Posts Tagged With: holiness

Joe and John

Today “Joe” t.alked to “John.”

Joe is a Christian who has talked with John before.

Today we met at a local retailer and got on the bus together and sat next to each other at the back of the bus.

John started his hustle, trying to get girls to pimp and make money from. Trying to get girls pregnant. Promoting “adult” entertainment, etc.

He did acknowledge that after a near heart attack recently, that limitless weed smoking is not a good thing. Smoking is indeed a health hazard. Joe the Christian urged John to repent of his pimping and promoting sex as an entre to prosperity economically.

John wanted to close off his ears to the good news “noise.” He rejected the law of God so he could not hear the hope of eternal life. He did not want to be honest about the consequences of his sin. As a result, John missed the hope of eternal life yet again. He heard enough of the warnings about God’s wrath to know that he deserved it.

The last I had a chance today to really speak to his heart: John was still hardened to the call to holiness.

How many people are going to hell simply because they repeatedly reject the invitations to get right with God. They know they sin. They know that God is calling them to repent but they keep postponing repentance. They pretend that there will always be another day to do the right thing.

Today is the day of salvation. If you know you are sinning, admit that to the Lord and turn away from your selfishness.

Jesus is waiting just a little bit longer. Your sins will find you out. Your lust, your theft, your lies, your selfishness, your adulteries and curses will all be exposed on judgment day.

Are you ready?

Categories: Good News | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are They Really in a Better Place?

The death of a loved one is hard. Pondering one’s own demise is hardly any easier from a natural perspective, so I have been a bit hesitant to raise this issue in so public a forum. Yet, I have heard it too many times, and today, my Bible reading raised this issue to the very forefront of my mind:

Often when someone dies, people mourn by saying, “At least, they are in a better place now.”

Are they?

Do all dogs go to heaven?

Or do dogs merely go into the earth, never to be remembered at the end of the age?

On a more significant level: do humans who refuse the glorious good news of Jesus Christ enter into peace on the last day?

OR was Isaiah right when he quoted God as saying, “There is no peace for the wicked.”

It certainly can assuage fears of the terrible termination of life at the least. At worst, such false assurances regarding those who are without Christ lulls the living into a false assurance that everything is gonna be alright … When in fact, it will not be alright for those who are not right with God.

There are some who like to talk about being witnesses but are not honest about the dread of falling into the wrathful hands of the Living God. Yes, the Lord is loving, but for those who refuse to acknowledge their need for him, only wrath is stored up.

Sadly, churches are drifting away from being honest about this aweful truth. People like to talk about the “fear of the Lord” as though it is just an exageration for respect for some large being. Kind of like you would feel in a giant redwood forest.

Friends, the fear of the Lord is real. Those who are not walking in faith with Jesus will face the terrors of eternity if they do not repent!

Have you consoled yourself with a generic, everybody goes to heaven, kind of conversation? Let me warn you: You are deceived.

Have you lied to yourself by saying, “I deserve heaven”? Wake up o sleeper and Christ will shine on you! God alone deserves heaven. For all other creatures it is His loving mercy which alone draws people into His presence.

Prepare your heart to enjoy God’s mercy: Don’t get drunk with wine. Don’t sleep around. Don’t get into agry fits with others. Forgive. Trust. Hope. Love.

Are you wealthy? Share what you have with others.

Are you healthy? Serve the sick.

Are you happy? Listen to the cries of the sorrowing.

Are you busy? Slow down and read the Bible and pray.

Seek God while He may be found. If you are reading this, there may yet be time for you to repent and be restored to the King of the Universe.

Categories: Good News | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blog at WordPress.com.