Whoever Shall

Acts 2:21 - And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

This truth about calling on the name of the Lord can either be easy or difficult to understand. First it is the power of God! But it also is an act of our will. It’s an easy thing to do but often our will gets in the way. Oh, that pride that so strongly dwells within each of us. 

To be truly saved and called children of God, we must do exactly as the Bible suggests...

Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) Repenting of sin can only be done by calling on the name of the Lord...only on the name of the Lord. Jesus Himself said that He is the only way, truth and life. No one else saves. We cannot save ourselves by good works or by knowing someone who is saved or going to church. I’m sure by now this sounds quite repetitive (and will continue to be) but there’s only one truth and one way by which we can receive forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. How many ways can it be explained? Only one way...the same way!

Let’s go one verse further, Acts 2:39, For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. This is telling us the promise of the remission of sin is for all people. This is not saying that because of one being saved, it passes on to others. Each must call on the name of the Lord. In some way, shape or form, He is extending the invitation to repent. It is up to us to respond. And a bonus when we do is the gift of the Holy Spirit who will teach us the truth. Jesus is the way to life and is the truth. He will open our understanding to the writings in the Bible.

You will note baptism comes after repentance. As a commentary I read explains: for several reasons be baptized should not be joined with for the remission of sins to teach baptismal regeneration. First, the context of this passage demonstrates that the repentance is only connected with the removal of sin at salvation: “whosoever shall call… shall be saved.” A baby can’t repent; it has no understanding of sin; so baptism for the remission of sin does not work and yet that is the way of most churches, including the one I was part of as a child. How could it be that so many churches are, sadly, mistaken? Two articles on baptism:

https://www.gotquestions.blog/biblical-baptism.html

https://www.gotquestions.org/children-baptism-communion.html

We must be able to understand we have a sinful nature and need for a Savior.  

Acts 4:12 - Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

The Vine and the Branches

John 15:5-7 - I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Cast out, thrown into a fire, burned. Those words should make us very uncomfortable. But then...abide means to sojourn, remain, be held and kept continually, not departing, continue and endure, remain as one (in Christ), to await. Those definitions, so rich, describe a true believer. Read them again, slowly. 

Do we know we are being held fast by the Savior? 

Do we continue in life with Him close by? 

Do we endure? 

Are we sure we are one in Him? 

Do we look in anticipation either for His imminent return or our death that we might have the assurance of heaven and eternity someday with Him? 

Are we sure we have that assurance? 

Oh, that assurance!

I recently heard this statement: Jesus first came as a loving God. I would add to that: to seek and SAVE the lost (that might be you and was me). He WILL return, as the Bible shows us, to pour out His wrath upon those who have been offended by, have not sought, hated or turned their backs on, Him. Jesus’ nature comprises of both grace, mercy and judgment. We cannot be deceived into believing He is only a loving God and that everyone who we believe is good will enter into heaven some day. (This is a difficult but true statement.) 

If we attend a church but do not hear about sin and repentance, are not told we need to turn to Him, but only how much He loves us, we only see one side of His nature and that can be a slippery slope some day. God does not grade on a curve because one might not be as good as that guy, but certainly not perfect, but better than that reprobate next door. We are all called sinners. Adam sinned in the Garden which caused all of us to have to pay the consequences. But...just as one man sinned, another paid the debt. Christ’s blood only on the cross covers us....not a prayer but heartfelt giving of ourselves to Him. But that blood must be applied spiritually to our hearts. 

So...coming to Christ is a heart issue. Sin is a heart issue. It needs to be changed and transformed. We cannot change our own heart; He must do it. We cannot earn our salvation; it must be received from Christ. In Christ alone. We are simply to humble ourselves before Him and receive Him into our lives. Without Him we are NOTHING. We must be abiding in Him. 

