As happens so many times when I begin to write, this began with an inspired thought. But before I realized it, it morphed into something completely different than what I originally intended. I think it's important.
So many people are caught up in their social presence and status, in pleasing themselves, in building perishing wealth and in passing their precious limited time in useless futility - It's a trap...
... It's a purposeful diversion, but not the intended purpose for life.
There is indeed a devil whether you believe it or not. His name was once Lucifer, but having defied God and pitting himself against Him, Lucifer became known as satan and an enemy of God. But as He has proven time and again, God can use anything and anyone - even satan, to further His purposes. Despite his hatred for God and anything that God's created (that does include us), Father God allows satan to exist for a time to test our will and choice to serve the purpose that He created us for. The old phrase "the devil made me do it" doesn't hold any truth in reality unless we "choose" to allow ourselves to be controlled by him. But, satan can and does constantly lay traps that could encourage us to become detoured from our intended purpose and potentially become of no use to our Creator - thus allowing the opportunity for what God created with loving intention to eventually become useless to His purpose and ultimately destroyed. What is God's "purpose" in all of this?
"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him." 1 Colossians 1:15-16 (NLT)
"Everything was created through him and for him"
We do indeed have a God given purpose and we were created with a driving, desirous need linked to that purpose. That need was instilled with the intention of drawing us to fulfill our intended purpose to have been given life and nothing else will satisfy it. We were created with the purpose to have intimate relationship with God Himself - to belong to Him as His very own intimate and deeply loved possession, ... but we have a choice in whether or not we fulfill it.
God is all sufficient in Himself, but He's also perfectly prepared and desiring to be everything we could possibly desire both in this life and in the intended life beyond this fading facade that we know now and call life. As believers, accepting Christ as the Son of God, His death to pay the penalty for our many sins against God, along with His resurrection, our freedom as we follow Him and our complete satisfaction will finally be realized when we one day enjoy the presence of the Lord our God without the surrounding chaotic world of sin and without the potential perils of wayward diversions. That life is the one we were intended for from the beginning - the one we were purposed for. The ultimate, divine marriage invitation is extended to us - "a marriage made in heaven".
As His believing children, we now walk a path of discovery here in this momentary life - I liken it in reality to a divine courtship before the intended wedding. It's a journey during which we discover not only things about the God who created us, but also about our selves. Recognizing and accepting the truth of who our God is ... and who we are and are not, is the goal of our travels through this life and its purposeful point. We were all created by God for Himself and coming from Him, our predestined destination will bring us all back to the throne of the one who created us in the end. What we learn and how we're factually changed by that knowledge has the power to determine what happens after we arrive there ... and that hour of reckoning is very very close. Judge the time - It's far later than many realize...
The Apostle Paul...
"You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!" 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NLT)
... This is now - today. So much of the prophesy surrounding Christ's return for His bride has already been fulfilled and looking out across the world with open eyes one recognizes how much either has, or is, taking place now in various locations around the world. With the time so short, will we truly be ready? Have we honestly made that choice?
"Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”
Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come."
Matthew 24:3-14 (NLT)
If we don't see things with our own eyes, does it mean that they aren't happening? How many Christians must be murdered in other places in the world before some take notice? How many teachers mixing scripture with tainted doctrine must there be before they're seen and called out? And with rising revulsion to faith in Christ and the disillusionment of so many of His followers, how much time can be left? The Good News has already traveled far.
The Apostle Peter...
"Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”
They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.
But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment." 2 Peter 3:3-10 (NLT)
The marriage invitation stands - for a very limited time. The time to respond - surrendering ourselves to Him in reality - truly and completely, is growing very short. All of heaven is watching intently - will you or won't you? The divine bliss of His presence and the reality of Heaven, beyond this short test, awaits...
Wake up!
What is forever your honest answer?
To RSVP, start here...
Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross to rescue me from sin and death and to restore me to the Father. I choose now to turn from my sins, my self-centeredness, and every part of my life that does not please you. I choose you. I give myself to you. I receive your forgiveness and ask you to take your rightful place in my life as my Savior and Lord. Come reign in my heart, fill me with your love and your life, and help me to become a person who is truly loving—a person like you. Restore me, Jesus. Live in me. Love through me. Thank you, God. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)
So many people are caught up in their social presence and status, in pleasing themselves, in building perishing wealth and in passing their precious limited time in useless futility - It's a trap...
