Sunday, September 29, 2013
Messages From Heaven: Messages From Heaven: The Rapture: The Next Event ...
Messages From Heaven: Messages From Heaven: The Rapture: The Next Event ...: Messages From Heaven: The Rapture: The Next Event on God's Calendar! : When we put our trust in Jesus Christ, we transfer from the road ...
Judgment Day!
The “Book of Life” is a New Testament concept with deep roots in the Old Testament (Exodus 32:32-33; Daniel 12:12; Malachi 3:16). Believers during Old Testament times were saved by grace, through faith, as they honored the old covenant. When Jesus initiated the new covenant He told His disciples, “rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Paul encouraged believers with a reminder that their names were written in the Book of Life alongside other faithful servants of Jesus (Philippians 4:3), and the author of Hebrews declared that the church comprised those “who are enrolled in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23).
In order for a person’s name to be recorded in the Book of Life, he or she must reject the notion that his or her own righteousness will suffice. As the apostle Paul wrote, “[A person] is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Galatians 2:16). Believers—whose names are written in the Book of Life—are never judged by their deeds and will not be present at the great white throne judgment.
Revelation 20:12 tells us that another set of books records the good and bad deeds of every person.
At the end of all time, each person will be judged by the contents of either the Book of Life or the set of books recording his or her deeds. Anyone has the option to reject the Book of Life and have his or her life judged by the deeds recorded in the other books. If he or she has only good deeds recorded there, with no sins whatsoever, that person will be worthy of heaven. However, God’s standard is complete moral perfection. If He finds just one sin recorded there, no matter how small, the sentence will be an eternity of suffering in the lake of fire. No one except the Son of God has ever lived without sinning (2 Corinthians 5:21). And because we are all humans with depraved natures, living in a fallen world, no one ever will (Romans 3:23).
Fortunately, we have the opportunity today to choose which record will be used at the end of time. However, when we die, it will be too late. When all people stand before God—the believers to receive rewards, the unbelievers at the great white throne to receive punishment—He will merely mete out the consequences of the choice we made while on earth.
How do we receive eternal life? One word—Christ.
And when should we make that choice? Again, one word—now.
John’s purpose in describing the great white throne judgment is clear. With chilling simplicity and candor, he reveals the eternal consequences of rejecting God’s free gift of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This decision must not be postponed, for anyone’s life could end before sunrise tomorrow. At the moment of his or her death, the decision a person makes will be sealed forever.
Choose wisely.
What Happens to a Person After Death?
“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)
At Death Bodily Resurrection Judgment Eternal Destination
Christian Soul—Christ’s Presence
Body—Grave Resurrection at the Rapture Judgment Seat of Christ in Heaven Heaven
Old Testament Believer Soul— Paradise; Abraham’s Bosom
Body—Grave Resurrection at Christ’s Second Coming Judgment on Earth Heaven
Tribulation Believer Soul—Christ’s Presence
Body—Grave Resurrection at Christ’s Second Coming Judgment on Earth Heaven
Unbeliever Soul—Sheol; Hades
Body—Grave Resurrection at the End of the Millennium Judgment at the Great White Throne Hell; Gehenna; Lake of Fire
In order for a person’s name to be recorded in the Book of Life, he or she must reject the notion that his or her own righteousness will suffice. As the apostle Paul wrote, “[A person] is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Galatians 2:16). Believers—whose names are written in the Book of Life—are never judged by their deeds and will not be present at the great white throne judgment.
Revelation 20:12 tells us that another set of books records the good and bad deeds of every person.
At the end of all time, each person will be judged by the contents of either the Book of Life or the set of books recording his or her deeds. Anyone has the option to reject the Book of Life and have his or her life judged by the deeds recorded in the other books. If he or she has only good deeds recorded there, with no sins whatsoever, that person will be worthy of heaven. However, God’s standard is complete moral perfection. If He finds just one sin recorded there, no matter how small, the sentence will be an eternity of suffering in the lake of fire. No one except the Son of God has ever lived without sinning (2 Corinthians 5:21). And because we are all humans with depraved natures, living in a fallen world, no one ever will (Romans 3:23).
Fortunately, we have the opportunity today to choose which record will be used at the end of time. However, when we die, it will be too late. When all people stand before God—the believers to receive rewards, the unbelievers at the great white throne to receive punishment—He will merely mete out the consequences of the choice we made while on earth.
How do we receive eternal life? One word—Christ.
And when should we make that choice? Again, one word—now.
John’s purpose in describing the great white throne judgment is clear. With chilling simplicity and candor, he reveals the eternal consequences of rejecting God’s free gift of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This decision must not be postponed, for anyone’s life could end before sunrise tomorrow. At the moment of his or her death, the decision a person makes will be sealed forever.
Choose wisely.
What Happens to a Person After Death?
“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)
At Death Bodily Resurrection Judgment Eternal Destination
Christian Soul—Christ’s Presence
Body—Grave Resurrection at the Rapture Judgment Seat of Christ in Heaven Heaven
Old Testament Believer Soul— Paradise; Abraham’s Bosom
Body—Grave Resurrection at Christ’s Second Coming Judgment on Earth Heaven
Tribulation Believer Soul—Christ’s Presence
Body—Grave Resurrection at Christ’s Second Coming Judgment on Earth Heaven
Unbeliever Soul—Sheol; Hades
Body—Grave Resurrection at the End of the Millennium Judgment at the Great White Throne Hell; Gehenna; Lake of Fire
Messages From Heaven: The Rapture: The Next Event on God's Calendar!
Messages From Heaven: The Rapture: The Next Event on God's Calendar!: When we put our trust in Jesus Christ, we transfer from the road to Armageddon to the road to Glory. The wonderful fact is that Christ is go...
The Rapture: The Next Event on God's Calendar!
When we put our trust in Jesus Christ, we transfer from the road to Armageddon to the road to Glory. The wonderful fact is that Christ is going to come one of these days, perhaps very soon, and take His church out of the world and to heaven before the road to Armageddon comes to its finale and the world is judged for its sin and unbelief.
