This morning in prayer I was talking to the LORD about the evils all around us and how hard it’s becoming to have a lifestyle we’ve been used to. Then I started thinking about how God, from the beginning of man, chose ‘men with faith in Him’ to bring His Son to the earth as the Savior of the world and to lead us into the LIFE that is truly life; into the PEACE the world knows nothing about; to show us the way to endure the EVIL days while we wait His coming.

From the beginning of mankind God chose a generational line, from the “first man Adam to the last man Jesus Christ.”  Adam gave over his (man’s) dominion of his inheritance of the earth - to the devil - when Adam disobeyed his Father God about eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan worked through Eve to get Adam to eat the fruit. Adam’s son Cain killed his brother Abel whom God favored. Adam and Eve then had another son. Eve said of Seth: “God has granted me another son in place of Abel.” “Seth also had a son and he named him Enosh. At that time people BEGAN to call on the Name of the LORD.” Genesis 4:25-26

After Seth, then the others came in the chosen line on down through the generations to Noah. Noah’s grandfather, Methuselah, lived 969 years, and Noah’s father, Lamech, lived 777 years. Noah became a father at the age of 500 years old and Noah lived to be 950 years old. (Genesis 5)  Why don’t we live this long? Our sin ‘nature’ that Adam passed on has caused our lifespan to diminish over time.

In Matthew chapter 1 is recorded the ongoing chosen line with Abraham (from Noah’s son Shem), for the genealogy of God’s Son coming into the world as our Savior. Abraham to Isaac and then Jacob, and then from Jacob’s 12 sons, the line comes through Judah, and is why Christ is called the “LION OF JUDAH.” He’ll come again but not as the LAMB of God, but as the LION with a ROAR of VICTORY. Jesus is called “the First and the Last.” (Revelation 22:13) “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

That was God’s purpose of the “chosen line” of men, to bring His Son into the world as our Savior Redeemer, and by the miraculous way of a virgin with the seed of God’s Spirit, so the father of Jesus would not be a man with the sin nature passed on to Him.  Then from Christ’s line (not having a wife or any sexual relations) comes the last of the chosen line: born-again Spirit-filled believers.

God spoke to Noah, and Noah believed God. This is what qualifies a man (or woman) to be called a man (or woman) of God through whom God works and speaks. Noah must have spent a maximum of 100 years (and probably slightly less) building the Ark. This time frame was the time God gave to Noah to also warn people about the coming judgment and to turn to the LORD GOD to be saved.  The Ark was God’s way of saving His chosen line for human life to continue. Jesus Christ is also known as the ARK OF GOD. Are you in Him?

We are told in Scripture: “As it was in the days of Noah so shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 25:37) Jesus IS coming again to reign one thousand years on the earth to conquer all evil and even death, and to renew all things that God once called “good.” What God has said, God will do in the time He has purposed.

I don’t know about you, but I am finding myself unable to enjoy life like I used to. The only thing that I really find enjoyment in is my husband and children and friends who love the LORD. My heart is increasingly grieved as evil rapidly intensifies on the earth because of man’s evolving godlessness, technology, and evil activity against anything to do with God and God’s people. But, it’s all building up to the coming of Satan personified, “the Man of Lawlessness.” Satan thinks he has accomplished his will to reign with his evil one world order because every nation’s government has finally become godless, sadly even America. According to 2 Thessalonians 2: “The One who now RESTRAINS him (the devil embodying a man) will continue to restrain him until He (God’s Holy Spirit) is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be REVEALED (on earth for all to worship), whom the LORD JESUS WILL SLAY with the breath of His Mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival (Revelation 19:11 on).” GLORY!

When the Holy Spirit is taken off the earth, God’s Spirit-filled people go with Him to meet the LORD HIMSELF in the clouds. (Daniel 12 talks about it.)  This is what is scripturally known as “the rapture of the Bride of Christ.” Then watch out! The remaining judgments from chapters 11-18 of Revelation are still coming: 7th Trumpet Judgments and the 7 Bowl Judgments begin, which is called the GREAT TRIBULATION years on the earth (a short time of 3 ½ years or 7 years depending on your study about that time).  Last chance people! When the KING of king and LORD of lords returns – that’s it! No more mercy from God. God has been patient long enough! His patience has a time-period, isn’t that interesting.

