The real wars on planet earth are being waged on an invisible battlefield. Thus, our living Lord Jesus Christ (The Word of God) teaches us to not be misguided, or even divided, by the entanglements of this physical world because it is essentially an illusion that peddles a counterfeit hope. In other words, because we are temporary residents we have no hope in this life. That being the case, our worldly successes and/or achievements are literally momentary. Such entrapments are designed to disrupt and derail, and at the very least!
The enemy of our souls would like nothing more than to tantalize your taste buds and to fuel your false and fleshly endeavors, as he truly has NO hope because his fate has been sealed. His destination is the lake of fire and there is no compromise nor means of negotiating that truth. It is a forgone conclusion. It is inevitable. Game over, so to speak): "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Revelation 20:10). Think of him as the source and father of such hopelessness, meaninglessness and divisiveness. In other words, the devil Satan's first order of business is to separate you from God. In the Bible, and by definition, separation from God translates to DEATH.
Listen and hear divine instruction and words of encouragement. The infinite wisdom found in the Word of God will never lead us astray. See and know the truth that we all need and must heed. Jesus was sent to this world to undo what was done by Satan, sin and the world system governed by Satan. Though Jesus has always existed in the presence of God the Father, He was sent in the likeness of sinful humankind but without sin: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made; For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:" (John 1:1-3; Romans 8:3). This spiritual conflict is and continues to be fought on His terms.
Think of it this way, we have two choices: LIFE or DEATH. It is not only a matter of which you choose, but understanding the difference between these choices from a spiritual perspective. Of course, the Holy Bible simplifies what may seem complicated because Almighty God is on our side, the empowering presence of His spirit indwells us and He solemnly promises to fight for us. Be advised that our faithful obedience is the hallmark of a firm foundation on which our safety, security and peace will be established. God is sovereign. Consequently, He is self-existent, self-governing and self-sufficient. He does not need me, you, anyone else nor anything other than Himself. If that makes sense from a fleshly realm: "I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things ;The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." (Isaiah 45:5-7; Exodus 14:14).
And let us be evermore steadfast in our faithfulness and never, ever forget that we serve a God that is faithful. And unlike man, His love is everlasting and He holds true to who He is and always will be. He shall reign eternally and His hope, love and rest should guide and live in us. Thus, we will be a reflection of the character and conduct of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. And this glorious transformation (Romans 12:2) will cause us to desire and demonstrate clean hands and a pure heart over the course of our journey to Glory: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me; I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them; For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (John 14:6; Deuteronomy 30:19-20; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; 2 Corinthians 4:18).
In the meantime, this fight for spiritual supremacy rages on. But fear not my beloved, as the Book of Revelation unveils and paints a vivid illustration of the victory that has already been assured by our Commander in Chief and coming King of kings, JESUS CHRIST. Our marching orders have already been issued. And now, it is high time that we suit up soldiers, and as the Bible has brought forward this explicit charge to all believers: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Ephesians 6:10-13).
So be of good cheer and knowing that the final chapter has been penned. The Son of the Living God, as the apostle Simon Peter professed (Matthew 16:16), teaches and preaches a moving sermon in His hometown of Nazareth. You would be interested in knowing that our Savior attended church on a regular basis. The Scripture refers to this place of assembly as a synagogue: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19).
"12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
13 The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works." (Psalm 33:12-15).
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