FOR SOUND PREACHING
Dedicated To Public Evangelism and A Sound Understanding of The Scriptures
Are you ready to meet the Lord today?
The devils also believe and tremble James 2:19
Are you ready to meet the Lord today is easily the most important
question for every man, woman, boy, and girl! The eternal destiny of the soul
is of great importance as this present life is but a vapor whereas eternity is
without time or end. Can you imagine spending eternity (time without end) in
torment because of your failure to serve God? Can any earthly (temporary) gain
be worth the eternal sacrifice of your being for evermore? In considering this
question we are reminded of the one common rule of risk taking; don't ever risk
anything you can't afford to lose.
In dealing with this most critical question, I will begin by
saying anyone who does not believe that a Creator is responsible for this vast
universe is not worth arguing with. It is very simple that something did not
come from nothing. It is far easier to believe in the Creation story over some
bizarre happenstance leading to the Earth providing a perfect environment for
life. The heavens clearly declare the glory of God. The Bible is far more
credible than the spoof that something magickly came
from nothing. The foundation that the universe changed for the better over
billions of years in a manner that only the Earth would sustain life without
any supernatural intervention of a Creator simply defies logic. The
"theory" of evolution is simply an attempt by man to distance himself
from accountability to God. The Bible reminds us that it is the fool that has
said in his heart that there is no God.
Per James chapter 2, a simple faith will not save as even the
devils believe. I recall my faith being intact as a young boy with no reason to
doubt the bible or the person of Christ. At the time I was among the countless
numbers of people who believe in the truth of the scriptures while living a
life of sin and self-indulgence. There are likewise millions of religious
people in church services each week with no true devotion to godliness
whatsoever. The shallow depth of their faith allows them to regularly associate
with murder, adultery, greed, idol worship, and a myriad of immoral acts
without any reservation. With varying degrees of faith or belief, their common
thread is their absence of a love for God. They BELIEVE in God, but never
surrender to His Lordship. Christ asked Peter several times, “Do you LOVE me?”
Moreover, the commandment demands we LOVE the Lord our God. If we LOVE Him, the
Holy Spirit will make His abode within us and evidence of the new birth will
begin to blossom and take shape in our lives.
In considering whether we are ready to meet the Lord we must look
to what the holy scriptures teach us concerning our
relationship with Jesus Christ. In the third chapter of John a pious and
religious man named Nicodemus inquired concerning what is required of man to be
in a right relationship with God. Christ responded to this leader among the
most devote of the Jewish people that, "You must be born again." This
response by Christ caught Nicodemus by surprise just as it does the religious
people of today. While Nicodemus sought a confirmation from the Lord that his
religious practices were fitting and in line with God's expectations for man,
he was met with the simple realization that man must be fully renewed through
the washing away of sin by the Spirit of God. This religious leader questioned
whether he could in fact be born a second time and Christ clarified that the
second birth is in fact to be born of the Holy Spirit which transforms the old
man into a new creation. The Bible tells us that the fear of God is the
beginning of wisdom and man's first step in reconciling his relationship with
God is to see his need for God. This was Nicodemus' experience which led him to
take up a religious life and seek to be a good person. He thought that this was
all that God expected of Him until he sought confirmation from Christ. Today we
can seek the same confirmation of our standing with God by searching the New
Testament. A true consideration of the scriptures will reveal that a genuine
devotion to Christ and full submission to His precepts is the only evidence of
a right relationship with God.
When does this second birth that Christ spoke of occur? This
second birth occurs when we realize that we are truly sinful creatures and no
level of religious effort on our part is a substitute for a full commitment to
the Lordship of Christ. It is when we are convicted of sin (not indifferent to
it) and see our need for a Savior who has died to atone for our sins that we
begin to understand salvation. As we see our need for a Savior (Christianity is
the only religion with a Savior, all others trust in man's good works),
recognize our unworthiness to earn our salvation, and plead for forgiveness of
sins, if this is accompanied by a genuine devotion to the Lordship of Christ,
the new birth occurs and the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our lives. True
and genuine salvation is a miracle by which the Holy Spirit takes residence in
our lives and replaces the old nature with a new and distinct nature that
yearns to be pleasing to God. This marriage includes a love and lust for
God. Even in our shortcomings and failings, we burn in our hearts to please the
Lord.
How do I know when this new birth occurs? The second birth will
always bring about a distinct changed life and a genuine desire to turn away
from sin. We will not simply view Jesus as Savior but will in fact make Him
Lord over our lives. We will have a life changing experience that will manifest
itself in a constant hunger and yearning for God. It will bring about a disdain
for that which is displeasing to God and a thirst for righteousness. A true
intimate union will exist whereby we a joined to God and adopted into His fold.
