I Urge You to Take Heart

Acts 27:31 - Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."

There is an account in Acts where Paul is being sent by ship to Italy to appeal the case for his imprisonment (for refusing to stop preaching the Gospel). He fasted as they began their they voyage, and at the end of the fast Paul warned them he suspected rough days ahead and possible loss of lives and cargo. Of course those in charge of the ship were not persuaded and the trip continued as planned to seek a port in which to spend the winter.

The ship was on the Adriatic Sea and leaving Crete when storms arose and the men on the ship feared for their lives. They began the arduous task of lightening their load. The storm went on for days till they had lost all hope of surviving and sought to escape.

Paul spoke up again and pretty much told these experienced seamen they should have listened to him! But he also countered that with a bit of hope: And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. And he shared with them how he had been visited by an angel of God and told that he would be brought before Caesar; therefore God would protect them. The men still feared for their lives and were determined to abandon ship.

Again Paul urged them with words of hope and demonstrated his faith as he prayed, gave thanks to God in front of them all and ate. They ate as well, we're encouraged, abandoned the escape plans and instead set about to lighten the load of the ship.

All that to say like the Ark was security for Noah and his family and like these men were asked to stay on the ship and live, so is it with Jesus. Jesus was a type of Ark and He is who we should enter into relationship with to be saved. Paul was urging them to remain in and cling to the ship for safety.  Jesus calls us to remain in Him and cling to Him for our eternal safety. When we do this, life is not lost despite what storms of life come our way.

As I reread this, I the phrase there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. We are reminded that this body of ours will perish. It houses the soul, spirit and heart of each person...only. When we pass on, if we are in Christ there will be no loss of eternal life, but only of the body.

There is yet another verse in this particular chapter that spoke to me: ...they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea. I looked at that to mean like what we are to do when we come to Christ. We unburden ourselves. We lay our burdens down because the Lord tells us it is His yoke that is easy and His burden that is light. (Matthew 11:30) We cling to Him and He is the anchor for our soul. (Hebrews 6:19)

There was still a lot of work ahead for these seamen before the ship would run aground. And with the prayers of Paul, help from God, all lives were saved even in the midst of escape in the waters while the ship was torn apart by the storm. This is what our God will do for us if we determine ourselves to follow after Jesus.

If you remember, there was another time when a boat and men were in the midst of a storm. We will have storms in life, but if we are in and stay in Jesus, He will save us.

Matthew 8:23-27 - Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Nothing, Absolutely Nothing

Ephesians 2:9 - not of works, lest anyone should boast.

I know there are times when I have failed You. That was part of a prayer this morning. The next part is what I need to share. My next words were: I know there will be days ahead, times ahead where I might redeem myself. Ooops. Immediately I knew those words were wrong as soon as they were out of my mouth. I cannot do anything to redeem myself. Jesus has already paid the price.

Praise God for that. Nothing we can do. And yet our nature is to strive. Our nature is to weigh the good and the bad in our lives and pat ourselves on the back if we believe our good outweighs our bad.

This just is not the way of the Lord. He asks nothing in return for His forgiveness of sin through His death. Nothing but receiving Him into our lives, living as if He truly mattered, being obedient to His calls and obedient in the things of God...which means gaining the knowledge and wisdom set forth in His Word.

Once saved we understand what He offers us through His Word. His Word is the Bible yet it is also Jesus Himself, the Word made flesh. His Word shows us all we need...to see ourselves as sinful beings and allow the free saving grace of Jesus to cleanse us of our sins, being washed by His blood, the blood shed for all mankind. Nothing more, nothing less. Hallelujah!

We will continue at times to fail Him. But we can lift our heads and be free of guilt and shame when we continue to confess our sins TO HIM, not to a friend, neighbor, pastor or priest.

