Hope and Joy Now and for Eternity

At times, people hear the truth of Christ's gospel, but do not respond to it. It was not mixed with faith and they could not receive it (Hebrews 4:2). We can pray that God will strengthen them in their inner man to accept His Truth as their own (Ephesians 3:16-17).

People often lie to us, in order to keep our good opinion of them, or to keep us from rejecting or not loving them anymore. They are so emotionally depleted or lacking in self-esteem that they cannot risk our reaction if they tell us the truth.

Therefore, they also believe that God's love is conditional; and they reject Him because they think He will abandon them if they are not perfect. This is Satan's lie, which they believe as truth, and they are perpetually discouraged and defeated in their life.

Satan robs us of our freedom in Christ, which God intends for us to relish. Satan's whole mission is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Yet, Christ offers us His hope and joy in this life and for all of eternity (1 Corinthians 15:19).

We place our faith in the sacrificial atonement of Jesus for our sins, receive His forgiveness, and walk in new life. Everything changes for our good, even if our circumstances are a heavy burden.

Yoked to Jesus, we have help to carry our problems, and He eventually works them all out for our good (Romans 8:28). God uses trials to move us into the center of His will, to strengthen us for life's inevitable tribulation in our future, and to prove to us His unending love and provision for our life.

It is hard for the unbeliever to imagine that God's plan for them is better than the sensual pleasures and tangible possessions of this world. They do not realize that, in the larger scheme of things, life is as vanishing as a warm breath on a cold morning (James 4:14).

They do not take into consideration that eternity lasts forever (2 Corinthians 4:18), and we only have one chance to believe in Christ or to condemn our self to hell for eternity (John 3:16-18).

Prayer:

Father God, You free us from the condemnation of our past, the fear of the future and the uncertainty of life on this earth. Keep our mind off our current circumstances and focused on the joy You set before us each moment of the day - a stranger's smile, a bird's song, the giggles of little children, a sunny day, a gentle rain, a beautiful landscape of plant-life, a sunset, lake or stream.

Help us not to miss the true joy, success and peace which comes through having Christ residing within us by Your Holy Spirit. Remind us that any heavy cross we experience in life on this sin-cursed globe is easier and lighter when we are yoked with Christ, because He aids us in carrying the burden. 

Thought for the Day:

If we view life from the context of eternity, we gain a greater hope and fulfillment though living it for Christ; He abides within us and helps us to carry our burdens here on earth with more serenity and contentment, and to enjoy eternity with Him in abundance  and peace. - 1 Corinthians 15:19

We Never Die

Humanity searched for generations for the fountain of youth, so we could drink of it and never die. Reincarnation purports that we never die; we just continually come back to life in another form.

Our eternal destination depends on our choices while we live on this earth. The Bible proclaims the truth that we do not ever die. We leave earth to live either in heaven or hell for eternity (2 Corinthians 5:8; Matthew 25:46).

Every physical body will die and go to the grave, to be resurrected immortally at the coming of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:53-54). However, our soul and spirit never die, they live in the presence of Satan or God forever.

As an unbeliever, we die twice: once physically and the second death in hell for eternity (Revelation 20:14). The body and soul - the mind, will and emotions - of an unbeliever experience the unrelenting torment of a lake of fire forever (Luke 16:19-31).

Instead, as Believers we die to sin and the flesh now, and we live eternally in Christ. Our last breath on earth is followed by our next breath in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8). Our immortal body, soul and spirit will enjoy Heaven forever.

God calls everyone to come to Christ for eternal life (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4). Pride and rebellion prevent so many people from surrendering their life in total submission to God and His will for their life.

They believe the devil's lie that this is our only chance at life and we must live it with gusto. They do not realize that God's plan gives us blessings in this life, as well as an eternity filled with prosperity and hope (Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 40:5).

Prayer:

Father God, there is no reason for anyone to choose an eternal existence in hell (John 3:18). You call us to give up sin, so that we do not earn the wages of sin, which is death both now and for eternity (Romans 3:23, 6:23). You give us reasons to choose eternal life instead.

Thank You for planning for this eternal life to start at the moment of our salvation (Romans 6:23). Help us to humble our self under Your mighty hand, so that we will never die; but enjoy Your abundant, immortal life forever (2 Timothy 1:2; James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6).

Thought for the Day:

Jesus shared in our existence in flesh and blood; so that through His death, He could make Satan powerless over sin and death, and to forever free us from slavery to sin, fear and death. - Hebrews 2:14-15

Transforming Our Soul

Unbelievers are spiritually dead and do not understand the issues of God, because these truths are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). There is hostility between them and God, due to this spiritual divide (Romans 8:7). 

Unbelievers tend to live either legalistic or hedonistic lives. They attempt to find fulfillment without God. When we share Christ with them, many reject Him and close their heart to His Truth.

Believers are alive with Christ, and forgiven of every sin we ever committed (Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:13-14). Through His death, we receive victory over every principality and power, including demonic strongholds (Colossians 2:15).

Anyone can accept Christ, live as a Believer and reap the rewards of Christ's righteousness, rather than the consequences of unbelief and a sinful lifestyle (Galatians 6:9; John 3:16-18).

Christianity includes more than one hour of worship on Sunday morning. It involves a complete change in thinking and acting, from living a self-centered life to a Christ-centered existence.

Christ is our whole life (Colossians 3:4). He changes us from the inside out…our soul's transformation affects our outward behavior and appearance. Even our physical countenance improves due to His presence in our life.

We do not attempt to perfect our self before we come to Christ. Neither is there any deed, which we ever committed that is not already covered under His blood. His mercy and grace are complete.

However, this does not imply that our behavior is not important. Christ perfects us through sanctifying our soul - our thoughts, choices and feelings, and gives us a way to escape every temptation the devil uses to cause our mortal flesh to sin (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Prayer:

Father God, we feel so privileged to live by Your Spirit and to belong to Your family as we further Your Kingdom on this earth. Thank You for saving us through the blood of Jesus and giving us Your Spirit to perfect us from the inside out and to conform us to the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Remind us to walk away from any temptation to sin, so that we do not grieve Your Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). Help us to live an exemplary life so that others will see our good works and glorify You (Matthew 5:16). We love You with all of our heart, mind and strength, and we look forward to serving You for eternity (Luke 10:27).

Thought for the Day:

If we live in a lifestyle of any type of behavior, which the Bible calls sin, then we are not Born Again; because a Believer cannot live in sin, since the Holy Spirit within us is grieved by sin. - Romans 8:9; Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 3:9