We recently celebrated what Christians worldwide called “Resurrection Sunday,” also known as “Easter.” It’s said that two times a year, most churches are filled to capacity – Christmas and Easter. For a true believer, these events are a part of our Hope and Blessing, given to us by our Savior. However, for them to be truly meaningful, we should “celebrate” them every day. (all emphasis mine)
This doesn’t mean to be in continual “Church Service,” but to continuously have Jesus in our hearts. He loves for us to “talk” to Him daily through our Heavenly Father. The “gift” He provided gave all true believers the ability to approach our Father, receive forgiveness for our sins, and to ask for our daily needs to be provided. Without the pure blood sacrifice, we would not be under the Grace of our Savior – gaining that which we do not deserve – and the Mercy of the Father – not getting the punishment we do deserve. For us, it’s totally a win-win situation; and that’s what a true relationship with Him is all about.
Now for the “however”; for all who have not, or will not, accept Jesus as their Savior/Messiah, there is an altogether different outcome waiting. To die without having accepted Jesus is known as blaspheming the Holy Spirit, who has provided us the means and ability to know about, receive, and accept the Calvary-supplied way to Heaven. This is the “unforgiveable” sin which gives someone a forever spot in the Lake of Fire with Satan and all his demons and human followers. There is no other option available – Heaven or Hell; that’s it.
Seems like this would be an easy choice to make, but more will reject the Savior than receive Him (Matthew 7:13-14). Satan’s lies are powerful, and the pull of this world’s “pleasures” is strong and powerful. Anyone who tries to take Satan on themselves will lose. That’s why when we have Jesus as our Savior, we have the Holy Spirit within us for guidance and protection. It doesn’t mean we will never sin again, but when we do, we repent and ask forgiveness from the Father, and it will be given (1 John 1:8-10).
For anyone who would like to check out some verses that show we have the Spirit, a few are:
1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ezekiel 36:27; Isaiah 63:11; 2 Timothy 1:14; Acts 6:5; Romans 8:9; Romans 8:11; John 16:13; Galatians 5:18; Galatians 5:22; Galatians 4:6 and 1 John 2:27 just to name some of the examples. It should indicate that this message is important to be referred to so many times.
Consider the words of a song from 2002 written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend. It has been recorded by many artists, but my personal favorite is by Keith and Kristin Getty.
“In Christ Alone, my Hope is found; He is my Light, my Strength, my Song.
This cornerstone, this solid ground; firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of Love, what depths of Peace; where fears are stilled, when strivings cease.
My Comforter, my All-in-All; here in the Love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, who took on flesh; fullness of God in helpless babe. The gift of Love, and righteousness; scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that Cross, as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied. For every sin on Him was laid; here in the death of Christ, I live.
There in the ground, His body lay; Light of the world by darkness slain. Then bursting forth, in Glorious Day, up from the grave He rose again.
And as He stands in Victory, sin has lost its grip on me. For I am His, and He is mine; bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life; no fear in death; this is the Power of Christ in me. From life’s first cry, to final breath; no power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand.
Till He returns, or calls me Home, here in the Power of Christ I’ll stand.”
Anyone who would believe our Savior was weak because He was crucified, please remember that He was not only fully Human, but also fully God. At any point from the time of His arrest to the moment He said, “It Is Finished” (John 19:30), He could have stopped the process. He willingly gave His sin-free life for us (John 19:18), to fulfill our Father’s need for a perfect blood sacrifice. The writer of Hebrews said in chapter 10 verse 4, “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin.” Up to Calvary, animals and birds were sacrificed as a way to show submission to God’s will.
Even then, the sacrifices had to be done in a worthy manner, or they would not have been accepted. King Saul found this out when he didn’t wait for Samuel to arrive to properly complete the burnt offering (1 Samuel 13). Because he went ahead and defied the will of the Father, God rejected him as king from then on, and David was selected to eventually replace him.
Think of the line in the song, “The Gift of Love, and righteousness; scorned by the ones He came to save.” The religious leaders, with the exception of only a few, did not accept Jesus as their Messiah. Although they had all the scrolls, including the writings of the prophet Isaiah (Chapter 53), they failed to realize what our Savior’s original mission would be. He had no special appearance, no stately form or majesty, He was despised and rejected, just as Isaiah said.
However, He came to fulfill Isaiah 53:5-6. “But He was pierced for our [my] transgressions; He was crushed for our [my] iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace; and with His wounds, we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray [Romans 3:23]; we have turned, everyone, to his/her own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
Jesus gave His life for His people, the few Jews that would accept Him; but He also took on the sins of the whole world. This was told to us in John 10:14-16; “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them [everyone] also; and they will listen to My voice [those who will believe in Him]. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd.”
We have a Triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) that truly loves us. He has given all of us the free will to choose or reject Jesus as our Savior. The hardest part is believing and having the faith that this is real, and something that can’t be bought or earned. Once I finally realized that any works I could possibly do to impress the Father were as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), I was able to concentrate on Loving my Savior; and anything I could do to honor Him, I do so for His glory, not to receive accolades for myself. As the popular Hymn says, “Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain; He washed it white as snow.”
Although Jesus died for all of our sins, the only ones the Father will remove “as far as east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12) are of those who have called out for Jesus to be their Savior (Acts 2:12; Romans 10:9-13). Again, for anyone to reject Jesus, there will be a long line at the Great White Throne as given in Revelation 20:11-15. There, they will answer for every sin they ever committed, great or small. And yes, this will include those who attended Church all their lives, yet never invited Jesus into their hearts as their Savior. Besides, today many churches are turning away from the True Word to put on entertainment sessions.
There is no other way. Acts 4:12; “And there is Salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under Heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved.” And from Jesus Himself, John 14:6, “Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by Me.” The very first line in the featured song is, “In Christ Alone, my Hope is found; He is my Light, my Strength, my Song.”
Also, don’t forget, “For I am His, and He is mine; bought with the precious blood of Christ.” And finally, “No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand. Till He returns, or calls me Home; here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.”
We have a bunch of false prophets, including the pope, who are saying anyone can have a place in heaven without Jesus. This does not surprise our Heavenly Father, as He provided us information over 2,000 years ago that this would be taking place in the last days. For those who have the relationship with Jesus, we know to stay away from such “malarkey.”
We have the true word, and realize we are right at the point of being called up to meet Jesus in the air in the Rapture. It could be at any moment, and will be over in less than one second – at the “twinkling of an eye.” To say you will wait and call on Jesus later is gambling with your very soul that will last in one place or the other forever. We are not guaranteed even one more hour, much less than another day.
Put it on your “to do list” to call on Him today; right now would not be too soon. Read the given verses of Romans 10:9-13 for the process of calling out. Then, when the Call comes, you will not miss the “marriage supper of the Lamb.”
Shalom
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