Hebrews 7:23-27; “The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but He holds His priesthood permanently because He continues forever. Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest; holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for His own sins, and then for those of the people, since He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.” (ESV, all emphasis mine)
This is a message of hope and encouragement for all who have truly received and accepted Jesus’ gift of eternal life through His pure, sinless blood sacrifice.
Unfortunately, there are many who are so caught up in the lures of so-called treasures and pleasures of this sin-filled world that they have no room in their hearts for a Savior. Satan has provided all the right temptations and motivators as he has done since the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Jesus knew this would be the case, and in Matthew 7:13-14, He plainly states that more would be on the road to eternal punishment than would be on the road to eternal Salvation.
Paul sums this up in 1 Corinthians 1:18, 25; “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God…. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
We could have had a Creator that was ruthless, demanding that all fall down and worship Him in any manner, shape, or form He so desires. However, we have a Creator that totally loves us in a way that gives us the freedom to choose our own pathways. In fact, His perfect love provided the only pure, sinless blood sacrifice that He could ever accept by sending a beloved part of Himself to suffer a most horrifying death in our place.
Jesus is, and always has been, a part of the Triune Godhead of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Consider John 1:1; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Continuing to verses 2-3, “He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.”
All who have called out to Jesus to forgive them and to be their Savior forever, who truly believe He came to earth as a human and died a cruel death on a cross and was raised from the dead by the Father three days later, are truly saved, and we have the Holy Spirit within us. As the opening verses of Hebrews state, His sacrifice was “Once For All.”
As for those who believe that anything to do with God or Jesus is foolishness, is it any wonder that when they take their last breath here, they will be separated from Our Savior forever? Romans 8:9 states, “You are, however, not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him.”
Our Father gave us everything we need in His awesome love letter to us – The Bible. It took about forty Holy Spirit-inspired people to write all that is in it from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21. In 2 Peter 1:20-21, we’re told, “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” This was written for the book of Revelation; however, God takes seriously any changes to His words throughout the whole Bible.
Please note: Anyone who wants to get a Bible needs to make sure they are receiving a true translation of God’s actual words for us. There are man-made versions that have been written that take the words of the Father and change them to suit the teachings of false prophets.
Revelation 22:18-19 gives this warning, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the Prophecy of this book; if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy; God will take away his share in the Holy City which are described in this book.”
One fact that I truly believe is that My Jesus is real. Also, heaven and hell are real, and God’s word is absolute truth. The Father cannot and will not lie (Titus 1:2). Nor would He have reason to. I believe My Jesus shed His pure, sinless blood on that cross for all of our sins -my sins – and He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
In 1933, Alfred H. Ackley (1887-1960) wrote and released a song called “He Lives.” The words are very plain, yet very inspiring.
1.) I serve a risen Savior; He’s in the world today. I know that He is living, whatever men may say. I see His hand of mercy; I hear His voice of cheer. And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.
Ref.) He Lives! He Lives! Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along the narrow way. He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart. You ask me how I know He lives; He lives within my heart.
2.) In all the world around me, I see His loving care. And though my heart grows weary, I never will despair. I know that He is leading through all the stormy blast. The day of His appearing will come at last. (ref)
3.) Rejoice, rejoice, Oh Christian, lift up your voice and sing, Eternal Hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King! The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find; none other is so loving, so good and kind. (ref)
Please know that with all the end-time prophecy we have seen completed, our Savior could be calling His flock up to meet Him in the air at any time. Nothing more has to be completed before the Trumpet of God sounds and there is a shout from an archangel. This is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.
If someone is waiting for the Rapture to start to call out to be saved, please note that you will not have time to take a breath before it is over. Paul said “In a Twinkling of An Eye” in 1 Corinthians 15:52. To have formed a relationship with the Savior now will guarantee you will not be left behind to face the worst 7-year period of time this world will ever see. Yes, people will still be able to call out to Jesus to be saved during the Tribulation, but most likely at the cost of their lives.
To not have Jesus as Savior when your last breath is taken here is to guarantee a place in the line at the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15. There are no pardons or forgiveness available there. Do not gamble with your eternal soul. Forever is a long time to fall short and be in total darkness, being tormented forever.
Please understand that God knows we will sin as long as we are on this imperfect earth. He gives us 1 John 1:8-10 to follow to receive forgiveness when we do sin. Once we are Raptured and free from the bonds of this evil world, we will have a new, forever-immortal body and a mindset like that of our Savior. We will not be subject to temptation to sin ever.
Our Savior is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To call out to Him and ask His forgiveness and to be your Savior forever could just be the best decision you will ever make.
Come, Lord Jesus!
(Also, see raptureforums.com Home/Featured Articles)