He will become our Savior, Master, and Lord and we will yearn to be pleasing to
Him above all else in the world. He will truly be our God and our lives will
revolve around Him. We will want to dwell in His presence in this life as well
as the life to come. Our sins will not be absence as perfection is beyond
reach. Inasmuch we will not turn a blind eye to blatant sin.
We are now considering the important truths that are so commonly
neglected by the churches and religious leaders of our day. The vast majority
of people are being taught that a simple religious life along with a generally
good nature is all that is required to spend eternity with God. People are
deceived into thinking that they can enjoy the common ways of the world and then
spend eternity with a holy and righteous God in paradise. Does enjoying that
which displeases God in this life sound at all compatible with enjoying perfect
righteousness in the life to come? Somehow this is exactly the message of the
majority of churches today. Can man be entertained by greed, violence, and
fornication on TV and be in a right relationship with God? Can we be a friend
of those who question the Bible, defend abortion, indulge in relationships
outside of marriage, ridicule strong Christian values, and also be a friend of
God? Not if the Bible clearly teaches us that friendship with the world is
enmity with God. We are to be separate and come out from among them, and to not
be unequally yoked with unbelievers. It is only with the second birth that we
come to truly view things as God views them and to hate that which God hates.
Without this second birth that accompanies conviction of sin and a genuine love
for God, man will continue along the path of indifference. While there can be a
belief in God, the adoption of religious practices, a kindness towards mankind,
and a general regard for the laws of the land; without the indwelling of the
Holy Spirit that accompanies the second birth, man will lack true devotion to
God and a hatred of that which God truly hates. This hatred of that which God
hates and a desire to distance ourselves from all that is displeasing to God is
one of the greatest evidences of our truly experiencing salvation from sin and
a readiness to meet God. Our growing obedience is not the source of our
salvation, but only a reflection of the saving grace of God taking root in our
lives.
If you forget about God, He too will forget about you! Can we
imagine having a belief in Christ only to hear Him say on judgment day, "I
never knew you". When this brief life of ours
comes to an end this will be a sad and common reality for so many church goers
and religious folks. Those with faith in hand who were indifferent to the ways
of the world and indulged in those practices that are despised by God will
surely come to this end. They will see Christ and marvel at His being only to
hear Him say, "I never knew you". And just as those Christ spoke of
in Matthew 7:21-23, these believers will begin to remind Christ of their
religious practices, their good works, their charity, their kindness towards
mankind, and possibly even a reciting of the sinner's prayer. Yet without a
delight in God, a corresponding hatred of sin and departure from it, a
wholehearted obedience to the scriptures, and a love for the people of God,
Christ will acknowledge that there was never an intimate relationship there.
That the Holy Spirit never took up residence in the heart and true godliness
and righteousness never took hold of one's life. A command will follow to depart
from the presence of Christ and to be cast into Hell for all of eternity. Is
there any pleasure in this world worth the penalty of eternal destruction where
the soul dieth not and fire is never quenched? No
man will enter the kingdom of heaven without an active vibrant relationship
with Jesus Christ.
The bible says today is the day of salvation! Please do not delay
in ensuring that you have a right relationship with God as tomorrow is not
promised to you. If you are reading this article God may be dealing with you
about your relationship with Him. If you sense conviction about your love of
God and whether you truly hate that which God hates, it may be time to plead
with God for your soul. You may be well beyond the question of whether you
believe Christ was God in the flesh and died for the sins of man. While we are
heartily reminded that without faith it is impossible to please God, in like
manner, “Except ye repent, ye will likewise perish.” Hopefully you have been
awaken to the lie of easy believism and you are now
strongly considering whether there is any evidence of the Spirit of God taking
up residence in your life? Have you been born again? Do you have a new heart
set apart for Christ? Are you willing to submit to the perfect word of God as
expressed in the Holy Bible? Do you hate that which God hates and have a
special concern for living a life devoted to Christ? Are you in love with God
well beyond any love you have for your finances, partner, children, addictions,
or other interests? Anything short of this is grounds for consideration of
whether you are truly ready to meet the Lord today. The truth has been revealed
and our only two options are to remain indifferent to God or devote our lives
fully to Him. The eternal wellbeing of your soul rests in this assessment and
it is a matter worthy of immediate resolution! A shallow belief system apart
from a devotion to Christ never saved anyone…… no matter how many questions
they answered, prayers they repeated, or aisles they walked. The devils also
believe and tremble James 2:19. Except ye repent (genuinely turn away from sin
with a love God), ye shall likewise perish.
Return to