I received an email from a young lady that brought a very good point to mind. How many people call out to the Father when they have a “right now” need, only to put Him aside after He responds? By the way, God always answers even if the answer is “wait,” or “No.” (any emphasis mine)
There’s a song that has the line, “For the God of the mountain is still God of the valley; when things go wrong, He’ll make them right. And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times; the God of the day is still God in the night.” He is the one and only True God. (Tracey Dartt, 1973)
The prince of this world – Satan – would love for you to have a vision of God as being like “Santa Claus,” or a senile old man confined to a throne just waiting for someone to call out to Him. This is no surprise for our Creator and Heavenly Father, as He’s dealt with Lucifer from the very beginning. Satan was possibly the most beautiful angel ever created, yet destructive self-pride got in the way (Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28; Luke 10). His destiny is the Lake of Fire (Matthew 25:51; Revelation 20:10), and he has no pathway to forgiveness as we humans do. His demons – fallen angels – will have the same fate as he does.
The art of deception is Satan’s specialty, and it’s first recorded for us in Genesis 3. He challenged Eve’s belief in God with the famous line, “Did God Really Say?” It’s still being used on all of us even today, and for some, it’s very effective. Someone who has received and accepted Jesus as their Savior, regularly reads the words of the Bible, and speaks with Him (prayer) is less likely to fall than someone who has turned a deaf ear to God’s word. However, it doesn’t mean we won’t sin, but our conscience (Holy Spirit) will let us know when we do.
God understands our weaknesses and wants all of us to call out to be saved (2 Peter 3:9). When we do sin, and truthfully confess to the Father through His Son, we will receive forgiveness (1 John 1:8-10). Until we are free from this mortal, sinful body, we will not be perfect, and everyone will slip and sin (Romans 3:23). There are people who actually believe they have hidden their sins from the Father, but He knows us better than we know ourselves, and we only deceive ourselves with such thoughts.
Once we receive our new forever, immortal and imperishable bodies, we will not be subject to sin again. Our mindset will be like that of the Savior, who led a perfect, sinless life while He was on this earth as a fully human man. Just imagine: forever in glory with Jesus and never having to confess a sin to Him again. Just pure love, praise and worship forever!
Also, just because someone has Jesus as their Savior does not mean we will be trouble-free. This world, Satan’s world, hates anything that has to do with Jesus, and will do anything to persecute us. Just look around at the whole world today, and especially the latest happenings in America, to see there’s a turning away from anything Christian, and against anyone who will say they follow Jesus. John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulations. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
If, at this time, you don’t see how there is a real turning away from Jesus, you may want to evaluate whether or not you have a relationship with Him. Remember, Satan will go after Jesus’ flock with every force available to him. For his followers, he doesn’t have to put a lot of effort out because they’re already anti-Christian. We’re the ones that are called “haters,” not the ones who really are. This doesn’t mean someone can’t repent and turn away from his snares, but Satan tries to make this world seem more important with little or no thought of eternity. It’s the “Me, right now” syndrome.
Mercy Me did a song called “Bring the Rain.” It talks about the imperfect life here, but as long as we have Jesus, what can the world do to us?
“I can count a million times people asking me how I can praise You with all that I’ve gone through. The question just amazes me; can circumstances possibly change who I forever am in You? Maybe since my life was changed, long before these rainy days, it’s never really crossed my mind to turn my back on You, Oh Lord; my only shelter from the storm. But instead, I draw closer through these times; so I pray:
Bring me joy, bring me peace; bring the chance to be free. Bring me anything that brings You glory; and I know there’ll be days when this life brings me pain. But if that’s what it takes to praise You, Jesus, bring The Rain.
I am Yours, regardless of the dark clouds that may loom above, because You are much greater than my pain. You who made a way for me by suffering Your destiny; So tell me; what’s a little rain? So I pray;
Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty!”
Time for this planet is getting short. We are just about at the end of this age, and a terrible seven years will follow. After that, Jesus Himself will be here to rule from Jerusalem for one thousand years. Then, the final judgments and our forever begins.
False prophets will try to tell you differently, but everyone will spend eternity in one of two places: Heaven or Hell. Jesus is the only way to Heaven (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 8:1). Everything else leads to the Great White Throne and the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10-15).
Believe Jesus came to this earth as our perfect sacrifice for sin. Know that His human self died on that cross, and God raised Him from the dead three days later to conquer sin and death for us. Have faith that God will keep us from the wrath/tribulation by having us meet Jesus in the air before the actual start of that horrible time. We will be forever changed into our new bodies and will be with Him always.
The Bible tells of what the time just before His return will be like, and to read the passages is like reading today’s news. The real news, not the faux messages being thrown at us. Those times are totally here now as never before in the history of this earth. Jesus said when you see all these things begin to happen, look up as He will be here soon (Luke 21:28) It would really be sad to listen to Satan who is telling us we have plenty to time to accept Jesus – Later! The Savior could call all true believers up to meet Him at any moment.
He’s waiting for your call, and all who do call out to Him will be saved (Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:9-13).
Come, Lord Jesus! (Maranatha!)