In John 14, Christ, for the first time in the Bible, introduced the subject of the rapture of the church. The word rapture means “to catch up or snatch up,” and it’s what the apostle Paul describes in detail in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4.
Paul says in verse 13: “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant [uninformed] about those who fall asleep”—that is, those who die—“or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope” (NIV). The rapture is something God wants us to know about because He doesn’t want us to face life without hope.
When the rapture occurs, 1 Thessalonians 4 tells us that Christ is to bring the souls of those who have died from heaven to earth. He’s going to resurrect their bodies, and their souls will reenter their bodies permanently in resurrection. Now Paul says, according to the Lord’s instructions to him, that we (that is, Christians) who are still alive will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep, but the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are alive will be “caught up.” That is where you get the word rapture—caught up, or snatched up, or raptured together. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
When will the rapture occur? It’s a natural question that is often asked. The Bible doesn’t give us a direct answer to that. But what we’re seeing in our world today, in a very remarkable way, is the setting of the world stage for the events that will follow the rapture. Now if that’s true, then it’s also true that the rapture could be at any time.
If the rapture occurred, would you be ready?
Unless you’re born again, you’re not ready. I’m afraid there are thousands of people who claim to be Christians, sometimes members of the church, who are living an outwardly Christian life but not recognizing their need to put their personal trust in Jesus Christ as their God and Savior. Are you saved?
Once you know you’re saved, here comes the second question: What are you doing about it? One of the facts of Scripture is, if you’re going to face Jesus Christ at the judgment seat after the rapture, your life is going to be evaluated as to what you’ve done that is worthwhile from God’s standpoint. You have to face the fact that Jesus is going to be not only your Savior but your Judge. Are you leading a Christian life?
These are practical, important, pivotal questions. It’s not enough to listen; you have to respond. You don’t have to believe if you don’t want to, but if you’re guilty of unbelief, you’re going to pay the price that the Bible outlines for those who will not believe and accept what God has revealed in His Word.
So, may God speak to our hearts. May you be sure that if the Lord came, you’d be ready.
In John 14, Christ, for the first time in the Bible, introduced the subject of the rapture of the church. The word rapture means “to catch up or snatch up,” and it’s what the apostle Paul describes in detail in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4.
Paul says in verse 13: “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant [uninformed] about those who fall asleep”—that is, those who die—“or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope” (NIV). The rapture is something God wants us to know about because He doesn’t want us to face life without hope.
When the rapture occurs, 1 Thessalonians 4 tells us that Christ is to bring the souls of those who have died from heaven to earth. He’s going to resurrect their bodies, and their souls will reenter their bodies permanently in resurrection. Now Paul says, according to the Lord’s instructions to him, that we (that is, Christians) who are still alive will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep, but the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are alive will be “caught up.” That is where you get the word rapture—caught up, or snatched up, or raptured together. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
When will the rapture occur? It’s a natural question that is often asked. The Bible doesn’t give us a direct answer to that. But what we’re seeing in our world today, in a very remarkable way, is the setting of the world stage for the events that will follow the rapture. Now if that’s true, then it’s also true that the rapture could be at any time.
If the rapture occurred, would you be ready?
Unless you’re born again, you’re not ready. I’m afraid there are thousands of people who claim to be Christians, sometimes members of the church, who are living an outwardly Christian life but not recognizing their need to put their personal trust in Jesus Christ as their God and Savior. Are you saved?
Once you know you’re saved, here comes the second question: What are you doing about it? One of the facts of Scripture is, if you’re going to face Jesus Christ at the judgment seat after the rapture, your life is going to be evaluated as to what you’ve done that is worthwhile from God’s standpoint. You have to face the fact that Jesus is going to be not only your Savior but your Judge. Are you leading a Christian life?
These are practical, important, pivotal questions. It’s not enough to listen; you have to respond. You don’t have to believe if you don’t want to, but if you’re guilty of unbelief, you’re going to pay the price that the Bible outlines for those who will not believe and accept what God has revealed in His Word.
So, may God speak to our hearts. May you be sure that if the Lord came, you’d be ready.
Messages From Heaven: Christs Return?
Messages From Heaven: Christs Return?: The other evening my wife and I were enjoying a quiet conversation together. We were sipping some fresh-perked coffee, the house was unusual...
Christs Return?
The other evening my wife and I were enjoying a quiet conversation together. We were sipping some fresh-perked coffee, the house was unusually still, and there were no plans to go anywhere that evening. You know, it was one of those priceless moments you wish you could wrap up and reserve for later use when it’s really needed.
For some strange reason our discussion turned to the subject of Christ’s return. Almost out of the blue, I found myself tracking that thought further than I have for months. Cynthia and I chuckled at some comments each one made about letting the folks in the Tribulation worry with the hassles that we have to handle now—like cleaning out our garage or landscaping the backyard! We also smiled together contemplating the joys that will be ours as we share our lives throughout eternity with family and friends in the body of Christ.
As time passed that evening, I kept returning to the thought, “He is coming back. What a difference it will make!” It is remarkable, when you stop and get specific about it, how many things we take for granted that will suddenly be removed or changed drastically. Think about that. . . .
It is also amazing what an overhaul job that does to our scale of values. You know, the stuff we tend to cling to and gloat over and want more of. Christ’s return has a way of smashing our idols of materialism and thumping us back to the basics, doesn’t it? How very much time is spent on things that really do need attention . . . but would abruptly blur out of focus at the sound of the trumpet. Sure, I realize a lot of heavenly minded nuts have done some dumb things by going to extremes over prophecy, but God seemed to be saying to me, “Loosen your grip, my son, and try to remember that the bottom line of everything is eternity with Me.” Think about that.
