!"

What is your life worth?

Is your success or possessions worth more to you than your soul?

Is the anger you hold onto towards God worth it to you? 

Is the anger you hold onto towards your fellow man worth it?

You take the poison pill and sit there hoping the other person dies?

When you were born the poison of sin was already in your system.  It takes a cure of an all out blood transfusion to cure it.  The blood of Jesus Christ.

No other means can cure sin. But you need to acknowledge it as it being sin.

You have to come to grips with your need for a cure. Then you need to seek out what can cure you.  The only cure is Jesus.

Not Allah, not Buddha.  Not anything but Jesus.

Allah didn't create this Universe.
Buddha is dead. Mohammed is dead.
Both are in Hell.  No Jesus, no Heaven.

But realizing the truth.  Coming to Christ is as simple as asking.  No hoops. No hidden clauses.  No hidden agenda.  No set of rules to go through. 

Come as a child. 

Just

Ask.

Jesus says that all who come to Him, by no means will He cast away.

Noah preached the same message until Christ Jesus told them to get into the Ark and then He closed the door.  Every day the sermon was on repentance and turning away from sin and turning to God.

For several hundred years it was the same.   Nobody believed him.

Nobody was saved but Noah, his wife. His sons and their wives. 

This time through the offer is the same.

The door is open.

All who hear have the chance to be saved.

The life preserver has been tossed out to you.  Will you let go of what's holding you back and grab ahold and be saved?

Soon that door will be closed.  Soon there will be a great call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Those who are still alive will join Him in the air.  It's coming.

Then those who refuse will still be here. Read Revelation.  The judgment to come in the following 7 years will be horrific.
Turn away from your sinful life, turn to Jesus today.  Don't wait.

Deeds of Darkness

Deeds of darkness. A simple look at the headlines of today shows a great list of them.
The atrocities against man and beast. Against this world we call Earth.
The delusions of so-called experts, trying to explain away why people are the way they are.
God said in His Word that because of sin mankind, apart from a life saved through Jesus Christ, is desperately wicked. A Christian is far from perfect, but through the power of Christ can squelch the power of sin. Sin brings out the worst forms of evil.  It's extremely deceptive. Even it's form of truth is a lie.  People committing the things they do are justified in their own minds. They gather others to join them in their lies. In Christ, there is freedom. In sin the person is a slave to sin.  In Christ we won't be necessarily given health, wealth or prosperity, but we will have a peace that passes understanding. The hold of sin is broken. It's not to say Christians can't willfully sin. To a point Jesus will chastise and try to turn such a one back to His truth. Sometimes that means taking them from this world. For those still in sin, apart from God, every chance possible will be offered to turn away from sin and death to life in Christ. Everyone will be without excuse for why they denied Christ.
The evils of this world are listed in the Bible. There's nothing new under the sun. The evil potential of sin has been seen from the beginning when Cain killed his brother. The things Moses wrote about, which the Lord said ought not be done, that were worthy of death, are rampant in today's headlines. The list in the New Testament about how men and women would be is all through today's headlines.
The days of decision are coming to an end.
When Jesus returns, that's it. It's over.
It's not to say people won't be saved through the Tribulation, but they will be in it. The horrors of the earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, genocide of people all will be a whole lot worse than we watch on TV now. I won't be here. As Franklin Graham's post today mentioned, I have my invitation to the Marriage of Christ with His Church. My hope is in Jesus. The peace I have is from Him by way of the Holy Spirit.  God's showing me more and more each day about Himself and the things happening all around me. Jesus can't love you any less or any more than He does right now.  There's no need to wait for your life to 'get better' before coming to Him. He already knows. It's His shed blood that washes us white as snow.  It's what He did that makes is right before His Father.  So while I see the news, I know what's coming. The King of Kings is coming. He went to prepare a place for those who chose Him and will return.  He promised. Satan's lies will continue to mislead people, but, I read the book. He loses.