There is a very real enemy (the god of this age...2Cor. 4:4) in this world and he’s getting bolder and also more worried! He’s blinding eyes, stopping up ears and turning hearts away from God and turning them onto the things that we would consider good in this world. He is also aware of the times and the return of his Adversary. When this Adversary returns it will be curtains for him and he does not want to go alone. That’s why he’s turning this world against Jesus, the one true God. And why he is causing destruction in many forms today on this earth. Do not be deceived! Look to God. Seek Him while He may be found. He is the vine and we can be the branches.

You are so worthy, Lord. You came to seek and save the lost and I am so grateful for all You have shown and will always show to me. I am thankful for Your nudging and finally Your Holy Spirit power that dwells in me. Praise You for Your love toward all people and Your wooing of them. Lord, remove the blinders of the blind that they might see; open deaf ears that they might hear; soften prideful or hardened hearts that they might receive and know Your power and forgiveness for sin. You.alone.are.so.worthy.

2Corinthians 4:3-5 - But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.

Lord, Is It I?

Matthew 26:21-22 - Now as they were eating, He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, "Lord, is it I?"

I listened to a moving sermon about Judas, yet what the pastor said might seem odd.

Jesus chose the twelve who would become His apostles, whom He would train, whom He would be with to see Him work miracles, hear Him preach. And Judas was one of these men. These men came from various backgrounds, all had flaws. Peter was impetuous, Thomas doubted, Matthew was a tax collector whom people generally frowned upon. Others were mere fishermen without training. All were chosen by Jesus. He did not choose those of importance, but these men, for the most part, became great. We are never told what Judas did prior to being chosen to become an Apostle. It is assumed he was a thief and that money was important to him.

Did Judas have a motive for following Jesus? Did he believe Jesus could not see through him? Did Judas not get Jesus' preaching? Was he not affected by the miracles and the fellowship with the others? So many questions.

A known truth was pointed out: no one is perfect. And not any of the disciples/apostles were. We are only perfect through Jesus Christ when we receive Him into our lives and our hearts are transformed. This world has a wrong view of what God supposes. He does not look at the good things we do, whether we consider ourselves good persons because we donate money to or back worthy causes. Have we given ourselves to Christ? That’s what He’s looking for. 

There is a painting of Jesus knocking on a door. I’ve brought this up before. It has been said that the artist missed something. Take a look at this picture........

What is missing is a door knob. When asked by someone how he missed it, the artist said he didn't. Jesus knocks on the door of our hearts, but we are the ones who will open it. He is not going to barge right in. It's our choice to receive Him. And so it was with Judas. He lived, walked, watched and listened to Jesus. But he never allowed Jesus entrance into his own life. Even though people attend church, do good things, doesn't make them followers of Christ, the pastor said. 

We think we can hide ourselves and our lives and lifestyles from God, but He knows. He knows. And one day we will be standing face to face with God, accountable for every action, every word, every thought. We will see the truth of who we have been. We will even see how wrong we were about how good we thought we were! This is something we should be concerned about today. 

Judas spent much time with Jesus but he would not allow himself to be changed. He lived a lie all the while he was in Jesus' presence. I'm certain none of the other disciples knew it; they just thought he was one of them, believing as they did. And it's the same way in our churches. The outward appearance may be spot on, but Jesus knows the heart. 

At the Passover meal Jesus told the disciples what would happen. He told them He would be arrested, He would have to die, that one in particular would betray him. All His followers were worried. They each exclaimed, "Lord, is it I?"  My, how Judas exemplified what we do when we make the choice not to follow Him seriously. I might have asked the same question. Might we sometimes feel like this also? That's why Jesus came, to put that doubt behind us. Each of these men made a choice; eleven were the right choice and one was not. How many times are we confronted with this choice only to put Jesus aside? I’m so thankful that the Bible is filled with stories of failed individuals. We can learn from them, based on what happens to them. Judas died...Peter became great, some were humbled for a good outcome. 