Is it a waste to focus on the Lord’s descent? Quite the contrary. It’s biblical; it’s the very thing Titus 2:13 says we ought to do:
“Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
When’s the last time you—on your own—meditated on that fact? If you’re like me, it’s been too long. People who are more practical than mystical, who are realistic rather than idealistic, tend to shove that stuff to times like funerals or near-death experiences. Most of us are here-and-now thinkers much more than then-and-there people. But Scripture says we are to “comfort one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) with information about Jesus’s return for us. These truths form the very foundation of a “steadfast, immovable, always abounding” lifestyle (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Listen, this Bible of ours is full and running over with promises and encouragements directly related to the return of our Lord Christ. I just checked. It’s not just hinted at; it’s highlighted. It’s an obvious theme of New Testament truth. You can’t read very far without stumbling upon it, no matter which book you choose.
Critics have denied it. Cynics have laughed at it. Scholars have ignored it. Liberal theologians have explained it away (they call that “rethinking” it), and fanatics have perverted it. “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:4), many still shout sarcastically. The return of our Savior will continue to be attacked and misused and denied. But there it stands, solid as a stone, soon to be fulfilled, ready to offer us hope and encouragement amidst despair and unbelief.
“Okay, swell. But what do I do in the meantime?” I can hear a dozen or more pragmatists asking that question. First, it might be best for you to understand what you don’t do. You don’t sit around, listening for some bugle call. You don’t keep staring up into the sky, looking for the rapture cloud. You don’t whip up a white robe and buy a helium-filled balloon with angels painted all over it. And you don’t quit work and move to Oregon for fear you’ll miss Him because of the smog. And for goodness sake, don’t try to set the date because of “the signs of the times”!
You do get your act together. You do live every day (as if it’s your last) for His glory. You do work diligently on your job and in your home (as if He isn’t coming for another ten years) for His Name’s sake. You do shake salt out every chance you get . . . and do shine the light . . . and remain balanced, cheerful, winsome, and stable, anticipating His return day by day. Other than that, I don’t know what to tell you.
Except, maybe, if you’re not absolutely sure you’re ready to fly, you get your ticket fast. As long as they are available, they’re free. But don’t wait. About the time you finally make up your mind, the whole thing could have happened, leaving you looking back instead of up.
What good is a ticket if the event is over?
For some strange reason our discussion turned to the subject of Christ’s return. Almost out of the blue, I found myself tracking that thought further than I have for months. Cynthia and I chuckled at some comments each one made about letting the folks in the Tribulation worry with the hassles that we have to handle now—like cleaning out our garage or landscaping the backyard! We also smiled together contemplating the joys that will be ours as we share our lives throughout eternity with family and friends in the body of Christ.
As time passed that evening, I kept returning to the thought, “He is coming back. What a difference it will make!” It is remarkable, when you stop and get specific about it, how many things we take for granted that will suddenly be removed or changed drastically. Think about that. . . .
It is also amazing what an overhaul job that does to our scale of values. You know, the stuff we tend to cling to and gloat over and want more of. Christ’s return has a way of smashing our idols of materialism and thumping us back to the basics, doesn’t it? How very much time is spent on things that really do need attention . . . but would abruptly blur out of focus at the sound of the trumpet. Sure, I realize a lot of heavenly minded nuts have done some dumb things by going to extremes over prophecy, but God seemed to be saying to me, “Loosen your grip, my son, and try to remember that the bottom line of everything is eternity with Me.” Think about that.
Is it a waste to focus on the Lord’s descent? Quite the contrary. It’s biblical; it’s the very thing Titus 2:13 says we ought to do:
“Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
When’s the last time you—on your own—meditated on that fact? If you’re like me, it’s been too long. People who are more practical than mystical, who are realistic rather than idealistic, tend to shove that stuff to times like funerals or near-death experiences. Most of us are here-and-now thinkers much more than then-and-there people. But Scripture says we are to “comfort one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) with information about Jesus’s return for us. These truths form the very foundation of a “steadfast, immovable, always abounding” lifestyle (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Listen, this Bible of ours is full and running over with promises and encouragements directly related to the return of our Lord Christ. I just checked. It’s not just hinted at; it’s highlighted. It’s an obvious theme of New Testament truth. You can’t read very far without stumbling upon it, no matter which book you choose.
Critics have denied it. Cynics have laughed at it. Scholars have ignored it. Liberal theologians have explained it away (they call that “rethinking” it), and fanatics have perverted it. “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:4), many still shout sarcastically. The return of our Savior will continue to be attacked and misused and denied. But there it stands, solid as a stone, soon to be fulfilled, ready to offer us hope and encouragement amidst despair and unbelief.
“Okay, swell. But what do I do in the meantime?” I can hear a dozen or more pragmatists asking that question. First, it might be best for you to understand what you don’t do. You don’t sit around, listening for some bugle call. You don’t keep staring up into the sky, looking for the rapture cloud. You don’t whip up a white robe and buy a helium-filled balloon with angels painted all over it. And you don’t quit work and move to Oregon for fear you’ll miss Him because of the smog. And for goodness sake, don’t try to set the date because of “the signs of the times”!
You do get your act together. You do live every day (as if it’s your last) for His glory. You do work diligently on your job and in your home (as if He isn’t coming for another ten years) for His Name’s sake. You do shake salt out every chance you get . . . and do shine the light . . . and remain balanced, cheerful, winsome, and stable, anticipating His return day by day. Other than that, I don’t know what to tell you.
Except, maybe, if you’re not absolutely sure you’re ready to fly, you get your ticket fast. As long as they are available, they’re free. But don’t wait. About the time you finally make up your mind, the whole thing could have happened, leaving you looking back instead of up.
What good is a ticket if the event is over?
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Messages From Heaven: Grace - Land of Opportunity!
Messages From Heaven: Grace - Land of Opportunity!: Regardless of your geographical state of residence, if you’re a Christian, there is a second state in which you live: The state of Grace! ...
Grace - Land of Opportunity!
Regardless of your geographical state of residence, if you’re a
Christian, there is a second state in which you live: The state of
Grace! And while it is not a geographical location, the state of Grace
does represent a government and a ruling authority—that of the kingdom
of God. And one day during the coming Millennium, when Christ rules from
His throne in Jerusalem, the whole world will represent the state of
Grace. Indeed, during those days, the grace of God will be the “rule of
the realm.”
