When our Heavenly Father created the Heavens and the Earth, it was intended to be a paradise that would last forever. Everything was made with the purpose of adding to the beauty of His creation, and for a time, there was peace and harmony here. When God created man and woman, He put them in a beautiful setting – The Garden of Eden – where all nature dwelled in a serene, tranquil land. God only made one stipulation, and that was to stay away from one tree. Everything else was there for their use except for that one tree. (ESV all emphasis mine)
We know the story in Genesis 3, where Lucifer appeared to Eve in the form of a serpent. He convinced Eve that there was nothing wrong with eating from the fruit of that tree. His “Did God Really Say?” statement resonates through this world even today. It’s just as effective now as it was then, and he knows what enticements to use. People are still falling for his temptations and are ignoring what is obviously taking place. He convinces many that God’s word is foolish and all should live for the here and now. His followers are in the open as never before.
The splendor of God’s creation is overlooked by a vast majority of people. Those who are on that broad path leading to destruction far outnumber those on that straight and narrow path leading to eternal life. It’s exactly as Jesus said it would be in Matthew 7:13-14 about 2,000 years ago.
For anyone to benefit from God’s word, there first has to be belief that He is real, and the words of the Bible are absolute truth. Satan and his antichrists and false prophets are turning people away from the truth just as Jesus, Paul, Peter, John and others prophesied. The crescendo of events is gaining momentum, and end-time prophecy is right on schedule. This world as we know it is about to go through a major change.
Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 is absolutely accurate today. “For the word of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and of the discernment of the discerned I will thwart.'”
For a true believer that has received and accepted the gift offered by our Savior, we see all the ugliness of the evil that is gaining ground all around us. At the same time, we are aware that these events must take place before we will be caught up to meet our Jesus in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). That brings on a hope that the unsaved just can’t comprehend. The new world order is preparing for the appearance of their leader, while we are preparing to be in the presence of our Beloved Great Shepherd. The world calls us “haters” because we won’t indulge in their abominations. We are commanded to love everyone, but we do not have to accept their evil lifestyles.
Since the time I called out to Jesus to forgive and save me about 35 years ago, there are moments when I just take a break and enjoy what the Father has given us. There is a poem by Joyce Kilmer that I had heard the opening line to many times, but it never really made sense to me until just recently.
“I think that I shall never see, a poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest, against the earth’s sweet flowing breast.
A tree that looks at God all day, and lifts her leafy arms to pray.
A tree that in summer may wear, a nest of robins in her hair.
Upon whose bosom snow has lain, who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me;
But only God can make a tree.”
Only God can make things that we take for granted, yet the beauty is there if we would only look. A song performed by Jim Reeves on YouTube goes a long way to give this even greater meaning. It’s called “The Flowers, The Sunset, The Trees.”
1.) Each time I touch a rose petal and breathe the sweet fragrance it brings, I know there’s a God up in Heaven; no human could create these things.
2.) The dogwoods, the oak, and the willow so gracefully wave in the breeze. The dogwood I’ll always remember; my Lord died upon one of these.
3.) The sunset in its golden splendor; such colors no artist can do. I know when I look on its beauty, each page of the Bible is true.
4.) No picture or painting can capture the beauty of any of these. The handiwork of God is revealed in the Flowers, the Sunset, the Trees.
Things today have taken on a new meaning when I think of all our Father has done for us and for me personally. A beautiful sunrise or sunset gives me a longing to be in our forever home where His beauty will be all around us always. I’ve said before that if we could have just a glimpse of Heaven as Paul and John did, I don’t think we could tolerate another minute here.
This also gives me a yearning to get His word out, as Jesus said for us to do in the Great Commission. As Paul said, many may look at this as folly, but if only one soul seeks out Jesus, it will be worthwhile.
There is nothing of this earth that is worth losing even one minute of time in glory for. Sadly, there are those who are putting all their faith and trust in the so-called riches of this world. They have not even begun to consider the fate of their eternal souls. If a person were to live even to 120 years, that time isn’t even a blink of an eye compared to forever.
Though we may not be able to comprehend how long eternity is, we should be able to decide that we would rather be in the true light of paradise than total darkness of hell. Also, we should know it’s totally our individual choice as to which one we will eventually go to. No matter what Satan and his demons say, there are no other options.
Romans 10:9-13 gives the simple but very important steps to eternal Salvation. Admit, or confess, that we are all sinners in need of a Savior because we cannot save ourselves. Believe Jesus is that Savior, and no other path exists except through Him. Call out to the Lord and be saved.
God’s word is pure and true as He cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18). There are false prophets even in some previously Bible-based churches that are saying there are many ways to Heaven and one can get there without Jesus.
John 14:6; Acts 2:21; Acts 4:12; John 3:18 and 1 John 5:12 all say that Jesus is the only way; and to have the Father, one must have received and accepted His Son Jesus. My faith and trust is in the one true Greatest Artist of all rather than a fallen angel who only exists to deceive and destroy.
Satan tries to imitate but falls short for those who have the Holy Spirit within them. Yes, as humans, we will sin and fall short as long as we are in these mortal bodies. The Father knows this and makes allowances for our forgiveness when we call out to Him. Psalm 103:12 says He removes our transgressions as far as east is from west; and 1 John 1:8-10 says He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins when we confess them to Him.
Time is getting very short as all the prophesied end-time events are speeding up daily. Right now would be a great time to invest in your eternal life by calling out to Jesus to be your Savior. He will force no one to accept Him but will accept all who truly ask His forgiveness and to be our Savior.
We could be going Home at any moment now, and to be left behind when it isn’t necessary would be tragic. He is waiting for your call.
Come, Lord Jesus!