A personal relationship with Christ means between you and Him. He is the only Mediator between you and God. No man can do that, no works can do that. It's all about Him. This relationship begins with Him as He opens your eyes to see Him. Then it's about you! Your choosing to receive Him. He will accept you no matter what you have done. Your sins to you may seem greater or less than another's but they are all the same in His eyes. And He will forgive you if you reach out to Him. And He offers this gift freely, expecting nothing in the way of old works in return.

When we give a gift, that's just what it is, a free gift. Some might have ulterior motives thinking now the other person will have to reciprocate. But not Jesus. His gift of salvation from our sins is free. He offers it to us 24/7. Forgiveness of our sins is 24/7 if we ask for forgiveness when we have sinned. His gift was the greatest gift, one we cannot even imagine replicating or outdoing. He died on that cross freely. All our sins were upon Him, a concept too hard to grasp, when He was scourged and spit upon, when He carried His cross, when He was nailed to it, lifted up for all to see, when He was momentarily rejected even by His own Father...when He died. But what did He say amid all this torture: Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Just before He died He also said, It is finished. The final act of His obedience was done. We have that same opportunity when we say, Lord, I am finished with my old life. I give it to You with all my sins. I ask that You give me a new one through Your forgiveness.

All He asks is receive that gift He offers and know Him. When you know Him all other things come into being, supernaturally. Will we get everything right all the time? Not in this lifetime. That's why we have a Savior, one who can sympathize with our weaknesses, one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. But He was able to do it without sinning. (Hebrews 4:15). We are not God so we will always fall short.

Join in that personal relationship and be set free. Know that nothing you do in error cannot be forgiven if you only ask. Know that nothing you can try to do to make amends to Him will work. Just admit to Him your sin and move on. But this can only happen in relationship with Him.

Psalm 103:12 - As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

The Ark

Genesis 6:8-9 - But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.

I returned last Saturday from a church bus trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Two of the highlights of the trip were two plays we saw, The Passion Play and Noah, the Musical. We all know the story behind the Passion of Christ. We all know the story of Noah. I know I've written about the symbolism behind Noah and his ark. Something about seeing this play struck the hearts of nearly everyone on the trip. It was all the talk.

There's so much about this account of Noah that can be said. He was 500 years old when God told him to build the ark. It took 100 years. 

Noah's dedication to God was immense. He did not question God. He just did. The earth had never seen rain or flooding so how could he comprehend these things? The earth then was replenished with moisture like that of a terrarium. The earth had enough moisture beneath the surface and the earth's atmosphere held in just what was needed. No rain. The gentle hand of a loving God provided.

But God was fed up to say the least with the corruption of the earth. "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth," God told Noah in verse 13. He wanted to start over with Noah and his small family of eight, three sons and their wives, and he and his wife. He would destroy all things beneath heaven and since He found Noah righteous, He gave him and his family favor. He would establish a covenant with Noah. A covenant initiated by God is everlasting as opposed to man who tends to break covenant time and again. I wish I could go into more detail about covenants here. The symbolism is amazing.

Noah and his sons built the ark and no doubt as they did the people questioned them as they told them of God's plan. The people couldn't fathom what a flood was having never experienced such a thing so they mocked and scoffed. But Noah stood his ground because He trusted and believed in his LORD. Reminds me of the scripture in 2Corinthians 4:18 - while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. By faith Noah trusted enough. It's what God desires of each of us too in today's world. How many really do? Are we consumed with the things we have and do and do not even consider what happens when we die?? The people of Noah's day did that and look where they ended up.

After 100 years of building and putting up with the scoffing, the ark was finished. By God's hand the animals were lead in two by two, along with Noah and his family. God, not Noah, closed the (only) door to the ark. There's another scripture in Revelation 3:8 that says “... See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name."  This sounds like Noah...he did not deny God nor go against all he was told to do, despite the pressure and mocking of all others. God finalizes this 100 years of ark building. He had given the people plenty of time to reconsider their ways. Now the door closes and the rains begin...and continue...and continue. 