Land of Opportunity: Lost and Found
I have encountered many committed followers of Christ who have allowed a past sin, mistake, choice, or lifestyle to rob them of their opportunity to be fully engaged in serving the Lord. They think: “I once had the opportunity to serve Christ, but when I (name that sin), I lost my opportunity. My brain knows that God forgives and restores, but my heart just can’t seem to get the message.”
Do you feel that way? I believe the sense of lost opportunity is rooted in a faulty understanding of God’s grace. Likewise, when grace is grasped and embraced, the Land of Opportunity becomes yours again.
Living in the state of Grace without knowing it’s the Land of Lost-Opportunities-Found is like being a water enthusiast in Minnesota and not knowing it’s the Land of 10,000 Lakes. There is a huge disconnect between living in the state of Grace and saying, “I lost my opportunity to be involved due to sin.”
In the state of Grace, there is no such thing as opportunity lost that cannot be found. Grace means forgiveness—period. Forgiveness doesn’t come in shades of gray in the state of Grace: You’re either forgiven by God or you’re not. If you are lacking opportunities to serve, it’s not because God hasn’t forgiven you—so who does that leave? Yes, it’s important to seek His forgiveness, be reconciled to other people, and repent and turn away from sin. But when we have done those things to the best of our spiritual and practical ability, “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”—and restore our opportunity to serve Him with the fullness of His blessing (1 John 1:9).
Moving to the State of Grace
Former televangelist Jim Bakker told how, after five years in prison, the Billy Graham family reached out to provide everything he needed. He had lost his ministry, his wife, his reputation, and possessions.
After being out of prison less than 48 hours, the Graham clan invited Bakker to attend church with them in Montreat, North Carolina. The last to arrive at church was Ruth Graham who came in and seated herself right beside Jim Bakker. At lunch at the Graham’s home after church, they continued to minister to the former convict.
That’s the state of Grace: forgiven, accepted, and given everything necessary to live in God’s Land of Opportunity. When God forgives one of His own, so should the church. When debts are paid, no opportunity is withheld (Ephesians 4:32).
Just as Jim Bakker moved back into ministry in God’s Land of Opportunity, so did the apostle Peter. We all know the story of his denial of Christ on the eve of the Crucifixion and how he wept in shame over his spiritual failure (Matthew 26:75). But Jesus forgave Peter and re-commissioned him for service (John 21:15-19); and in a matter of days, we find Peter boldly preaching the Gospel and leading the church in Jerusalem (Acts 2 – 7).
Live in the Land of Opportunity
You are no different than the apostle Peter, a fallen televangelist, or any other follower of Christ who has failed and been restored—unless you haven’t yet begun to enjoy all that the state of Grace has available for you.
I encourage you today to begin living afresh in the Land of Opportunity—the kingdom of God’s amazing grace. If you know you are forgiven . . . live like it! As a citizen of the state of Grace, let “Land of Opportunity” be your lifelong motto. In God We Trust!
Land of Opportunity: Lost and Found
I have encountered many committed followers of Christ who have allowed a past sin, mistake, choice, or lifestyle to rob them of their opportunity to be fully engaged in serving the Lord. They think: “I once had the opportunity to serve Christ, but when I (name that sin), I lost my opportunity. My brain knows that God forgives and restores, but my heart just can’t seem to get the message.”
Do you feel that way? I believe the sense of lost opportunity is rooted in a faulty understanding of God’s grace. Likewise, when grace is grasped and embraced, the Land of Opportunity becomes yours again.
Living in the state of Grace without knowing it’s the Land of Lost-Opportunities-Found is like being a water enthusiast in Minnesota and not knowing it’s the Land of 10,000 Lakes. There is a huge disconnect between living in the state of Grace and saying, “I lost my opportunity to be involved due to sin.”
In the state of Grace, there is no such thing as opportunity lost that cannot be found. Grace means forgiveness—period. Forgiveness doesn’t come in shades of gray in the state of Grace: You’re either forgiven by God or you’re not. If you are lacking opportunities to serve, it’s not because God hasn’t forgiven you—so who does that leave? Yes, it’s important to seek His forgiveness, be reconciled to other people, and repent and turn away from sin. But when we have done those things to the best of our spiritual and practical ability, “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”—and restore our opportunity to serve Him with the fullness of His blessing (1 John 1:9).
Moving to the State of Grace
Former televangelist Jim Bakker told how, after five years in prison, the Billy Graham family reached out to provide everything he needed. He had lost his ministry, his wife, his reputation, and possessions.
After being out of prison less than 48 hours, the Graham clan invited Bakker to attend church with them in Montreat, North Carolina. The last to arrive at church was Ruth Graham who came in and seated herself right beside Jim Bakker. At lunch at the Graham’s home after church, they continued to minister to the former convict.
That’s the state of Grace: forgiven, accepted, and given everything necessary to live in God’s Land of Opportunity. When God forgives one of His own, so should the church. When debts are paid, no opportunity is withheld (Ephesians 4:32).
Just as Jim Bakker moved back into ministry in God’s Land of Opportunity, so did the apostle Peter. We all know the story of his denial of Christ on the eve of the Crucifixion and how he wept in shame over his spiritual failure (Matthew 26:75). But Jesus forgave Peter and re-commissioned him for service (John 21:15-19); and in a matter of days, we find Peter boldly preaching the Gospel and leading the church in Jerusalem (Acts 2 – 7).
Live in the Land of Opportunity
You are no different than the apostle Peter, a fallen televangelist, or any other follower of Christ who has failed and been restored—unless you haven’t yet begun to enjoy all that the state of Grace has available for you.
I encourage you today to begin living afresh in the Land of Opportunity—the kingdom of God’s amazing grace. If you know you are forgiven . . . live like it! As a citizen of the state of Grace, let “Land of Opportunity” be your lifelong motto. In God We Trust!
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Messages From Heaven: A Spirituality That Kills!
Messages From Heaven: A Spirituality That Kills!: Oprah’s mantra “find your own spirit” has become the rally cry of many Americans. The media, our friends, family — and unfortunately, eve...
A Spirituality That Kills!