Judas eventually was sorry for what he had done; he chucked the 30 pieces of silver back at the captors basically saying he didn't want "the blood money." He did not repent of what he had done; he did not go to Jesus. He was only sorry about what he had done. No change took place even before he hung himself. No doubt in anyone's mind where he has ended up.

I think about the two thieves on either side of Jesus at His crucifixion. One’s end was not good, like Judas; the other realized his sinful condition and repented. Jesus pardoned the repentant thief. I love this story.

We cannot pretend about our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. It doesn't work. Saying a prayer one time to receive Jesus isn't the only answer. It's living it out. It's being determined to listen to God speak and be in communication with Him. It's dying to self. It's enduring till the end.

Like Judas, there will be many who will reject that knock on the door of a heart. I don't need Him. He's only a myth. I'm a good person on my own. I don't like having to bow to a higher authority or Authority. I'm all the authority I need. I don't want to change; people will notice, I will lose friends. 

There's more to this story, though. One that puts things into perspective. God knows the beginning from the end and He knows who will choose His Son and who will not. Jesus knew Judas was to betray Him, but He chose him just the same. Maybe He thought Judas would change; but probably not. Some just do not. It had to happen to fulfill the prophecy of His death. This is sad...knowing some just will not make the choice. The account is one more example we are to learn from. 

Isaiah 55:6-7 - Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

Don’t Live in Egypt

Jeremiah‬ ‭42:12-16‬ - And I will show you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and cause you to return to your own land. But if you say, “We will not dwell in this land,” disobeying the voice of the LORD your God, saying, “No, but we will go to the land of Egypt where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor be hungry for bread, and there we will dwell”—then hear now the word of the LORD...thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “If you wholly set your faces to enter Egypt, and go to dwell there, then it shall be that the sword which you feared shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt; the famine of which you were afraid shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there you shall die.”

Strong words of warning. The Old Testament of the Bible is filled with allegories that can be applied to today.  All of God’s Word in some way has just as much meaning for us today as it did in the days and circumstances of then. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1Corinthians‬ ‭10:11‬)

Egypt in the Bible is another name for the world. The world we live in has its own way of doing things. If we are true Christians who are devoted to God, Jesus and the Word of God we are no longer part of this world. We are strangers as the Bible tells us. The world offers us very little of value as compared to what Jesus can give us. No amount of prestige, success or money is greater than what God has to give. 

In Jeremiah the words spoken above were for the people of Judah. They turned their backs on their God, repeatedly. However, it can apply to us also. It can prevent us, as God was implying to His people, that they would not enter into the land He had intended for them. They were intent on living as the world around them. 

So look at the verses again. God will be merciful to us if we choose to follow Him. Before the Fall in the Eden everything was perfect. Man had a relationship with God. He lived, walked and communicated with them. Life was perfect with no work, no hatred, no wars, no need. Everything necessary was provided by God. 

But we now live with the effects of that fall. We are separated from God...until we come into relationship again with Jesus Christ. It is through Him alone that our separation from God has ended. When we do, that land He has promised will be attainable. It will not be without trials until He returns, but we have the hope  of that future.

But if you say, “We will not dwell in this land...but we will go to the land of Egypt where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor be hungry for bread...” This world cannot offer the hope of peace on its own. We cannot put our trust in man, government or self. If we do we are ultimately in disobedience to God. Our only hope is in one Man, Jesus Christ, as I repeatedly say and which message Jesus tries to convey. I am reminded of another scripture:

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.‭‭ (1Thessalonians‬ ‭5:2-4‬) I know peace and safety will not come in this world. I know about this day. I am not in darkness. So, then it shall be that the sword which you feared shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt...and you shall die.

People, this is a part of what a relationship with God is about. Eternal life. This world cannot give eternal life. One day, hopefully soon, Jesus will return. He will bring real peace but it will only apply to those in this relationship in Him. Don’t be fooled into thinking you are safe and secure because you’re a good person or do good works. ...share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus... (2Timothy‬ ‭1:8-9‬)

It’s also not about a denomination but that relationship. He offers it to anyone who is willing to choose it. There is only one Way and His name is Jesus. There are not many ways to receive eternal life. 