In the play you hear the screams on the other side of the door. Friends, neighbors, even family members. You see the anguish of Noah's family because they cannot open the door. It's too late. They didn't trust in what they couldn't see, only in what they saw before them in their lives. God's wrath on the world will come again, despite the people who scoff today. All life outside the relationship with Jesus, the Ark, will perish.

After the intermission we were told to be sure to be in our seats for the second half. Don't miss a thing. As the lights came on little by little we saw an expansion of the ark, On both sides of the auditorium were three tiers of rooms (make rooms in the ark, Genesis 6:14) that housed animals (most animated, some real) and foodstuffs. It was breathtaking. 

As the play continued we saw how Noah's family cared for the animals and made a life for themselves for over 300 days. And at last, without going into detail, they were on dry ground and were able to exit the ark to a new world.

The end of the play was upon us. We saw the ark slowly coming apart and forming a cross. What we saw next was incredible. The ark door opened once again and a great white light and "smoke" appeared. Out stepped Jesus. He said: I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (John 10:9, 14:6, Acts 4:12) 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 14:2).

The ark symbolizes the promise of eternal life in Christ. Jesus is the only Door to this life.  If one chooses not to receive Christ (enter into the ark), that door is closed in his last days. Like Noah and his family, they represented the few who received the invitation to enter into the ark. Today there also are few and the way is narrow and few enter by the narrow gate.

Just as Noah was delivered from the flood, we can be delivered through Jesus Christ. Many hear these words but most do not accept them seriously. The covenant God initiated with Noah still stands today. The ark is Jesus Christ. He is the only Door to everlasting life. It is one that must purposely be stepped into. It's not about knowing Jesus, it's about being in relationship with Him. It's trusting in Him despite what the world thinks, how it also has a purpose...to take God out of all areas of life...the mockers, the scoffers, the unbelievers. If anyone is lax in that belief, that door will close. That Door means life. Like the ark, there are many dwelling places that He has prepared for us. There is one for each who enter into relationship with Jesus.

One last detail about the play itself...only Jesus Christ was seen at the end. No accolades to or bows from actors. All the glory was given to God...as it should be. 

As the trip came to a close, it was noted that word after word, event after event was about oneness. Oneness in each other as we traveled together peacefully. Oneness knowing that God was with us each step of the way and even showing us in incredible ways how He was looking out for us, bringing perfect moments at just the right time, providing for us and blessing not just us but others whose paths crossed with ours. When we come to Christ, these things can be lived out daily. It's well worth the choice of receiving God, being counted as His, having His covenant be for each of us. That covenant is Jesus Christ. Find grace through Him. The greatest oneness is being in Christ.

Another day will come when the door will be closed permanently. People even mock this. The Bible tells us in Revelation about God's wrath on earth. All those outside the will of God and have chosen not to be in Christ, will perish. But until that day Jesus continues to pursue: 

John 6:37 - “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”

I Am New

2Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

I heard a song the other day called I Am New by Jason Gray. Yesterday I wrote about what some would say is a holier-than-thou attitude toward Christians...those who lay claim to having a relationship with Christ. In Christ we are new creations and we are in relationship with the Almighty God. The old man is gone and the new, in Christ, now lives. It does not make us perfect. Sadly, those who don't understand relationship over religion think we think we are better. We are not. I am not. There are some who do think this way, but they ought not to. It's all about understanding this relationship concept. On one hand it's difficult to understand, on the other it's so easy.

Lord, let ears hear, eyes see and minds be open to this concept.

I was of the same opinion once before I knew about this relationship thing with Christ. In fact, it wasn't until some time later that I understood I was in relationship with Him...and not until a time after that did I realize there's a difference between relationship and religion. Knowing Christ is not a Lutheran thing or a Catholic thing or a Baptist thing. It's a personal thing. I heard this one time: I know you call yourself a Christian, but I am a Roman Catholic. That does not make them any better than me either. Relationship, not religion. 

