For some people, starting a day without a cup of coffee is totally unthinkable. For others, it may be a cup of hot tea, a cola or some other form of a stimulant. I must confess that my wife checks to see if I’ve had at least a few sips of coffee before asking me anything significant which might require me to make an intelligent decision.
No matter what it takes, each of us has a pattern we like to follow to start off on the right foot. Earthly stimulants are not a problem, but we need to consider spiritual boosts as well. In fact, this is more critical for our souls than caffeine ever could be.
To start my day right, I have become accustomed to pouring myself a cup of coffee – the real stuff, not decaf – and immediately open the Word that the Father has provided for us all. I actually began this “ritual” over 30 years ago when I called out once and for all for Jesus to be My Savior. I had realized that if my soul had been required prior to that, I would have been scheduled for that broad path that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).
Bible reading gets my day started right. If I miss my morning reading, the day seems lopsided until I can take time to feed my eternal soul the nourishment it so desperately needs. I have a couple of Bible apps on my phone, and will find the time to seek His word. It should be noted, I have read through various translations over the years, and my personal preference today is the English Standard Version (ESV). Whatever version a person prefers, the key is to read from it daily.
For some, daily Bible reading may seem like something foreign at first. For all my early (pre-40) years, I relied on others to tell me what was in God’s word, without verifying if they were giving me the truth or not. It was a “push” to start reading daily at first, but after a couple weeks it became a habit. Then, after a couple of months, a lifestyle. What I discovered, convicted me for having put it off for so long. Now, I ask the Holy Spirit to provide new meaning to the texts, and I often find messages that I didn’t comprehend before. As long as we are on this earth, I believe we will never stop learning, or be totally enlightened about all the Father has given us.
The question comes up that when we get all the way through, from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21, what then? As I finish a Book, I go to the Father in prayer and ask Him what He believes I should study next. After all, there are 66 books to be referred to. I find myself going to a certain book, and before starting to read each morning, I ask for enlightenment to help me understand more fully what I am reading. This has helped me to have a deeper relationship with my Jesus.
There is so much evil happening in the world today, that I cannot imagine facing a day without God’s word to lift me up. As the relationship gets even deeper, my understanding of His will becomes more ingrained. It’s totally understandable why people get so depressed and feel a sense of loss when they do not have Jesus as their Savior. He paid the entire cost of the gift that we are offered, which makes it possible for us to spend eternity in Heaven with Him. It’s up to each and every individual to accept or reject this marvelous gift.
There is a song verse that says, “My God is real, for I can feel Him, deep in my soul.” He has shown me so many times His love for me, and my greatest desire is to finally be free from this sin-filled world. I long to be Home where I belong. I have witnessed prayer answered, where there seemed to be no solution possible. For all who deny that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit exists, I feel a deep sense of loss for them. They have succumbed to all the lies the prince of this world – Satan – has lured them with.
Once we realize this world is temporary, we can understand that there is nothing or no one more important to us than our Jesus. We are to love one another, but our love for Him is to be above all else. In return, all He asks is we accept Him as our Savior, confess we are sinners that are totally lost without Him, and we cannot save ourselves. We must believe He will prepare a place in Heaven for us when we do call on Him (John 14:1-3).
In this world, we have learned to look at anything advertised as “free” with a jaundiced eye. There is usually a “catch” somewhere. This is what makes it hard for some to accept God’s word as pure and true. There is no earthly price we can pay; no good deeds or words we can do to ever earn what Jesus provided that day at Calvary. For anyone to say they believe they “deserve” the gift, they are wrong as well.
What we do deserve is to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire, because we could never meet the requirement of absolutely no sin in our lives whatsoever, which would satisfy the Father. He cannot tolerate any sin, no matter how big or how small; and without the perfect sacrifice to cover our sins, we would have to answer for every infraction we ever commit. That would put salvation way out of my reach.
Jesus came as fully human, and was tempted just as we all are. He lived a totally sin-free life here, and when He died on that cross, His precious blood was shed in the place of all who will truly receive and accept Him. Because the Father loves His Son so much, and loves in a way we could never understand (John 3:16-18; Romans 5:8), anyone who calls out to be saved through that blood sacrifice will have their sins forgiven as if they are as far as east is from west. We become a part of the Savior’s flock forever. He never gave up being fully-God, but demonstrated to us the act of being submissive to the Heavenly Father. He went through the horrible death by crucifixion solely for our benefit. At this point, I would say the Father has the absolute right to set conditions for our Salvation, yet He does not require anything that is really difficult.
On the other hand, those who do not receive Jesus as their Savior before they take their last breath on this earth will have committed the “unforgivable sin.” The outcome of that is plainly stated in Revelation 20:11-15, which is to be sentenced to the Lake of Fire forever. The final antichrist, false prophet, all the demons (fallen angels) and Satan will already be there. They cannot call out for forgiveness as we can. They were with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, yet chose to follow the evil path; and for that they are doomed. This is why it is so sad that people today will openly worship Satan, somehow believing he can save them from the hell-fires.
If for some reason you are holding off until later to seek Jesus, you’re falling for one of Satan’s favorite lies. No one is guaranteed another hour, much less another day. Jesus is there 24/7, and is always ready to save all who call on Him (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:9-13).
Another event described in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 is very near. It will be when Jesus calls all true believers to meet Him in the air, to keep us from going through the Wrath to come. Not believing in Him will not change this. It is going to happen, period. The Rapture, or taking up, is the next main event that will take place on the prophetic calendar. This will be followed by the worst 7-year period of time this earth has ever experienced. At least 2/3 of the world’s population will be killed. To avoid this is very simple. Again, accept Jesus as your Savior, confess you are a sinner and ask His forgiveness, and be assured you will not face the Tribulation.
Read His word; talk to Him (prayer); assure yourself an eternal home in a paradise that we can only imagine. Believe it because God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
What gets me through my day? Knowing the Savior is real, and the Father, Son and Holy Spirit loves me beyond all my understanding. Also, as this world becomes more and more evil, and all common sense seems to have disappeared, my Bible tells me to “Look up, for your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28). The crazier it gets, the closer we are to going Home.
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! (Maranatha)