I don’t write this to anger or scare anyone but to warn. Jesus warned, God warned...for a reason. My words, which are not really mine but the Bible’s, I’m sure I will sound like those old time evangelists who shouted, “Repent, for the day of the Lord is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2) Not one of us without this relationship with Jesus and have experienced a change of heart, will enter into that promised land. But God is patient. He is holding off His return so that more will seek Him. All it takes is humbling yourself and realizing that you may not know the truth and desire to. An open heart will do this. 

I once was blind, big time, and now I see. Those words to  mean so much more these days. I pray they will for anyone of you who reads this and seeks to know the God of all truth...and hope and peace. 

Mark‬ ‭1:14-15‬ ‭- Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

‭‭

HIS Government

Isaiah 9:6-7 - For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end...

I know, sounds like something that could be written around Christmas. So thankful God's Word is useful any day at any time. 

So, God is fully aware of all the sin in this world (way too much to list here). Above He has shown us that "the government will be upon His shoulder and of the increase of His government in peace there will be no end..." (Isaiah 9) 

It's not about the world's idea of how government should operate. We do need order and boundaries. Our country started with using the Bible to form that sort of government. Too often in just about anything, man wants to muck things up by exerting his own idea how something should run. God's ways are not like ours. They're better.

I will say this repeatedly: It's all about Him. When we understand this we will understand about His peace. 

All God wants is for us to believe and trust in Him, to turn to Him, not man. HE brings perfect peace through HIS government. HE is to be the head. He is to be Supreme over even our government. We worship Him, not our country, not a flag or pledges. We worship Him. Then all else, for that person, falls into place. 

Sure we have to live in this world till He returns, but knowing there's hope despite all we encounter is well worth it. I am sure of my eternal resting place. Praise God alone for that. 

The Word says...despite all the sin, He still...is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2Peter 3:9)  There is

We cannot live without God. We just can't. Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, and they shall fall among the slain. (Isaiah 10:4a) But He continues to call hoping another one will turn to Him or back to Him. This is His love at work for anyone. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. (Isaiah 10:4b)

It's not too late to turn to Him. He suggests we do it before it becomes too late. (When's too late? When we die suddenly or He returns suddenly, in a flash and the twinkling of an eye.)

So it is suggested:

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the LORD... (Acts 3:19)

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.

Do You Know This?

Romans 8:21-22 - ...creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Do you know this? This is a wonderful promise of God for those who know Him. We can be excited about our future. While the things of the world grow dimmer and creation is now groaning in its troubles, there is a hope of a better life. That hope only comes through Jesus Christ.  

When sin entered into this world thousands of years ago separating us from a holy God, He knew He had to bring about a way (Way) for mankind to be reconciled back to Him. But it would be voluntary. It would not be forced upon anyone. This way He would know it was our choice, by our own will. He would call us and if we would respond...

God sent His Son, Jesus, into this world to reveal Himself to us. He spoke words that would bring life to those who would receive Him and those words. But not everyone liked what they heard. They had their way of living and opted not to choose a new and better way (Jesus Christ). Even today people do not like what they hear.

Some day, as the Bible tells us also, Jesus will return. He will return for what is called His Bride, those who have followed Him, trusted Him and watched as the world crumbles in its sins of diversity (of multiple ways leading to Him or even church doctrine), tolerance (of lifestyles He abhors), murder (abortion) and self (pride)...all forms of what He looks at as wrong and evil. We know He came into this world not to bring peace but division (Luke 12:51)...which we see, because His truth is not accepted.  He will come again (Revelation 1:7), this time to cleanse this world of all that has corrupted it. He will come, next time, to bring peace for His followers.