The title Christian has lost some significance as the years have gone on. It is about as watered down as the Church watering down the Word of God, not upholding God's standards like it used to...so as not to offend. Oh, Jesus is SO an offense... There's no getting around it. The Old Testament religious and political leaders took so much offense to Him they were part of a group determined to put Him to death. But let me add here, it was not any one group who ultimately killed Him...we are all guilty of that. Jesus came for the very purpose of dying. You can't kill someone whose purpose in life was to die for the sins of the world, including the religious and political leaders. Jesus came to this earth for that very purpose. 

Jesus came...not religion. I'd venture to say He hates religion. Religion is laws and rituals that cannot be upheld no matter how hard one tries; relationship bypasses that and deals directly with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We still need to adhere to the laws of the Commandments but it's our relationship in Christ that sets us free from condemnation and sin. The relationship, the acceptance of Christ, receiving Him into our lives is what makes us new.

So, Jesus is an offense. His truth is an offense. And part of that truth is we are not truly Christians until we have a personal relationship with Him. It's not knowing who He is and living as we always have. In the end one who only knows who Jesus is will realize they missed something somewhere in their life. They will realize they missed that relationship with Christ.

My whole view today on what a Christian is goes much deeper than just knowing Christ existed. It's knowing Him intimately. Anyone can do this. No one religion (including Judaism) has the corner on the Christ market. He came for all people, all races, all faiths. A Christian is one who knows that he knows that he knows Christ and is a follower. It's about putting trust and faith in what Jesus Christ did for us. It's not about our works but about His work done on the cross. 

What were the lyrics to that song (in case you didn't listen or didn't listen all the way through) that tell us the truth of who we are when we receive Christ? 

Forgiven, beloved, hidden in Christ.

Made in the image of the Giver of Life.

Righteous and holy, reborn and remade.

Accepted and worthy, is our new name.

You can look these words up in a Bible and find definitive words that tells us that in Christ we are these things. There is nothing holier-than-thou about this. It's the truth. We still cannot live perfect lives. We will fail others and other will fail us. The Church will fail too. But unless one questions their own religion and the teachings of their church, if a relationship with Christ is not considered because it is not part of the teaching of a church, they are missing the mark. In the Bible the phrase to miss the mark is the definition of the Greek word for sin. So that means there are many churches that are missing the mark in their teachings. I know this is a hard word.  

It's not about how good we think we are and all our good works. We cannot work our way to God and we cannot work our way to relationship with Christ. We receive Him. It's all about Jesus and no one else...no one. We go to Jesus and Jesus alone. HE is the one who intercedes on our behalf to the Father. No one else can do this. Jesus is the one who died on the cross...no one else. We need to realize this and accept this concept, so we can be made new, through Christ and Christ alone. No one else can make us all the things, and so many more, this song has shown us.

Listen to what the Bible has to say. Do you believe the Word of God is the truth? Do you believe Jesus can do this today? He is able...and so much more. It is that relationship with Christ that makes these statements true.

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him...But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God... And he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (Colossians 2:9-10, John 1:12, 1Corinthians 6:17)

The One Thing

Matthew 19:16, 21 - Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" "...Follow Me."

I picked up a book sitting on the bookshelf. It's called Hiding God, The Ambition of World Religion by Warren Henderson. The first point brought up talked about what seems to be the many different religions we know of in this world and the difference between the concepts of these religions. 

(As an aside, after I had written my draft of this blog, I listened to a song that was linked in an email to me. It took my thoughts into another direction and yet the same direction! Make sense? Well......women's minds do that much to the chagrin of men! There are times when "just coming to the point" can't happen.)

One of the first quotes in Hiding God is from Oswald Chambers and you know I like this guy! He says: Christianity is not a devotion to work, or to a cause, or a doctrine, but a devotion to a person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Well, there you have it in a nutshell. It's about a relationship not religion. Sound familiar if you read my blog? Jesus doesn't want us following the sometimes misguided doctrines of a church, or work for a cause, but to follow Him personally. No church is perfect...but Jesus is.

