God has the perfect plan of salvation for all those who love, trust and obey Him. Upon delivery, we humans start out as babes growing to be toddlers being taught what is right and what is wrong, along with a set of rules of what we can and cannot do. The lifestyle of the home is generally how we are taught to live, so we grow up and are influenced by an environment that we are accustomed to, be it good or be it bad. We learn by what we see and hear.
Some households are of strict religious background while some are totally the opposite. Some are of a permissive style where children do as they please. Some are of a loving kind and others have drama constantly. Most parents are of a loving nature raising their children to be respectable, productive adults but some grow to be rude, disrespectful and arrogant beings. Nonetheless, there are exceptions but we are largely the product of our upbringing.
As we grow up, whether being a child, teenager or adult, we have choices to make as to how we want to spend our lives and with whom. Meaning, with God or with Satan. Some children are converted at an early age and some adults don’t find God until their death beds. But God, Who is rich in mercy, gives us a chance to serve Him throughout our lives. But we reject or ignore Him time after time. Life was never, ever meant to be lived without God. He makes it possible in and through His Son Jesus Christ. As we travel the road of life it leads us to every avenue imaginable. But with God there is only one road that leads to Heaven. Straight and narrow and few there are who find it. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7: 13-14)
Just as little children are taught, Christians are taught the principles and commandments of God upon conversion and throughout their whole life’s walk with the Lord. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3: 15-17) It starts off softly and tenderly and as we grow God gives us more instructions as we can handle it, just as newborns on milk then advances to solid foods and meats. Right from the start God teaches that the enemy to us is sin. Sin is what separates us from Him. It is a death sentence if we continue in it. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6: 23)
Just as parents discipline their naughty children, God chastens those He loves. “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of His correction: For whom the LORD loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” (Proverbs 3: 11-12) It is not to inflict pain but to get our attention. It is to teach us that He strictly forbids sin and that if we continue in it we will surely perish. “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18: 4) “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Revelation 3: 19) “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.” (Hebrews 12: 5-6)
In scripture God has His anointed ones who had the responsibility to teach exactly what His will was. But there were some who hardened their hearts and didn’t believe and were paid the penalty of death. In some cases wives and children were killed right along with them. God is true to His Word, He is merciful and gives us ample warnings and time to repent. He sees the heart of everyone knowing who is sincere and who is not. He knows who is serving Him with all of their hearts and who gives Him just a little. He knows who is truly interested in Him and who is being fake. He knows them who hunger and thirst after righteousness and those whose hearts are far from Him. “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15: 7-8)
As we grow we make mistakes, we fall, we fail, we forget and we may even sin. But the thing is to recognize the fault, correct it quickly and be genuinely determined not to make that mistake again. We are always striving to please God in everything so that we can enter into the joy of the Lord both here on earth and in Heaven. He wants us joyful in our walk as we rise to new levels of grace, love and understanding. But be aware that new levels equal new devils. Satan doesn’t want us to be joyful. Ever. He wants us where he can beat us up and keep us down and depressed.
With joy we are strengthened to see clearly and to enjoy God more fully. With joy our hearts adore God and His Son to the highest. With joy we are seated in the heavenly realm where God dwells. With joy we have a peace that only can be given but by God Himself. With joy we enjoy this sanctified, holy life that the world cannot understand. And it is with joy that God will see our fruitful efforts in trying to serve Him so that He can bless us over and over again.
We must at all times live prepared lives ready to meet our Savior at any moment. The most important thing we have to do is to prepare ourselves for eternity. Walking right, talking right and worshipping the Lord in the beauty of holiness. We hear this a lot because it is a vital part of our walk with the Lord. He wants us to worship Him in everything we go through. Praying and praising is a part of our spiritual DNA along with the fruit of the Spirit. It helps us to bear our burdens better. It puts us in an atmosphere where we can reach God and fellowship with Him. Paul and Silas were beaten and confined with shackles on their feet. “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.” (Acts 16: 25-26)
They didn’t wait until God had delivered them before they began to praise. They rejoiced right in the trial and God heard them and delivered them along with the other prisoners. The guard and his household were saved and baptized too when they rejoiced and believed in God. One simple move towards God can turn into a huge explosion of joy that surpasses all understanding. A merry heart does good like a medicine, it pull down strongholds and is harder for sin to creep in. It is God Who puts gladness in our hearts, running in our feet and a praise on our lips. “I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify Thy name for evermore.” (Psalm 86: 12) “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4: 4) “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” (Psalm 98: 4) “I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.” (Psalm 104: 33)
There was great joy and great celebration when John the Baptist and Jesus our Lord were conceived and born. “And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Luke 1: 41) Being in the presence of Jesus made the babe leap for joy. Mary’s soul magnified God and her Spirit rejoiced in Him. Elisabeth’s neighbors and cousins rejoiced with her. Angels, shepherds and a multitude of the heavenly host were praising and glorifying God. Those who couldn't speak spoke, the maimed were made whole, the lame walked and the blind could see. Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood fell down at Jesus’ feet. The leper worshipped Him, multitudes marveled, some were amazed and wondered but they all glorified the God of Israel. As Jesus commanded His disciples to go get a colt for His triumphal entry, multitudes went before Him and followed Him. “And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as He went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when He was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.” (Luke 19: 35-38) Even after the resurrection of our Savior, the two Mary’s and His disciples praised and worshipped Him in amazement. He continued to teach them all the way up to the time when He had to leave them. “And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.” (Luke 24: 50-53)
For the greatest, grandest celebration of all Jesus will likewise come back on the clouds to gather those who worship Him in Spirit and in truth. A terrible day for some but a much anticipated, joyful one for others. To finally be able to drop this robe of flesh and be changed into a heavenly, glorified body to live on forever in the presence of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, angels and all the sanctified, holy ones clothed with white robes and palms in their hands.
In the meantime as we wait, we celebrate Jesus every day for Who He is. We thank and praise Him because He never runs out of ways to bless us. He gives up plenty of things to be thankful for. He that is of a merry heart has a continual feast of blessings and encounters with our Lord and Savior.
We are making preparations for the Great Celebration. I cannot even begin to tell you what that would be like. But what I can say is that this glory that we witness on earth is awesome. How much more is the glory that is to be revealed.
So we have no time to lose, no time to waste, no time for living in sin. I want to be, I’ve got to be ready when Jesus comes. “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1: 7-8) “And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 7: 11-12)
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