God has a new world coming with His Son and His holy people. Hallelujah!   “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has planned for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) This is what I long for! This is our LORD’s longing too! 

In the book of Revelation, we see the current and coming judgments on the earth (the 7 seals, 7 trumpets and 7 bowls of Revelation chapters 11-18) used by God to incite/provoke/motivate/inflame people to call on the LORD JESUS as their Savior - before it’s too late. When will it be too late? When King Jesus returns just as He said He would, on time and in all His glory!

Revelation 19 then describes what happens to the godless nations of this world, and to Satan and his beast and prophet (technology and media), and even death. (Chapters 19-22). But sadly, as we see and hear, all these holy judgments that are rooted in the love of God (yes they are rooted in His love!) won’t bring all people to their knees in surrender and worship of the One True Living God, but only “the few.”  What we do see happening is man furthering his false belief that he is in control. “The fools says in his heart that there is no God.”

You know what I love about my LORD JESUS? If I was the only one throughout the history of mankind to believe in Him, He still would’ve come and died for just me, to pardon me and bless me with the love and life of my Father God.

I find it interesting that in the last chapter of the Bible (Revelation 22), it is titled “Eden Restored.” What God first intended for those who love and obey Him – God has and will accomplish through His Son: the only FAITHFUL AND TRUE!

There are Christians who think they need to live under the Law of Moses, or under the rules and regulations of religion.

Some proclaim how Christians must worship on Saturday, not Sunday, and if we don’t then what? Others believe they are to work their way to heaven, doing good deeds. Others who believe in Jesus Christ dying on the Cross for them, can still live worldly lives without any consequences.

“We are NOT like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing THE END OF WHAT WAS PASSING AWAY. But their minds were made dull, for to this day (of Christ’s Church) the same veil remains when the Old Covenant is read. It has NOT been removed, because only IN CHRIST is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read (the old order), a veil covers their HEARTS. But whenever anyone turns to the LORD JESUS CHRIST (for what He has done to redeem us and help us live the life that is truly life), the veil is taken away. Now the LORD is the SPIRIT, and where the Spirit of the LORD is, THERE IS FREEDOM.” (2 Corinthians 3:12-17)

What “freedom” do you think God’s servant, Paul, is referring to? Freedom from the desire to live sinfully (according to what Jesus calls sin). Freedom to worship our Savior EVERY day of the week, and not just on one day of the week. Freedom from trying to please people. Freedom from doing what our government forces us to do against our will. Freedom from the lies of Satan which go against God’s good will for us.

We each must stand before Jesus Christ one day to give an account of how we served Him ONLY. Jesus acknowledged that HE IS THE FULFILLMENT of all that pertains to the old order of sacrifices and celebrations and detailed ways to worship GOD. Jesus did not give His apostles any rules and regulations for the “new order” of worshipping and serving the LORD GOD, except that we worship and serve out of love for the LORD.

We are free to live for the LORD as the indwelling Holy Spirit convicts each of us and guides each of us. Gathering together to fellowship in Christ is a blessing to all who do it, no matter when and how. We use our God-given gifts from the Holy Spirit to the glory of Christ as we bless each other with our gifts from God.

The New Testament teaches that all we do – be done out of our love for the LORD; that His truth and love motivate us with its power to get the wonderful results that God is after and that God will reward. Living under the power of Christ’s love and word to us – will never fail us. But trying to abide under man’s “law,” even the “Law of Moses” will fail us because we will always be guilty of breaking those law in one way or another.

The Bible refers to how some see one day more important than the other 6 days, but that others see every day the same in importance, as to holy worship. Both are free in Christ! We are not to judge the ‘conscience’ of others. God will have a final day for all things to be judged. We will be judged as to how we used our freedom and faith in Christ Jesus.

I had a Catholic neighbor friend speak to me recently in such a way, concerning the religious season of “lent,” that caused me to see how she is living under the rules and regulations of Catholicism. In a conversation we had the first time we went to lunch to get to know each other, I was talking to her about heaven, and she stated that she hopes she’ll go to heaven. Well, I asked her if the Holy Spirit lived in her. She just looked at me. Then I shared with her that because the LORD’s Spirit lives in me, I KNOW and I’M CONVINCED that when I die I will rise to be with the LORD forever. Nothing can separate me from Him! NOTHING!

