Maranatha - Awaiting Christ's Return

1 Cor. 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Author: Kate Plourde Page 28 of 59

What’s Stopping You From Salvation? Day 5 – Sexually Immoral/Impure

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On January 23, 2023

In Devotionals, What's Stopping You From Salvation?

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Good morning, Reader! I really dislike the word we are covering today. But it is so prevalent in our society. Just because we do not use that word anymore, it doesn’t mean that its definition no longer exists. In fact, it is most definitely alive in these end times. So let’s dig into the word and pick it apart so we can better understand what is involved with this in.

The Greek word for whoremonger is “pornos,” which is where we get the word pornography:

πόρνος
pornos
por’-nos
From πέρνημι pernēmi (to sell; akin to the base of G4097); a (male) prostitute (as venal), that is, (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine): – fornicator, whoremonger.

Strong’s Concordance

Just what is a whoremonger in today’s English? Its meaning involves every area of lust, sex and pornography. Although Noah Webster defines these as unlawful, most sexual sin is either legal or on its way to becoming legal in most places around the world! Looking at the direction the U.S. is taking as of late, it won’t belong before our beloved Country is totally depraved. The definition reveals:

  1. Given to the unlawful indulgence of lust; addicted to fornication or adultery; dissolute (lewd, debauched); lustful; libidinous (Having or exhibiting lustful desires; lascivious). Ezek 23.
  2. Proceeding from unlawful lust; as lewd actions.
  3. Wicked; vile; profligate (a wretch who has lost all regard to good principles,virtue or decency); licentious (unrestrained by law or morality; loose). Acts 27.
Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

Although most are allowed in our world, they should not be so in our churches. What has always been a sin should remain a sin according to the Scriptures. God doesn’t change His mind. (Mal. 3:6-7) What God considers sin in the Old Testament is still sin today! His moral laws never change because God never changes. (Heb. 13:8) A “whoremonger” therefore, always refers to someone who cannot control his/her sexual appetite and lacks moral values.

What makes these sins worse is that they are not committed alone! It’s no wonder that the word “pornography” comes from this Greek word! God knew what He was saying when He directed man to pen the Scriptures. You may not personally partake in these sins but if you support and befriend those who do, your silence betrays your heart. Your silence betrays your relationship with God. You cannot love the Lord and yet support anything but marriage between a man and a woman. You cannot love the Lord and take your children to the library to hear a book read by a transvestite. You cannot love the Lord and support a restaurant that has “open mic night” with transvestites. Friend, God wants us to be different from the world. A good rule of thumb is:

If the world enjoys it, you should not! If the world supports it, you should not!

Some things are obvious to Christians, but what about living together before marriage? What about having sex before marriage? What about having an affair while you’re married? All these are included in the definition of whoremonger! Prostitutes and pimps are also included. Looking at pornographic material is included as well. Watching TV shows and movies that promote these things make you guilty as well, Christian! I stand amazed at how many Christians admit to watching movies that promote sex before marriage and are not under conviction for watching such things! (2 Cor. 6:14-18)

The Corinthians were not the only worldly church. The Laodicean church is alive and well in these end times and it is evident in its members. We have Christians promoting such things without regard to the lack of “light” they are shedding on a God-forsaken world! They do not take a stand for what is good and moral but, for the sake of “inclusion,” they adopt the mantra “don’t judge others”! If you don’t speak out, who will? Only YOU have that ability within your circle of family and friends! (Rom. 10:14) You may not be a preacher by trade, but you have the responsibility to speak the Gospel to everyone within your reach! We all do! (Mark 16:15) After salvation, the Holy Spirit will work in the believer’s heart toward righteous living. Don’t be a deterrent to the unbelievers but be a LIGHT! (Matt. 5:14) Also be salt to the unbelievers so that they can thirst for God’s Word! (Matt. 5:13) Don’t be the salt that has lost its flavor.

Don’t give in to what was once called sin “back in the day,” but is now permissible in today’s morally corrupt society! Some countries have legalized prostitution but it doesn’t remove the fact that it is still sin! Any type of sexually immoral sin is part of whoremonger. The world has been conditioned by Satan to accept them – especially young people. They have not grown up in the church and have not learned what God’s Word has to say about these sins. Their minds are deceived by the god of this world and they have been taught to do what feels good to them. Friend, please, I beg you, changing boys to girls and girls to boys is considered whoremongering! It is madness and the devil is at the root of all of it! Shame on parents who allow these things in their homes!

Again, even if you haven’t personally committed these sins, you are guilty of them because of your silence. Take a stand for God and speak out! It will most certainly cost you but your eternal reward will be great! (Matt. 5:11-12)

There will come a time when it will be too late. You will spend eternity burning in Hell and the Lake of Fire. You will remember each opportunity you were given by God to be saved and you laughed it off and ignored it. I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

What’s Stopping You From Salvation? Day 4 – Murderers

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On January 20, 2023

In Devotionals, What's Stopping You From Salvation?

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Good morning, Reader. I hope you find this series insightful! I’m not trying to judge anyone but to shed some light on what God’s Word has to say. It is Jesus who will do the judging. (2 Cor. 5:10) It is not my place to judge you; however, I can look at a person’s life and see whether their actions are of God or of the god of this world.

I can almost “hear” what some of you are thinking about today’s sin that will keep one out of Heaven. Of COURSE murderers won’t be in Heaven. But is murder necessarily only applicable to the taking of life as written on police reports?

According to Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, the definition is a bit more in depth:

  1. The act of unlawfully killing a human being with premeditated malice, by a person of sound mind. To constitute murder in law, the person killing another must be of sound mind or in possession of his reason, and the act must be done with malice prepense, aforethought or premeditated; but malice may be implied, as well as express.
  2. An outcry, when life is in danger.