That bondage of corruption believers must live amidst these days will come to a complete end, leaving those who chose corruption to die in their sins. Those choosing Christ, however, will live with Him forever. We will sit beside Him at His table. We will see Him face to face. We will have received new bodies...no pain, no tears, no sorrow (Revelation 21:4).

This promise is held out here for anyone to receive. He is our Promise. He is our Everlasting Life. He is our Lord and Savior. Don’t think just knowing of Him is enough to be seated at that table with Him. 

Religion doesn’t get one there. Following the rules isn’t enough. Saying a prayer one time and not experiencing a heart change won’t do it. If one does not read His Word, has no desire to, thinks church is an obligation or attendance only necessary at Christmas and Easter, consider themselves a good person, they have been deceived. This is not MY opinion! 

If one’s church doesn’t preach about sin and repentance but only love and mercy, the truth is not being fully heard. He is love but also just. If one hears the truth and becomes angry, it has not been received and neither has He. He offended many during the three years of His ministry. But He never gave up. And today we have His Word in book form to continue to hear those words. He still does not give up!

Oh, the joy unspeakable when one hears the Word and receives it and relishes it! When truth becomes so important and life-giving...when Jesus steps into one’s life.  

We need to shake off the old ideas, the old person and take in the new. The old is corrupt; the new is being regenerated. Praise God for the new life He offers all. It is a heart change, not a head change. The head thinks it’s about ME. The heart knows it’s only what Jesus has done. Who was beaten and whipped? Who remained silent as false accusations were spoken against Him? Who hung on the cross to save souls? Only Jesus. Not any of us. He came to do it all. He chose to do it. Only His blood was shed. Nothing but His blood.

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon this I see: 

nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

For my cleansing this my plea: 

nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

Nothing can for sin atone: 

nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

Naught of good that I have done: 

nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

This is all my hope and peace: 

nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

This is all my righteousness: 

nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

O precious is the flow 

that makes me white as snow; 

no other fount I know; 

nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

He chose to die. So we must choose too, to our selves, our beliefs. Choose to believe and follow whole-heartedly this Man called Jesus. Trust in Him. Choose His spilled blood. Choose to listen to His Word and accept His truths. Do not be deceived any longer. He is the only Way, Truth and Life. 

Hebrews 10:19-22 - Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Not Us!!!

Romans 10:10-13 - For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

I know I write a lot about our salvation not coming from what we as humans perceive as good works. Again, the Bible says our works are as filthy rags (this cannot be disputed; God never lies). We cannot do good enough things, be good enough people to please God. The only thing we can do is call on the name of the Lord for this salvation. It is a choice we make, on our own. Many churches don’t teach this. I can’t say why other than possibly a difference in the understanding of the term born again. And because we are a works-based society; always have been. But our working to achieve this salvation makes the work of Christ nothing. Nothing. 

I’d never heard this in the Lutheran Church. I may have been under the idea that because I was baptized as an infant I was in good hands. I do believe some may have a devotion to God and the Lord without knowing what born again is. Only God knows our hearts and motives. It can also be a desire of these people to seek God and live for Him. It isn’t just pastors or priests. And I’m certain not all pastors or priests are born again. We are not to be ashamed of what we believe and be letting others know about the power of God, how He has changed us, not we who have attempted to change ourselves. 

I read this recently. It emphasizes my point(s) that it is not about our goodness or works: Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God. The one all-important thing is that the gospel of God should be recognized as the abiding reality. Reality is not human goodness, or holiness, or heaven, or hell—it is redemption. The need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker today. As workers, we have to get used to the revelation that redemption is the only reality. Personal holiness is an effect of redemption, not the cause of it. If we place our faith in human goodness we will go under when testing comes. (Oswald Chambers)

Redemption. It only comes when one chooses to call on the name of the Lord to be saved. Have you actually called out to Him? Have you repented of your sins, whatever they are, either great or small? If one says they have not sinned or not sinned as gravely as another, they lie. No one is righteous without Jesus Christ. Still the hardest thing to explain is this receiving. It comes from the heart, not the head. It’s humbling oneself before God. It comes with our seeking to do this...or sometimes, in our attempt to drive Him away (like me). Our pastor suggested last week that the Bible says we are to seek Him and sometimes we do, but God is seeking us also! Are you resisting? No good will come of that.

