by David Brenneman
There's oh too many people who "believe in God" who aren't really saved. They'll admit that God is real but have never asked Jesus to be the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives.
There's a big difference.
God's Word says that even the demons believe that and at least they shudder at the thought of God being God. They put their lot in with Satan and have been losing ever since.
People look at their world around them and see all kinds of mischief and mayhem. Ironically, exactly what the Bible says that the world would be like, people doing whatever is right in their own eyes.
"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
A form of godliness. It's saying that they hold to some self-righteous standard that they say is good enough for them, should be good enough for God.
Reading the headlines you'll find plenty of people exhibiting all those other perspectives and personality traits. You'll find another truth as well...we are living in the days of Noah. Everyone is doing what they say is right in their own eyes.
Add to this they are insisting that you must accept them in whatever they say is right for them.
Even an artificial intelligence understands that a person who refuses to stop playing make believe is delusional, unrealistic, living in a fantasy world...indeed it says they need professional help.
Yet legally we have hundreds of thousands of people doing that in changing things about themselves that is the opposite of what God created them to be.
Christians are being told they must comply because the world is changing and they need to get with the times.
As pointed out by Mike Wingfield's session last night...a copy of the book of Isaiah was discovered in a cave...easily thousands of years apart from the time the original was written by the hand of man through the Spirit of God. This copy was an exact to the letter copy. Preserved by the Spirit of God as proof that while we may think change must be accepted, God's Word stays the same.
My Dear Reader, if you're still relying on what you think is good enough and are not relying on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of calvary...you will never see Heaven.
If you're one of those writing your own rules for life and are not obeying the Word of God...you will never see Heaven.
Those who die without true salvation in Christ Jesus...will never see Heaven.
They are not kept somewhere to await God's final ruling.
They are not waiting in some ethereal world.
They leave their physical bodies and in an instant wake up in torment and pain in Hell. With full clarity of thought as to knowing why they are there.
In this life you must choose to believe whether you want to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior or not.
It's not about what you will physically lose if you do. It's what eternally you will lose if you don't.
Jesus said what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his soul? What will he give in exchange for his soul? You came into this world with nothing, you leave with nothing.
It's going to likely cost you to come to Christ. You're going to lose some, if not all, your worst character traits. You'll lose most, if not all, your anxiety, anger, and a host of other things. You'll have to put up with a peace that you've never known. You'll have to get used to what real love is all about in Christ. You'll begin to see what God really values most. Living a life that you'll never see apart from Jesus.
An that's just the beginning.
The peace of God that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
You cannot know these things personally without coming to Christ for salvation first.
You cannot scam God.
Jesus says that on that judgment day that MANY will claim to have lived righteously. Claiming to have done countless deeds in His name.
Yet were devoid of a real relationship with Jesus. They never came to Him for salvation.
You need to be sure that you're not trying to act like a Christian and know that you really are a Child of God.
"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” Romans 10:8-15.
My Dear Reader you aren't guaranteed a today let alone another 5 minutes. It is a gift from God because He loves you and wants to save you.
Every single breath given to every single person is to give them an opportunity to receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
Will you squander your gift of breathing or exchange it for the free gift of salvation through Jesus?
The choice is yours and my Dear Friend...time is running out.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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