Oprah’s mantra “find your own spirit” has become the rally cry of
many Americans. The media, our friends, family — and unfortunately,
even some pulpits — challenge us to “find our inner strength.”
These words might seem harmless to you, even encouraging and uplifting, but the truth is that these messages have their roots in the New Age Movement…a movement that is a very real danger to you and your family.
It starts by not being able to recognize Satan’s deceptive strategy.
Perhaps you envision him wearing a red cape and carrying a pitchfork…someone who really doesn’t affect your life. If so, he has you thinking exactly what he wants you to think! The devil is deceptive and charming — a wolf in sheep’s clothing. And one of his greatest disguises is in the New Age Movement. Yet, many don’t even realize it!
Do you recognize Satan’s influence in your life? Are you drawn to television shows such as the WB’s Charmed, which depicts the lives of three sisters who happen to be spell-casting witches? Or do your children watch Disney’s That’s So Raven in which the teen heroine has visions?
The popularity of the New Age Movement expressed in a cloak of spirituality is greater than ever…and it means you and I need to arm ourselves with God’s truth. We need to be able to recognize false spirituality — and teach our children about these dangers.
For instance, what comes to mind when you think of New Age? Do you think of palm readers, crystal balls, journeys to Tibet to visit the Dalai Lama, Scientology? While all of these things are a part of New Age, this movement infiltrates our society in many other subtle and devious ways.
The New Age is expressed in simple meditation…or self-help seminars…even in holistic medicine. These things seem harmless, yet they possess dangerous spiritual pitfalls that can snare even the most innocent people.
What is the danger? New Age followers use all of these things as a means of channeling their inner energy and spirit to learn to rely on themselves, not on God.
For many people, the appeal of the New Age Movement is that there are no moral absolutes. What is right for me might not be right for you, but that’s okay because we are really all the same — we all are gods.
This belief system also gives people a false feeling of control over their own lives. Since Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel, man has struggled to gain control over himself and his world. The New Age Movement leads people to believe they have this control.
So how do we communicate God’s truth in a society disillusioned by Satan’s lies? The Christian’s response must be threefold.
1. We must know what we believe about God and the tenets of our Christian faith.
2. We must communicate God’s truth…the Gospel…with conviction, yet love.
We must practice God’s truth. God calls us to “walk the walk and talk the talk.” “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this...to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27).
These words might seem harmless to you, even encouraging and uplifting, but the truth is that these messages have their roots in the New Age Movement…a movement that is a very real danger to you and your family.
It starts by not being able to recognize Satan’s deceptive strategy.
Perhaps you envision him wearing a red cape and carrying a pitchfork…someone who really doesn’t affect your life. If so, he has you thinking exactly what he wants you to think! The devil is deceptive and charming — a wolf in sheep’s clothing. And one of his greatest disguises is in the New Age Movement. Yet, many don’t even realize it!
Do you recognize Satan’s influence in your life? Are you drawn to television shows such as the WB’s Charmed, which depicts the lives of three sisters who happen to be spell-casting witches? Or do your children watch Disney’s That’s So Raven in which the teen heroine has visions?
The popularity of the New Age Movement expressed in a cloak of spirituality is greater than ever…and it means you and I need to arm ourselves with God’s truth. We need to be able to recognize false spirituality — and teach our children about these dangers.
For instance, what comes to mind when you think of New Age? Do you think of palm readers, crystal balls, journeys to Tibet to visit the Dalai Lama, Scientology? While all of these things are a part of New Age, this movement infiltrates our society in many other subtle and devious ways.
The New Age is expressed in simple meditation…or self-help seminars…even in holistic medicine. These things seem harmless, yet they possess dangerous spiritual pitfalls that can snare even the most innocent people.
What is the danger? New Age followers use all of these things as a means of channeling their inner energy and spirit to learn to rely on themselves, not on God.
For many people, the appeal of the New Age Movement is that there are no moral absolutes. What is right for me might not be right for you, but that’s okay because we are really all the same — we all are gods.
This belief system also gives people a false feeling of control over their own lives. Since Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel, man has struggled to gain control over himself and his world. The New Age Movement leads people to believe they have this control.
So how do we communicate God’s truth in a society disillusioned by Satan’s lies? The Christian’s response must be threefold.
1. We must know what we believe about God and the tenets of our Christian faith.
2. We must communicate God’s truth…the Gospel…with conviction, yet love.
We must practice God’s truth. God calls us to “walk the walk and talk the talk.” “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this...to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27).
Messages From Heaven: How You Can Win Against Satan?
Messages From Heaven: How You Can Win Against Satan?: There is an important truth I want you to know to be spiritually victorious throughout your life. It is simply this: You are under spiri...
How You Can Win Against Satan?
There is an important truth I want you to know to be spiritually victorious throughout your life. It is simply this:
The Bible teaches that every Christian is under spiritual attack. Scripture tells us we are aliens in this world, and Satan, as the ruler of this world, is constantly seeking the spiritual demise of every Christian.
If you think you are at home in this world, you have been misled. Do you realize that to embrace the values of the world is to place yourself in hostility toward God (James 4:4)? The world's values are not eternal, but temporal. And to embrace those values aligns you with the values of Satan himself.
But, if you are walking with God, embracing eternal values, you are secure against Satan and his attacks because of your relationship with Christ. Christ has already won the victory and Satan knows that.
But there is a danger when you realize the position you have in Christ. It is easy to seem invincible. After all, when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you indeed are in Christ.
This may lead you to ask, "What else could I possibly need? He is my portion, isn't He? He has overcome the world, hasn't He?"
The answer is a resounding, "Yes!" I want to assure you, as long as you are walking with Christ, you have nothing to worry about. You indeed are secure in Him.
But this can create a complacency that is so dangerous. Here’s why:
Now, if Satan has declared war, then the sensible thing to do would be to find out just as much as we can about our enemy, how he is likely to attack us, and how we can overcome him.
The first place to start is with a right perspective. One big problem in the church today is that many get so worried about the devil that they see demons behind every bush. That is a wrong perspective.
"Oh, I have a spirit of lust, of greed, of desire. I'm being attacked by this and attacked by that." While the war Satan has declared is very real, not everything wrong in your life can be blamed on Satan.