You may say that you have never murdered anyone but Jesus took it one step further. Being a Christian is more than just the putting away of actual sin from one’s life. It involves the intents of the heart! For example, When Jesus said:

Mat 5:21-22  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:  (22)  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

1 Jn 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Mat 5:28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Take notice of the intent of the heart in the above verses. Although the last verse is about adultery, it brings the point home. There is a lot of hate today – liberal Christians against conservative Christians, the political left against the political right, etc. Hatred is evidenced in the streets of America as the media encourages this hatred! You see and hear the devil’s influence loud and clear!

What Jesus is saying here is that if you entertain the thought of sin in your mind, you have already committed the sin in your heart. Jesus was all about the condition of the heart. You may not speak a single sinful word in your entire life, but if you entertained sin in your heart, you are guilty of that sin nonetheless; in fact, you are guilty of committing ALL the sins according to James 2:10! If you do not speak out to those who actually do those sins, you are guilty as well. You cannot be silent, Friend. Silence is interpreted as being in agreement with that sin. Silence, when it involves sin, makes you just as guilty.

Eze 33:8  When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Do you really want that person’s blood on your hands? Let’s look at the murderous act of abortion. According to National Institute of Health, a baby’s heart begins to beat and pump blood at the end of four weeks of gestation in the mother’s womb. Let’s forget about whether or not abortion is legal or whether or not you agree that abortion is murder. Let’s look at the scientific facts about the formation of that fetus. The Bible says:

Lev 17:11a  For the life of the flesh is in the blood:

The Bible says that once that fetus’ heart begins to pump blood, the fetus is alive because life is in the blood. Forget what man says. Man’s heart is evil but God will have the last word when it comes to this topic. You can say that abortion is not evil but God says otherwise. It is not those pro-abortion people who will stand up for you at the judgment seat of Jesus Christ. You will be accountable for your words and your actions (or lack of them), not the pro-abortion people.

Jer 17:9-10  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?  (10)  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Just because something is lawful does not mean that it is right! Ignorance on your part doesn’t have any weight when judgment day comes. You may say that you wouldn’t personally have an abortion; but if you voted to legalize abortion because you feel it’s a woman’s body and she should be able to choose an abortion, you have become guilty of that very murder. What you’ve done in secret will be made public and what you’ve done in the dark will be brought to light when you come before God at judgment.

Luk 12:2-3  For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.  (3)  Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

It doesn’t matter in the least what the government or Supreme Court say is legal. It doesn’t matter what your friends say. What matters is what the Supreme Lord God Almighty says on a matter. He didn’t leave us ignorant, Friend. He has left us the Bible so we can learn what His will is for us. There is no excuse in the world that will keep a person out of Hell when that person has had access to the Bible his entire life! No spouse, no parent, no Priest, no Rabbi, or no Pastor will be responsible for you going to Hell. Yes, they may have swayed your beliefs, but in the end, the responsibility will fall solely on you. It’s no one’s fault but your own if you don’t read the Bible.

Act 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Just because you agree with a certain philosophy doesn’t mean it’s correct. God has put a desire in man’s heart to know Him. What you do with that is up to you! The Apostle Paul laid it out clearly when he wrote the Book of Romans.

Rom 1:18-22  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;  (19)  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  (20)  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  (21)  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  (22)  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

God writes His law on the heart of man; this is called a conscience. Friend, the world may agree on abortion being the “right of women,” but what is important is what God says in His Word. Murder is forgivable – Jesus shed His own blood – He gave His own life for you so you could be forgiven of that sin. But one sin is unforgivable and that is rejecting the gift He died to give to you. (Matthew 12:31) Rejecting the Bible, God’s Word, is blaspheming the Holy Spirit, who wrote the contents of the Bible as He moved through those men who penned it.

(2 Peter 1:21)  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

(Joh 14:17)  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

(Joh 17:17)  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

(Mar 3:28-29)  Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: (29)  But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

There will come a time when it will be too late. You will spend eternity burning in Hell and the Lake of Fire. You will remember each opportunity you were given by God to be saved and you laughed it off and ignored it. I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

What’s Stopping You From Salvation? Day 3 – The Abominable

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On January 18, 2023

In Devotionals, What's Stopping You From Salvation?

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Good morning, Reader! The next few types of people who won’t be able to go to Heaven (unless they become born again) seem to be obvious but when we dive in to what exactly is involved in each one, we find that our assumption is not quite accurate. Today’s category revolves around the abominable. So what does this actually mean?

ABOM’INABLE, a. [See Abominate.]

  1. Very hateful; detestable; lothesome.
  2. This word is applicable to whatever is odious to the mind or offensive to the senses.
  3. Unclean.

O’DIOUS, a. [L. odiosus, from odi, I hated, Eng. hate.]

  1. Hateful; deserving hatred. It expresses something less than detestable and abominable; as an odious name; odious vice.
    All wickedness is odious.
  2. Offensive to the senses; disgusting; as an odious sight; an odious smell.
  3. Causing hate; invidious; as, to utter odious truth.
  4. Exposed to hatred.
    He rendered himself odious to the parliament.
Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

Let those two definitions sink in just a bit. Do you see today’s woke generation in them? Do you see the hatred being spewed by liberalism causing division? Do you see the LGBTQ agenda permeating our society and being exposed to our precious children? Transvestite men are seen dancing in front of children and gyrating! I simply cannot believe how quickly our Country has gone downhill in the past ten years alone! Abominable is usually used to refer to man’s personal sins but we can see it in the world’s agenda as well. I think of the efforts of the liberals to vaccinate the entire world. I think of their current efforts in removing gas stoves from homes or creating 15-minute communities! These are all abominable efforts to control the population.

But as we continue, we see what God considers abominable. One need only to do a Bible search on the word abomination and would find there are 69 verses and what God has to say about it. It doesn’t matter what man thinks, friend, it is what God thinks. The Old Testament consists of three categories to the Mosaic laws: the Moral, Civil and Ceremonial laws.

