When someone accepts the Savior and asks forgiveness of their sins, we’re told that Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to live in us. Just before Jesus ascended (Raptured) back to Heaven, He told His disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and all Judea, and Samaria and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8; any emphasis mine). The word started in Jerusalem, but has spread all over the world throughout the centuries, to cover all the earth.
The Holy Spirit came just as Jesus said He would on the day of Pentecost. It was definitely more eventful that first day than what takes place now, but the importance is the same. Before the crucifixion, Jesus had told the disciples He had to leave because, if He didn’t, He could not send the “Helper.” When He told them He would send “Him,” He was letting them, and us, know He was not going to leave us unprotected. He was sending a true and equal part of Himself to be with us.
Jesus had concerns about all of those who would believe in Him; and John 10:14-15 tells us just how much He loves those who will follow Him. “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own, and My own know Me, Just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep.” This was not forced on Jesus, as He willingly went to the Cross for everyone (John 10:16-18).
There are some who have tried to say Jesus is not God, as it’s believed that mention of the “Angel of the Lord” in the Old Testament signified Jesus was a “created” being. According to this thinking, Jesus was given an “elevated” position after the crucifixion and resurrection.
However, John 1:1-3 tells us, “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word Was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything that was made.”
John 10:30, “I and the Father are One.”
And also, John 14:9-11, “Jesus said to him, have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me; Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, show us the Father? Do you not believe I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on My own authority, but the Father who dwells in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.”
The first mention of a plural Godhead is Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
What throws some people off is the Hebrews 2:9 verse, “But we see Him who for a little while (just over 30 years) was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death; so that by the Grace of God, He might taste death for everyone.” He became fully human so that He could personally experience everything we experience, yet remained fully God to ensure everything was carried out as required. He was tempted by Satan, but remained totally sinless.
Jesus had no illusions as He realized there would be more people that would reject Him than would call out to Him for Salvation.
Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
The “hard” part is resisting the temptations of the devil as he is a master of deceit. He tries to get every soul he can to turn away from the Savior, and to become entrenched with this world. Those who go against Satan, and accept Jesus, are becoming more and more persecuted all over this world. In some places, Christians are being martyred just because they’re Christians. As time passes, it will only get worse, just as Jesus, Paul and others have told us.
The ones with the true treasure are those who have accepted Our Lord and Savior, and have the Holy Spirit within them. Because the Holy Spirit is also God, we have Father, Son and Holy Spirit protecting us. No one can fully explain the “trinity” other than to know this exists. Very soon, all believers will be experiencing a “call” to meet Jesus in the air (Rapture), after which it will most likely be explained to us in a way we will be able to understand. Meanwhile, I have faith to believe I have been given what I need right now to have Jesus living in me.
Which brings us to a song by James Easter, father of Jeff Easter. It’s a very simple but pure country song that glorifies having the Savior come into our lives, giving us purpose to carry on. It is available for viewing on YouTube, and is called “Jesus Is Living in Me.”
(1) Lonely years, I had noting; My life had no meaning till I heard about Calvary. Then I knelt down in prayer; the Lord met me there; Now Jesus, He’s living in me.
(chorus) He’s in my feet when I’m walking; in my tongue when I’m talking; in my eyes, and now I can see. He’s in the songs that I’m singing; in my heart His joy is ringing. Jesus is Living in Me!
(2) Through the valleys He has brought me, to the top of the mountains and over life’s troubles, trouble seems. Now I sing for His glory, songs that tell a great story; cause Jesus is Living in Me! (chorus)
It will be wonderful when we can be in the presence of the Lord and be able to sing praises to Him. For all who reject Jesus for the pleasures (?) of this world, there will be no singing in the Lake of Fire. The Lake is also known as the final Hell, and is the only outcome for those who will not accept Jesus and His free gift that He paid for so dearly on a cross.
The hard part is admitting we’re all sinners (Romans 3:23). It’s a pride thing that shows we’re not perfect, and destructive self-pride is what caused Lucifer (Satan) to fall. Jesus loves us no matter what; and if we accept Him as our Shepherd, He will add us to His flock.
All the signs are present that are spoken of in the Bible that signify the end of this age (Church), and the beginning of the next stage (Tribulation). For all believers, we will not experience the Tribulation, also known as the Wrath-period of 7 years. It will be the worst time this earth has ever known. We will be with Jesus, having received our new “forever” bodies, and a new mindset that will not be subject to temptation.
To learn about the events of the Rapture, the Bible gives us 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53. For anyone to believe they can “accept” Jesus when the trumpet/shofar sounds, 1 Corinthians 15:52 says it will happen in a twinkling/blinking of an eye. This is calculated to be less than one second. Those who have accepted Jesus before that event will be saved. Be one of them; accept Jesus today because tomorrow isn’t promised. He will not turn anyone away.
Romans 10:9-13 gives the steps to accept Him. He’s waiting for your call.
Maranatha – Come Lord Jesus!