"Eternal Decision"

"...now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation".  2 Corinthians 6:2b

We were having a discussion the other day about the return of the Lord, and rapture of the church.  Some say it will happen before the tribulation, others say during and still others say after.  There are several schools of thought.  One has to be right, He is returning.  We just don’t know when.

So, the point I want to stress is this:  we don’t know when He will come, so be ready.  We don’t know when our time individually on earth will come to an end, so be ready.  We have to be ready at all times because we don’t know when our life will end, one way or another.  We can’t put off making sure it is well with our souls until tomorrow—tomorrow may never come for us. 

I know I have talked about this subject recently, and a lot in the past, but this is the most important decision that you will ever make—or that you will ever neglect to make.  And you can’t afford to neglect it.  Every other decision you make in life is a temporary one.  The decision about who you will marry is important, but marriage is temporary.  It will end one day.  The decision concerning your career is important as well, but it is temporary.  It will end in retirement one day.  The decision you make, or neglect, about your soul is eternal.  It is the only one that will not end.  Therefore, it is too important for you not to give your attention to but instead make that decision today.  Make the decision to receive eternal life through Jesus Christ today. 

Have a great day.  Every decision you make in life is a temporary one, except the decision concerning your soul—it is eternal.  Have you made it yet?   

“All Or Some?”

“For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had”.  Luke 21:4

Jesus was in the temple watching those who were giving their offerings.  He noted that the rich men were giving a little in proportion to the size of their abundant riches.  He also noted that a certain widow woman gave little as well, but her little was all she had.  Jesus said that she had given more than all the others because she gave all. 

This story is about more than giving God our money and offerings.  There is a spiritual parallel here.  It represents what He is looking for.  He is looking for those who will give Him all—all of themselves. 

These men were like most people.  They give to God, they are willing to even give themselves to God, but they are only willing to give Him a little.  They give Him what they want Him to have.  They only give Him part of themselves.  They will not surrender it all to Him.

This widow gave her all, even though in the eyes of man it wasn’t much.  These men gave some of what they had and in the eyes of man it looked like much.  But in the eyes of God, she gave the most.  Jesus was more pleased with what she gave than what they gave.  He isn’t looking for “quantity”.  He is looking for those who will give their entire selves to Him.  She gave from her heart.  The others gave out of duty or pride. 

Which one of these two would describe you?  Are you one who is giving God some but not all?  Are you holding back part of yourself?  Are you giving Him only what you want Him to have of you?  Or are you like the widow and giving all of you to Him?

Have a great day.  God is looking to see if you will give Him all of yourself, or if you will give Him only what you want Him to have reserving the rest for yourself. 

 

 

"By Righteous Deeds?"

"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference".  Romans 3:22

Question-- Is a man righteous because he does righteous deeds or does he do righteous deeds because he is righteous?  

The correct answer is not:  a man is righteous because he does righteous deeds.  Doing righteous acts and good deeds has never, and will never, make anyone righteous.  Just ask the rich young ruler who came to Jesus—he discovered the answer.  All the good things he did didn't save him; they did not make him righteous.  You can also ask the Pharisees; they discovered also that no matter how much of the law they kept it was not enough to become righteous.

The correct answer is:  he does righteous deeds because he is righteous.  It is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.  (Titus 3:5,6) We are made righteous through the shed blood of Jesus at the cross.  Our faith in His atoning work is what saves us and makes us righteous.  Our own righteousness is like filthy rags.  We have none.  We have to come to Christ in faith and repentance and are then made righteous by Him and His work.  We do righteous works and deeds because of the righteousness of Christ that has been applied to our lives.  Our righteous works come out of a heart that has been regenerated and made righteous—not vice versa.

Have a great day.  We are righteous, not because we do righteous deeds, but because of faith in Jesus.   

For further reading:
Galatians 3:11
1 John 2:29; 3:7
Isaiah 64:6

"Look Up"

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh".  Luke 21:28

Jesus had just told His disciples what signs and events would take place before He returned.  Among those were wars, rumors of war, earthquakes, fearful sights, betrayal, imprisonment, distress of nations, they would be hated by all men for His sake and men's hearts failing for fear.  But He ended by saying to them-- "look up". 

Daily we face perplexing situations.  We go through trying times that bring fear and confusion.  We see things happening around us that we don't understand and that cause us to question and wonder.  But in these times Jesus still speaks the same words to us-- "look up".  In other words-- stay focused on Him.  Keep your eyes looking toward Him.  Don't get caught up in what is happening around you.  Don't stare at it too long in disbelief and amazement.  Don't look at what is fearful and confusing but for a moment-- "look up".

We must keep our eyes fixed/focused on Jesus.  These things are temporary; He is eternal.  These things will make us fearful; He will give us peace.  These things will defeat us; He gives us victory.  These things will pull us down; He will lift us up.  These things will steal, kill and destroy us; He will give us abundant life. 

Whatever you are facing today-- fear, questions, confusion, heartache, hardship, perplexity, don't keep staring at it.  Instead, look up.  That is where you will find your peace, strength and grace to keep walking and living even in a terrible/turbulent time.

Have a great day.  Fearful, confusing and hard things happen to us in life, but don't focus on them-- Look Up!

"Unchanging In Change"

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever".  Hebrews 13:8

 Every time I have to do an update on one of my electronic devises-- phone, computer, etc., the whole format changes. So, it takes me a few minutes to navigate and find my way through it.  Do you ever wonder why it is that someone is always changing something?  Why can't they leave some things like they are?  There's nothing wrong, in my opinion, with the old formats they are constantly changing.  

The world around us is in a constant state of change.  Some change happens automatically-- like the changing of the seasons.  Some changes happen which are controlled by someone thinking that it should be done a certain way.  Some changes we have no control over.  Some changes are good.  Some are not so good.  Some are easy to adjust to; others are more difficult and take more time to get used to.  

Change is not always easy.  Often, change makes life more difficult for us-- especially until we get used to it.  But in this ever-changing world, I am thankful that one thing remains the same--- God is God.  He does not change.  He remains the same.  He is the same today as He was in the past and will be the same tomorrow is He was today. 

The fact that the Lord does not change should bring us great comfort.  I don't have to wonder or worry about Him.  I don't have to hope that He is still the same when I go to Him with my need.  He will be faithful to supply it just like He always has.  Take heart this morning.  Your world may be changing.  It may be a good change, or it may be a not so good change.  But, regardless, God does not change and He will help you through the change.

Have a great day.  Things are always changing around us, but we can trust that the Lord will stay the same.