Eternal Life and Punishment

 Mat 25:46
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Matthew chapter 25 is filled with compare and contrast illustrations. We had ten virgins, five had oil in their lamps ready for the return of the bride, and five did not. Then there's the parable of the talents. There were those who invested wisely and those who did not. The destiny of their eternal soul was determined by how they invested what was given to them by their master. The parables illustrate that it is not enough to say you believe in God, but action speaks louder than words. The final story that Jesus tells does not say it is a parable, but a prophecy. The King will return to earth some day and final judgment will be given, and the destiny of the souls of people will be handed out. There will be those whose hearts are filled with love for God and others, and those who say they love God, but they live to please themselves, and turn a blind eye to those who are hurting and helpless. Many would like to use this passage of scripture to support the idea that good works and being a good person is all that is needed to have eternal life. But Jesus is speaking to his followers. There is more to eternal life than saying, “Lord, Lord.” Faith in Jesus is essential, but faith without works is dead. The debate of eternal salvation after a person confesses Christ comes into question with the words of Christ in Matthew chapter 25. There will be those who will not make it into heaven, and it will not just be those who live wicked lives. It will be a harsh reality to see that a person who experiences the forgiveness of sin will stand before God and find that they are on the left side of the judgment seat because they failed to live for Christ. It goes without saying that God and God alone is the final judge. It is our responsibility to be a true follower of Christ and do unto others as Christ has done for us. May we be found on the right side of the seat with the sheep, and hear the words of the King. "Enter into life everlasting."

Nothing Too Hard for God

Jeremiah 32:17
‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

It did not seem that there was any hope for Judah. Babylon was allowed to besiege their land, yet God promised that a day would come that Judah would once again reclaim what was theirs. At the time this seemed to be unlikely to happen. But Jeremiah realized that God, who is in control of nations and governments rising and falling, recognized that with God, nothing was too hard. There are things in our lives that look impossible. We recognize that unless God steps in, there is no hope. Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” The word of Christ was spoken to his disciples when things seem to be impossible to accomplish in the human. Especially when it comes to the salvation of the heart. There is nothing that man can do to achieve salvation with human efforts. Salvation comes only through Christ. The person gone deep into sin or the person who was raised in a well refined culture home all need to be saved. There is nothing too hard that He can do, He can save to the uttermost all who are willing to believe. We need to continue to pray for family, friends, and souls that are lost in sin. No matter their walk in life, Jesus desires to reach down and release them from the bondage of Satan. He has the power and desires that no one perishes, but that all come to repentance.

Jesus Only

 John 14:6,11
…no man cometh unto the Father, but by me…Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me:

We see the Father when we see Jesus. The world likes to think that there are many ways to the Father. The thought that one can have eternal life after death by having a sincere faith in a deity is not found in holy scripture. Having a good heart and a sincere faith is to be admired. Believing that the Father and Jesus are one, and professing to follow Jesus without a sincere heart and faith is hypocritical. But, we cannot disregard the word of Jesus when He claims that He and He alone is the Way to the Father. The Father, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Almighty God, the Everlasting Father, the one and only true God. The words of Buddha, Allah, or any other religious figure may speak of love and treating others with kindness, but when one stands before the judgment seat of God, it will be the blood of Christ, believing in Jesus, and the words of the Father, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…” 

He Is Able To Protect

 2 Tim 1:12
 I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to protect what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

We are faced daily with the philosophy of the world, progressive thinking that is contrary to the teaching of God’s word. The attack on who and what we believe is called bigotry and intolerance. Believing that Jesus is the only way to heaven is to be narrow minded and judgmental of those who think differently. We must not be persuaded to change our message, we must not be ashamed to hold to the paths of righteousness and the good news that Jesus is not only the answer to the purpose of living, but He is able to deliver us from a life of sin.  From the words of Jesus himself, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me”, we hold these words to be self-evident.  He has called us to a holy calling to let others know of the love of Jesus and His power to deliver from sin. He is able to keep us from the evil one, He is able to protect us from false doctrine, He is able to keep us true until He returns for His own

Every Knee Shall Bow

 Philippians 2:10,11
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;;; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

He is exalted above every name. There will come a day when every knee will bow to Jesus. There is a coming day when every nation, every religion, every atheist will confess that He is the Lord and the true God and Savior of this world. It is not arrogance and self-righteousness that Christians hold this truth to be self-evident. It is the absolute and undeniable truth that Jesus is King of kings, and Lord of lords. He will return to earth some day to receive His church, all that is washed and covered in His blood. He will set up His Kingdom and there will be no end to His reign.

