World – Page 8 – Praying Pint

18.l. “You are not your own”

John 14:25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

1 Corinthians 2:10-13   Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

2 Timothy 1:14    By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

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? You are not your own,

Ephesians 4:30    And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Acts 7:51    “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.

The Holy Spirit is given by God to those who have believed in Jesus Christ for salvation, redemption, and forgiveness. The Holy Spirit is given to us by God to lead us, to help us understand, to help us remember, and to teach us. The Holy Spirit of God indwells those who believe and this is why Paul says to be mindful that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you. In this simple statement Paul is saying; would you expose or allow into the temple to hate, greed, and anger when the temple is to be a place of love, joy, and generosity? Would you expose or allow into the temple pornography, lust, and adultery when it is to be a place of purity, holiness, and righteousness? Would you expose the temple to pride, self-reliance, and self-worth when it is to be a place of humbleness, surrender, and reliance in Jesus Christ alone? Would you expose or allow into the temple drunkenness when it is to be a place of sober-minded holiness? Would you expose or allow into the temple homosexuality and abortion when it is to be a place of purity and protector of life?

When you imagine allowing these into the temple surely you see this is more than foolish it is a direct rejection of God’s plan for the temple. We were redeemed at a great price. God’s only Son suffered and died so that he could redeem us from eternal hell. He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within each believer, making each of our bodies a temple of the Holy Spirit. How then must we think, do, and act? Should we not protect this temple from invaders, robbers, liars, haters, and false promises?

The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth but surely we must spend time in holy reverence cultivating God’s Word and deeply desire and seek this leading.

18.e. “How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God,”

John 12:44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

1 John 4:14   And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

Luke 9:26     For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Hebrews 2:3    how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,

Hebrews 10:29-31    How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?  For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews 12:25    See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

“for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world” – In the first advent, coming of Jesus, Jesus came as redeemer, savior, sacrificial lamb. He came to bring light to the world – God with us. He came to proclaim the day of salvation, redemption, forgiveness, eternal life. He came to give hope and display God’s grace, mercy, and love. He came to shine light into and onto the darkness – the void and separation from God created because of sin. He came to redeem each person from this void and separation. This void has bright lights as it were. This void and separation have bright lights and worldly lures that entice the soul to reject the Light of Jesus Christ. The light of this world shines bright on self and offers to each person what the world has to offer. It tries to entice, lure, blind us from the Love of God. Sad to say, when the choice is given, we choose to run toward this-worldly light and we grab hold of its blinding power. Pride, lust, greed, hate, anger, fear, anxiousness, self-reliance, self-worth, self-first, and self-satisfaction are all manifestations of those who are captivated by this worldly light. It offers temporary tangible things of this world with the promise that it will satisfy your soul but in the end, it leaves the soul hungry and thirsty for more. This light is a lie. This lie leads people away from the Light of Jesus Christ.

The true Light from God is displayed in Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Belief in the Light of Jesus Christ is more than a head nod or acknowledgment of who Jesus Christ is and what He has done. It is a life-changing new birth. When the Light and Gospel of Jesus shines into the soul and exposes sin, darkness, void, and separation from God, an understanding of the consequences of sin – eternal hell, torment – is revealed by this Light. But, at this same time there is an understanding of the grace, mercy, and love of God through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and an urgent call to your soul to confess, repent, trust, obey and believe in Jesus Christ for the redemption of your soul. This trust and faith is a new birth for each person who believes. All things are new. Old ways of thinking and living are cast aside because their worth has become meaningless in the Light of Jesus Christ and the hope of eternal life.

Staying in God’s word will keep the lights of this world recognizable and enable each believer to reject and expose them for what they are, lies and distractions from living to give honor, glory, obedience, and praise to Jesus Christ.

18.d. “The word that I have spoken will judge Him”

John 12:42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God. Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

“The word that I have spoken will judge Him” – there are inescapable consequences for rejecting Jesus. Think about the consequences for either relying on Him or rejecting Him.