A question was posed once awhile back to a man named Harry Ironside, a teacher, preacher and author, as he was preaching the streets: There are hundreds of religions...and each sect thinks theirs the only right one. How can plain men like us find out what really is the truth? Ironside's response was there were only two religions: the one covers all who expect salvation by doing; the other, all who have been saved by something done...so, can you save yourself, or must you be saved by another? If you can be your own savior, you do not need my message. If you cannot, you may well listen to it.  Ooooh, I like preachers who just tell it like it is! And, oh, to have words like that flow off my tongue or fingers! 

John 19:30 - "It is finished."  So, Jesus Christ died for my sins. It's not about the good deeds I did but about what One Man freely did for me. Our deeds (outward religious acts, ceremonies, and sacrifices) are as filthy rags and not one of us is good (Isaiah 64:6). There is only One whose perfection we cannot obtain, so we need Him...we need His work done on the cross that removes our rags. Our pride is our stumbling block. No one wants to think anything but that we are basically good people. How many times have we heard this? "Oh, I do good things for people, give generously, help others, go to church, give to the church, work hard for a living, am patriotic and vote, teach these things to my children, so I believe I'm a good person. That goodness will be seen by a loving God and that will saved me." 

No, sadly, those works will not. We are to give ourselves to and delight ourselves first in Christ. He then gives us the desires of our hearts, which I believe become our good works. This is a hard word. Nothing we do without Christ is worthy. A confession of faith is first necessary. A devotion to Christ, not to ourselves. Apart from Christ we are nothing...nothing. 

When we confess our sins to Jesus, we are to, by faith, believe it is so. That's why Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished." His work was done. It was His work...not ours. All we need to do now is receive Him and accept that. We no longer need to return to repeat that confession if it's heartfelt in the first place. We can instantaneously ask for forgiveness when we have sinned...just ask Him then and there. No need to store up a list to confess later. 

The guilt and feeling of needing to be saved again and again is not having faith. I struggled with this idea for some time until I realized it was a once and for all thing. It should also not be a feeling of fear, a scare tactic toward salvation. If you have done this you will only receive peace, acceptance and a feeling of freedom.

How do I know these things? I've read them, not in the newspaper, self-help book or in the latest magazine or seen it in mainstream media (even fair and balanced) but in the Bible. I've experienced them and I've heard them preached, too, but it was after my acceptance that my eyes were opened. It was also then that I realized that I was loved for who I was...I was beautiful in His sight, warts and sins and all. Like Glenn Beck who daily tells us not to just believe him but check things out ourselves, we are to test the scriptures (Acts 17:11).

If our religion tells us our salvation is based on the good deeds we do, it's wrong! We can work our heinies off and never accomplish what Jesus did. We should not fear we will not be accepted if we don't do good. We can't ever be good enough. We can never do enough work. We can have confidence, however, that our heartfelt confession of Jesus Christ and devotion to Him will save us. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but this truth is: it is Jesus Christ who has done the thing...the one thing...He died for the forgiveness of our sins. Does that sound like something we can do? Does that sound like what other religions believe? God so loved the world....that He GAVE...GAVE... John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Salvation is not works but simply accepting the free gift He has finished for us. It's not free if we have to work for it. Ephesians 2:8 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God...

Oh, people, such a simple matter that is so hard to comprehend. Probably because it's so simple. Why do we insist on complicating things or trying to strive for them? We can't imagine a God who loves us so much when we've been brought up in a society or world or family where it is expected that we "do" in order to be. I always felt if I was just smarter, just prettier, just thinner, achieved more, made less mistakes in everything I did, people, parents or friends would like me more; I'd be more accepted, more beautiful. Even today those thoughts linger until I remember that Jesus loves me the way I am because I have received His free gift of salvation. I am (we are) beautiful (as Mercy Me tells us in this song) in His eyes. Please watch the video! And to those whom I have criticized or have lost patience with, forgive me...you're beautiful too, especially to God.

