The LORD Shut Him In

The last blog was about Noah whom God chose to build an ark to save anyone willing to enter into trusting God. 

Short and sweet, here we see what happens when we do this. 

First He calls, via His Spirit, His Word, through others. Perhaps we seek Him on our own. We enter in to that relationship with God/Jesus. He shuts us in. We are protected by Him. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands... ‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭49:16) We are now His treasured possessions, ever in His sight. 

Have you heard? Have you been asked to enter in? To trust in Jesus? Have you been shut in by the Lord...protected by His salvation? Do you believe? 

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS THE DOOR, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”  (Revelation‬ ‭3:20-21‬) 

Then the LORD said to Noah, "COME INTO THE ARK, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation." (Genesis 7:1)

So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD SHUT HIM IN. ‭(Genesis‬ ‭7:16)

Those who were shut in the ark were saved from the devastation of the flood.

Today, this is what Christ does for those who choose to enter into relationship with Him. He is that Door! We are saved from the world of sin around us. Eyes opened to truth. Promises of eternal life. Hallelujah! 

Prepare for the Worst, Hope for the Best

Mark 8:36 - For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

The statement to prepare for the worst, hope for the best, has been used a lot these past couple of weeks with all the intense weather that has occurred. 

Other statements recently heard:

•Once the storm comes it's too late to take action, so do what you need to do before it comes. 

•You can replace the material things, but lives cannot be replaced. 

•Err on the side of caution.

•Evacuate or die. (Yikes)

These are all true statements for life situations. It is also true when it relates to the salvation of our souls. Many believe God is not important in ones life...it's okay to believe in God, in their own way, or whatever god they desire, but there is only one true God who can provide the hope in our salvation and His name is Jesus. 

He requires an intimate relationship with Him, like a father to a child or husband to wife. He requires a repentant heart, not sacrifices or head knowledge of Him. Denomination means nothing to Him. He wants your heart. He wants your commitment. He doesn't just want you on Sundays but everyday. He wants you in your home, at work, at play. He wants your complete focus and devotion. 

Salvation is real and important. It's serious business. Those who have experienced it know! They know the changes that have taken place. They know the voice of the Lord. They know His power. They are gaining wisdom and revelation of who this God is. 

There will always be controversy about this subject. Remember, even Jesus encountered scoffers and persecution. Why would He have gone through all this if His Gospel message of salvation wasn't true? We are to seek Him while He may still be found, not wait, because we don't know when our last day will come...we must be certain today. I understand some think this thing about salvation through Jesus might be a myth. Then this: If what I believe is wrong, then I have nothing to lose. But if I’m right, then those who think contrary have everything to lose. Reread the opening scripture.

So, when the storms of life come, whether natural disasters or personal ones, who do you turn to? Doctors, science, government or anything of man can do just so much and I'm not saying we shouldn't seek their help when necessary. But when the chips are down and we consider where we will be when we die, do we have peace and hope in what Jesus did and what He tells us we have to look forward to? Our physical lives, once done on earth, cannot be replaced... People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)... unless we have received Christ as our Savior. There's nothing wrong with erring on the side of caution. Have we been evacuated from our worldly lives leading to death or have we sought the One who has died that we might live? Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1John 2:15)

Straight from Jesus: 

He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:25)

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:17)  

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27) 

Hope comes only from Jesus. Spiritual life only comes through Jesus.  He came that we may have eternal (spiritual) life. He came to give us hope and peace. We will still encounter storms of life, but we can know our hope is secure, even if we die. How about others? How fearful might they be? Consider the list of statements above and consider Jesus, the one who saves.

Jeremiah 17:5-7 - Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.

Victory

1Corinthians 15:56-58 - The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

We have seen victory in our political arena. Conservatives over liberals; Republicans over Democrats. And I am even prouder to be from a state where our second term governor, Scott Walker's, opening remarks from his acceptance speech were: First off I want to thank God. I want to thank God for His abundant grace and mercy. Win or lose, it is more sufficient for each and every one of us.

This is what I'd like to hear more out of the mouths of political candidates. While I'm glad of the outcome of these elections across the nation and in Washington, it doesn't necessarily mean a nation intending to bring God back into the center of things.

I still do not fully trust a man in leadership in government. I still trust in God first and foremost. This is where true victory is. This is where absolute truth is. This is Who knows exactly what each of us really needs. This is Who holds our eternal future in His hands.
Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever, who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners. (‭Psalms‬ ‭146‬:‭3,5-7‬)  He who has the truth, who will execute judgment on the last day, who gives us the bread of life and freedom from sin and death.

Yes, we live in this world and it is important that we have a world that holds to right standards. Neither Republicans nor Democrats is 100% correct, or honest for that matter. But it helps to lean a little more to the "right" side of things. However, we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as true Lord and Savior, God of all, know we are not to keep our focus on the things of the world but the things of heaven...and that can be evidenced in our voting. We are to keep focused on Jesus Christ and what He has done for us, how through Him we have victory over sin and death. Praise the Father, Praise the Son!

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves His children, too. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. (‭1John‬ ‭5‬:‭1,4-5‬)

Government can't save us. But Jesus Christ can. It's that simple. I'm thankful for those politicians who have some understanding of this. I'm thankful for those who thank God not just because they believe some will like hearing it but truly mean it, who live godly lives apart from their political ones. Too few and far between.

We can have true victory...through Jesus Christ. This is true victory:

May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion;
May He remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice.  Selah [think on this]
May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose.
We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the 
LORD fulfill all your petitions.
Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call. (‭Psalms‬ ‭20‬:‭1-9‬)