Apostle John teaches us that we are to “know” and live convinced.

Religion will always leave you doubting and feeling the need to work your way to heaven by being good, or by following the rules and regulations of the kind of religion in this world that you choose to follow. Jesus came to give us a true and blessed relationship with Himself, and not to put us in prisons of religion. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the KEY that unlocks and frees!

James 1:22-25 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the PERFECT law that gives FREEDOM, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

The law of Moses was not perfect. Jesus is the “perfect” law for our life. I love reading His words (printed in red) in the Holy Bible! Every Word that God Himself has spoken that we read in the Bible – will be fulfilled by God’s Son “who was, and is and IS TO COME.” HALLELUJAH!

To be “in Christ” is to live freely for the One who has given Himself FREELY to redeem us, so we can live as children of the LIVING GOD with great joy and longing for His Kingdom of everlasting life. OH HAPPY DAY – THE DAY HE WASHED MY SINS AWAY!!!

The apostle Paul: “My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 2:4

What did Paul mean by “a demonstration?”  Merely repeating what the Scripture says about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, isn’t enough to see people getting saved and growing up in the Lord. One must have God’s power “demonstrated” in one’s life in order to preach or teach the Word of God, or else that one is merely a hypocrite, like that man who wanted the power he saw with some of the Lord’s disciples who were casting out demons. He thought he could buy that power somehow, and then just say the words the apostles said and VWALLA! “Look at how POWERFUL I am!”

When God’s power is demonstrated in our lives – the WORD of GOD LIVES.  I listen to some of our politicians using the Word of God to make their political points. They give over the impression that they are Christians, but then you see what they ‘actually’ stand for and what they are ‘actually’ doing to our country “under God” – and it’s obvious they are using the Word of God for their own self-serving benefit of remaining in power. Wicked!

Do you have a testimony of how the Gospel of Jesus Christ – changed your life? Do you continue to have testimonies (plural) of how reading, meditating, studying the whole Word of God – continues to mature you in the Lord?

Hebrews teaches us in chapter 6: “Let us MOVE BEYOND the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to MATURITY….” (vs. 1) What are the “elementary” teachings? Paul gives: 1. Laying the FOUNDATION of repentance from acts that lead to death. (We continue to confess our sins, but we must let the power of the HOLY Spirit free us so we can move on to maturity in the Lord.) 2. The laying on of hands (to be filled with the Holy Spirit to fulfill your calling from God, which is near impossible for you to do in your own power). 3. Instructions about cleansing rites. (Remaining clean in the sight of the Lord, now that you’ve been forgiven past/present/future; quickly admitting sin and asking for the Lord’s help to overcome. “If we confess our sins, He is able and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”) 4. The teaching about the resurrection of the dead (in Christ – forever with Him). 5. The teaching of Eternal Judgment. (We will all be judged, one way or another.)

Then Paul goes on to say that when a person does NOT move on to maturity but remains a nursing infant on the milk (elementary teaching) of the Word, not growing to maturity with the Lord on the solid meat of God’s Word – that infant becomes USELESS to God. What is a baby able to do for anyone? Imagine an adult person still nursing on his/her mother’s breasts. ICK! Right?

Paul even states: “It is IMPOSSIBLE for those who have once (first saved) been enlightened (foundation of elementary teachings), who have TASTED the heavenly gift (God’s wonderful grace in his/her life), who have shared in the Holy Spirit (His love/joy/peace), who have TASTED the goodness of the word of God (early evidence of His goodness) and the powers of the coming age (now looking forward to the return of the Lord) AND YET HAVE FALLEN AWAY, TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO REPENTANCE.” What did Paul actually mean here that “It is impossible to be brought back to repentance?”  He then explains what he means: “To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace.” (vs. 4-7)

What? “Crucifying Jesus again?” What comes to me is how those who put Jesus up on that cross over 2K years ago mocked Him for being on that cross, IF HE WAS WHO HE SAID HE WAS. Where’s the evidence? WE ARE! Those who are in Him all the way.

“Subjecting Him to public disgrace?” What comes to me is how people of the world look at most Christians today (especially in America) and laugh at us when we talk about God and Jesus Christ. Why? Because we don’t seem to be living any differently than the people of the world!