So what is the right perspective? And how do we become victorious in our fight against Satan?
The right perspective is to understand you are indeed under spiritual attack…but you can be victorious!
That victory begins with what the Bible tells us in James 4:7: "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Too often as we find ourselves battling Satan, we simply fail to resist him. While he's always looking for the perfect opportunity to tempt you and me with something attractive, something seemingly irresistible, he only wins when we play his game.
So the first principle is this:
Submit to God…and resist the devil. Make that your habit.
You are under spiritual attack…in an all out spiritual war…as Satan does all he can to cause you spiritual defeat.Whether you realize it or not, you live in a spiritual war zone. It's a battle for your heart and soul.
The Bible teaches that every Christian is under spiritual attack. Scripture tells us we are aliens in this world, and Satan, as the ruler of this world, is constantly seeking the spiritual demise of every Christian.
If you think you are at home in this world, you have been misled. Do you realize that to embrace the values of the world is to place yourself in hostility toward God (James 4:4)? The world's values are not eternal, but temporal. And to embrace those values aligns you with the values of Satan himself.
But, if you are walking with God, embracing eternal values, you are secure against Satan and his attacks because of your relationship with Christ. Christ has already won the victory and Satan knows that.
But there is a danger when you realize the position you have in Christ. It is easy to seem invincible. After all, when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you indeed are in Christ.
This may lead you to ask, "What else could I possibly need? He is my portion, isn't He? He has overcome the world, hasn't He?"
The answer is a resounding, "Yes!" I want to assure you, as long as you are walking with Christ, you have nothing to worry about. You indeed are secure in Him.
But this can create a complacency that is so dangerous. Here’s why:
Too frequently we are lured, enticed, or dragged away from Christ through the deception of Satan. The devil bombards our thoughts, our desires, our emotions in almost imperceptible ways, and we get tricked or seduced into believing his lies.This is where the battle takes place. Satan will do all in his power to pull you away from walking in Christ and His victory. This battle is very real…and the reason why so many Christians today live in defeat and lack the joy God intends for them.
Now, if Satan has declared war, then the sensible thing to do would be to find out just as much as we can about our enemy, how he is likely to attack us, and how we can overcome him.
The first place to start is with a right perspective. One big problem in the church today is that many get so worried about the devil that they see demons behind every bush. That is a wrong perspective.
"Oh, I have a spirit of lust, of greed, of desire. I'm being attacked by this and attacked by that." While the war Satan has declared is very real, not everything wrong in your life can be blamed on Satan.
So what is the right perspective? And how do we become victorious in our fight against Satan?
The right perspective is to understand you are indeed under spiritual attack…but you can be victorious!
That victory begins with what the Bible tells us in James 4:7: "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Too often as we find ourselves battling Satan, we simply fail to resist him. While he's always looking for the perfect opportunity to tempt you and me with something attractive, something seemingly irresistible, he only wins when we play his game.
So the first principle is this:
We must submit to God, and we must resist the devil, or we are sure to fail.Satan has his eyes fixed squarely on you. He has you in his sights. In fact, you may feel that you're always under attack. And you may feel like you are constantly failing in the battle. Here is my challenge to you:
Submit to God…and resist the devil. Make that your habit.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Messages From Heaven: The End of the World As We Know It?
Messages From Heaven: The End of the World As We Know It?: Like many others on the morning of September 11, 2001, I turned on the television to see the World Trade Center on fire. Was it an acci...
The End of the World As We Know It?
Like many others on the morning of September 11, 2001, I turned on
the television to see the World Trade Center on fire. Was it an
accident? But when the second plane crashed into the other tower, it
became clear that this was no accident. It was a terrorist attack on
the United States. Then to hear that the Pentagon had been hit...and
then to see the World Trade Center collapse...what seemed like the
impossible unfolded before our very eyes.
The inevitable question arises after a tragedy like this: "Why?" Some have even asked, "Why did God allow this to happen?" But God did not do this at all. This was done by the wicked heart of man, because deep inside, humanity is twisted and sick spiritually. As Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (NKJV).
When God created humans, He gave us something called a free will. This means that we all have the ability to choose right or wrong. You might say that free will is our greatest blessing, and in other ways, it is our greatest curse. We were uniquely created in the image of God Himself and have been given this ability to choose. But we usually make the wrong choices.
If you don't believe the human heart is wicked, then visit the Yad Vashem in Israel, a museum dedicated to the memory of the six million Jews who were senselessly slaughtered by Hitler and the Nazis.
If you don't believe the human heart is wicked, then recall the reactions when the news of the attacks reached Osama bin Laden, who thanked "almighty Allah," and some Palestinians, who rejoiced and danced in the streets.
If you don't believe the human heart is wicked, then take a long look at what you saw on September 11, 2001.
Some well-meaning but misguided people might say these events must have been God's will. I disagree. It wasn't God who did this. It was Satan, working in concert with wicked man, who did this. The Bible tells us that the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one (1 John 5:19). Satan did this through wicked people who were bent on destruction.
What should we do as we see horrible things happening? Jesus gives us some important answers in Luke 21. He says: "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (v. 28 NKJV). It's a reminder that He is coming soon.
In light of that fact, how should we be living? We find the answer a few verses later: "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come upon you unexpectedly" (v. 34).
This means that if you are waiting for the return of the Lord, you need to be living a godly life. You don't want to be doing something that is displeasing to God. Instead, you want to have your life right with Him.
In His Word, God has given us His warning about these things. Each of us must ask ourselves: Am I doing anything that I would be ashamed to be doing if Jesus Christ were to come back tonight? If the answer is yes, then you need to stop doing it right now. The Bible says that He will come again to those who are looking for Him.
Is it the end of the world as we know it? Only God knows that. But I will tell you this much: It was the end of many people's world on September 11, 2001. What if you died tonight? What if Jesus came back today?
That is why you want to be ready. That is why you need to be sure you're right with God. You don't know when death will come or when Jesus will return. The Bible says that we don't know "the day or the hour the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13). Be ready to go. All of the time.
