One of the greatest challenges for Christians is how can we take “nice” conversations to a deeper level that touches the other person’s soul. We can do this by asking great questions.
I. How Are You?
How are you?
What is happening in your life?
What brings joy into your life?
What is the cry in your soul at this time?
II. Who Are You?
Who are you and how did you end up here?
What is your story? You can then tell them your story, and HIS
(Jesus’s) story.
Is there a song, book, or movie that describes your life?
What really makes you come alive?
III. What Were the Defining Moments in Your Life?
Have there been DEFINING MOMENTS – turning points in your lifewhen you gained some new insight or experienced a radical change that changed the direction of your life? What were they?
IV. What Do You Think About God?
When you die and pass into eternity, what do you think you willexperience? How does that make you feel?
What do you think about God? Is He your friend?
What do you want from Him?
What do you think He wants from you?
How do you see Jesus?
Do you spend time with the Lord in His Word and prayer every day?
V. How is the Lord Working in Your Life?
Have you ever seen the hand of the Lord in your life or sensed His
presence? What was it like?
How is the Lord working in your life? What is He teaching you?
Do you realize that, as a Christian, the Holy Spirit dwells within you,
and seeks a personal relationship with you?
How does that make you feel?
Do you believe we can discern the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit
and be nurtured, taught, and guided by Him each day?
Do you look for the divine appointments God has for you each day?
VI. What is Your Life Purpose and Calling?
Do you know the Lord’s calling on your life – the unique and special
purpose for which you were created?
Are you fulfilling His calling upon your life? If not, what is holding you
One of the greatest tragedies of all time is the many people who believe they are going to heaven when they die, but end up in the Lake of Fire:
“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15
Here are four warning signs that we all should watch for, described as questions the Lord may ask us when we stand before Him after we pass from this earth:
Warning Sign #1: UNIVERSALISM – EVERYONE IS GOING TO
HEAVEN
“You believe everyone is going to heaven, even those who refuse to repent of their many sins and also reject Me – God the Father, My Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. You do not know Me, and have no place in the Kingdom of Heaven:”
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6
Warning Sign #2: UNFORGIVENESS
“You refused to forgive (this person) in your life, so why should I forgive you? My Son Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 6:14-15”:
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Warning Sign #3: UNREPENTANCE
“You worship other gods, such as wealth, status, pleasure, lust, and power, and are unrepentant. Why should I let you bring your sin and idolatry into heaven which is holy and without sin?”
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
Warning Sign #4: LUKEWARMNESS
“You belong to the Church of Laodicea, a church known for comfort, prosperity, wealth, and leisure; a lukewarm, spiritually stagnant, church in the midst of people with great physical and spiritual needs. Why should I let you in while your soul is polluted with the world and worldly desires?
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold (invigorating, refreshing) nor hot (healing, therapeutic); I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth (reject you with disgust).” Revelation 3:14-16 MSG
“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” Revelation 20:12
The warnings are particularly relevant when we reflect on this sober warning that few there are that find the narrow gate and path which leads to heaven:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
So let us reach out to those who come across our path with the love and truth of Christ, for life is short, eternity is a very long time, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.
The day started out like every other day, but little did I know that a tragic event would transpire that would change my life forever. I just had breakfast and was about to head out to work, when there was a knock on the door.
I opened it and a sharply-dressed, tall, dark gentleman asked me my name. After I responded, he replied: “This is a subpoena for you to appear in court. The date and place are in the document. See you in court.” He then departed and closed the door. I was surprised and more than a little nervous. Uncertainty and fear gripped my heart as I wondered – what is this all about? Am I in trouble? What have I done? After gathering my thoughts, I opened the door to ask him a few questions, but he was not there, and I did not see him even after I looked up and down the street.
As I was on my way out the door to head for work, I glanced at the summons, and noticed that it was for TOMORROW, at some location I was not familiar with. But as I was late for work, I decided to check out the location later.
It was a very busy day at work, and I even had to work late. A strong thunderstorm came up, and as I was driving home, a drunk driver swerved and hit my car head-on at high speed, causing a HUGE CRASH. In an instant, my life flashed before me, and I lost consciousness.
THE GREAT COURTROOM OF HEAVEN
When I woke up, I realized something had profoundly changed. I was standing in a huge, majestic courtroom, and it felt like I had somehow passed into another dimension. It then dawned on me that I had passed through the veil of death and into eternity, and was now standing in THE GREAT COURTROOM OF HEAVEN!