  1. The Moral Laws are commands from God which reveal His nature and will for how we should live. This applied in the Old Testament and still applies to us today. One of the examples of God’s Moral Law is the Ten Commandments. We don’t obey them in order to be saved but we obey them so that we please God!
  2. Civil Laws in the Old Testament are very different than those we have today. They guided man’s conduct. A good example was when a farmer harvested his crop, he was told to leave some on the outskirts of his fields so that the poor and strangers passing by would have have something to eat. Another example was that Israel should not eat certain types of foods.
  3. The Ceremonial Laws pointed TO Jesus Christ and are no longer needed after Jesus died and resurrected because He fulfilled each of those laws. Christians are not bound to keep these Ceremonial Laws but we most certainly can glean and learn from them.

So what does God deem an abomination? God wants His people to be “separate” from the world because the world will contaminate them in all aspects of their lives. (Deut. 14:2, Ps. 135:4) Many revolved around moral laws like worshiping other gods or having statues (graven images) in your home. (Deut. 7:25-26) Another abomination is homosexuality and other sexually deviant acts. (Lev. 18:22, Lev. 20:13) I have personally been told that these are found in the Old Testament and are not pertinent for today. Romans 1:24-28 clearly state that homosexuality is still sin in God’s eyes and God will give them over to reprobate minds. God’s moral laws never end, Reader. No change of government or geographical location will put an end to God’s moral laws.

Pro 6:16-19  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  (17)  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  (18)  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,  (19)  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

So we see in the verses above that there are seven things God also considers an abomination: pride, lying, killing the innocent (abortion of an innocent baby fits this category), those who plot evil (Illuminati, corrupt governments) and those who are eager to carry out that evil, false witnesses (perjury), and lastly those that cause division among the brethren. (This last one is categorized with murderers!) We can just look around us daily and see these sins being committed!

Therefore my friend, the abominable is anyone who is guilty of one (or more) of these. The two that are “in our face” today are sexual immorality and the murder of innocent babies in the womb. These two areas were considered horrid sin in the early 20th Century and those who committed them hid their sin so no one would find out. Today, it’s touted and there is no shamefacedness at all. Man used to agree with God’s moral laws and included them in their civil laws as well. But now, men’s hearts have grown cold toward the things of God and have allowed evil corruption in their lives and governments. These two laws in particular have been completely turned upside down and sexual immorality is now boldly proclaimed and anyone who speaks against them are intolerant and can be arrested for hate speech. God denounces those who call evil good and good evil!

Isa 5:20  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

One might say that they were raised in this era and do not know that these things are wrong. God gave every man a conscience and whether you believe the Bible or not, you are held responsible for deciphering between good and evil because of that conscience. If you do not find anything wrong with abortion or homosexuality, your conscience has been seared. You have listened to seducing spirits and the doctrines of Satan!

1Ti 4:1-2  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  (2)  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Stop following the crowd – stop standing with the majority and listen to God’s Word! The way to Heaven is not a wide, crooked way! The way to Heaven is a narrow road, but it is straight as an arrow because God’s Word points the way to Him. But the way to Hell is very wide and many go down that path, unfortunately.

Mat 7:13-16  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  (15)  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  (16)  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

If you don’t believe, then you are condemned already according to Jesus. (John 3:18) There will come a time when it will be too late. You will spend eternity burning in Hell and the Lake of Fire. You will remember each opportunity you were given by God to be saved and you laughed it off and ignored it. I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

What’s Stopping You From Salvation? Day 2 – You Don’t Believe

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On January 16, 2023

In Devotionals, What's Stopping You From Salvation?

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Good morning, Reader! As we continue this series on reasons why people don’t want to accept Christ as their Saviour, we find that they just do not believe! There are so many today that just don’t believe that Christ is God.

ἄπιστος
apistos
ap’-is-tos
From G1 (as a negative particle) and G4103; (actively) disbelieving, that is, without Christian faith (specifically a heathen); (passively) untrustworthy (person), or incredible (thing): – that believeth not, faithless, incredible thing, infidel, unbeliever (-ing).

Strong’s Concordance

There have always been unbelievers in the world, but more so now that we are in the end times. Friend, our world has been turned upside down! Men wanting to be women; women wanting to be men; doctors mutilating healthy children and young people! Parents guiding their sons to receive puberty blockers so they can become girls and vice versa! Disgusting transvestites gyrating in front of innocent young school kids; there was even a Christmas show performed by these depraved men(?) showing the birth of Jesus as He was coming out of the birth canal IN FRONT OF CHILDREN! This is utter lunacy! Women who support abortion are shown picketing with signs that say “I’d rather be a murderer than a mother”! What is wrong with people? The answer is pure and simple: it is called SIN!

The Rev. Amelia Fulbright preaches sermons about abortion several times a year to her Texas congregation.

But unlike most pastors, instead of advocating for the lives of unborn babies, she encourages Christians to support abortion.

Fulbright said she supports abortion because she believes women’s bodies are “sacred.”

“I believe so deeply in the dignity of every person, that our bodies are so sacred,” she said. “I just feel like I have no choice but to speak.”

But Fulbright does not believe in the dignity of babies in the womb.

https://www.lifenews.com/2021/11/15/christian-pastor-its-okay-to-kill-babies-in-abortion-because-womens-bodies-are-sacred/

Tit 1:15b  but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Their conscience is defiled and wicked! They turn what was once innocent and good into something evil! They take what is pure and holy and turn it into a horrid disguting thing! The sanctity of marriage has been corrupted… the sanctity of the womb has been corrupted… the sanctity of the creation of a man and a woman has been corrupted. Louis Armstrong’s beautiful song, “What a Wonderful World,” has been replaced with wickedness – a “woke” society which reveals the demise of our society.

1Ti 4:1-2  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  (2)  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

The unbelievers will have their part in the Lake of Fire according to God’s Word! You cannot mock God and expect Him to disregard your mockery, turn away or wink at it.

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

If you are an unbeliever, please, I beg you, it’s not too late to repent!! God wants you to repent and to find peace and salvation through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

There will come a time when it will be too late. When that time comes, you won’t be able to repent as you will have been turned over to a reprobate mind. It will be too late for you at that point! God doesn’t want this for you. He has provided a way for you; you don’t have to live like this! But if you insist on being stubborn in your unbelief, He will give up!

Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

This is a very sad and frightful ending for anyone! You will spend eternity burning in Hell and the Lake of Fire with no opportunity to turn back the clock. You will remember each chance you were given by God to be saved and you laughed it off and ignored it. I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven.

Jesus said: Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 

Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

What’s Stopping You From Salvation? Day 1 – You’re Afraid

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On January 13, 2023

In Devotionals, What's Stopping You From Salvation?

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Good morning, Reader! I am excited about writing this series because there are certain categories of people who won’t be able to enter Heaven. I have met people who fall under each of these categories listed above. The verse lists eight types of people who will go straight to Hell unless that person repents. I beg you to take each category and examine yourself to see if you fall in any of these! It is best to examine yourself now before it’s too late. You may have heard your need to get saved multiple times, but there will come a time where God says, “That’s it”! Your heart will be hardened because of your stubbornness and you will no longer have the opportunity. Don’t get to that point. Submit to the Holy Spirit and get saved. (John 3:3, John 3:7)

Today’s post will start with that first category, which is “the fearful.” According to Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, the word fearful is described as:

  1. Affected by fear; afraid. I am fearful of the consequences of rash conduct. Hence,
  2. Timid; timorous; wanting courage.
    What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? Deut. 20.

What makes one afraid to get saved, you may wonder? What is there to fear? When a person is born again, the old person starts to disappear and the new person starts to shine with the light of God. (Col. 3:9-10) This list describes what happened to me when I was born again:

  • My thoughts and my heart were focused around Jesus. My mind was renewed! It was a true miracle that my thoughts were no longer dwelling on ungodly things but my thoughts were excited to learn more about Jesus Christ!
  • My life absolutely changed. (2 Cor. 5:17) My heart was new and the weight of my sin on my shoulders was removed – it was as though someone had taken 100 pounds off my shoulders!
  • My family and friends saw a change; some were OK with it and some definitely were not. There is a “cost” to being a Christian. Jesus told us about this in Luke 14:25-33. Jesus wasn’t telling us to hate our families; He was saying that our love for Him should appear to be so great that it makes our love for our families seem as hate. You cannot serve two masters. Matt. 6:24 talks about loving God and money – man will love one or the other. It’s impossible to do both. However, our treasure should be the kind of heavenly treasure, winning souls for Christ; we should not be wrapped up with the cares of this world and leave souls to die and go to Hell.
  • I lost some friends because I was no longer interested in participating in things that would hurt the Lord; i.e. cursing, drinking, etc.
  • I had conflict with my family members. My husband hated what I had become and he purposely tried to cause me to sin to make himself feel better. My sister didn’t want to hear about salvation; as a result, our relationship was different. My mother was terribly upset that I would no longer partake in the religion I grew up in because it went against God’s Word. My husband’s entire family resented what I had become.
  • I took a stand against things I knew to be wrong according to the Bible. I could not stand silent when it came to anyone speaking against the Lord.
  • Most of these things were automatically changed when I was first saved; other things came later as the Holy Spirit taught me through the Bible.

As you read through the results of my salvation listed above, ask yourself: Is spending an eternity in the Lake of Fire worth any one of those? (If you haven’t read my last post on Hell, take a moment to read it now.) Each bullet above when read by itself is not too bad but when you read all six, you may think that it’s too burdensome for you. But all six did not happen all at once. Think about it for a moment… any of those will be over once you die. However, because of your fear, you will suffer horribly for all eternity. Is it worth it? Let’s say you live to be 75, what a price you will pay for all eternity (which is endless and a lot more than 75 years) just because you were afraid of what your friends and family would think! It’s not a small price at all.

You are not alone in your decision to ignore God’s prompting for salvation. Your family will never see the love of God working through you to lead them to be saved as well. You will not have the opportunity to share with others what God has done for you because of His salvation! It will be because of your fear that they will go to Hell as well! Your lack of courage will result in condemning them to Hell as well! Doesn’t that bother you?

Do you really want to see your family members and friends go to Hell? It IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to win them to Christ, whether you realize that or not. (Heb. 2:3) By saying no to so great salvation, you are literally telling God that your friends and family mean more to you than Him. Your family and friends have become an idol of sorts in your life. You are placing them before God. You are literally telling God that you don’t care that Christ came to earth to die especially for your sins – He nailed your sins on that cross! Your fear, however, is telling Him that you don’t care. (Col. 2:14) You are thumbing your nose at God and saying you would rather go to Hell than spend all eternity with Him. You may be saying to yourself that you aren’t saying those exact words to God. But this is exactly what you are telling Him with your actions. Actions speak louder than words! (Matt. 15:8)

Fearing what others say is cowardly. Noah Webster’s definition above says in #2 that you are lacking courage; so Friend, you are indeed a coward. I wouldn’t want to be considered this. Someone I know told me: “God will understand – He knows my heart.” Do you think this? God will not understand. God has given you every opportunity to hear the Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ and how He paid the price for your sins (including that fear of yours). Anyone who rejects Jesus will not make it into Heaven. You may think to yourself that you are not rejecting Jesus because you believe in Him. (James 2:19) The devils believe and they tremble! But your current belief is superficial. That belief is not deeply rooted in your heart. When a person is truly born-again, the heart changes and a love for your Saviour develops! He is no longer a statue or image on a wall. He becomes personal to you!

Think about it! The Father sent His Son to die for you! Why would God allow you into Heaven when you are a sinner who did not want His Son’s precious gift of salvation? God is holy and cannot allow even one sin in His presence in Heaven. He said in 1 Peter 1:16 that we must be holy as He is holy. We cannot be holy unless we accept Christ’s work on the cross; His blood covers our sin! (1 John 1:7, 1 John 1:9, Titus 3:5)

Notice the latter part of Revelation 21:8:

“But the fearful … shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

If you die without Christ as your Saviour, you will go to Hell. At the end of the Millennium, all those who went to Hell will come before Jesus Christ Himself. At this point, they are exiting the burning location of Hell only to enter into another one, the Lake of Fire. This will be for all eternity, burning, screaming, forever remembering that you let fear stand in your way; forever remembering that you could have witnessed to your children and grandchildren and turned them to the Lord. Now they will also be in this Lake of Fire because of your fear! What a price to pay for your neglect to respond to God’s Word! Is it worth it? Why would you do that to your family just because you’re afraid?

