On Its Own

1Corinthians 2:1-5 - I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

The Word of God speaks for itself. No need to embellish. All we need to do is know the Word. Seek God first...and all other things (needs, not wants) will be added to us. God has promised us this. The world offers nothing eternal. There is no guarantee of anything in this life. We are not guaranteed life in the next few minutes. God is in complete control of it all. He knows everything about us. He knows the number of our days. He is the one who created us, knit us together in our mothers' wombs. 

All He asks is that we seek Him first, devour His Word. Taste and see that He is good. He offers us the bread of life, the living water. You don't get that without knowing Him and seeking Him. As I write this morning, many of the words (promises) are scriptural. They are all His truth. This is what He wants us to have in the forefront of our minds daily.  

A woman from our church posted this: Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8) She emphasized what I underlined.  Boy, couldn't the news media and the world in general consider this! This is what God wants. If we keep our eyes focused on Him, meditate on Him throughout the day, we have achieved that which is best. Scripture even says to seek that which is best.

Before he became the Apostle Paul (who wrote the words following), he persecuted those who followed Christ. He followed the ways of man. When he encountered Jesus, the power of God changed all that! It’s a wonderful thing to have that encounter! (My emphasis.)

For I determined not to know anything among you EXCEPT Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, BUT in demonstration of the SPIRIT and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the POWER OF GOD.

But we speak the WISDOM OF GOD in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,

But God has revealed them to us through HIS SPIRIT. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

Now we have received, NOT the spirit of the world, but the SPIRIT who is FROM GOD, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us BY God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the HOLY SPIRIT teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1Corinthians 2)

Those things from God are the best. When we allow ourselves to take an interest in God, seek Him first, be in His Word to hear His truths, we receive the best there is. His Word stands the test of time (despite what anyone says)...on its own. 

Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

It's True!

Hebrews 10:36-37 - For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: for yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry.

It's true. Just as was prophesied throughout the Old Testament that there would be a Messiah to come to save God's people, Israel, it was a foreshadowing of the Savior who appeared in the New Testament and did come to save all who would believe and receive Christ Jesus as their Redeemer and Savior. Better than all that, it's true, He will return...quickly.

God promised Israel a Savior but when Jesus came and preached and taught about Himself and performed miracles that they might believe, His own people, the Jews, rejected Him. The religious leaders rejected Him; their responsibility, their pride, in leading daily, weekly, monthly and yearly sacrifices would have been in jeopardy. The works of these constant sacrifices for the atonement of people's sins never stopped, never ended their sins...kept those priests in business! But when Christ came He died for the sins of all who would trust and believe in Him. And He ended it all by saying it was finished. No more sacrifices necessary. He was the last sacrifice. It's true.

He came to seek and save all who were lost. He was rejected by His own...but life was given to "whosoever" would believe in Him. (John 3:15) Still today there are those "whosoevers" who do believe and also those who reject. Some who tell of His wondrous acts in their lives are often rejected as Jesus was. Some are so miraculously saved their testimony draws others. 

All that to say, it's true, Jesus will return. If Christ's prophesied coming the first time was a real event, so will His second prophesied return. There are too many things within the Bible that were written and happened for it not to. And Christ's words about salvation are just as relevant. The Bible tells us we cannot, nor will not, know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:13) So believers wait, sometimes impatiently. What's important is believing, trusting what He has said, always looking up to the Lord and forward to that day...and submitting to the One who has created all things. This amazing God. This faithful and true God. 

We can trust that this written Word is faithful and true. Jesus is also called the Word, made flesh; therefore, what He has spoken and promised is faithful and true. He never changes; His Word never changes. He is God and cannot lie. His Word (written and in the flesh) is truth and can be relied upon.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

For I am the LORD, I do not change... (Malachi 3:6) 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17) 

God is not a man, that He should lie, ... Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)

For all the promises of God in Him [Jesus] are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (2Corinthians 1:20)

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. (Proverbs 30:5) 

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17)

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8) 

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. (Matthew 24:35)

So Jesus will return. It doesn't matter if it's today, tomorrow or ten years or more from now. What's important is that He has gone to prepare a place for us. (John 14:3) Anyone following the Lord, having given their lives to Him, who believes His Word, and waits for His return, is guaranteed a place in heaven that He has prepared for them. But it means more than just saying we know who God is; it's about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It's admitting our sin, repenting of it and desiring to know more about this Jesus who came to be our Savior.

So...here what Jesus says:

“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.”

(Revelation 1:8)

“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” (Revelation 3:11)

“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

(Revelation 16:15)

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12)

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)

It's true. He is coming soon. Whether we see it or not, we must be ready because meeting our Maker is also a reality. Like Israel in the Old Testament, our works will not secure a place in heaven. Only Christ will. It's never too late to ask Him to become your Savior and take away your sins. He will hear your call if you are sincere. You can receive the promise of eternal life and heaven. This also is true! 

2Peter 3:9 - The Lord 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.