What's on my mind

What's on my mind?  Funny you should ask.  What's on my mind is what's coming soon.  I can feel it in my soul that time is running out on people deciding to accept Jesus's offer of Salvation or rejecting it.  The evil that is on the rise in this country from the government on down is saturating our culture with such levels of sin that it's astounding to see and hear.  God will not strive forever concerning man. He appointed a day of judgment, a day of His return.  The atrocities committed by people within THIS country are incredible.  For fear of losing 'their' rights, people would murder their own children.  For fear of losing 'their' way of life, which runs contrary to the Bible, they try to pass laws forcing people to accept that which God calls sin.  Look at the Old Testament. God will only allow it to go so far. 
I say all this not to put a cloud of doom over this country, but to spur people on to pray.  Prayer can change everything. Prayer can turn what seems to be a bad situation and turn it into one that causes people to rejoice.  Prayer can go where we cannot.  Prayer can do what we cannot. Nothing can stop the Holy Spirit from going and doing God's Will. Prayer can heal. Prayer can change the direction of a country.  But only for those who are saved by what Jesus Christ did on the Cross. For those who read this who are saved. Stop and pray. We cannot stop the downhill spiral of this country into the social-religious abyss that it's heading for that's spelled out in the book of Revelation, but we can slow it down. Give others a chance to come to Christ and be saved. One day millions will vanish from this earth. That day will be soon. Jesus is coming to take home to Heaven those who are His.  It won't be a party time. Great wrath is coming after that happens. Read the book of Revelation.  Billions are going to die. I pray for this country. I pray for our President, the Vice-President. You may or may not like him, but God put him there. Only God establishes kings and rulers and removes them. My heart is heavy for those who choose sin over salvation. If you think this world is rough now, after Jesus comes and gets those who are His...this place is going to get a thousand times worse.
In 1975, Jesus came and saved me.  The least I can do is what I can for Him. The least I can do is tell others about Him. Show them there is hope in Him. My hope is in Him.

Has God forgotten Me?

For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. Hebrews 6:10

In our hi speed, microwave world. So much has been stressed on recognition.
To see likes on Facebook. To see how many shares of something on Facebook.  The whole Instagram, Snapchat thing.
Twitter has its retweet number.  In schools they want to give everyone a trophy.  In our society at large they are trying to force everyone to accept everything about everyone.  Thinking that's what is best for you and me.

But what about you and me?  Is the fleeting moment of whatever gratification you get from people worth it?  The sad part is those who get a large enough dose of it crave more and push to get it.

What's more important, to a Christian isn't what others think.  The importance is on what their Lord and Savior thinks.

The passage about storing up treasures in Heaven isn't simply about things like we have down here. It's about what's important to the Father.  People. That's our treasure. It's people who have believed and are now safe with Jesus.

But also in keeping with that passage, God doesn't forget any of what we have been doing for other believers.  He has a Heaven-wide celebration when someone turns and repents.

Luke 15:7 "I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."

Down here, Satan's version of Heaven never will be.  There's never going to be a utopia where everyone can do whatever they want without regard to God's Word.

They can try to legalize whatever they want.  God's Word still stands. 

We live in that time of the end.  Read what Revelation says in Chapter 9 verse 21 "and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts."

What's society like today?  What's in the news?  Man arrested for murder.  Cut off someone's head with a hacksaw.  People caught on video all over, stealing.  They make television shows to joke about it!
Churches to Satan springing up.  Churches to Scientology.  Witchcraft on the rise.

And in the name of inclusiveness we are being told we MUST accept everyone.  But what does God say?

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God."

These people will not see Heaven. 
But the next verse gives hope to some.

Verse 11 "Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."

Coming to Christ, putting away such things from our lives, living in obedience to God's Word we turn away from such things.  But for those who have not come to Christ, they are still in their sin.

God remembers the good things that you do for Him.  He doesn't forget.  The interesting thing is in the day of Judgement, many will try to use their so-called good works to justify their being allowed into Heaven.  Without Christ those works mean nothing.  Even if you worked with Churches and were not saved it counts for nothing. 

At times we all have had moments where it seems like God's forgotten us.  But oh is that the farthest thing from the truth.  We have been on His mind since before we were born. 

Isaiah 44:24 "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
    who formed you from the womb:
“I am the Lord, who made all things,
    who alone stretched out the heavens,
    who spread out the earth by myself,"

Isaiah 49:15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you."

Psalms 71:6 "Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you."

Jeremiah 1:5 "“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Galatians 1:5 "But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace"

In more ways than you know, YOU are always on Jesus's mind.  Just look at what He said of others throughout the Bible!