When I looked toward the rear of the courtroom, behind a rail were visitors. I saw my parents! And my Uncle Bob and Aunt Mary, my neighbor David, a co-worker who died from cancer, and three high school classmates who had died from a car accident many years ago. They were all excited to see me, and were there to support me and cheer me on.
When I returned my gaze to the front of the courtroom, it dawned on me that I was the one who was on trial!
I then recognized the tall dark gentleman who gave me the summons, standing to the right of the judge’s bench and wearing a white flowing robe. I realized he was an angel and he declared: “All rise in reverence for the Judge, the sovereign, living God of the universe.”
When God the Father came in, His holy presence filled the courtroom, and everyone present bowed to the floor, the only thing a person could do in the presence of absolute holiness.
The angel then told everyone to be seated, but for me (the accused) to remain standing. He then asked the Accuser (Satan) to read the charges against me. Satan had a very long list, as I had committed many sins throughout my life. My heart was broken and grieved as he read them, realizing all the harm I had done to so many people.
Then God the Judge asked “Before I pass sentence, what do you have to say for yourself?” I was so overcome with grief, I had nothing to say.
GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY
God then asked me: “How do you plead – guilty or not guilty? “Guilty” I sobbed, and I knew my fate was sealed if justice was to prevail.
He asked one final question before pronouncing my sentence: “Is there anyone present who would like to speak on behalf of the accused?”
At this point, Jesus stepped forward from the back of the courtroom where He was watching the proceedings. He told the judge and all in the courtroom that He paid the price for my sins with his death on the cross, and thus took the penalty that was rightfully mine. My heart leaped with great anticipation at the possibility of a reprieve for my many sins.
The Judge, God the Father, then slammed the gavel down, announced that all charges against me were dropped, and welcomed me into the Kingdom of Heaven. Immediately I heard a loud chorus of angels rejoicing that another soul had been snatched from eternity in the Lake of Fire.
While Satan stomped out of the courtroom, furious at losing another soul to Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven, my friends and family in the visitors’ section cheered loudly, for my life had just been saved by the blood of Christ. I then experienced a joy and bliss that is beyond my ability to describe – a feeling of peace and of finally coming home to be with the Lord for eternity.
Well guess what – this is going to happen to you as well as to me. Each of us has a particular day in the future when we will pass through the veil of death and into eternity. We will then stand before the sovereign, living God of the universe in the Great Court of Heaven, where ultimate justice is dispensed for each of us.
Satan, the accuser, will describe all the sins we have committed in our life, and then we will be asked to respond to his accusations. Finally, God the Father will ask if there is anyone who would like to speak on our behalf. Although we may have friends and family watching the trial, their testimony will not be allowed, as they have no standing regarding matters of eternal justice (and God already knows what they would say on our behalf anyway).
Only Christ can advocate for individual persons, and then only for those of us who have received Him as our Savior BEFORE WE DIED. Once we pass through the veil of death into eternity, our course is set.
So let us reach out to those who come across our path with the love and truth of Christ, for life is short, eternity is a very long time, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow. Source of image: shutterstock.com
Is education important? Of course. While we may expect a better educated public to address complex and serious issues more effectively than an uneducated public, in my many years as an educator, I concluded that it is not THE ANSWER to the many critical challenges facing our nation, such as drugs, poverty, homelessness, corruption, and crime. Ironically, it may even provide greater capability to promulgate evil. Here are two incredible stories that shed light on this matter:
Story #1: The Einsatzgruppen in Nazi Germany – Educated Murderers
Prior to the invasion of Poland in 1939, Heinrich Himmler, Chief of the German Police, created the Einsatzgruppen to identify, combat, and eliminate suspected enemies of the German Nazi government in areas taken over by the Nazi army. They were paramilitary death squads that engaged in mass murder, primarily by shooting many of the cultural, religious, and intellectual elite of Poland, including Catholic priests, Freemasons, Jews, local political leaders, communists, partisans, and Romani people.
These units, supported by SS units, killed over 50,000 Poles, including 7,000 Polish Jews by the end of 1939. Himmler recruited highly educated Germans to lead the Einsatzgruppen, with OVER HALF OF THE EINSATZGRUPPEN LEADERS HAVING PH.D.S. Their advanced education did not provide them with a moral compass to forbid mass murder.