And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. (Acts 16:30-31)  I questioned this scripture for a time. It almost sounds like if one receives Christ the entire family, because of that one’s salvation, will be saved. Salvation is an individual commitment. It’s between you and the Lord. You can’t skip into relationship through someone else. You must make the choice.

God is always available to listen; He’s never too busy. The Bible shows the love of God for those who love Him. He is merciful. He pours out His grace on the humble and repentant. There is a heaven and hell and there is a narrow road to heaven and a wide road to destruction. The narrow road is less traveled. It is harder; it is less acceptable to others. The wide road is the way of society's standards, which these days are extremely lax. (And just because you don't adhere to their standards doesn't make you better than them.) No one is righteous!

Let the power of God change you. Ask for Him to show Himself to you. If this born again, redemption thing doesn’t sit well with you, consider opening yourself to learning His truth. I had to do it. I survived. I didn’t want to; I rejected God for as long as I could. Then He turned me around in a heartbeat. It’s a glorious thing to be touched so personally by God. Really, it is.

John 3:3 - Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Revelation 1:8 - I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

First, let me remind you...the words in red are from Christ! The Word is truth. 

All I know is God/Jesus knows the beginning from the end in any and all situations from the minutest thing to the largest. 
What man can do this? 
Don’t think He doesn't know the outcome of elections, our hearts’ motives, each of our demises? Don’t think He knows about “climate change?”  He has a purpose, that all men should know Him. He both knows...and cares.

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. (Matthew 10:29)

I have this sign in my kitchen. 

We are to love Him above all other things. We are to trust in His Son, Jesus, which means turning to Him in repentance. God wishes none to perish in this world. Not even terrorists! If we all go to Him with hearts humbled, asking for Him to forgive us of our sins, He is so willing to do this. We need not go to any other person. We go directly to God. He is never too busy to hear heartfelt prayers. He doesn't want our good works. He just wants us...to come to Him. 

He is the Alpha and Omega, as seen above. He has shown us what the days will be like prior to His return. We are beginning to see evidence of this. I know...we've heard for thousands of years He is returning soon. When do you think He will have seen enough evil, enough rejection of Him and His Son, enough rejection of what His Word says is wrong that the world today ignores as truth? When is enough enough?

All He wants for us is good. This good will come when He returns. It comes with dedication to Him and in the very end with eternal life. Not everyone will have this life if they have not put Him first, believed His Words, trusted in His Son only, not works, for the salvation of our souls. 

He is the Alpha and Omega. He is the first, as Creator God and the last, as Christ our conquering Savior, King of kings and Lord of lords. We can live in the same victory, through Christ. 

Today it would be wise to know these truths in our heart. His truths are the best and surest. What He says, He will accomplish...and I believe it will be soon. Do you really know Him? Have you really given your life to Him? Have you ever thought about your life and looked at the things you've done that might have been or are not quite on the up and up? Have you ever felt guilty about what you've done or have you dismissed it as "everyone else does it?" God does not grade on a curve. If it's wrong in His eyes, it's wrong. 

He knows the beginning from the end. He knows our hearts. He knows who needs saving. He's wanting that none should perish. Will you be part of that group? Can you be humble? Can you ask your Heavenly Father for forgiveness? Today's a good day...before it's too late. (Just an aside...yesterday's terrorist attack in Manhattan (October 2017)...I wonder how many of those victims, despite their innocence in this act and not deserving of their deaths, knew God? I wonder how many met Him? I wonder what they know right now? There is no place where they wait and see if the good they did in their lives outweighs the bad. God is just and without our receiving His Son we are toast! 