Your fear is one breath away from eternity with Christ or an eternity with Satan and his minions. You may think you’re a good person but there are a lot of good people in the world who do not love God. You will be categorized with them when everything is said and done at your judgment before Jesus. He will open the books of your life and lay out before you everything you have done and not done. (Luke 12:2-3) What will you say to Him when He asks you why you didn’t accept salvation each time someone told you about Him? He will reveal to you every single time you were witnessed to by a faithful believer! I dare say you will be regretting your fear at that moment. There will be no more excuses when that meeting with Jesus occurs. He will reveal every sin you committed that could have been forgiven had you been born again!

Don’t let another day slip away, Reader! God will work out every issue that prevents you from salvation! He did for me! Friends and family may stop coming around because of your love for Jesus. The light that Jesus gives us is hated by those who belong to the devil. Yes, you read that right. Fear is of the devil. He does not want you coming to a saving knowledge. You are either the devil’s child or a child of God. The Bible says:

Mat 13:37-38  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;  (38)  The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

Joh 8:42-44  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.  (43)  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.  (44)  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

1 Jn 3:10  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

You may consider yourself a good person, but if you choose the world (which includes friends and family) over the Lord Jesus, no amount of good deeds or “right” living will get you into Heaven. (Eph. 2:8-9) Mother Teresa was a “good person” but she knew that her Catholic beliefs were insufficient. She had no peace even though her works were great.

She wrote of a strong feeling of God’s “absence” in her life. In a letter to Reverend Michael Van Der Peet in September 1979, Mother Teresa wrote, “Jesus has a very special love for you. [But] as for me – the silence and the emptiness is so great – that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear.”

It’s not good deeds or a humble life that will get you to Heaven. Jesus speaks to His children through the Bible. He guides the way and helps us with all our fears. Won’t you accept Christ as your Saviour today? If friends and family members control your life so much that you would allow them to send you to Hell, then these relationships need to be set aside. No one should have that much control over you. Nothing and no one is worth going to Hell, my Friend.

There will come a time when it will be too late. You will spend eternity burning in Hell and the Lake of Fire. You will remember each opportunity you were given by God to be saved and you laughed it off and ignored it. I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

What’s Stopping You From Salvation? – Table of Contents

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On January 11, 2023

In Devotionals, What's Stopping You From Salvation?

This series revolves around the different reasons people give for not getting saved. The Bible says in Rev 21:7-8  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  (8)  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Take each word in and examine yourself to see if you fall in any of these categories!

1 – Hell2 – You’re Afraid3 – You Don’t Believe
4 – The Abominable5 – Murderers6 – Sexually Immoral
7 – Sorcery8 – Idolatry9 – Liars
10 – Adulterers11 – Fornication12 – Uncleanness
13 – Lasciviousness14 – Hatred15 – Variance
16 – Emulations17 – Wrath18 Strife
19 – Heresies20 – There are None Righteous

Hell – What Is It and What Should I know About It?

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On January 11, 2023

In Devotionals, Miscellaneous, What's Stopping You From Salvation?

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Good morning, Reader! I will be starting a new series dealing with the topic of what excuses people use for not accepting Christ. But before I can start on that series, I feel it’s necessary to explain just what Hell and the Lake of Fire really are and why it’s so important to prevent yourself from going there! Please take a moment and let’s study the matter out together.

What is This Place Called Hell?

Hell is the place where the unsaved go after they die but it is not the place where they will spend eternity. Some refer to hell as the lake of fire but it is not. The lake of fire is the final punishment of all those who were released from hell to be judged at the Great White Throne judgment. (Matt. 22:13, Rev. 20:15) It is not a place where you go to “party with your friends.” There is no joy in hell. It is a place designed for punishment. It is not like prison where you will be provided with three meals a day, television and gym privileges. It is a place originally prepared for Satan and his fallen angels. (Matt. 25:41) But because man with his own evil deeds did not repent, he also will be cast there along with the devil and his demons.

Hell is outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matt. 25:30, Mk. 9:47-48) Those in hell are separated from Christ, who is the Light! They will long to “take back” their rebellious lives and sin; longing to reverse their error in not accepting the Lord’s precious salvation! They will be endlessly crying over their circumstances; they will have inexpressible, irreversible and unending pain! If you’ve burned yourself, even the slightest, you know how painful a burn can be. This will be all over your body – not one spot left untouched.

In hell, the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. This old English term, “worm,” is defined as:

  • Remorse; that which incessantly gnaws the conscience; that which torments.
    Where their worm dieth not. Mark 9.
Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

In other words, one just doesn’t fall asleep when he dies. It is clear that the dead in hell will have memories and they will eternally regret not having accepted Christ’s salvation. (Rev. 14:10-11) Each lost soul will remember those times when someone tried to tell them about the Lord and the need for salvation. This soul will be tortured with regret for all eternity. Each soul will remember his family and will beg to have someone go warn them about what awaits them if they don’t repent of their sin. (Luke 16:19-31, specifically Luke 16:27-31)

Hell is a place of torment, not only mentally as we read above, but physically. Think of the worst pain you’ve ever had and imagine it never going away but staying with you for all eternity. (Matt. 25:41, 46) It’s difficult to imagine in our finite minds just how long eternity is. But do you really want to find out in this way? The Apostle James said in James 4:14 that life is a vapor – it lasts but for a moment and then vanishes. When one thinks about eternity past, present and future, our life is just that. Why would a person prefer to live with their sins in this lifetime (which is very short in comparison to eternity), and trade that life in for eternal punishment???

Who Will Go to Hell?

