by David Brenneman
We've probably all heard it said that way. That to just accept it because that's the way it just I-S IS. The truth for the believing and unbelieving is the same. Jesus's promises that began in the book of Genesis through Revelation will be found true and as the Bible says in itself of itself...let God be found true and every man a liar.
Yesterday and going into today many people celebrated victory and some suffered defeat because of putting their heart into things in this world that honestly belong to God. It's honestly one of the greatest turn-off's to me is to watch people whom are Christian's behave in a very un-Christ-like manor. There's no verse in the Bible about how to treat one another that includes 'just kidding'. That's just the way it I S is.
Dr. Charles Stanley wrote what is in that picture shown here in his Life Principle #30. It's full of appropriate questions that lead into a new 2023 to all of us.
Will Jesus find you the way you should be found by Him? Is your daily life frought with exceptions to His call for obedience? Do you excuse your behavior because of just how close to this world you've grown accustomed to living? You've gotten all cozy with aspects of this world that you find appealing...but are they part of what is necessary for you to grow in Christ? Are you focusing on self so often and so much that you're convinced that Jesus would be ok with your life? Oh my friend that's a slippery slope.
Are you thinking that which was written in the Bible...where is the promise of His coming? Life is going on just as it has been...
Are you thinking you have so much of life to live ahead of you, He's surely going to give you the chance to succeed!
Are your eyes on Christ in your daily life or are they really on you in a mirror? What are you doing to become more like Jesus? Anything? People invest in what they want to succeed in or at. Are you investing in your walk with Jesus? Do you even HAVE a walk with Jesus? Are you investing in anything to do with being right before Christ?
What about your life have you stood your ground on, telling yourself and others that THIS is how it I S is going to be!
Are you looking into this new year with expectation of Jesus returning or is it in the distant future to you? Nobody likes being caught doing something that they know they ought not to be doing.
Jesus nailed it on every single prophecy written in the Old Testament about Him. Jesus did every single thing that His Father wanted Him to do. Jesus stated quite clearly that He will come back to get His Church. That those who have died in Christ will be the first to get a new glorified body, then those who are alive and remain will get theirs and off we all go to Heaven to forever be with Him.
We read in Revelation: "Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying." (Chapter 22 vs 15 NASB). Verse 12 says: "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with me, to render to every man according to what he has done." (NASB).
Not IF, but WHEN Jesus comes and you are alive...how will YOU view Him? As Lord or as one who wishes he or she had chosen differently? I reposted a video yesterday that someone had made of the Rapture happening. Sort of cheezy special effects but the horror's of those left behind were well done. In this video people were in Churches everywhere when the Rapture happened. Those left in the pews and chairs shrieked in horror at what just had happened. Running to the altar begging Jesus to come back. Will this be you? Children vanishing from playgrounds, workers from running construction equipment and vehicles of all kinds and sizes. All gone in the blink of an eye. My Dear Reader, how can you possibly plan for that kind of moment? How can you possibly think in your mind that you have time to turn to Christ at the last second when nobody knows when that last second will be?
Start your 2023 with knowing that Jesus is your Lord and Savior. Decide once and for all who it is that's on the throne of your heart. Decide today to turn to Jesus and receive His free gift of Salvation that He paid with His own blood to offer to you in order to save you.
A very very powerful urgency is within me to keep on 'preaching' that message going into 2023. That you NEED to know right here right now that Jesus is your Savior. He is NOT going to barge His way into your heart. Jesus only comes in by way of invitation.
What are you waiting for? Why would you think that what the world offers you is better than what a life in Christ can offer you? Why? Because for centuries Satan's been filling the minds of people with a false sense of success and a false sense of what living the good life is all about. The Bible says that the eye has not seen nor has the ear heard what kind of life God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 for those who don't believe me.
Are you really THAT willing to risk your eternal life's destination? Everyone is going to have eternal life...your deciding on Jesus determines where you will spend it. Jesus IS coming soon. That is just the way it I S is going to be happening.
The Bible says to trust in the Lord with all your heart, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. He will give your life a purpose and a meaning that you've never dreamed of or imagined it possibly could be. You may think you have had some exciting times or lived through some horrific times. Exciting is what's coming when Jesus returns. Horrific is what those left behind will find a new definition of. Even in my spec of a lifetime I've seen horrific things both in person and in the news. We read in the history books of horrors that mankind has inflicted on mankind. We've read in the Bible of the various judgments of God in the Old Testament that happened. Mankind has never seen what's coming in the judgments written in the Bible about after the Rapture of the Church. Many look at horror movies as being scary. You can walk out of a theater and know that it was make believe. There will be no place to go to hide from the horrors of the Great Tribulation that's coming. Spirit beings called demons will be given practically free reign to deceive even more people in the rebellion against God's Rule and Authority. Right now the Holy Spirit restrains Satan from going all out.
The fact is...are...you...ready? Read those questions by Dr. Stanley again. How would you answer them?
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