Story #2: Craig Marlatt – From Prison to Street Ministry
Craig Marlatt’s life started out rough, then took a radical turn for the Lord. Sent to prison THREE TIMES for drug offenses, the third time he was in prison, Marlatt volunteered to assist with a prison ministry as the chaplain’s clerk because it was easier than working out in the hot cotton fields. There he met a homely preacher who preached the Word of God. The Holy Spirit convicted Craig, and he came to the Lord. When he left prison, he started a coffee house in the toughest part of downtown Orlando. Here is an ex-con with a high school education, ministering to drug addicts, prostitutes, and street people, as well as writing books and recording Christian songs that inspire people to live lives of honesty, virtue, and service.
These stories demonstrate that education, while important, can be used for good or evil, and that our Lord can and does use ANYONE who is yielded to His Holy Spirit and is willing to carry out the work of the Lord. God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called.
Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 The word “life” in Greek is “zoe” which means a life expressing the highest and best, a life of service to God and to mankind. As just one example, the early Christians were known for rescuing unwanted babies off the trash heaps of the Roman empire. In contrast, communist regimes that explicitly rejected God have killed over 100 million of their own people. Christ brings life; communism – rejecting God – brings death.
So let us seek the Lord with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength, that we may discover God’s calling upon our lives and experience the abundant life – the life of joy that He promises to all who follow Him.
Several years ago, a non-profit organization board in the Arkansas Delta met to discuss prospective board members, and I was privileged to be a part of that discussion. Like many non-profits, they struggled with finances, so they were looking for individuals who were either wealthy or had political influence to gain access to money. A person would be suggested, and the next question was: “What do they bring to the table?” Although I dislike the jargon, it means “what could they contribute to our organization?”
What Different Age Groups Bring to the Table
We could ask the same question about people of different ages – what can they contribute to our society:
BABIES inspire awe, wonder, and love; created in the image of God, they are BRAND-NEW PERSONS, more incredible than a solar eclipse, Niagara Falls, or Grand Canyon.
CHILDREN contribute curiosity and excitement at encountering the world and learning how to get along with other people,
YOUNG PEOPLE contribute energy and promise for the future, unencumbered by life’s burdens, unfulfilled dreams, and skepticism of what is possible.
MIDDLE AGE PEOPLE are the backbone of society – men and women each contributing their unique abilities, knowledge and skills in work, dedication, and commitment to family – raising the younger generation and caring for the older generation.
SENIOR ADULTS contribute experience, reflection, wisdom, and a knowledge of history that enables them to recognize patterns and current events with a deep understanding.
Healthy, Godly societies, communities, families, and churches recognize the critical contributions that each group can make, and act to support, protect, and nurture them. In these settings, individuals in each of the above groups are respected and loved for who they are, and “heard”.
What Does Satan Bring to the Table
In contrast, Satan and his minions seek to steal our identities – who we are as image-bearers of God, kill our bodies in a multitude of ways, and destroy our souls:
BABIES are killed in the womb or sacrificed to idols,
CHILDREN are abused, trafficked, or mutilated for gender transitioning,
YOUNG PEOPLE are brainwashed by secular education, hooked on drugs, blasted with satanic music and videos, and robbed of their promising futures,
MIDDLE AGE PEOPLE are lied to by our government and media, forced to work in inhumane conditions (required vaccinations, etc.), and robbed of their finances through inflation, and
SENIOR ADULTS are put on drugs to keep them docile, and robbed of their valuable roles as sources of wisdom by a culture that only values youth.
Satan not only brings destruction and death to the table (our society, communities, families, and churches), but HE WANTS TO DESTROY THEM.
What Does Jesus Bring to the Table
Not only does our Lord prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies (Psalm 23:5), but He:
· invited His disciples to join Him for a breakfast of fish and bread (John 21:12),
· invites us to dine with Him (Revelation 3:20), and
· offered bread and wine to His disciples at the last supper (Mark 14), an expression of and a precursor to Him giving Himself – His body and blood – on the cross to wipe away our sins and the fear of death forever (Mark 15).
What Do YOU Bring to the Table?
Jesus said we are to “love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind, the first and great commandment.” Then He said we are to “love our neighbor as ourself.”