Eternal life or Eternal damnation and torment

Living in light or living in darkness

Forgiven or condemned

Power in Him or weakness in self

Love or hate and anger

Joy or misery

Peace or conflict and anxiousness

Kind or mean

Gentle or brutal

Patience or impatience

Refuge or fear

Humility or pride

Giving or greedy

Victory or defeated

Hope or despair

God honoring or self-honoring

Holy Spirit living within or Satan always tempting

Heavenly desires or worldly lusts

Living for God or living for self

Surrender to the Holy Spirit leading or Satan, world/culture, and self-leading

Belief, trust, and reliance in Jesus Christ or rejection and denial

Jesus came to rescue and save us by paying the price of our sin. He came because God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Jesus gave His life so we might live. This life we live is to be lived in the LIGHT of this so that all that we do, all that we think, and all that we say is honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ. He did not come to this world to condemn man but to save man from their sins. Yet, in rejecting His redemption, sacrifice, and salvation all mankind is condemned. There is no other means of salvation, but by and through Jesus Christ. Belief in Him is more than words on our lips. It is heart, mind, and soul-deep. It is knowing and owning up to our sin and sinful nature and separation from God because of it, and reliance on, clinging to and trusting in Jesus for our redemption from this condemnation. When we surrender our self-reliance to Jesus only reliance there ought to be some change (new birth). Old things pass away and all things are new. We are promised the indwelling Holy Spirit when we believe and surrender and trust and rely (faith) upon/in Jesus Christ alone. The indwelling Holy Spirit will lead us on paths in our lives that honor and glorify Jesus Christ. Listen for the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit speaking into your life through God’s Word. It is there if we but spend the time in His Word and turn our ear towards Him. This new life in Him is not our own to live as we please. Our lives have been redeemed and ought to reflect the light of the price He paid to save us from hell and the promise of eternal life.

17.u. “The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light”

John 12:30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

John 5:22-27   For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,  that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.  “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.  For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.  And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

Acts 26:18    to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

2 Corinthians 4:4   In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Hebrews 2:14    Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

1 John 3:8    Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Now is the time of judgment. Jesus came to suffer and die to redeem mankind from the curse of sin and of judgment and the penalty of sin. To say there is no God and no sin is to believe a lie. A lie that Satan has been promoting since creation. Throughout history, man has either chosen to embrace this lie or reject it. Embracing the lies of Satan will seem to give a certain amount of self-satisfaction, self-reliance, and self-importance. Pride, greed, hate, anger, and fear are manifestations of embracing Satan’s lies. They consume the soul and blind the eyes of our souls to the light of Jesus Christ. These lies are promoted by “sons of disobedience”. Those who willing choose to deny and reject God and His Son Jesus Christ. Satan’s lies will be laced with half-truths and have the ability to water down the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the point of it having no impact in their lives. This is so sad. On Judgment Day these people, from across all walks of life and from the beginning of creation, will bow before the One they have rejected and denied. They will be judged unworthy because of their unbelief and lack of trusting in, clinging to, and relying on Jesus Christ. They will be judge righteously in the light of Him who they have rejected. They will receive their just reward for this rejection and denial – an eternity in torment – total separation from God,- in total darkness void of anything but unimaginable pain and suffering – for all of eternity. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 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. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”

Today is the day of salvation. Do not delay a second longer. Do not plan on it for another day or time in your life. How many people will end up in hell tormented for eternity because they chose to live another day for themselves rather than surrendering to the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ?

17.i. “Whom did you dread and fear, so that you lied, and did not remember me, did not lay it to heart?”

John 11:45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

John 2:23    Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.

John 12:42     Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;

Matthew 10:32    So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,

Romans 10:10    For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

1 John 4:15    Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

Isaiah 57:11   Whom did you dread and fear, so that you lied, and did not remember me, did not lay it to heart? Have I not held my peace, even for a long time, and you do not fear me?

John 3:18 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. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light

A nearsighted person can see things clearly that are close to them but not things that are far away. The opposite is someone who is farsighted. As Christians, we are told to focus on Jesus Christ. That means both the present and the future. Now (in the present) we see him dimly but we will see Him clearly in the future. Now as we see Him dimly we honor and glorify Him to the best we focus on Him, but in the future, in heaven, we will see Him in all of His glory and our honor and glory to Him will be so much more pure, holy, and complete.

As Christians, we can lose sight of our present focus of Jesus due to many things, primarily though it is due to our love of this world and what it has to offer and our neglect of His Word. Do you want to keep getting clearer and clearer pictures of Jesus Christ now? Stay diligent in His Word. Keep Him in your thoughts as you wake every morning and when you close your eye in the evening and every moment in between. There is so much more than believing in Jesus Christ – LIVE FOR JESUS CHRIST.

