In this day and age, it’s getting even more important to stop and consider where you wish to spend your forever. No matter what “man” may try to tell you, there are only two choices you can make; and yes, it really is your choice. (ESV – all emphasis mine)
First, we have the easy way. There’s nothing special to do other than follow worldly trends, make as few waves as possible, and don’t take offense to all the sexual changes taking place as they are considered a “natural” progression for “educated” people such as we are supposed to be. If someone says they’re a man trapped in a woman’s body or vice-versa, who are we to judge them? After all, what’s written in the Bible are just stories of ancient times that could not possibly apply today. If someone decides they want to worship someone called Satan, what’s the harm in that?
Before going further, all will be saved who believe Jesus is truly the Son of God and that He really came to this earth to provide a “perfect sin sacrifice” for all humans who would receive and accept that gift; that He truly died as a human who had never committed any sin while He was here; and three days later, He was raised up from the dead by the Heavenly Father to conquer sin and death once and for all. He was raptured back to Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. It should be noted that when Jesus took His last breath on the cross, His soul was immediately with the Father, just as He told the repentant thief he would be there also.
Acts 1:9-11; “And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus who was taken up from you into Heaven will come in the same way as you saw Him go into Heaven.'”
For anyone who would say there is no such thing as a Rapture, our Jesus proved beyond any doubt that the Harpazo, or “taking up,” is absolutely real.
Jesus neither had nor has any illusion about the volume of souls that would truly believe in Him. Matthew 7:13-14 states, “Enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
We’ve mentioned the easy way, but the hard way should be something that a true believer would have no problem with. One thought about this world and being on the receiving end of persecution from all non-believers and Satan and his demons should be something we expect. In several countries around the world, anyone who receives and accepts the gift Jesus gave us at Calvary is subject to martyrdom. In some areas, believers have to even flee from their own families who will not accept Jesus.
Even in America, there are movements to persecute those who are Christian business owners by attempting to cause them to violate their beliefs through their products or services. Even though there are numerous secular businesses that would gladly fulfill their orders, they would rather try to get the Christian businesses shut down.
All the end-time prophecies given by Jesus, Paul, John, Peter, James, and others are being fulfilled daily with very little left to be completed except the taking up of all believers to keep us from the coming wrath. This is a promise from the Father in 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, and Revelation 3:10. God never lies (Titus 1:2), and we see His word about changing times taking place daily and more rapidly with each passing day.
The book of 2 Thessalonians 2 is a wealth of knowledge about why the tribulation has not happened yet, and the antichrist is not out in the open, as some may believe otherwise. Only when the Restrainer’s influence is removed, and all believers that He had indwelt are taken up, can the antichrist come out for his 7-year reign.
When anyone receives and accepts Jesus as their Savior, the Holy Ghost comes to live within them. This is the Restrainer. Some examples are 1 Corinthians 3:16; “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you?” Then 1 Corinthians 6:19; “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” Then 2 Timothy 1:14; “Guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure that has been entrusted to you.” John 16:13; “But when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak, and He will disclose to you what is to come.”
Knowing that we who have Jesus as our Savior is something we could have never achieved on our own, and we cannot buy or earn our Salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9) From the instant we become a part of His precious flock, we have a tendency to want to thank Him constantly, giving praise and glory to Him regularly, and realize that without Him, our forever would be horrible.
Some years back, a song was released called “We Bring Praises.” The best version is from Christ Church Choir from Nashville, Tennessee. They have a beautiful blend of voices that provides inspiration to all who hear them. They formed originally in 1976 and still record beautiful hymns today.
1.) Empty-handed, we come to the High Holy Throne; open inside with nothing to hide, we offer praises. We now worship the Name of the Lamb that was slain, asking nothing from us; we just bring You our love, offering praises.
Ref.) We bring praises to You, Lord; lifting holy hands, we worship and adore; sinners saved by grace, we bow before Your face, offering nothing but praises to You, Lord.
2.) Angels fold their wings as we boldly sing; Redeemed by the Lamb, now Holy we stand, offering praises. All our sin stains are gone; we’ve been washed by the blood; pure and righteous, we come to the Most Holy One, offering praises.
Please understand, our Heavenly Father would never force anyone to receive and accept His Son. He could’ve been a totally different type of Creator and treated us all as servants and slaves. What is so wonderful is Our God is a God of Love. He does have stipulations, but they are totally reasonable and not difficult for someone who is indwelt by His Spirit.
Probably the most popular verse in the Bible is John 3:16; “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 3:18 is a stipulation that is absolutely reasonable. “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
My life verse is John 14:6. After having read through several different translations of God’s word over several years, one day, I prayed for the Father to provide me a verse with special meaning referencing His word. That day, I was reading the Book of John, and when I got to 14:6, the words almost jumped off the page; “Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Thinking of all the books and verses in God’s love letter to us, this one verse contains the key to all of His Holy Word. Jesus is the only way to the Father and to eternal life. Acts 4:12 compliments this very well with, “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.”
For believers, please take some time and read God’s word every day. Pick a true translation that you can understand. Just before each reading, ask the Father to open your mind as to what He wants you to learn from Him that day. For those who think this is foolishness, Jesus isn’t surprised, and Paul told us of them in 1 Corinthians 1:18 and Romans 1:26.
God will force no one, but all who truly call on His Son will be saved (Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, and Romans 10:13). The time is drawing very near, and others will see people disappear very soon. All who are believers will not witness this, as they will be the ones going Home.
Please be ready and in the group that will rise up to meet the Savior in the air. Otherwise, it will be absolutely horrible for the period that follows until Jesus physically comes back to this earth.
Hoping to see you at the feet of Jesus!