... It's a purposeful diversion, but not the intended purpose for life.
There is indeed a devil whether you believe it or not. His name was once Lucifer, but having defied God and pitting himself against Him, Lucifer became known as satan and an enemy of God. But as He has proven time and again, God can use anything and anyone - even satan, to further His purposes. Despite his hatred for God and anything that God's created (that does include us), Father God allows satan to exist for a time to test our will and choice to serve the purpose that He created us for. The old phrase "the devil made me do it" doesn't hold any truth in reality unless we "choose" to allow ourselves to be controlled by him. But, satan can and does constantly lay traps that could encourage us to become detoured from our intended purpose and potentially become of no use to our Creator - thus allowing the opportunity for what God created with loving intention to eventually become useless to His purpose and ultimately destroyed. What is God's "purpose" in all of this?
"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him." 1 Colossians 1:15-16 (NLT)
"Everything was created through him and for him"
We do indeed have a God given purpose and we were created with a driving, desirous need linked to that purpose. That need was instilled with the intention of drawing us to fulfill our intended purpose to have been given life and nothing else will satisfy it. We were created with the purpose to have intimate relationship with God Himself - to belong to Him as His very own intimate and deeply loved possession, ... but we have a choice in whether or not we fulfill it.
God is all sufficient in Himself, but He's also perfectly prepared and desiring to be everything we could possibly desire both in this life and in the intended life beyond this fading facade that we know now and call life. As believers, accepting Christ as the Son of God, His death to pay the penalty for our many sins against God, along with His resurrection, our freedom as we follow Him and our complete satisfaction will finally be realized when we one day enjoy the presence of the Lord our God without the surrounding chaotic world of sin and without the potential perils of wayward diversions. That life is the one we were intended for from the beginning - the one we were purposed for. The ultimate, divine marriage invitation is extended to us - "a marriage made in heaven".
As His believing children, we now walk a path of discovery here in this momentary life - I liken it in reality to a divine courtship before the intended wedding. It's a journey during which we discover not only things about the God who created us, but also about our selves. Recognizing and accepting the truth of who our God is ... and who we are and are not, is the goal of our travels through this life and its purposeful point. We were all created by God for Himself and coming from Him, our predestined destination will bring us all back to the throne of the one who created us in the end. What we learn and how we're factually changed by that knowledge has the power to determine what happens after we arrive there ... and that hour of reckoning is very very close. Judge the time - It's far later than many realize...
The Apostle Paul...
"You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!" 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NLT)
... This is now - today. So much of the prophesy surrounding Christ's return for His bride has already been fulfilled and looking out across the world with open eyes one recognizes how much either has, or is, taking place now in various locations around the world. With the time so short, will we truly be ready? Have we honestly made that choice?
"Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”
Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come."
Matthew 24:3-14 (NLT)
If we don't see things with our own eyes, does it mean that they aren't happening? How many Christians must be murdered in other places in the world before some take notice? How many teachers mixing scripture with tainted doctrine must there be before they're seen and called out? And with rising revulsion to faith in Christ and the disillusionment of so many of His followers, how much time can be left? The Good News has already traveled far.
The Apostle Peter...
"Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”
They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.
But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment." 2 Peter 3:3-10 (NLT)
The marriage invitation stands - for a very limited time. The time to respond - surrendering ourselves to Him in reality - truly and completely, is growing very short. All of heaven is watching intently - will you or won't you? The divine bliss of His presence and the reality of Heaven, beyond this short test, awaits...
Wake up!
What is forever your honest answer?
To RSVP, start here...
Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross to rescue me from sin and death and to restore me to the Father. I choose now to turn from my sins, my self-centeredness, and every part of my life that does not please you. I choose you. I give myself to you. I receive your forgiveness and ask you to take your rightful place in my life as my Savior and Lord. Come reign in my heart, fill me with your love and your life, and help me to become a person who is truly loving—a person like you. Restore me, Jesus. Live in me. Love through me. Thank you, God. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)
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