17.c. “Even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

John 11:17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Romans 8:11    If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

2 Corinthians 4:14    knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

Philippians 3:20-21     But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,  who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

1 Thessalonians 4:14     For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

Revelation 20:10-15    and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.  Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.  And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

“Those that believe in Jesus Christ appear to die, but yet they live. They are not in the grave, they are forever with the Lord. They are not unconscious they are with their Lord in Paradise. Death cannot kill a believer, it can only usher him into a freer form of life.” “Death comes to the ungodly man as a penal infliction, but to the righteous as a summons to his Father’s palace: to the sinner it is an execution, to the saint an undressing. Death to the wicked is the King of terrors: death to the saint is the end of terrors, the commencement of glory.” (Spurgeon)

At death, there is rejoicing for those who believe and regret for those who reject and deny Jesus Christ. Scripture is clear and yet so many reject the grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ. Denying Jesus Christ has earthly effects, but the most important is it has eternal consequences. We never truly know when death will knock on our door. We can be ready for that knock and rejoice to know our home is in heaven and we will be with Jesus forever more.

17.b. “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with cares of this life”

Luke 21:28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Luke 21:34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Matthew 24:20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

At times I wonder if we are so close to the end times that I have thoughts each morning that this could be the day of the Rapture. Love for God has grown cold. Belief in Jesus Christ is dwindling. Rejoicing, hope, joy, peace, love, and desire for Godly truth has been replaced by fear, hate, loneliness, anger, selfishness, and distain for the Word of God. It seems as though logic and reason has all but been removed. Eyes are blinded tot he truth. Ears are deaf to the truth. Lies and misinformation are believed and proclaimed as truth. “when you see these things, know the end is near”

These 10 points were given in Olive Trees Ministries by Jan Markell:

1) The Decline of America. There is really no end-time power in the Bible other than a Revived Roman Empire from which the Antichrist will headquarter. Thus, prophecy watchers have always known America must decline. This year we have watched capitalism come under attack and socialism and globalism be heralded. Some progressive but deluded political leaders are even hailing Marxism, including many on the Biden team.

2) The Rise of Lawlessness, Anarchy and Spirit of Antichrist. We see unbridled lawlessness in Matthew 24 and parts of Revelation, although the context of both is the Tribulation. So once again, we see Tribulation events casting a long shadow on the Church Age. Here in America, literally “all hell is breaking loose” and our Republic and rule of law are disintegrating right before our eyes! At the root of this is the spirit of the Antichrist.

3) Peace Efforts in the Middle East. We can debate the practicality of these events and should America and Europe even intrude on Israel with peace efforts? Nonetheless, they are setting the stage for peace deals proposed by the Antichrist. And, the year is not over, so more peace efforts may take place before year-end. But, I am reminded of the haunting words in Jeremiah 6:14: “Saying peace, peace, when there is no peace.”

4) Increasing Attacks on Christians, Christianity, Churches, etc. Thanks to Covid-19, churches, and Christianity in general, became gross inconveniences in 2020. Churches were either shut down or marginalized starting in March. Christians in America were harassed and even arrested for wishing to just practice their faith and meet for worship. Believers in the Mideast and Africa were slaughtered by the thousands. Jesus said a day was coming when we would be hated for His Name’s sake (Matt. 10:22).

5) Growing Apostasy and Wolves Among the Flock. Sound biblical preaching is fading with a rise in the love for experience, emotion, and unsound doctrine. There is even the love of the “doctrine of demons” (I Timothy 4:1). The New Apostolic Reformation continues to surge. A new, but very false teaching in both churches and seminaries, is the Marxist Critical Race Theory. At the same time, Bible prophecy has vanished from most pulpits, as well as support for Israel.

6) Pre-Tribulation Birth Pangs. The worst of the birth pangs are in the Tribulation, but we see a foreshadowing of these horrors now in the Church Age. Natural disasters are unprecedented globally. The destruction is heart-wrenching to watch and the suffering is unspeakable. This will increase to such a level in the Tribulation that what is happening now is minuscule in comparison. But the stage is again being set. All of the earth is groaning.

