Abba's Own. David R. Lumsden

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СКАЧАТЬ people perish. Believers need to encourage others to believe God and be circumspect, i.e. Be careful to consider all circumstances and consequences, regarding this life now, and eternal life after this temporal life, (Phil 3:14).

      One person on a TV morning talk show had taken twenty-four ‘selfies’ and was sorting to determine which would make her look great for the audience. Her movement and expression were almost that of ‘self-worship,’ while she was making her selection. The scene of self-worship was repulsive (not to judge, but it was repulsive). Self-worship is falling short of God’s call for true worshippers; He seeks for those who worship Him in spirit and truth, as Creator and Almighty God. For a creature to worship another creature or oneself, puts one at enmity with God. One needs to believe God and confess pride as sin. Pride was the deadly fault of Satan that led him to an attempt to usurp God’s throne, for which he was cursed for eternity. I felt compassion for that lady and prayed for her to find someone to show her repentance and faith in Jesus, by which she would become an eternal child of God, concerned about His glory.

      In some cases, the signs of imminent danger are pictured right in their selfies. They are not paying attention, nor do they know that their actions are absurd and

      dangerous. Why do they not replace, the Self, in their heart to Jesus Christ and let Him fill them with His love and life? One day we will stand before the True Living God, Jesus, and know Him as Judge. Be circumspect!

      The author was on one website which showed people taking a ‘selfie,’ moments before dying. One lady, swimming in shark-infested waters, was taking a picture of herself with a shark, shown in the picture, which attacked and killed her, just seconds after she took a picture of herself. Had she thought of believing God, and being in the eternity of God before this disastrous event occurred? Was she ready? Was she too late for making her decision about God and yielding her allegiance to Him? Signs are posted along the beach. Was she circumspect? People need to think that it is not a matter of how many follow them on social media, but on how many follow Jesus Christ because of their influence on others.

      Some like to say, ‘I will wait until I am on my death bed,’ not realizing death can be at any unexpected moment, as was the case for the woman killed by the shark. It can happen so suddenly, and one has no opportunity to set one’s life ready for eternity. Yes, then it is too late unless in the last seconds they repent of their sin and turn to Jesus for salvation. Still, your time is now. Once one makes the transition, then it is too late. If one has not decided, this side of eternity, to repent from sin, forsake all forms of crimes, and receive Jesus as presented by God in the Holy Bible, it is too late. May the truth be known.

      May you know this day, “And inasmuch as It is appointed unto man once to die, after this cometh Judgment,” (Heb. 9: 27). God is fair and says that people need to be mindful of their eternal destination as a significant reality; being known by God for being welcomed by Him into Heaven, not just hoping that when they die, they will go to Heaven. Their final state may be shocking, and too late to change their destination once in Judgment Day.

      Yes, there is a life after death. Annihilation is a lie, deceit placed in one’s thinking about the afterlife, planted by Satan, the devil, the enemy of God, and man. People need to know the peace with God, the joy of expecting eternal life, this side of eternity before something unimagined takes their life on earth quickly. How can they hear and know without someone, yielded to God, willing to preach the good news, take God literally at His Word, and serve Him by sharing the true Gospel, the Way in God’s Plan of Salvation for humankind to be saved? Humans, who believe on Jesus are protected from the wrath of God to come. They become children of God. (John 1: 12).

      Each Christian has been given the call to fulfill their God-given ministry of reconciliation (not just the pastors), but not all Christians believe they have accountability for their gift of reconciliatory ministry. Life or death can be a breath away. May all God’s blessing be upon you for taking up God’s “call” to be an obedient minister of reconciliation, while the opportunity for you remains.

      The author has observed that all people have a question about life after death lurking, like a shark, in their heart, and it is ‘the question’ invariably in the heart, accompanied by fear, placed there by God. God is fair in giving a warning about eternity in His Holy Word. In all the author's experience as a minister of the Gospel and life-coach, seekers are overcome seemingly with and searching for a solution to, life after death. How can they know whether eternity will be favourable or sorrowful for them and, have time to choose? If God does exist, does He care? These and other questions are asked by many, if not outwardly, in their hearts and minds. Spiritual leaders need to be mindful of this fact and be able to broach the subject. Some do not understand salvation for soul-winning and therefore, blunder. When a person asks about matters related to the after-life, then the author can explore true Christianity with them and explain the importance of being ready for a surprise transition into eternity. People need a godly vision. How can people know and have this holy vision? Genuine followers of Jesus Christ do not teach false doctrine. They know love and explain the truth.

      As the time and opportunity arise, would false teachers be willing to settle their account with God? May they realize that now is the day of salvation, (2 Cor 6: 2). Do they desire to believe God, and have access to Him through faith in Jesus? In a nutshell, they hear about Jesus and then are asked if they would like to repent of their sin and believe on and accept Jesus, in whom they are made complete, (Col 2: 10). What a joy is theirs to be had in looking forward to Jesus coming back as their Lord.

      God wants them to know and believe they are made complete in Jesus Christ, alone. The author asks, ‘Would you be instrumental in the changing of one’s relationship to God from enmity with God, to peace with God?’ Faith in Jesus, empowered by God the Holy Spirit, is your strength. Jesus has prayed for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit in your heart, the moment you first believed on Jesus. Those, who choose to believe God, have a real sense of eternal perspective, love, peace and, joy, and begin to utter praise to God, and have a desire to love and serve Him as their Savior, Resurrected Lord, Master, Defender, Deliverer, and Coming King to bring others to receive Jesus by grace through faith. The joy, abundance of life, and desire to win others to receive Jesus are miraculous and remarkable in a new believer’s life. There is nothing as fulfilling as it offered on earth.

      Recently, the author was preaching a Gospel message to a group, and a lady jumped up in the middle of his preaching and said, “What you are talking about is what I need right now for myself. I believe God, and could you show me how to receive Jesus, right now?” We stopped the message, and two of us prayed with her; she confessed her sin, received Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, and new life. Immediately, she expressed love, peace, and joy of the Holy Spirit, whom the Father had sent into her heart. She thanked God in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. We stood up, and she reached out and grabbed our hands and was joyful in her aggressive handshakes. Pastor went back to the pulpit, and as a congregation, they sang and prayed a closing prayer. She caught Pastor at the exit door. She was excited that God had shown her how she could stop smoking. She retook his hand, shook it hardily, and walked out the door.

      God says that Abraham believed God, and God reckoned it unto him for righteousness, (Rom 4: 3). Our lady is sure happy that she found God; that she heeded His Voice. God had reckoned His righteousness unto her account. Jesus will present her blameless in eternity and welcome her into Heaven. God is real and trustworthy.

      Believe Him. He will do the same for you when you believe, trust, and obey Him. His work of Salvation is through the Way, the Truth, and the Life: JESUS. He will forgive you and set you free from the control of sin, the world, and Satan, and give you abundant Life, freely, (John 16: 4, Ephesians 2: 8-9, Rev 3: 20).

      The alternative, which is not to believe God, would not be pretty. She would

      not be known by God in Judgment Day, thus turned away from Heaven into everlasting punishment, (Matt СКАЧАТЬ