As an “infant” we remain in a place of self-deception, living pretty much as we please. What stops us from maturity? Maybe we are fearful of sharing the Gospel of Christ, not willing to be persecuted in any way. We don’t know how to go without things we’re used to having. Waiting on the Lord is too hard. Learning new things isn’t always fun! Maybe we love our sin more than we love the Lord’s will in our life. Maybe we are afraid of what our friends will say, and afraid of being rejected by those we grew up with. Maybe we are afraid of what the Lord would call us to do that we don’t want to do, or what the Lord would require from us that we are not willing to give up.

People have all kinds of reasons for remaining “infants” but an ‘infant in the Lord’ won’t realize what the ‘mature in the Lord’ experience ‘with the Lord’ and are then rewarded in glory for being faithful to the Lord all the way TO THE END.

I love knowing that what my Lord began in me, He will complete in me – with my cooperation of course! For, I need Him to live the life He has called me to; the life that is TRULY LIFE!  Lord, demonstrate YOUR POWER in my life! Give me wisdom in how to use it!

As I was listening to the Billy Graham channel on SXM radio in my car, one of his messages was on why Ezekiel said that only Noah/Daniel/Job would be saved, because of their righteousness, from the judgment of God. Billy wondered why God told Ezekiel those three men, and Billy heard the Spirit say because Noah overcame the world. Daniel overcame the flesh. Job overcame the devil.

I had always wondered ‘why’ as well. Never thought of it that way.

Were these three men perfect and without sin? No. But they overcame what was in the way – in their pursuit of finishing their ‘call’ from God. What’s my call from God? What’s yours?

It’s not how we start; it’s how we finish – that matters to God. He knows we are sinners in desperate need of His grace, wisdom and strength. We need to understand that as well. That’s why it’s all about Jesus Christ and not any one of us, lest the CROSS OF CHRIST BE EMPTIED OF ITS POWER!

In Revelation 3:5 Jesus says: “All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never ERASE their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.” Does Jesus write their name in His Book of Life after the person says the sinner’s prayer, or after their words have been tested? Again, only God knows the truth about us. Man can assume by what he sees outwardly, but God sees the heart, the truth in us.

We all will fail the Lord, like Peter did those 3 times (then the rooster crowed to remind him what he had professed) but then Peter finished faithfully. God sees the future result of our verbal confessions, so I’m thinking that because God sees the future result of what we say or confess, He can write our name in the Book of Life at the start.

BUT what would cause the Lord to erase our name from the Book of Life? We can start out with a “positive” (good intention) but then fail to follow through (a negative erasing). If I think my commitment to Christ is about how well I do, then my commitment equals nothing to the Lord at the end. I lose what I thought I had with the Lord.

The Bible states that there are more than one Book. Rev. 20: 11 “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12] And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13] The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14] Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15] Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

If someone wants to believe they can be saved by what THEY DO or DON’T DO, or by mere confessions, they have lost, they will be judged by their own work, and sadly FALL SHORT of God’s glory according to Romans 3:23. Jesus either knows you or doesn’t. It’s all about Him and what He’s done for us, that we could NEVER do for ourselves. If He knows you, then your name is written in the Book of Life. If He doesn’t know you then your name is NOT written in the Book of Life. If He doesn’t know you then your name is NOT written in the Book of Life and the Lake of Fire is your end, forever separated from God and the LIFE you could’ve had with Him forever.

Jesus said (Matthew 7:22-24) that the day will come when people will be banging at His door wanting to come in – reminding Him of all they did for Him. But Jesus says, “Go away, I never KNEW you.” He doesn’t acknowledge them as one of His own. Why? They tried to gain salvation THEIR way, not HIS Way, which is the only way, and only a few will go that narrow path, says the Lord.

The Apostle John writes about us “knowing” that we are saved and with the Lord forever. When I hear so-called Christians say, “Well, I hope I’m going to heaven,” it makes me wonder if they are truly saved ‘in Christ.’ The indwelling Holy Spirit is the One who gives us that solid unshakeable confidence and peace no matter how many times we fall or fail the Lord. Thank You Jesus for all You’ve done for us!

When does the Lord put His Holy Spirit in us? When He sees true a true desire to love Him and serve Him, for we cannot do it in our own strength and with our own limited understanding.