Some day the truth will be revealed and it will be freeing. Until then, seek the truth. Search the scriptures for the truth of who Jesus is. Listen to His words. What freedom to know the simplicity of what He tells us. Grab your Bible or go online. Carefully, slowly, read the Book of John in the Gospels of the New Testament. That's all I ask. Challenge yourself. Refuse the mindset that it's too difficult to understand. Ask God to help you see. Ask that the voice of Jesus be heard. 

Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

One on One

Revelation 7:17, 21:4 - ...for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes... there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

Heaven is God's dwelling place. Only the righteous are allowed. Why? Because God cannot be in the presence of sin and evil. The world view of sin and evil are a bit lax compared to His. I talked briefly with a friend yesterday about heaven and hell. We both agree they exist according to the Bible and one day we will be entering one or the other.

My spirit clouded over for a short time. My eyes misted over until I composed myself. 

First let me say that our relationship with God is an important factor in determining where we will go when we die. This a one on One determination. It takes place when one person chooses the One Person as the center of their life. It's the difference between knowing who Jesus is and knowing Him personally...a one on One relationship...between an individual and Jesus Christ. My experience took place when I sat in a pew nearly 12 years ago and knew from the depths of my soul I needed Jesus. I felt His urging, perhaps spiritually heard His voice through the tugging at my heart and experienced the power of His Holy Spirit as it coursed through my body.

One on one. My heart ached as the thoughts ran through my head faster than I could speak. 

"I know it won't matter," I said, "how we feel today when we are in heaven. It will be so different when we get there. We will recognize our family and friends if they are fortunate enough to have found there way there but not in the sense we recognize them on earth.  Relationships will be different. We will be one group of spiritual beings. We will be in our glorified bodies. There will be no pain or sorrow...so we will not mourn those who are not there. What a concept to wrap our minds around."

Well, maybe most of those words were internalized rather than spoken...nonetheless they are here in my heart to ponder occasionally. To sometimes weep over or rejoice in. And sometimes to push aside when the earthly feeling of pain is more than I can bear or the idea is realized once again as one of God's mysteries. 

My thoughts continued whether the words came out or not: "It's just like how we can arrive there...a personal matter. One on one. God chooses, we accept...or not. We are given opportunities to receive throughout our lives. It is our responsibility to know the truth of God's Word if it has been shown to us, to find out for ourselves what is expected of us in this life, and set out to live it. 

"At the same time, while we are here on earth we have been given feelings. Perhaps these feelings, whether happy or sad, have been given to us to share. They're here that we might express them to others so they might take notice how we are feeling. All I know is those human emotions can become heavy or joyful.

"We can't fully understand the depth of the pain of hell, nor the gloriousness of heaven. It grieves my heart, here on earth, in a way I can't express when I think certain family or friends may not enter heaven. But it's only a human response we are given now. I know it won't matter how we feel when we are in heaven because there will be no grief when we finally arrive. I don't believe the absence or presence of people will be understood as we know it now. Feelings or emotions won't be the same because of the spiritual change that will take place. We won't feel sadness, that's a fact. I think our elation and the focus of our joy of being in heaven will be mainly cast upon our worship of Jesus...the reason we are there."

Heaven does not quite exist yet. It will be a place for all those who have received Christ after He has returned for His people. Then we will be given our new bodies and enter into heaven with our Lord. For the time being, the dead sleep. We will be raised up with Christ to enter our eternal resting place, whether heaven or hell. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. (Daniel 12:2, 2Thessalonians 1:9)

We need to be serious about our standing with God. We need to realize there is a real heaven and hell. It would not be pointed out numerous times in the Bible if it were not so. We need to know what God says is truth about salvation issues and what He says about salvation, that it is through no other than Jesus Christ. He is the only Mediator between God and man. No idol, no statue, no man, no woman...one on One...you and the Lord. Let His words reach your heart and let Jesus be your Savior. 

Luke 15:10 - Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.