For those who are saved by the blood of Jesus, you are never forgotten nor forsaken.   There are times, and will be times, when it seems like it's too quiet.  Did He leave me!?!  Oh no. There will always be moments when He knows you need rest.  You need to heal.  You need to build your strength for what is to come. 

In a world bent on chaos.  Bent on clinging to sin.  Our hope is in Jesus who IS returning to take us home to be with Him forever.  Never give up hope.

Into Your Hands

Psalms 31:5 “Into your hands I commit my spirit”

Perhaps most know of this saying as something Jesus had said on the cross just before He breathed His last breath.

But as I was reading this morning, it's to be our prayer.  David wrote those words quite a bit earlier in history.  But they weren't just about David.  Jesus brought more life to those words.

The place that I was reading in my devotionals had some very valid, vivid points today.  At the risk of piggybacking on their topic, I will continue.

How often, when you read your Bible, do you look for fulfillment of Scripture?  How often do you look for a prophecy that was fulfilled? 

I have several journals that I write in. This blog being the 5th. The 3rd is one where I write down what I have seen in God's word that was new, amazing  or had never seen before. 

When we come to Christ for Salvation, it isn't simply "Here's your boarding pass to get out of Hell.  When you hear the call, prepare to go."  It begins a new life in Christ.  It begins a transformation of life, heart and mind and soul.  Your Spirit is made new, it's now alive!

Does it mean from here on out all is going to be rosy and bright!?   Sorry, no.  The work of the Holy Spirit is to teach you about Jesus and the Father.  He's to show you what sin is in your life that needs to go.  Spiritual surgery will be coming.  A change of clothes no doubt.  But change is coming.  A new way of thinking about life.  About people.  Things that weren't important before Christ now are. 

But what if He wants me to give up...

So what if Jesus does want you to give up something?  If you truly believe Him to be your Savior and Lord, doesn't it follow that what He wants is now more important?
Many self help books promise a lot but never truly deliver.  I am talking about Christian self help books.  The only book that transforms the mind and heart is the Bible.  Read it, re-read it. Re-read it again.

Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

Only the Bible can accomplish that. 

Ephesians 5:19 "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;"

Many have heard "Garbage in garbage out".

Will if you wish to see beautiful flowers come out of good soil, you plant seeds accordingly.  You fill ground with trash and cover it. It never grows, it dies. It disintegrates.  What you put in is what you get out.

If indeed we put our life in God's hands daily,  if indeed we take up our cross and follow Him daily.  Then it follows that from that fertile ground will come up something beautiful before God.

We can't keep consuming our time with things that really don't matter.  Running off and always doing our own thing.

Jesus said that we are in His hands.
Jesus said He is in the Father's hands.

Just because you are a Christian, going through a rough spell, doesn't mean that has changed.  God allows some of what happens to us to happen in order to change us or someone near us.  Sometimes those Spiritual surgeries are very complex.  Very difficult.  May take years to complete, but they are worth it.
Believer, trust God, it's worth it. 
In coming to Christ we are justified, made right, before God.  But the process of Sanctification takes time.  The cleansing of our lives.  As someone put on a bumper sticker "We catch em, Jesus cleans em."  We who come to Christ are definitely dirty.  Sin covers us and permeates our body.  We don't know to what extent but God does.  We were in darkness, we couldn't see it all. It was normal to us. Now that we are in the light of Christ, everything is now evident. Boy do we need a bath, a shower, a cleansing.

Scripture also says that we become part of the body of Christ, the Church.  It goes on to say that each part has a purpose.  We are not all going to be a Billy Graham. We aren't all going to be a Paul or a Peter.

We are to be who God needs us to be.

We have OUR purpose.  If I am an elbow I shouldn't be jealous of someone who is a mouth. Or an eye who thinks less of a foot.  Scripture talks about that too.

Finding YOUR purpose will help you be the best you can be in Christ.  Ask Him.  Jesus will show you.  Doing your own thing apart from God's Plan for you will only get you into trouble.  Been there lived that. My own 30 years in the wilderness.
Jumped the gun and wasted a great deal of my life. I wasn't ready.  Why didn't the Lord take the Israelites directly to the promised land? Why so long in the desert? It wasn't solely due to the way THEY were.  It also had to do with the Promise Land not being ready for THEM.

Planting requires good seed, good ground to get good results. 

So be patient.  Impatience was one of the problems of the Israelites.  Don't let it be one of yours.

