Undeniably Unstoppable

 

There are two paths to choose to live on, the first road being the things of this world with sin, the second with righteousness.

The first is incorrect, it’s a deadly path. Don’t get allured by flashy things, stay on the trail of righteousness with the Holy Spirit as your guide. Lean into Christ to learn how to live like Him, we simply need to follow His steps. Hebrews 2:1 says, “Therefore we must pay greater attention to His Word.” Be diligent  in keeping and studying the Bible, make sure the devil’s temptations do not lead you astray. 

God’s Word instructs us that because we are in Christ, He is now is in our blood. Hebrews 2:14 says, “Since therefore children flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is the devil.” Death is undeniably  unavoidable, but not even death can remove Christ’s blood. But we’ve got to choose the right road, the one that leads to Heaven. 

This heavenly connection is only found in one place, through Christ, who denied the temptation of darkness, and conquered death with His blood. 

Properly Geared

 Muscle man goes, “Just look at these guns, I can rule  the world”. He ruminates upon these already prideful thoughts until the devil creeps in at an opportune moment and attacks with either self doubt, or with even more pride. 

The devil can invade anyone’s mind at anytime, the innocent and the deceitful. He encourages darkness, he trespasses in man’s mind saying, “Why are you even trying to get  in better shape? Everyone else lifts heavier weights than you. Just call it quits while you can.” He maneuvers our thoughts, and we need to learn to ignore the discouraging words and put on the mighty armor of Christ. 

Call on God and He will listen. Fight against the devil’s whispers with Christ’s armor as it says in Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, be strong in the Lord in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Instead of feeling like a complete failure, we need to simply be properly geared up. Even if satan’s nonsense never stops and looks truthful, just remember only Christ’s glory lasts. Colossians 2:17 “These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality however, is found in Christ.” 

The Master’s Masterpiece

Cat Sleeping on a Bed by Claude Monet

Monet, van Gogh, Rembrandt; all are artists who have painted masterpieces. Yet these men do not compare to the ultimate Artist, who paints the skies and with His brush strokes created the world that inspires art.

Currently we are mere tracings of masterpieces. Christ, being the artist, will complete His perfect work in heaven, with no more touch ups needed as on earth. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good work, which God prepared in advance to do.” We are a work in progress, with the goal of heavenly beauty. Because of this, we should be encouraged to spread the joy found being sculpted by Christ. Romans 5:21 says, “So that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 

Through Christ we have the ability to become magnificent masterpieces if we accept Him as our Savior.  Though we are currently a work in progress, still needing one or two touch ups, we will continue to grow in spiritual maturity, closer to perfection, and once in heaven, becoming a work of art.

Law & Order, Gift of Life

  

We Christians have been justified by Christ. Life does toss in twist and turns, yet we can live in confidence by always trusting the Savior who lovingly released us from the requirements of perfection found in the law. 

Thank the Lord we have a God who delivers each of us by sending His son Jesus Christ to die for us in our place. We could never earn forgiveness for we often fail while striving for perfection. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23. He gave us access to life through faith, as it says from Romans 5:1 “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is the perfect example of true love, in opposition of having to work so hard to justify ourselves (which we could never do) we were supplied with the grace of Christ which is the beautiful example  of God’s care  and love. “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith” Romans 3:24-25a. 

Romans 5:5 “and hope makes us not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad by the Holy Ghost who is given unto us.” After salvation the Holy Ghost will be in us and will guide us to direct  others to  Christ. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26 

We could never earn salvation on our own, but the Lord, through love, sent us the most amazing free gift. “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in the accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He richly poured upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior” Titus 3:5-6 

Mayhem and Restoration

  

Christians should hope in the return of Jesus, which  may happen today! The correct outlook for all believers is the return of Christ. We can indubitably rest in confidence that He may come back tomorrow or even today, and we should  live everyday in excitement for this beautiful moment.  Revelations 19:1 says, “After this I heard  a loud voice from heaven, saying Alelleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!” Hallelujah! It’s a thrilling thought.  Psalms 80: 14-18 says, “Return we beseech You, O God of hosts; Look down from heaven and see, And visit this vine And the vineyard which your right hand has planted, and the branch You made strong for Yourself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down;They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance. Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, Then we will not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your name Restore us, O Lord God of hosts Cause Your face to shine, and we will be saved!” 

It would be treacherous for any human to live only for this world when we have access to a glorious gift of Jesus. With Him there is restoration. Jesus is God’s one and only Son who sacrificed Himself on the cross for each of us to have eternal life. We simply need to believe in Him and we have restoration in heaven. This is the whole purpose of Easter. Even after man crucified Him He’s willing to return to save us from all the may-hem in this life, how beautiful. 

The Thrill of Hope

And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: “The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. 

I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.” Revelation 3:1-2

Just as Sardis was on the pathway of being a questionable church, so are many people in the same situation today. Despite this, through Jesus there is still a chance to change your life. As the song “O Holy Night” says, there is a thrill of hope in the world because we have hope in Jesus. Through His virgin birth He came and died and rose again. He died so we can have life. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘til He appears and the soul felt its worth. 

Turn back from sin, live for Christ. The stars are brightly shining, when Christ is in your life it is full of light, it is no longer based on sin alone but now replaced with living for Christ. Fall on your knees; oh hear the Angel voices. Hear the good news and repent. 

We all have a good reason to fall on our knees, for Jesus is our Savior, His name we forever praise.

O holy night! the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope- the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Creating Goals for a Heavenly Status

 

Achieving perfection on earth is impossible to be done unless you’re Jesus, yet as believers in Christ we always have this goal of complete heavenly status also known as perfection. This leads to continually pressing on with eyes on the prize as it says in Philippians 3:12 “ Not that I have already obtained this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Despite life being so jarring, we can have the goal of heaven. With this excitement we don’t need to be dreary yet live a life conscious of what the future holds as it says in 2 Timothy 4:6 “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.” Living with a goal of heaven cheers us on for we have the knowledge of eternity with Jesus.