The inevitable question arises after a tragedy like this: "Why?" Some have even asked, "Why did God allow this to happen?" But God did not do this at all. This was done by the wicked heart of man, because deep inside, humanity is twisted and sick spiritually. As Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (NKJV).
When God created humans, He gave us something called a free will. This means that we all have the ability to choose right or wrong. You might say that free will is our greatest blessing, and in other ways, it is our greatest curse. We were uniquely created in the image of God Himself and have been given this ability to choose. But we usually make the wrong choices.
If you don't believe the human heart is wicked, then visit the Yad Vashem in Israel, a museum dedicated to the memory of the six million Jews who were senselessly slaughtered by Hitler and the Nazis.
If you don't believe the human heart is wicked, then recall the reactions when the news of the attacks reached Osama bin Laden, who thanked "almighty Allah," and some Palestinians, who rejoiced and danced in the streets.
If you don't believe the human heart is wicked, then take a long look at what you saw on September 11, 2001.
Some well-meaning but misguided people might say these events must have been God's will. I disagree. It wasn't God who did this. It was Satan, working in concert with wicked man, who did this. The Bible tells us that the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one (1 John 5:19). Satan did this through wicked people who were bent on destruction.
What should we do as we see horrible things happening? Jesus gives us some important answers in Luke 21. He says: "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (v. 28 NKJV). It's a reminder that He is coming soon.
In light of that fact, how should we be living? We find the answer a few verses later: "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come upon you unexpectedly" (v. 34).
This means that if you are waiting for the return of the Lord, you need to be living a godly life. You don't want to be doing something that is displeasing to God. Instead, you want to have your life right with Him.
In His Word, God has given us His warning about these things. Each of us must ask ourselves: Am I doing anything that I would be ashamed to be doing if Jesus Christ were to come back tonight? If the answer is yes, then you need to stop doing it right now. The Bible says that He will come again to those who are looking for Him.
Is it the end of the world as we know it? Only God knows that. But I will tell you this much: It was the end of many people's world on September 11, 2001. What if you died tonight? What if Jesus came back today?
That is why you want to be ready. That is why you need to be sure you're right with God. You don't know when death will come or when Jesus will return. The Bible says that we don't know "the day or the hour the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13). Be ready to go. All of the time.
Messages From Heaven: Contentment - When Enough Is Enough!
Messages From Heaven: Contentment - When Enough Is Enough!: At some point, we all get caught up in our own misguided attempts to find peace and contentment by working ourselves to death. Reminds me ...
Contentment - When Enough Is Enough!
At some point, we all get caught up in our own misguided attempts to find peace and contentment by working ourselves to death.
Reminds me of the tycoon who encountered a fisherman just soaking in the sunset.
“Why aren’t you out fishing?” the tycoon asked.
“Cause, I’ve caught all the fish I need for today.”
“Well, why don’t you go out and catch more? Make a profit, buy a bigger boat, hire more men, become wealthy. Then you could just sit and watch sunsets.”
“What do you think I’m doing now?”
Contentment: Found and Lost
We were created by God to be content in our knowledge of Him and the world He provided, as Genesis suggests our first parents were. But when Satan tempted them with the possibility of becoming more than they were created to be — becoming as wise as God — the idea of being just a plain, content, human creature was no longer satisfying.
Ever since, man has been on a search for contentment. St. Augustine got it exactly right when he said, “You have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.” True contentment only comes when we reconnect with God through His Son Jesus Christ.
Let’s face it — it’s a challenge to stay contented these days. Physically, we know we’re not one of the “beautiful people” (but would love to be). Emotionally, we live lives of stress, hard work, dirty diapers, and bills to pay (but wish we didn’t). Materially, we’re afraid we’re never going to “move on up to the East side and finally get our piece of the pie” (but wish we would). And spiritually we feel guilty for not being satisfied physically, emotionally, or materially. It’s a vicious circle.
I’m not rehearsing the evidence of our discontent to make us feel bad. I’m doing it to point us in the direction of true contentment.
Contentment Is...
I believe the most complete passage in Scripture on this subject is Philippians 4:10-20. The amazing reality about this passage on contentment is that Paul wrote it while in prison for his faith. Here’s his key thought: “...I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content...[for] my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (verses 11, 19).
1. Contentment is learned behavior. We learn to be content like babies learn to walk. And such an unnatural disposition is only by supernatural grace. With a spouse, good friend, or small study group, you must learn to resist, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the discontentment of our age; or you will be swept up in it and live an agitated life.
2. Contentment is not dependent on circumstances. If Paul can learn to be content regardless of circumstance, we can, too. The same Holy Spirit who indwelt him indwells us. The same fruit of the Spirit — peace and self-control — that were manifest in his life can be manifest in ours.
Discontent desires more — bigger, better, faster, newer, more comfortable. That is deception. If you are not content in challenging circumstances, the contentment you think you feel in other circumstances is not contentment but simply your satisfaction that things are momentarily the way you think they should be.
3. Contentment is a state of being, not a state of doing. Our flesh only feels content when we are doing. Being, however, does not end — it is not tied to activity. Paul said he had learned to “be content,” not “do contentment.”
4. Contentment is based on the riches of God in Christ Jesus. The Bible says that everything we need to complete our journey from earth to heaven will be supplied by God. Therefore, everything we feel discontented about is likely not something we need in order to make and complete that journey.
There’s nothing wrong with possessing things. But there is something wrong if we can’t be content without them. May God speak to your heart and help you seek, and find, contentment in Him.
Reminds me of the tycoon who encountered a fisherman just soaking in the sunset.
“Why aren’t you out fishing?” the tycoon asked.
“Cause, I’ve caught all the fish I need for today.”
“Well, why don’t you go out and catch more? Make a profit, buy a bigger boat, hire more men, become wealthy. Then you could just sit and watch sunsets.”
“What do you think I’m doing now?”
Contentment: Found and Lost
We were created by God to be content in our knowledge of Him and the world He provided, as Genesis suggests our first parents were. But when Satan tempted them with the possibility of becoming more than they were created to be — becoming as wise as God — the idea of being just a plain, content, human creature was no longer satisfying.
