Right now is not the time to say you’ll get around to receiving and accepting our Jesus as your eternal Savior later. Satan and the majority of this world would like you to believe there is plenty of time to call out to be saved – but later. (ESV – all emphasis is mine)
In Luke 16:19-31, we have the story of the rich man and Lazarus. In this story, we can surmise that even though he was poor and afflicted with sores, the poor man had to be within the will of God. Verses 22-23 state, “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.” As for the rich man, it is obvious he lived for the pleasures and riches of this world without ever really considering his eternal destination. Continuing in verse 22, “The rich man also died and was buried, and in hades being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.”
Please understand that when you have taken your last breath on this earth, at that very instant, your eternity is set. It cannot be changed, and calling out for mercy will not work.
Jesus said in 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.”
It’s not that God wants anyone to fail (2 Peter 3:9), but He has given us the way to eternal Salvation, and our responsibility is to accept this free gift that was paid in full by the sinless blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. God will force no one to accept His Son but will honor all who truly do.
Likewise, for all who refuse to receive Jesus, God has prepared a place of eternal punishment for them, along with Satan and his demons. Matthew 25:41; “Then He will say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'”
Please understand that the Father knows that as long as we’re in these human bodies, we will sin, even after receiving and accepting Jesus as our Savior. Looking at 1 John 1:8-10, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
Those are the words of John the Apostle, who also warns us of false prophets and antichrists that will be here in the last days of this era. We must beware of false versions of the Bible that tweak God’s word and distort the pathway to Salvation. The Bible was written by about forty Holy Spirit-inspired authors, and versions from the original scrolls and texts are what we are to look for.
Our responsibility is to “Trust and Obey” the true word of the Father. This brings us to a wonderful Hymn with that title written in 1887 by John H. Sammis (1846-1919). This Hymn has been sung regularly in many church denominations and has been recorded by numerous Gospel Artists.
1.) When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His word, what a glory He sheds on our way. While we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.
Ref.) Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.
2.) Not a burden we bear; not a sorrow we share; but our toil He doth richly repay. Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, but is blest if we trust and obey. (ref)
3.) But we never can prove the delights of His love until all on the altar we lay. For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows, are for those who will trust and obey. (ref)
4.) Then in fellowship sweet, we will sit at His feet, or we’ll walk by His side in the way. What He says we will do; where He sends we will go; never fear, only trust and obey. (ref)
Our Father has made it clear that we are not saved by works or donations of valuables in an attempt to earn or buy our way into Heaven. The proof is found in Paul’s Ephesians 2:8-9; “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast.”
There are false prophets today who are twisting and tweaking God’s word in order to tickle ears (2 Timothy 4:3). Their goal is to draw souls away from the true word and into their congregations to keep their seats and collection plates full. There are even some who advocate there are many ways to Heaven without Jesus and that all religions worship the same god.
Two verses here: John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” Then Acts 4:12, “And there is Salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Jesus came to this earth willingly (John 10:18) for the purpose of being the only sinless blood sacrifice that the Father could ever accept. No matter what anyone may think, no human born of human parents could ever offer a sacrifice for all the sins of the world that would completely satisfy God’s need for perfection. Jesus was placed in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit, and though nourished by her, their blood never mixed. Likewise, Joseph considered Jesus as his son even though none of his blood was ever a part of the Savior’s body. Jesus was the only human from the Garden of Eden to this present day who had uncorrupted, sinless blood.
At the present time, the only unforgivable sin is to take your last breath on this earth without having received and accepted Jesus as your Savior. During the Tribulation/Wrath, there will be one more unforgivable sin, and that will be to take the mark of the beast (antichrist), which pledges a person’s soul to Satan.
Roman 10:13 states, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” For everyone who truly confesses their sins and asks Jesus to forgive and save them, God will honor their request. Reread 1 John 1:8-10 which says God will cleanse us from all our sins.
Next, see Psalms 103:12; “as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.”
Just about every end of this age prophecies have been completed, except for two things. First, the Rapture of all who have received and accepted Jesus as their Savior. This is to fulfill God’s covenant with us to keep us from the coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, and Revelation 3:10).
Second will be the appearing of the ultimate antichrist who, with the power of Satan, will put this earth through the worst seven-year period of time that has ever been.
Today would not be too early to follow Romans 10:9-13. These verses give the steps that are sometimes called the A-B-Cs of Salvation for all who wish to become a part of our Savior’s precious flock. Tomorrow could be too late. Paul described the Rapture as taking place in the “twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52). No one will ever be fast enough to call out to be saved in that short period of time which is calculated by experts as less than one second.
A “pre-trip” reservation is necessary to ensure that you will be taken when the Trumpet of God sounds and the cry from an archangel is heard. Our Holy Shepherd is ready to add all who truly call on Him for their Salvation. This is the most important decision you will ever make in this lifetime. It will establish an eternal relationship with the Lord that is more valuable than anything this earth could ever possibly offer.
Hope to see you at Home soon! Maranatha! (Come, Lord Jesus!)