Matthew 24:29-30,36-38,42,44 - Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark...
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Which Ministry?

2Corinthians 3:3-6 - ...clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Old and new, death and life. Hearts of stone or hearts of flesh. Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)

Tablets of stone=Ten Commandments

Tablets of flesh=law of Christ, within our hearts

God made a covenant long ago with Abraham that He would be his God and the God of all his descendants. Abraham had so much faith in God that he was called righteous. 

In the Old Testament God started out with a list of commandments. Because those commandments could not be perfectly kept, there were sacrifices made continually. God finally chose to bring about one final possibility for permanent solution...His Son, who would be sacrificed and die, like all the animals of the Old Testament sacrifices. 

This same  covenant is for those today who seek Him. We become Abraham's descendants when we come into complete and utter submission to Jesus Christ. The other evening in a Bible study we were reminded that living and being in Christ and receiving His promises is predicated on a whole bunch of "if" statements. If we do this, He will do that. I saw an article once that said the Bible is an "iffy" book! It is. A very rough estimate tells me there are hundreds of if statements. It was this way from the very beginning and is still the same today.

God never changes His ways to suit our desires. We must change our ways to suit His. This concept goes so against our human nature...but IF we follow and obey Him, His promises are for us. God only offers one promise to those who do not...eternal death.

Often I write that it is not by our works, our sufficiency, that we attain eternal life. That would be based on the tablets of stone…the commandments, the law, the sacrifices necessary to atone for sin. I came to Christ through the Spirit of God, who changed my heart’s attitude. He took my heart of stone and made it flesh. My sufficiency now is from God. Giving myself to Him I am part of the new covenant. As stated above, the letter (the works, law and sacrifices—apart from God) kill because it is we who try to work for our salvation. But the Spirit gives life...through God’s grace, His Son, His Son’s atoning blood. In Christ alone.

Christ came to fulfill all those laws we could not keep. The laws are there to show us we cannot keep them. If we cannot keep them, there is but one other choice. We must seek a Savior. We must seek the Savior. In Christ alone. It is through the law of Christ and a heart change. Sincerely seek Him and He will save. He will gladly save the lowest of the low, the most wretched person, which we all are anyway. He is no respecter of persons but wishes that none perish. None. When the choice was before me, I chose the ministry of the Spirit, not of the flesh. 

Romans 3:20 - Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

Choosing To...

Colossians 3:12-13 - Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

I have had a recurring thought. As believers we are called to do as the scripture above tells us...to forgive. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:44-45) (Luke 6:27-28, Romans 12:14)

We are called to pray for our enemies, or those who despise us. Why do we choose to let frustration and anger reside within us? All we're doing is causing it to fester. I've been guilty of this. I'm guessing the Lord is trying to get my attention.

One day I went through a scenario in my head. Someone is murdered. The initial reaction is shock, grief and anger. One might want revenge. One might hope for the severest form of punishment upon the killer. But look at what it says above. Love your enemies. Oh, how that so goes against our human way of thinking.

I've seen programs or news briefs where a family member has been senselessly killed, whether by accident or intentionally. In most cases they are angry. I've heard people say they would never forgive them. Some will forgive that person. I wondered what I would do. I know what I'm supposed to do. 

Here's where the scenario went: what if I could be instrumental in ordering the final sentencing? Would I want life or death? Would I want death for this person? My answer became no. Then I had to go further, questioning my motive. Was it because I would want them to have to continually suffer the punishment for what they did? Ouch. That would be my way of exacting my own revenge. But then my thought transferred to what God would want.

The death penalty could bring a person into submission to God, or just add to their resentment of or unbelief in Him. It could cause a brokenness that would lead the killer into repentance and salvation. These things we might never know. 

However, a sentence of life in prison could do the same. It would give a person the chance to receive Christ's forgiveness. And if forgiveness was granted to this person by the grieving person or family, how much more would it cause the killer to give thought to what he (or she) had done? It might be the very thing that would bring one more sorry soul into the kingdom. God wishes that none would perish. 