Ever since, man has been on a search for contentment. St. Augustine got it exactly right when he said, “You have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.” True contentment only comes when we reconnect with God through His Son Jesus Christ.
Let’s face it — it’s a challenge to stay contented these days. Physically, we know we’re not one of the “beautiful people” (but would love to be). Emotionally, we live lives of stress, hard work, dirty diapers, and bills to pay (but wish we didn’t). Materially, we’re afraid we’re never going to “move on up to the East side and finally get our piece of the pie” (but wish we would). And spiritually we feel guilty for not being satisfied physically, emotionally, or materially. It’s a vicious circle.
I’m not rehearsing the evidence of our discontent to make us feel bad. I’m doing it to point us in the direction of true contentment.
Contentment Is...
I believe the most complete passage in Scripture on this subject is Philippians 4:10-20. The amazing reality about this passage on contentment is that Paul wrote it while in prison for his faith. Here’s his key thought: “...I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content...[for] my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (verses 11, 19).
1. Contentment is learned behavior. We learn to be content like babies learn to walk. And such an unnatural disposition is only by supernatural grace. With a spouse, good friend, or small study group, you must learn to resist, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the discontentment of our age; or you will be swept up in it and live an agitated life.
2. Contentment is not dependent on circumstances. If Paul can learn to be content regardless of circumstance, we can, too. The same Holy Spirit who indwelt him indwells us. The same fruit of the Spirit — peace and self-control — that were manifest in his life can be manifest in ours.
Discontent desires more — bigger, better, faster, newer, more comfortable. That is deception. If you are not content in challenging circumstances, the contentment you think you feel in other circumstances is not contentment but simply your satisfaction that things are momentarily the way you think they should be.
3. Contentment is a state of being, not a state of doing. Our flesh only feels content when we are doing. Being, however, does not end — it is not tied to activity. Paul said he had learned to “be content,” not “do contentment.”
4. Contentment is based on the riches of God in Christ Jesus. The Bible says that everything we need to complete our journey from earth to heaven will be supplied by God. Therefore, everything we feel discontented about is likely not something we need in order to make and complete that journey.
There’s nothing wrong with possessing things. But there is something wrong if we can’t be content without them. May God speak to your heart and help you seek, and find, contentment in Him.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Heaven in Deed - Assurance of Ownership!
As Christians, we’ve been given a genuine deed to heaven—the promise
of eternal life, an inheritance, and a mansion that can never be
foreclosed on. Our ownership in Christ is documented in the Word of God,
and our names are registered in the Lamb’s Book of Life. But many
Christians fear that a thief—the devil—is going to rob them of their
title deed. They have little assurance of ownership.
Paul’s attitude was, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12). “Neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Job said: “I know that... after my skin is destroyed... that in my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:25-26).
The Promise of Eternal Life
Jesus gives us the promise of eternal life in John 10:28: “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
Our salvation is guaranteed because Christ himself paid the price. He “purchased (us) with His own blood” (Acts 20:28) once for all—“For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). He said, “I give them eternal life.” No mights, ifs, ands, or buts.
The Protection of Eternal Life
We also have the protection of eternal life: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28).
When we accept Christ as our Savior, we’re placed in His hand. And His hand is in the hand of the Father, “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:29).
We’re in a hand within a hand—safely enclosed in the hand of Christ, and the hand of Christ is securely encased in the hand of the Father. No one can pluck us out of those omnipotent fingers!
The Psalmist said, “Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” But we can say, “Because I am in His right hand, I shall not be moved”—not moved, afraid, insecure, or worried.
The Proof of Eternal Life
How, then, can you know you have eternal life? In John 10:27, we read, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
Christians are not perfect, and all of us do sin along the way. But genuine Christians hear His voice and follow Him. As a Christian, when you know God has told you to do something, you do it. If we love Him, we’ll keep His commandments. A person who is genuinely saved is going to obediently hear what the Lord says.
God has given us His Word to assure us of our relationship with Him so that we may walk as Christians with confidence, knowing that our salvation is in Him. The aged apostle John put it this way at the end of his first epistle: “This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life…. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:11, 13).
Your heavenly home was bought for a price, and that payment results in a title deed that can never be lost through foreclosure. You can go joyfully into your day’s activities and rest peacefully tonight knowing that your salvation is secure and your home in heaven is being prepared for you! “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14).
Paul’s attitude was, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12). “Neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Job said: “I know that... after my skin is destroyed... that in my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:25-26).
The Promise of Eternal Life
Jesus gives us the promise of eternal life in John 10:28: “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
Our salvation is guaranteed because Christ himself paid the price. He “purchased (us) with His own blood” (Acts 20:28) once for all—“For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). He said, “I give them eternal life.” No mights, ifs, ands, or buts.
The Protection of Eternal Life
We also have the protection of eternal life: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28).
When we accept Christ as our Savior, we’re placed in His hand. And His hand is in the hand of the Father, “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:29).
We’re in a hand within a hand—safely enclosed in the hand of Christ, and the hand of Christ is securely encased in the hand of the Father. No one can pluck us out of those omnipotent fingers!
The Psalmist said, “Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” But we can say, “Because I am in His right hand, I shall not be moved”—not moved, afraid, insecure, or worried.
The Proof of Eternal Life
How, then, can you know you have eternal life? In John 10:27, we read, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
Christians are not perfect, and all of us do sin along the way. But genuine Christians hear His voice and follow Him. As a Christian, when you know God has told you to do something, you do it. If we love Him, we’ll keep His commandments. A person who is genuinely saved is going to obediently hear what the Lord says.
God has given us His Word to assure us of our relationship with Him so that we may walk as Christians with confidence, knowing that our salvation is in Him. The aged apostle John put it this way at the end of his first epistle: “This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life…. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:11, 13).
Your heavenly home was bought for a price, and that payment results in a title deed that can never be lost through foreclosure. You can go joyfully into your day’s activities and rest peacefully tonight knowing that your salvation is secure and your home in heaven is being prepared for you! “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14).
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