by David Brenneman
In Matthew 24, Jesus said that no man knows the day nor the hour of His return. Luke 19 Jesus says that He came to seek and save the lost. In John 6 we read that the Will of the Father that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life.
Further we read in John 10:28-29 NASB "and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand."
Once we are saved by grace through faith, we receive the seal of the Holy Spirit. We cannot undo what God has done. We indeed can become Prodigal Son's and Daughter's but what God has joined together no man can separate.
Some may argue that that cannot be the case, but after reading in Psalms of partial verses being specific prophecies about Jesus, oh yes my Dear Reader it is indeed true.
If the individual meant it when they came to Christ, they cannot lose what was received by them from God. This isn't to say that on the day we all stand before Jesus Christ to give an account of our lives, what deeds we have done in the body, that some will be more than a bit singed.
1 Corinthians 3:15 NASB "If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet only so as through fire."
We may indeed face a rough life after coming to Christ. We may not. We WILL face good days and bad days. We are told the following: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 NASB "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit, do not utterly reject prophecies, but examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good, abstain from every form of evil."
It's indeed God's Will that all would be saved. After all Jesus said that all the sins of all mankind were heaped upon Him on the cross when He was crucified. The sad reality is people still choose not to receive the rescue that's been offered.
The Scriptures also say that there's but one mediator between God and man, that being ONLY Jesus Christ. There's nobody else in Heaven who can hear prayers but God through His Spirit. It's foolishness to think praying to anyone else goes anywhere. I have said to someone this week, since we know it's true that Jesus Himself wipes away every tear in Heaven, perhaps the one person who possibly weeps the most is Mary. Whole false teachings have created lies surrounding her. People putting a false hope in what's impossible. But that's a sidebar topic.
In your world and mine we simply are not strong enough to unsave ourselves. We are hidden in Christ Jesus. When the Father looks at us He sees Jesus. He sees the scars on His hands and His feet. We indeed may become dillusional about life, but as long as we have a breath the Spirit will indeed work towards the goal of sanctification in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 4. At no point does Jesus stop in His work concerning us. We are His workmanship.
What Jesus begins He always completes.
Name one thing that Jesus began that He hasn't completed!
Hope is always possible as long as the breath of life exists within a human being.
In prison, on a desert island, lost at sea, lost a block from your destination, alone somewhere you do not know. Anywhere a human being has a breath of life, which by the way comes from God no matter who you are, hope exists.
We aren't strong enough to move the finger of God anywhere that isn't in the plan and purpose of God. We may indeed find ourselves in tha valley of the shadow of death at times but even there Jesus will find you.
I have been in some extremely dark places in my life, moreso than even the closest people to me knows of. Jesus still found me there, grabbed me and brought me back out. Crying out to those who had me "Hands OFF! This one is MINE! I died for him, I took his place! He belongs to ME!"
You too may believe anything you do at this moment, but realize that the prayer of Nehemiah can be yours too. I have heard them referred to as bullet prayers. His whole prayer was seconds long. "I prayed to the God of Heaven".
Coming in faith for salvation is a requirement to be saved. Romans 10 says it simply and true. "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 put to shame.” 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 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
We may not like where we are in life. Be who you are in Christ Jesus where you are. We aren't promised health, wealth and prosperity after coming to Christ for salvation.
We have a path to walk in Christ Jesus that's for us to walk with Jesus. He can never leave us nor forsake us. He may indeed break us to change us and grow us in Christ but He will never leave us.
Scripture says to be sure of your salvation in Christ Jesus. Be sure you have indeed believed as we read in Romans 10.
1 Peter 1:3-9 NASB "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
It's not always easy to rejoice when life isn't all peaceful and steady. Setting our minds on the things that are above isn't always easy either. The enemy of God wants nothing more than to silence those who he has lost. To either kill them before they are born or kill them, discredit them, shame them into silence. To make them believe lies and to get them to give up. I am glad to say that no matter what Jesus does not give up. He has promises to keep.
Pray without ceasing. Rejoice always. Remember whose we are. Remember what great love that brought you to Jesus to be saved. It's never ending. It's relentless.
Today remember and if need be cry out to your Savior and Lord. He's ready for you. He wants what is best for you. It just might not be what you think, but it WILL be better.
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