The Bible is very clear about salvation and what will happen to those who refuse to accept it. Everyone not found written in the Book of Life will be in hell. (Rev. 20:15) The Apostle Paul wrote in Phil. 4:3 that his fellow laborers’ names are in the book of life. Therefore, it stands to reason that anyone who is born-again will have his name in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 21:27) But those whose names are not found in the book of life will be judged according to their works which are recorded in books as well (Rev. 20:12). These are not works that gain one entrance into heaven. These are sins recorded that will keep you out of heaven; sins that you refused to repent of and these will be exposed at the Great White Throne Judgment. You will not be able to make excuses at this point. It will be too late.

Anyone who did not obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ will go to hell. (2 Thess. 1:8-9) It may astonish you but the fact that you’re delaying salvation reveals that you are willfully rejecting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Your delay only goes to show what you think about eternity.

Anyone who doesn’t know God will go to hell. One can “know about” Jesus and yet not know Him personally. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) You may say you know God because you are of a certain religion. I was raised Catholic and I knew about God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. But I did not know them personally. You thought you knew your spouse when you first got married, but now that you’ve been married a few years, you really know your spouse. It’s no different with the Lord. The unsaved have heard His name and have used it in cursing. But they really don’t know Him at all.

The unjust will go to hell. The Apostle Peter makes it clear that if God can cast the devil and the fallen angels into hell, He will also cast those who did not accept His Son as Saviour. (2 Peter 2:4-9) The word unjust is anyone who acts contrary to the divine law. The just live by faith. (Hab. 2:4, Rom. 1:17, Gal. 3:11, Heb. 10:38) The unjust do not live by faith. They live according to the god of this world who has blinded them. (2 Cor. 4:4)

All the ungodly will be in hell. Much like the unjust, these are people who do ungodly things. Anything that goes against the Scriptures is considered ungodly. We see so much of this now. As well, anyone who did not accept Christ will be punished. Who are the ungodly? Revelation 21:8 outlines it beautifully!

Revelation 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Notice the first two listed as well as the last one. People have a tendency to categorize sin: the not so bad and the really bad. However, James 2:10 tells us that if you lied, you are guilty of all sins. Even one sin will keep you out of Heaven. That is the whole purpose of Jesus coming to earth and dying for our sins! (Col. 2:14) He knew we couldn’t go a day without sinning. However, once we are born-again and are forgiven of all of our sins, we have the power to say no to sin! So if you are fearful (afraid to receive salvation) because of what your family may think, you will go to hell. If you don’t believe in Jesus Christ, you will go to hell. If you lie, you will go to hell! The other sins listed are obvious ones and those who do such sins will go to hell.

But there is hope, my friend. Hell is not a laughing matter. You have no idea when you will die. No one knows. You could be in a car accident going home from work and be killed. You could have a heart attack and be gone in a split second! I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Christians, Don’t Be Ignorant

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On January 8, 2023

In Devotionals, Miscellaneous, Rapture, Salvation

1 Thess 4:13-18  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  (14)  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  (15)  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  (16)  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  (17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  (18)  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Good morning, Reader! Today’s verses cause born-again believers all over the world to shout with joy and anticipation at the upcoming reunion with Christ, our Lord! That day to come is the conclusion of all the years of longing to be with the Lord Jesus. The caveat is that the born-again believer that is alive at the time of the Rapture will not die! What a gift that is!

I felt it necessary to discuss the Rapture today because I have a dear friend who has been led astray by what I consider to be a false teacher. This false teacher is cunning and is deceiving many. All these years, my friend believed that the Rapture would occur before the Tribulation. Why was she misled? I believe the reason is that she did not study the matter out so that she was convinced from the Scriptures.

Acts 17:11 tells us that these people would listen to a message and would then search the Bible to make sure that what they were being taught was in line with the Bible’s teachings. Too many people today are being misled by preachers who “tickle the ears.” (Ephesians 4:14) They listen to a message and taken in false teaching without question. They wouldn’t do that with their finances but yet when it comes to the things of God, they allow the devil to creep in and lead them astray. Yes, I say it’s the devil’s doing because he has been corrupting God’s Word since the Garden of Eden. He corrupted God’s words and convinced Eve that God was keeping her from attaining something greater. The devil will do whatever it takes to distract the believer from God’s Word. He will fill the mind with lies and corruption because that is who he is and what he does (John 8:44).

Today’s verses tell us how the Rapture will occur. If the Rapture were to occur at the end of the Tribulation, as my friend believes, it would be difficult to go up to meet the Lord in the air only to immediately return with Christ to earth to fight the Battle of Armageddon. This theory does not jive with the Scriptures. Jesus said that when He left the earth, He would go to prepare a place for believers in His Father’s house; a house which has many mansions. He didn’t say He would prepare a place for us in the future. No! He said “I go to prepare a place for you.” So where did Jesus go after His ascension? He returned to Heaven! This is the place where we will go to meet Him.

Joh 14:1-3  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  (2)  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  (3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Furthermore, Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself.”

So let’s get back to today’s scripture from 1 Thess 4:13-18. The Apostle Paul didn’t want his readers to be misled by false teachers. He wrote so his readers would be encouraged and comforted! He didn’t want them to be ignorant of this teaching; he prepared them and taught them. So how will the Rapture happen? Paul says that Jesus will come down from Heaven with a shout and with the trump of God. The word “trump” only appears twice in the Bible: 1 Cor 15:52 and 1 Thess 4:16. Both refer to the Rapture. The trump in today’s Scripture is the “trump of God,” it is not a trumpet used by man but of God Himself. This trump is a big deal! God Himself is calling the saints together! Paul reaffirms that his words are told to us by the word of the Lord! Christ wants us comforted and not fearful. Furthermore, Paul tells us to comfort each other with this information! What comfort is there if we are to go through the Tribulation??? It’s a time in which the world has never experienced the horrifying judgments that are about to happen!

Paul says those who died from the beginning of the church age until the time of the Rapture will rise first; then believers who are still alive on the earth will rise immediately after. Where are we meeting Jesus? We (the dead in Christ and those who are alive at the Rapture) are caught up to meet the Lord IN THE AIR. Jesus Christ’s return after the Tribulation is Christ coming to EARTH.