In His hands we commit our Spirit.  Let that be your prayer today.

Obey...

God wants to do the impossible through your life. All He requires is your obedience.  - Blackaby

There's so much wrapped up in that thought.  So much in those two sentences.

Many remember the old Hymn "Trust and Obey".   In it a line says that to be happy in Jesus we trust and obey.

It won't mean that you won't have speed bumps along the way.  On the contrary.  Reconsider speed bumps.  What do they get you to do?  Slow down.

In our microwave society, slowing down has become a frustration.  Games aren't running fast enough on a game system. Phones are running too slow.  The computer is too slow.  The driver's on the road are going too slow. Hurry up at work. You're on a set timeframe. 

Look at what is accomplished when you slow down.  With a camera, details are captured.  In a movie, a slow motion shot shows details you otherwise didn't see.

How often were the words of Jesus along the lines of "Ok. Enough.  Let's go away over here to rest..."  Rest is as important as trusting.  Rest allows you to digest the details of what you have experienced. Once you have rested you can be more at peace about trusting.  Breathe, just breathe. Our souls get weary.  The world in which we live is relentless.  But so is our God.

The impossible becomes possible by way of obedience and trust.  Believe.  It can look as bleak as all get out, but Jesus still responds with "Why do you worry? Have I gone anywhere?"  He who rebuked the winds and waves long ago can still do so now.

How much time do you spend unplugging?

Contrary to popular opinion you don't need to keep busy doing something all the time.  Sometimes the best place to be is silent with Jesus.  The Holy Spirit within you can handle the conversation.

I have a mind that doesn't seem to know how to slow down.  It honestly a miracle to me how I ever get to sleep.  Ideas constantly come to mind.  Seeking solutions to problems always consuming most of my brainpower.  While trying to get through the day.

Some of my best moments were just sitting with Jesus as He showed me things connecting either in His Word or between His Words and this world.  Or even showing me things about others that I wouldn't never have seen on my own.

Yes this world is going downhill fast.  But I know that Jesus would never abandon me.  I pray for our leaders.  They are going places with laws and policies that are indeed alarming.  But God has a way of doing the impossible in protecting His family. 

We are told to pray for those in authority. Do you?
We are told to pray for our enemies.
Do you?

We face many things in a day.  But God still has stuff for us to do. It may be a mountain in front of us. But God still says to obey.  Go. Either the mountain will be flattened or it will move or you will learn something by going over it.

Everything we face looks impossible until God has worked it out.

Trust and obey.

When Millions Vanish

I used to leave a particular document on my computers both at work and at home.

In it the reader is told what likely has happened.  Either it was time for me to go Home to Jesus or the Rapture had occurred.  It was titled the same as this post.

As assuredly as there's a Sun in the sky and ground under your feet, the Rapture is coming.  If you have not put your faith in Christ alone for Salvation, you will be here for the aftermath.  You will be here whe countless planes crash.  When trains crash or derail.  Of ships out of control.  Of nations seeing what has happened and seize the moment to attack other countries.  Communications are disrupted.  Food supplies are disrupted.
Gasoline in short supply.  Martial Law.
The Constitution suspended.  Evil at a level that generations have never witnessed.

And that's just the opening hours.

That's not including what comes next.

The Book of Revelation spells out most of the rest.  Judgement from Jesus.  Billions will be dying.  Not millions, billions.  One third of mankind.  Considering about 8 billion now...that would be 2.6 billion or so at one judgment alone.

I don't just mention all that to scare you into saying yes to Jesus.  What Jesus wants with you right now is a relationship.  To be part of His body the Church.  To pay the price for your sin was what He did 2000 years ago.  He paid what you couldn't.  All you need to do is ask for Him to come into your life and save you.  To be your Lord and Savior.  That you want His free gift.  It really is that simple.

Jesus really does love you that much.

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name," John 1:12

You don't have to be here when it all goes south.  You really can have eternal life with Jesus.  You really can be made new.
You can be forgiven. 

You have to choose.  Nobody can choose for you.

But know this, the Bible says that our own good deeds are as filthy rags.  It doesn't come close to measuring up to the standard for Salvation. 

Don't think you can live how you want and think you will 'get religion' before you die.
No one knows the day or hour of when they will die.

So consider your life right now.

Or you will be one of many left behind.
Left to endure hell on Earth for 7 years.