God is no respecter of persons. All have sinned and fallen short of His glory. All meaning every one of us is guilty of sin in the eyes of God. We all need to repent. We are all equal in God's eyes. One sin is not greater than another to Him. Jesus was here to show He was willing to forgive all, no matter what their standing, no matter what their sin. But...they had (and still have) to repent and receive Him, not get angry or proud and say they don't need Him, they don't need to change their ways or thoughts or actions. A change of heart is what needs to take place.

It's why we must forgive. Jesus forgave all from the cross. In our pride we have put ourselves, those who have not committed great crimes, in better standing with God. We are not. We all have dark, ugly hearts, hearts only the Lord Jesus Christ can change. If we are in Christ we still harbor inappropriate thoughts, words, actions. Our hearts are inherently wicked. Somehow, though, if we are in Christ, have repented of our sins, confessed Him publicly, live for Him, seek Him daily, commune with Him, and repeatedly repent of the sins we commit, His blood covers those sins. What a hard thing to comprehend, takes faith to believe. 

There was a woman who was caught in adultery. The punishment in Jesus' day was being stoned. The religious leaders were ready to do so. Jesus made one simple comment: He who has never sinned, cast the first stone. All the men walked away. It's the same with us. None of us are free from sin. None of us can rightfully exact revenge. That right belongs to God. 

Now, we are allowed to judge. But not with bitter, hateful or angry hearts. We are allowed to judge righteously. If something goes against the Word of God we have a right to judge. I've seen enough garbage on Facebook to irritate me. Fake news, wrong thinking. Some of it can be very irritating, especially if it is an offense to what I know God's Word says to be wrong. I can judge that. But at the end of that judgment the thought always comes...they don't know any better. They do not know Christ nor do they know the truth. It causes a right judgment on my part! I feel sad for them. I feel sad that they do not know the truth and are adamant in their angry defense of the cause(s). 

I'm praying that God will help me further in my, oftentimes, inability to just let something go and forgive. This is all part of His process of sanctification. Bring it on! Will we choose to do this? 

Luke 23:34a - Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” 

What's the Simple Message?

Psalm 73:25-26 - Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

Maybe it gets old hearing that God is my strength. After all, He cannot be seen. But I can attest that He can be known without being seen. His presence can be felt, His voice heard through scripture and in prayer. When He "speaks" you can know it is Him. It can be a thunderous noise or a still small voice (2Samuel 22:14, 1Kings 19:12). It is a stirring in your spirit that seems so real. 

He is real. He is alive today to those who seek Him. He knows us all and is aware of everything about us, including our deepest thoughts and secrets. If He knows so much about us why wouldn't we want Him to be our strength and portion?

He is as close as a prayer for salvation. He would love for everyone to seek Him. Not all days will be easy and secure. We all will encounter loss or illness. Can we be prepared for those bad days? If we trust in Jesus we can. It's something that needs to be done today for the best benefits. We can be prepared in advance for days of trial. We can be in relationship with the Lord now so He can be by our side (our strength and portion) during the difficulties and so they will not come as much as a surprise.

The message of Jesus has always been repentance. Not an easy word to hear. Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the 

gospel.” ‭‭(Mark‬ ‭1:14-15‬)

There you have it! In Jesus' own words. He preaches repentance and belief...because He loves us. A simple message. When one starts with this repentance all else can begin to fall into place.

Today Christianity and the hardness of His life-giving words are being squelched. Prayer and the mention of the name Jesus and the commandments are offensive and being removed from public places. Thankfully I know while there is an attempt to do this, He will never be removed. The Word of God will live forever. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:8‬) Someday we will all realize this.

Seek Him while He may still be found. Call on Him while He is still near. (Isaiah 55:6) Then share what you know, what life He has given you, what hope He offers.

Psalm‬ ‭73:27-28‬ ‭- For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Your works.