Those saints will be kept from the coming wrath which will descend upon a wicked world. Ephesians 5:6 and Colossians 3:6 state that God’s wrath is to come on children of disobedience. Why would Jesus allow His bride to go through His wrath? What husband does such a thing? The born-again believers (prior to the Rapture) are not children of disobedience so therefore, we are not the ones to go through the Tribulation. Granted, people will be saved during the Tribulation, but they were children of disobedience prior to the Rapture!

Eph 5:6  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Col 3:6  For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Paul again exhorts the Christians that they should not let anyone deceive them with vain words. Unfortunately, my friend has been deceived to believe that she would experience God’s wrath upon the earth. Why would God put His children (the saints) through His wrath? We are not children of disobedience; we are born-again and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit! Furthermore, as I said above, we are His Bride! The Perfect Groom, the Lord Jesus, would not put his wife in harm’s way, yet alone through torture; but this Perfect Groom would protect her. What husband allows an intruder to harm his wife??? As well, all born-again believers are members of Christ’s own body, of Christ’s flesh, and of Christ’s bones (Eph 5:30). Since we are part of Him, why would He put us through His wrath? It makes no sense! Jesus Christ is not going through the Tribulation nor is His Bride, who is a part of Him!

As if this isn’t enough, how can we be raptured at the end of the Tribulation and then immediately come back with Jesus Christ to conquer the antichrist? Jesus went to prepare a place for us, as we read at the beginning of this post. If the post-tribulation theory is correct, we won’t be going to Heaven at all to enjoy the place He prepared for us in His Father’s house. That does not make any sense at all. One cannot listen to a false prophet’s words and leave out the other parts of Scripture that totally contradict what the false prophet is saying! The Bible says in:

Rev 19:11-14  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

The raptured Saints will be coming back with Jesus as part of His army! It says in verse 14 that we were in heaven! How do I know that the “we” is comprised of born-again raptured believers? Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, white and clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. This cannot be an army of angels because this army is clean! Angels cannot attain salvation; only mankind. Those who are made clean are those who accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour (1 John 1:7). It is the blood of our precious Saviour that makes us clean and clothes us in fine, white linen! We are clothed with Jesus’ righteousness!

Dear Reader, if you are born-again, do not believe every wind of doctrine. Study it for yourself as I have and stop listening to what others teach. Let the Holy Spirit be your Teacher (Luke 12:12). There is nothing encouraging about going through the Tribulation. There is nothing comforting about experiencing the wrath of God. During the Tribulation, God’s wrath will descend on a wicked, unbelieving world! His judgment fell on the world when Noah finished building His ark. His judgment fell on Sodom and Gomorrah after Lot and his family were pulled out.

Even during the Tribulation, His mercy is still shown by placing the Two Witnesses (Rev 11:3) and 144,000 Jews (Rev 7:1-8) to spread the Gospel. Those who believe during the Tribulation will pay the price of being martyred for their faith (Rev 6:9-11 and Rev 7:9-10, Revelation 7:13-14). Many will die as a result of believing in Christ during this horrific time. They will pay a price for having waited to accept His salvation.

Won’t you accept Christ now before the Rapture occurs, friend? Please don’t wait! There are seven seals, seven trumpets and seven plagues which will make up God’s wrath during this horrifying time (Matthew 24:21). You must remember that Jesus said in that verse that it will be a time that has never come upon this earth! Why would you want to suffer through these? I know some may think that they will take their chances and live like they want to live now and deal with these judgments later. But Reader, God knows your motives and will not allow you to try to “trick Him”! Romans 1:28-32 tells us that those who do wickedly will be given over to a reprobate mind; yes, even those who try to deceive Him. Noah Webster’s dictionary defines this as:

REPROBATE, a. [L. reprobatus, reprobo, to disallow; re and probo, to prove.]

  1. Not enduring proof or trial; not of standard purity or fineness; disallowed; rejected.
    Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them. Jer 6.
  2. Abandoned in sin; lost to virtue or grace.
    They profess that they know God, but in works deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate. Titus 1.
  3. Abandoned to error, or in apostasy. 2 Tim 3.

Do you want to take a chance that this could happen to you? You may think you are not this evil but James 2:10 says that if you have stolen, for example, you are guilty of all the Ten Commandments, not just stealing. Romans 3:23 says that ALL have sinned; yes, you too! The only way you can prevent going through the horrible Tribulation is by accepting Christ as your Saviour; not just “in words” but with a heart conversion which changes you from the inside out! (2 Cor 5:17) Jesus took all our sins upon Himself so we could be reconciled to God through Him! (2 Cor 5:20-21)

There will come a time when it will be too late. You will spend eternity burning in Hell and the Lake of Fire. You will remember each opportunity you were given by God to be saved and you laughed it off and ignored it. Just read the account of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). That rich man knew what was happening to him in Hell. He recognized his own sins and desperately wanted his family to be warned so they would not experience what he was experiencing. I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

What’s In Store for Tomorrow?

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On January 6, 2023

In Devotionals, Miscellaneous

Good morning! As I have been walking this path of caregiver to the love of my life, I must admit that I became fearful on one of those days. The possibility of my husband having to endure a third surgery in less than three weeks put fear in my heart. I believed that he would not be able to physically endure it and I would lose my precious husband. I liken the fear that I felt as the picture I used above. The longer I held on to that fear, the worse I felt – it was as if I was gripped by this fear. It had a hold of me and I felt like I couldn’t break its grip! I drove home that night with a cloud of darkness over me and I did not like it – not one bit! It was only for a few hours and I’m so thankful I didn’t cling to it for longer than that! I don’t know how some do it living this kind of life.

I have this saying: the Holy Spirit “ate my lunch”! He gently scolds me and I am thankful for His presence. His light brightens even my darkest path in life. It reminds me of Jesus being the Light of the world. (John 8:12) God’s Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, gives us light through His Word! He is the spoken Word of God who came to mankind to take on mankind’s sins on the cross. He paid the penalty for our sin so that we would not have to be judged and sentenced to an eternity of pain and suffering!