He is saying – if we don’t spend any time with Him – in repentance, in His Word, in worship, and in prayer, we will have nothing special – NOTHING SUPERNATURAL to share with others. We will be unable to fulfill His calling upon our lives – the grand purpose for which we were created – to impart to others His truth and love.
So let us go forth with boldness and courage to reach others, for time is short, eternity is a very long time, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes [trials and tribulations] shall not be hurt by the second death. Revelation 2:11
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Revelation 20:6
But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Revelation 21:8
Christians: respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, repent of our sins, surrender to the Lord, and die to self when we receive Christ as our Savior. Then at some point in time our bodies die physically, and our soul goes to heaven to be with the Lord for eternity. Dying to self is a continual process and leads to a life of joy with no fear of death, looking forward to stepping into eternity to be with the Lord and loved ones who went before us.
Non-believers in Christ: when their bodies die physically, their soul goes to heaven to be judged, and then die a second time as they are sent to the Lake of Fire. It is their spirit that dies in the second death – their ability to commune with the Lord. They fear death, go to heaven to be judged, and it goes downhill from there.
So which will it be:
Are you so involved in and enjoying the enticements and pleasures of the world that you cannot imagine – are just unwilling to – die to self for something that appears to be a long way off? You can always receive Christ LATER, right? (This is one of Satan’s most favorite lies.) OR
Do you acknowledge the reality of the sovereign, living God of the universe and respond to His call upon your life, knowing that the choice you make now will have eternal consequences?
“Choose you this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
There was once a great king who wished to send an invaluable and precious gift to a distant kingdom. So he chose a young man who was swift of foot, with a sound mind and loyal heart to carry this precious parcel to its final destination. The king chose his carrier carefully, because he knew the gift was very valuable, and a person of unsound mind or questionable character could not be trusted with such an important task. Such a person could easily be sidetracked or even sell the precious gift for money or other worldly considerations.
Story #2:
When the angel came and spoke to Mary, he told her that God trusted her to carry the Christ child from conception to full maturity and birth, then to raise Him as her son. She was to carry the Christ from the Kingdom of God into the Kingdom of Man, a sacred journey. She knew that the child within her body has not hers, but it was her responsibility to carry it to full term to delivery into life on earth.
Story #3:
When a woman conceives a child, she is not merely carrying a parcel or mass of tissue, but another human being, created in the image of God. The child within her may not only be a male, but have a different blood type from her own. So although it is within her, it is also distinct from her. Psalm 139 describes how precious and special each of us is, and God’s involvement in our creation, growth, and development:
“Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you…’” Jeremiah 1:4
So God forms us through human means. He even knew us and our names long before we were conceived, and designated the days of our lives. Like Mary, women are the noble carriers of the most precious gift – a gift of human life – on a nine-month journey, to deliver it into life on earth. This precious cargo started in the Kingdom of God, where it was conceived in the mind of God, then entrusted to a woman to carry this precious life to full term and deliver it to the Kingdom of Man on earth. Like Mary, her responsibility continues in the nurture and admonition of the baby through childhood and into adulthood.
Story #4:
When we receive Christ as our Savior, our bodies become temples of the Holy Spirit, who comes to dwell within us. So our bodies (and souls) are to be holy, set apart as the very throne room of God.
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord…” Hebrews 12:14
It also means we should take care of our bodies, and not become obese, use drugs, or embrace any other sin that would pollute our bodies, the very tabernacles of God. For we are carrying within us the Holy Spirit, the third person of the triune God. And although this does not culminate in physical birth as does a woman carrying a child, it can result in spiritual birth in others as the love and truth of Christ flows through us to reach those who don’t know the Lord and are on the broad path that leads to perdition.
For a woman to carry a child and give birth to a new human being is INCREDIBLE. And for a person to host the Holy Spirit – the very presence of God is SUPERNATURAL. So let us go forth and share the love, the truth, and the joy of the Lord, for time is short and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.
These are tumultuous times, with many ominous threats on the horizon for this new year of 2024, relating to our economy, national security, and war, to name just a few. And the pace of change is accelerating. So how can we live in this perilous environment and still have peace of mind and joy in our hearts?
In John 10:10, Jesus describes how He came that we may have AN ABUNDANT LIFE:
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
In Greek the word life is Zoe, and refers to the principle of life in the spirit and soul. Distinguished from Bios, or physical life, Zoe describes how Jesus’ followers shall not merely have a bare existence of life, but they shall have those things which make life eminently blessed and transcendent of circumstances – joy, fellowship with other believers, the peace of God, and eternal life. And this can happen even in the midst of suffering.