All you have to do is ask.

Signs and Wonders seek Not

John 4:48 "So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”"

Is this you? The not so funny thing is, this world is being prepared. Prepared for what, you may ask?  That they will indeed believe signs and wonders.

The Antichrist and those who are with him will indeed perform various signs and wonders.  People will indeed believe him.

People will be eager to follow.  Their desire for supposed relief that great that when he is on the scene people will indeed believe what they see him do.

Movies are 'entertainment'!  Some. But the reality level and scope is to get into the parts of your mind that otherwise wouldn't be accessible.  Same goes with television.  Same even goes with sports.

Why these?  Think. Someone comes up to you. With their speech they reveal a great deal about their intentions.  If it's something that you are vaguely interested in, your guard comes down.  If it's something that irritates you, you fortify your defenses.  A movie, tv show or sporting event bypasses your defenses.

I have seen college's and universities take on whole academic courses to try to create what was science fiction.  A television show had that great an impact.
Millions of dollars spent and are still being spent. 

All the money in the world will never stop the inevitable.  Death comes to everyone.
Christ is still returning.  Superman and Batman do not exist.  It matters not that transparent aluminum exists. It matters not that a particle of matter was 'beamed' from one side of the room to the other. Millions spent that really didn't need to be.

The Bible will still be coming true. The return of Christ will still happen.

People still think they need to be shown.  At work data is collected at an alarming rate.  All in order to keep things flowing.
Why? Because Satan knows as well as Jesus that he can't stop the Rapture of the Church. It's going to mess up everything for Satan.  All his centuries of trying to manipulate mankind are about to hit a cosmic speed bump.  Unless redundancy is built in using people who are unbelievers, it's going to come to a halt.
Look Satan is indeed stubborn about his plans to take God's Throne, but he's not stupid.  Obsessed for sure, but not stupid.
He will continue to do two things until the end of Revelation, manipulate unbelievers and get permission to do whatever he can to believers in Jesus.

Finding inroads to parts of the mind that he hasn't been able to is part of what Satan does.  Scripture says that he prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.  Seeking. Prowling. Temptation.  All are to do with the activities of the mind. 

While we are so occupied with earthly matters we are not thinking about Jesus.

So people actually get to a point like what Jesus said about the Jewish people.  An evil adulterous generation seeks a sign. And the only sign it was given was the sign of Jonah. As Jonah was 3 days and nights in the belly of a whale, so Jesus was 3 days and nights in the heart of the Earth.  In 3 days, as Jesus said, if they tore down His Temple, that is to kill Him, in 3 days He would rebuild it, or rise again.  Which He did.

We live in a very evil generation.  Two things are happening.  Evil is indeed growing.  And the time draws near for Christ's return.  Whereas there are indeed people being saved.  There will come a point where the time will be up.  Jesus will stand up from His Throne and everyone around Him up there will know why.  It will be because the Father said "It's time."

I gave up on a whole lot of movie watching.  Of television and all sports a while ago.  It's still of a small amount of interest but nothing like what it was for me.  My time is better spent learning about God's word.  About praying for and helping others.  All that I own will be left behind when Christ returns.  Nobody ever taken it with them.  I see nothing good in vegging out mentally.  Resting yes, but to only a certain extent.  If Satan is prowling and doesn't sleep, then I need to be careful.

The only one in whom I believe is Jesus Christ. I seek no signs other than what He chooses to reveal.  Daniel was granted to see many things, so was John and Paul.  But they weren't allowed to share quite a bit. 

Be alert!  As the joke goes, the world needs more lerts. Seriously.  When we get lax we get lazy.  Part of my reading plan is the Old Testament.  Throughout much of it, if it really required efforts that lead to increased faith, Israel had problems following through.  They built many things to give them visual proof of their gods they left the Only True God for.  They would get rattled to the core when the Lord showed up n for a time turned back.  Then a new King would come and back they went.  Every generation seeking proof. Seeking a sign rather than living on faith.

Be careful.  Do not seek signs, do not be in awe at the things created in this world. 
Whereas there's indeed beauty to be beheld in God's creation, people are still heading to Hell. 

Keep focused on God's plan for you. Keep in His Word.  Focus on prayer.  If indeed we are to be covered in the dust of our Master, what did He do?

He knew the Word, He prayed. He let His light shine for all to see.