The light of God’s Word shows us how to handle any situation. There are instructions for every walk in life; for every circumstance! This is where the Holy Spirit helped me to focus on the Lord and not on my circumstances. Why? It is because I don’t know what tomorrow has in store for me or my husband. Only God knows this. It is beyond my control!

It’s like entering a dark room in the middle of the night. There’s not even a glimmer of a candle burning. I press the light button on my watch and that small amount of light permeates the darkness and gives an ever so small glow to a once darkened room. As believers, we are not alone, my friend. Despite the bleakest hours of my life, the Word of God shined its precious, precious light into my heart and lifted my spirit out of a dark place.

Psa 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Friend, if you are saved, it is futile to be afraid of something that hasn’t happened yet. If you find yourself in this situation, get a hold of yourself and pick up your Bible! You can’t open the fridge and expect a full meal to come jumping out at you! You must prepare the meal before you can enjoy its goodness. God’s Word will cast light into the very depths of your soul! The Lord will bring you out of your fear! He doesn’t want us to be afraid – He wants us to trust in Him. So pick up your Bible and bring healing to your spirit!

Psa 119:130  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

This is exactly what I did when I got home. I couldn’t take it anymore. I knew what I had to do and I did it! The same God who healed the blind man, healed the woman with the issue of blood, and rose Lazarus from the dead, is the same God who could work in my life if I let Him. He loves me but He won’t force Himself on me. His Holy Spirit, who resides within me, gently reminds me to turn to God’s Word to encourage myself.

Isa 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Do you remember the account of David and how he was severely afflicted by the Amalekites? David’s own people were threatening to stone him because they were afraid of those Amalekites! Yes, David was scared, but what did He do? He encouraged himself in the LORD his God!

1 Sam 30:6  And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

I have the very written Word of God in my hands and it is through reading God’s Word that I’m going to find solace for my troubled spirit. God is my comfort – He provides it whenever I seek Him while I’m going through a storm. He has never failed me. So why didn’t I remember that when I was going through this storm? I could kick myself at times! I am human, of course, but this time was different. I didn’t wallow in my fear and pity for very long. With each trial the Lord blesses me with, I learned to go to that well of refreshing water from His Word more quickly than the previous trial. Yes, I said that the Lord BLESSES me with each trial! By going through a trial, I am being taught to turn to Him and let Him take care of all the details! As soon as I turn to His Word and let His light reveal His goodness and mercy, I heal my weary soul! Now I can help someone else who is going through a similar trial and I can encourage them to learn as I learned.

2 Cor 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring but I DO know Who brings tomorrow!!! Friend, where are you today? Are you fearful of something? Are you afraid to accept Christ as your Saviour and Lord of your life? (2 Cor 5:17) Why? Are you afraid of what your spouse or your family will think? Are you afraid of the changes that must take place in your life? The Holy Spirit is in charge of making those changes in your life when you submit to Him. (John 14:26, 1 John 2:27, Neh 9:20, Matt 10:19-20)

Just as the Lord shined His wonderful light into my heart the moment I was saved, He will do the same for you. He took care of my family’s resentment – He helped me to take a stand for Him – He encouraged me to keep going! He can do the same for you! I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

God’s Kingdom, Thy Will Be Done

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On January 4, 2023

In Devotionals, Miscellaneous

Good morning, dear Reader! My husband is now in rehab and I no longer have to drive one to two hours away to see him! Praise the Lord for His mercy on the love of my life! As I sit here this morning, I think of what this year may bring. Could this be the year of Christ’s return for us where He will take us up to Heaven to be with Him? Oh I surely hope so! The signs of the times reveal that He is right at the door, ready to give us that shout to join Him!

Rev 3:8,10  I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name (10)  Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Rev 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

1 Thess 4:15-17  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  (16)  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  (17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Amen and amen! Exciting times are coming for the believer. We have been praying for this day for a long time! But how do we pray? The Lord taught us in the Lord’s prayer the pattern we should use:

Luk 11:2-4  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.  (3)  Give us day by day our daily bread.  (4)  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Many of us know this prayer by heart, but do we know what we are praying? Do we merely repeat the words over and over again without giving it much thought? Jesus told us not to repeat prayers over and over and said these were vain repetitions like those of the heathen (Mark 6:7). I won’t go into this now but in another future post. The part I’m speaking of is “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.”

What did the Lord Jesus mean when He taught us to pray for His kingdom? Jesus is speaking of Christ’s kingdom here on earth after the Great Tribulation. After the tribulation there will be 1,000 years of peace with Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, reigning and ruling over the entire earth from Jerusalem. Life will return to be as it was in the Garden of Eden.

Isa 11:6-9  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.  (7)  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.  (8)  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.  (9)  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Isa 65:25  The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Christ’s kingdom will be that of beautiful peace! This is what we are to pray for, friend! We are to be looking forward to that day, but in the meantime, we are to pray for God’s will to be done in order for that kingdom to come! God gave us everything we need in the Scriptures where we can find out all of the signs of the end times. (I wrote a series on this and you can find it here.) There is much written on this topic but surely you can see for yourself by watching the news or social media; you can see just how evil this world has become.

Unbelievers mock God but there will be a time where He will judge the world of their sin. This judgment is coming and you can count on it. All things work towards the establishing of Jesus Christ’s kingdom on earth.

2 Chron 36:16  But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Are you ready for the Rapture of the saints to be forever with the Lord Jesus? Have you been saved so that you can be kept from that hour of temptation to come upon the entire earth. It will be a horrific time for those who are left behind; most will die because of they did not take the mark of the beast. It will be a time that has never been seen by anyone in the past. Albert Camus once said:

I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn’t, than live as if there isn’t and to die to find out that there is.

Ouch! Do you want to be one of those people who currently doesn’t care about God (or even believe in God) or His coming kingdom? There will come a time when it will be too late. You will spend eternity burning in Hell and the Lake of Fire. You will remember each opportunity you were given by God to be saved and you laughed it off and ignored it. I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

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