The following are seven keys that I have found that enable us to live an abundant, Spirit-filled life. These keys are not merely interesting; they lead us to the narrow path, which Christ spoke about:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
These keys can open our hearts, minds, and souls to a vibrant life where we can live lightly and freely. And they may save your life.
Seven Keys to an Abundant, Spirit-filled Life
KEY #1: REPENT of our sins to become spiritually clean
When we repent of our sins, we become SPIRITUALLY CLEAN. God is holy, and He will not tolerate sin in His presence. So if we approach Him with petitions (which He encourage us to do) with unconfessed sin on our hearts (a form of idolatry), He won’t hear us.
This includes sins we willfully commit, sins of omission (good actions we fail to perform), and unknown sins that we commit without knowing they are sin. (And yes, that includes taking the Covid-19 “vaccine”, because it is not a vaccine, but a gene-modifying operating system that alters our very genetic make-up – the essence of who we are, created by God.)
But God is merciful, and He forgives ALL sins from those who approach Him with a contrite heart.
Spirit-led Christians repent quickly and often, because they want to be spiritually free and clean, which is necessary to discern the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.
Repentance is not a burden or embarrassing; it is the natural (or supernatural) means to live a life of freedom and joy, with no fear of death. We even need to ask the Lord to show us any sin in our hearts, so we can repent and get rid of it, lest it grow into a cancer of the soul.
KEY #2: FORGIVE others of sins they have committed against us.
None of us are perfect, and sooner or later someone will sin against us. We are to forgive them, regardless of what the sin was, and regardless of whether they ask for forgiveness.
If we don’t forgive those who sin against us, God will not forgive us of our sins, and we will be judged guilty under the law, a very serious matter.
The sin of unforgiveness in our heart can even become a doorway for demonic influence into our lives.
Unforgiveness also sprouts a root of bitterness that can grow into a cancer of the soul. Not forgiving another is like the guy who swallows poison and waits for the other guy to die.
KEY #3: SURRENDER to Christ and receive salvation – eternal life in heaven.
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6
While He was here on earth, Jesus performed many miracles and fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies. He even rose from the dead, attested to by many witnesses. No other religion has such a supernatural track record, thoroughly documented by many credible sources.
God doesn’t want to fight with us (He would win); He wants us to surrender and come out our hands up.
We need to die to self to live for Christ. And when we receive Christ, we even become new creations: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” II Corinthians 5:17
KEY #4: SPEND TIME WITH THE LORD and seek Him with all our heart, mind, soul,and strength.
If we spend all day in the world and no time with the Lord in His Word, prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers, we will be starved spiritually, and will operate in the flesh and by worldly principles.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2
It is when we spend time in the Word of God that our minds become transformed, we begin to see the world and other people as the Lord does, and we can begin to discern the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus even promises that we will find Him: “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:12-14
KEY #5: LISTEN for the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.
The Word of God states that God desires to communicate to us, primarily through the Holy Spirit:
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:28
“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 things that I said to you.”John 14:26
“Therefore, the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness.’” Hebrews 3:7-8
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth… and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:12-13
You want to hear the voice of God? Start by reading the Word of God and asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you, because that is one of the primary ways He does.
Being able to discern the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit enables us to go from BELIEF in Christ to having a RELATIONSHIP with the Lord, from KNOWING ABOUT GOD to KNOWING GOD.
KEY #6: OBEY the Lord
We need to obey the laws of the land, unless they contradict the Word of God and His commandments.
And if we are prompted by the Holy Spirit to do something, such as reach out to someone and minister to their needs, we should do so as soon as possible, because often there is a window of time that will close and it will be too late.
There are many stories of how people’s lives were saved because they were in life-threatening situations and they heard and responded to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. (I am one of those, as I believe the Holy Spirit nudged me several years ago to slow down on a dark, slick highway, thus narrowly missing hitting a huge deer that passed right before my car.)
KEY #7: REJOICE IN THE LORD and let the truth and love of God flow through you toothers around you.
Rejoice is to feel and show great joy or delight. When we were born, our family expressed JOY that we were born. When we receive Christ, we are born again (spiritually), and the angels in heaven and our brothers and sisters in the Lord REJOICE that we are now in God’s family as a child of God.