All is Not Vanity

 Ecclesiastes 1: 2,4
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity…One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abides forever.

We are here for a moment in time and then we pass away. All that we leave continues on. We are remembered by those we knew, and not forgotten by those who are close to our hearts, but life moves on for most people. We wake up, prepare our day for work, duties, responsibilities, and wonder what the day will bring. Many live for the material gain of this world, others live for love and a relationship with family and loved ones. What part of life is vanity? How do we make each day count for eternity? Yes, we all want a comfortable life, and to enjoy the things of life that bring joy and gladness, but lasting joy and gladness only come from knowing Christ, and living each day to please Him. We live not in vain if we live to be like Jesus. Let this earth pass away, but give me Jesus, only Jesus.

All things

Colossians 1:17, 18b And he is before all things, and by him all things consist…. that in all things he might have the preeminence.

The existence of all things starts with God. He is the first and the last, He holds the world in his hand and by Him all things are made known. As the creator of heaven and earth, He was there to spin the universe, the galaxies into existence. Who is man to think he can make his own way to salvation? Christ, the God-man came to this world to provide a way of salvation, and through Him, and Him alone can we be made reconciled to God the Father. Jesus, the one and only one who is able to save us from sin. Because He is God, He has the power to forgive sins, He is Lord of lords and there is not equal to Him. Other religions may claim their righteousness, but unless they come under the authority of Christ, they will be lost. He is the preeminence, surpassing all others in His power and authority. He is God, and He is my Lord and Savior.

Walking in Truth

Psalm 86:11 Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

Walking in truth assumes we know what truth is. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and  the life, no man can come the Father except by me” Walking in truth is to walk in Christ, to live in the Vine and to live a life that reflects the teaching of the Savior. The world says that what is truth to one person, may not be truth to another person. That there are different ways to find God. God does lead people in different ways, but ultimately, we all must enter through the cross. Straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, and few be that find it. Walking in truth is finding that God, through Christ, desires us to live a life of praise and do all things to glorify His Name. Someone who walks in truth will not live carelessly without regard to His commandments. Temptation may come, and in a time of weakness, Satan may cause us to fall. If we walk in truth as God desires us to, we can overcome the wicked one and stay in perfect fellowship with the Father. We all have a choice to walk or not walk in truth. The Psalmist said, “I will”, he made a choice to do the will of God. may we always call out to God for help to say “I will”. He will never leave us or forsake us.

Living Forever

John 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Living forever and ever and never dying is hard to grasp living in these bodies that are corruptible. Surely, this earthy body will pass away and return to the dust of the earth. The words of Jesus give us hope that even tho this earthen vessel will one day vanish, that the essence of who we are will live on eternally. The conditions given to us by God is that we live and believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and life. He is the source of eternal life and those who believe that He is, God will reward them that will seek after Him. For in Him, is the resurrection of life from the dead. Once dead in our trespasses and sin, He has quicken us in our spiritual essences to be alive unto God. Death in this human body is certain for all of us, but life is just as certain to whosoever will believe in Him. Not only do I desire to believe in Him, but I also desire to live in Him. “I’m crucify with Christ, nevertheless, it is not I, but Christ that lives within me” We see through a glass darkly, but one day, we will see clearly, and we will live eternally with the One who saves us by His grace.

Jesus Only

Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”-

Jesus only. Salvation from sin, or having your sins forgiven can only be done by God. Who can forgive sins, except He be God. Heaven is prepared for those who’s heart is clean from all unrighteousness through the forgiveness of sin. Jesus, sent from the Father is one with the Father, therefore is equal in essence. Christ paid the ultimate price for sin. He who had no sin because He was God, died to save sinners. The simple message of salvation. If one is a believer in God’s word, then salvation can come by no other means than through Jesus. All roads do not led to heaven. As Christian, we consciously cannot accept that there are many ways to have eternal life. Others may see us as intolerant, and narrow minded. It is not politically acceptable to say that Jesus is the only way to heaven. We live in a day where people are doing what is right in their own eyes. Doing what is right requires us to look through the eyes of God, through His word. What is right? Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou will be saved. He said it, I believe it! Debate over!