7) The Continued and Rapid Decline of the Culture. Everywhere evil is being called good (Isaiah 5:20). Aberration is celebrated. Netflix seemed to honor pedophilia with its “Cuties” feature and film. California passed pro-pedophilia legislation, removing felony status for sex with minors. Today’s character of mankind is outlined in Romans 1 and II Timothy 3—and it’s all predicted for a final generation. The Washington D.C. swamp is murkier than ever before!

8) The Rise of Strong Delusion. So much delusion arose in 2020 it is incalculable. What thinking person wants all police abolished? Or thinks America is a racist nation? Or destroys the economy over a virus? Or its youth think the Holocaust is a myth? II Thessalonians 2 suggests such a delusion is sent because there is no love of the truth. This will then cause people to fall for the lies of the Antichrist.

9) A Covid-19(84) Surveillance State Worsened and Preparation for NWO. Government intrusion and “contact tracing” abounded in 2020. People even had to “register” for church so they could be traced. The goal lines for easing government restrictions, lock downs, quarantines, and even face masks, kept changing. Clearly, society is being prepped for the Antichrist here in 2020. Around the world, people are being turned into mind-numbed robots. Many are cowering in fear.

10) The Longing for a Savior. With the world in a meltdown mode, millions are looking for just one superhuman man to bring back peace and prosperity. He is waiting in the wings! Most have rejected Jesus Christ. They will cheer for a short season for the Antichrist.

16.s. “But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.”

John 10:1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Jeremiah 23:16-17   Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.  They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”

Ecclesiastes 11:9     Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

2 Peter 2:1   But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

1 John 4:1    Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

There is but one gate, one way to eternal life and that is through Jesus Christ. All other attempts through any other means will result in Hell. Every day we face numerous gates that offer peace, satisfaction, health, wealth, etc….. There is only one gate that gives us assurance of peace of mind that passes all understanding. It is Jesus Christ alone. Trying to find a path to eternity apart from the gate of Jesus ends in missing the shepherd. There appears to be many preaching right now that try to fill the church with the promises of what this world has to offer rather than preaching what eternal life has to offer. This world is not our home. Things of this world are not our inheritance. Things in this world are not our satisfaction. Things in this world are not our hope. Things of this world do not offer eternal life. In fact, things of this world pull at us, confuse us, and try to entice us this is where we find hope, peace, eternal life, satisfaction, wealth, etc…..

There is one gate, one path, one way to eternal life – Jesus Christ

16.m. “Do you believe this?”

John 8:48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

John 3:15-16    that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.  “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 5:24    Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 6:50   This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.

John 11:25-26     Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

If you don’t believe in God you will not believe in Jesus Christ. If you do not believe in God and Jesus Christ you certainly will not believe in heaven or hell or judgment. Without believing in coming judgment and heaven or hell there are secure consequences. Eternity in hell with continuous torment forever and ever. Believing, clinging to, relying on, and trusting in Jesus Christ has secure consequences. Eternal life. passing from death to life. Without Jesus Christ, every single person falls short of the glory of God and has a death sentence. Eternal hell. In God’s love, mercy, and grace He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem and save a lost and floundering world. He proclaimed eternal life, forgiveness, redemption, salvation, love, peace, joy, hope, etc…. and yet people still reject His offer of eternal life. It makes no sense to reject this but countless millions intentionally choose this path for their life. Denial and rejection of Jesus Christ end in eternal hell. Now is the time to call on Him, confess your sin and sinful nature, and cling to, trust in, and rely on His sacrifice on the cross. Belief and faith in Him alone equal eternal life. There is no promise of a tomorrow for anyone. Now is the day of salvation. Do not keep putting off trust and belief in Jesus Christ. Eternity in heaven or hell depends on this intentional choice.

16.f. “For unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

John 8:21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

Proverbs 11:7    When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too.

Matthew 25:41    “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Matthew 25:46    And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Proverbs 14:32     The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.

“Unless you believe I am He you will die in your sins” Jesus also said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 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. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

It doesn’t take the words of a learned professor for us to realize that we are living in a perverted, chaotic world in which we as Christians are a shrinking minority. It seems as though the country is divided by hate, anger, fear, pride, greed, and no sense of what is right and wrong. Yet in spite of that, Jesus said, we are to be light and salt in a dark world that has lost its thirst for God. Even more so as we sense the day of Hie return approaching.