And we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and soul, and our neighbor as ourselves, with the truth and love of Christ flowing through us to all who come across our path.
Summary
These are Biblical times, as we see events prophesied in the Bible taking place before our very eyes. And the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will for our lives, which we discover when we are living Spirit-filled lives.
Furthermore, each of us was created to live at this time. So no matter how hopeless our circumstances may seem, God is calling us to a higher, transcendent calling and purpose in our lives, beyond merely accumulating stuff and worldly acclaim:
a love for us to experience that can transform us,
a battle for us to engage in that is worth fighting, and
a story for us to live in that is far bigger and better than we have known.
Our Lord tells us we are not to fear:
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
But we are to trust Him with all our heart and He will direct our paths:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
And finally, when facing trials and tribulations, read the 23rd Psalm out loud:
The 23rd Psalm
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Recently our Anatolian Shepherd dog Annie died. She had been a good dog, although sometimes a lot of trouble. Anatolians (originally from Turkey, formerly called Anatolia) are bred to be guard dogs to attack and take out any predators who are after the sheep they are guarding. So Annie saw every other dog of any size as a predator – big trouble! But she was our dog, and we loved her and she loved us.
When we lose someone close to us, even a dog, there is a sense of loss, as a part of us is gone forever. Her death helped me realize that our loved ones are with us only for a season. It might be for a year, or it might be for 80 years, but it is only for a season. Realizing this helps us treasure the times we have with loved ones, as we (and they) are never guaranteed tomorrow.
It is a common story to hear people who experiencing grief at the loss of a loved one say how much they regret saying something to that person when they saw them last, or how much they would like to tell them how special they are and how much they love them. So DON’T WAIT – speak love and truth into the lives of your loved ones while you still have the opportunity.
I believe that people also come into our lives for a reason. Perhaps they are family members who have fulfilled your need to belong to a family, or a child whom the Lord has entrusted you with. Perhaps they help you with some important work, or perhaps you minister to them in some vital way.
When Jesus came from the Kingdom of God to the Kingdom of Man, He came only for a season – 33 years. And He came for a reason – to bring hope, joy, and salvation to all who would respond through His teaching, His ministry, His death, and His resurrection. He and His followers changed the world, overcoming the fear of death, offering a life of joy and peace regardless of circumstances, and life eternal in heaven.
What about you? Obviously your season is not up yet, but SOME DAY will be your last day on earth. And your reason – do you know why you are here? For Christians, our reason is pretty clear – to share the love, compassion, and truth of Christ to all who come across our path, to the glory of God.
Not realizing we are here for just a season leads to taking life and relationships for granted, while not knowing our reason leads to a life wasted on worldly concerns or a life of purposelessness and despair.
This is the day which our Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
SCENARIO #1: Knock knock – the people were knocking (really POUNDING) on the closed door of the ark, but it was too late and the waters began to rise.
And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; AND THE LORD SHUT HIM IN. Genesis 7:15-16
Key Point: Noah obeyed the Lord so he and his family were saved. Once the Lord shuts the door, it is too late.
SCENARIO #2: Knock knock – released from prison by an angel of the Lord, Peter knocked on the door of the house of Mary, where the apostles were gathered. A girl named Rhoda heard him knock and speak, but was so surprised, she didn’t open it but ran to tell the others it was Peter. They didn’t believe her and told her she was out of her mind. (Acts 12)
Key Point: Rhoda and the apostles could not grasp the fact the Lord freed Peter from prison.
SCENARIO #3: Knock knock – Jesus is knocking on your door and my door.
“Behold,I stand at the door and knock.If anyone hears My voice and opens the door,I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”Revelation 3:20
Key Point: Do you hear that knocking on your door? It is Jesus; can you grasp that fact? Will you answer the door and His call upon your life, or will you wait until it is too late because you are too busy with affairs of the world?
SCENARIO #4: Knock knock – You pass through the veil of life into eternity and are standing at the pearly gates of heaven. You knock on the gate. Saint Peter answers you from the other side of the gate and asks you: Who is there? Why should I let you in?
Key Point: We are not saved by works but by receiving Christ and believing on Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior:
“The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ Paul and Silas responded, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.’” Acts 16:30-31
Our Lord is knocking on the door of every person who comes across our path. So let us help them recognize and respond to His call upon their life before it is too late, for time is short, eternity is forever, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.
Life in the Spirit 