“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (1 Chronicles 16:29).
Why do you call yourself a Christian? Do you truly love Jesus, or do you just belong to Club Baptist or Club Methodist? Christianity isn’t found in any denomination but is only found in belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Do you love Him? Do you love what He did for you? Sin separates us from God and brings eternal death. Faith in Jesus is the only way for redemption and salvation.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
That means without faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, there is no salvation. God doesn’t want anybody to spend eternity in the lake of fire but wants all to come to salvation. That salvation is only through Jesus Christ. I’m so thankful for what Jesus did on the cross and for my salvation. Are you? Do you love Him? If you do love Him, then follow Him. Scripture is our guide. Don’t take verses out of context in order to justify your favorite sin. You only fool yourself; you cannot fool God. If you love Him, let Him know.
MY JESUS, I LOVE THEE
My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
For thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
It’s easy to get discouraged when we look at the next generation. They seem so far from God and so lost. Many people, both young and old, hold very tightly to sin, and many are mentally unsound, believing they are animals or are confused as to whether they are male or female. It’s easy to tell humans from animals and to tell male from female, but there is a strong delusion that is gripping the world. On the other hand, there are youngsters who have their feet firmly planted on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. They are blessed with parents who care.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
The parents of William Ralph Featherstone trained their son well. In the mid-1800s, young Mr. Featherstone gave his life to Jesus. Even though he was very young, his faith was solid. He wrote a poem when he was 12 or 16 (there is a question of just how young he was). That poem found its way to Adoniram Judson Gordon, who put it to music, and it has become a very beloved hymn. Mr. Featherstone is an example to all of us. You’re never too young nor too old to accept Jesus. We never know when we will die, and faith in Jesus should never be delayed. You need to be able to make your own decision. You must understand that you’re a sinner, confess your sin to Jesus, and believe in Him (babies cannot do that, so infant baptism will not bring salvation).
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).
William R. Featherstone died before he turned 27. That is a very young age to die, but it would have been tragic if he hadn’t turned his life over to Christ.
Mr. Featherstone knew exactly who Jesus is. He also knew that a Christian cannot hold onto sin. Have you resigned from the follies of your sin? If you say you’ve repented and turned to Jesus, then sin must not continue.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The sin that condemned you and separated you from God is gone, forgiven and forgotten. That is, it’s gone if you have truly repented. If you have, then you’re forgiven. You’re redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I love thee because thou hast first loved me
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
Many pastors only preach about the love of God, which is perfect love, but they don’t talk about sin and how ugly it is.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Eternal death isn’t something you should take lightly. It was pure love that caused Jesus to lay down His life for our redemption.
“We love him because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
The crucifixion was brutal. First, He faced an illegal trial, then was beaten and scourged. This alone would have killed a lesser man. They mocked Him and put a crown of thorns on His head.
“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him saying, Hail, King of the Jews!” (Matthew 27:29).
Do you mock Him today by claiming He is your Saviour while living a sinful life?
“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love” (John 15:10).
We cannot love Him if we don’t keep His commandments. If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I’ll love thee in life, I will love thee in death,
And praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath,
And say when the deathdew lies cold on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
Death is a certainty for everybody. Mr. Featherstone lived a very short life, but he will always be remembered for his love for Jesus because of this hymn. Not everybody will be able to write a poem that is a hymn of praise, but we all touch other people’s lives. Do you honor Christ in all that you do?
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).
There aren’t many people today who do all things to honor Christ. What do you do to honor Him? I know that I fail many times by not sharing the Gospel when I have an opportunity. Do you gossip while wearing a cross necklace? Do you have a bumper sticker proclaiming your faith but let other drivers get you angry? Life here is too short not to represent Christ well. You will never desire to show Him your love more than as you lie on your deathbed. Don’t wait; show Him your love today by living for Him. If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
The glory of Heaven is disclosed in Scripture. I don’t think that words can describe it entirely. All of creation was spoken into existence in seven literal days. There is much beauty here. Before Jesus was arrested, He had a talk with His disciples.
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me, In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know“ (John 14:1-4).
In Jewish weddings of that day, the man would ask the woman to marry him, then he would go to his father’s home and build a place for him and his bride to live. Jesus has chosen His bride… the ekklesia (Christians). He has returned to His Father’s house and is building a place for us to live with Him forever. Revelation chapter 21 describes the New Jerusalem, and it is breathtaking. Streets of gold, gates of pearl, and walls of precious stones.
“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Revelation 21:23).
I can hardly wait for Jesus to call His bride Home. In order to spend eternity here, you need to give your life to Christ. Repent of your sin, turn from it, and ask Jesus to forgive you. He will. If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
Time is running out. If you haven’t turned to Jesus for salvation, don’t put it off. Begin your new life in Christ and live for Him. You won’t regret it. If you choose to put off repenting, and continue in your sin, you may never have a chance to repent. Death is only a heartbeat away, and nobody is promised tomorrow. If you have accepted Christ but aren’t living for Him, then ask yourself if you really love Him.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
Remember, He loved you long before you were even born. He took your sin to the cross, shed His blood for your salvation, and loves you today.
Do you love Him? If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com
Recommended prophecy sites:
www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).