Once
we receive Christ into our life, we often wonder why we have to clean up our
habits and let go of our hang ups. We consider that if we are saved, we are
always saved, and God will forgive our penchant to sin, because we are human.
However,
if we continue to live in sin, we clearly do not have the Spirit of God
residing within us (I John 3:9; Hebrews 6:4-6, 10:26; 2 Peter 2:20-21). We were
convicted, but not converted. We prayed a prayer, but did not surrender our
life to King Jesus.
God
will come for His true Saints prior to when the seven year Great Tribulation
period comes upon the earth. He did not appoint us to receive His wrath,
because Jesus already paid our sin-debt (Daniel 12:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:9;
Romans 3:24; Galatians 3:13-15).
However,
during this seven years of His wrath being poured out on the nations of the
world who clearly rejected Him (Daniel 9:24), and while He saves the nation of
Israel through the 144,000 evangelists (Revelation 7:4-6), and as He defeats
Satan and His demons, His Saints will face Him during the Judgment Seat of
Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).
We
are not judged for our sins, because Jesus already bore the punishment for us
when we miss the mark of God's holiness; but we will give account of our life
to the Lord, and we will receive rewards for walking in obedience to His will
for us.
At
the judgment seat of Christ, some of us will be naked and ashamed (Rev 16:15),
because we pursued the things of the world, and gave no attention to serving
God with our time, efforts and energy. However, others will receive crowns full
of jewels that we can place at Jesus feet (Revelation 4:10-11, 22:12, 3:1;
James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4).
Another
blessing available to us at this time is to dress in our wedding dress that is
made from the righteous works that God accomplished through us during our
lifetime on the earth (Revelation 19:8).
We
will wear this dress to our wedding to our Bridegroom, Jesus (Revelation
19:7-9). Once God accomplishes His purposes during the Great Tribulation, we
will accompany Jesus to the earth in our immortal body (1 Corinthians 15:53).
Then,
we will serve Him as He starts His Millennial reign where Satan is bound in
hell (Revelation 20:2-3), and the nations of the world will live under Jesus'
government (Isaiah 9:6), as Lord of all lords and King of all kings (Revelation
20:4-6).
Prayer:
Father
God, reading Revelation strikes fear in the heart of humanity, unless we are
Born Again by Your Spirit. Your presence in our life assures us that You will
not pour out Your wrath on Your Saints (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Many people scoff
at end time accounts in Your Word, but just as Jesus literally fulfilled 300
Biblical prophesies with 100% accuracy, prophesies concerning the End Times
will come to pass literally as well.
We
are so thankful that You desire for no one to perish in hell, but that all come
to believe in the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9); because after
the seven years of horror on the earth, only people humble enough to realize
their need for Jesus in their life will return with Him to earth to defeat
Satan by the Word of His mouth (Revelation 19:11-21).
Thought
for the Day:
Jesus
is building a home for His authentic Believers to dwell with Him for eternity;
and once Satan is bound forever, it will come down from Heaven for us to abide
with the Trinity in the restored Paradise for eternity. -
John 14:1-4; Revelation 20:10
