We all have daily needs and occasional desperate crys. Our heavenly Father is faithful to provide for all that He knows we need. The wide lanes that lead to destruction are congested with traffic headed to hell. The proud reject the very notion of a Savior, as many are annoyed by the mighty name of Jesus. Believers are rejected, but we are yet compelled by the Spirit of our God within to warn. Knowledge about the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus is not enough to get any soul into heaven. Jesus will say to many shocked souls, “I never knew you.” For without faith in Jesus, without a relationship with Him, we cannot please God. Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.”

Romans 10:9-11 If you declare with your mouth, “JESUS is LORD,” and BELIEVE in your heart that God raised HIM from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you BELIEVE and are justified, and it is with your MOUTH that you PROFESS your FAITH and are SAVED. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” If you said a prayer, but still live as a slave to the desires of your flesh, it is time to turn back to God and repent. Matthew 7:11-14 “If you, then, though you are EVIL, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask HIM! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Enter through the NARROW (EXIT) gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

BE ENCOURAGED!  As we are UNITED with CHRIST, with the COMFORT of HIS LOVE, as we SHARE in HIS SPIRIT, together, knowing His TENDERNESS and COMPASSION, as we are INDWELT by HOLY SPIRIT together, we are LIKE-MINDED, as we have the SAME LOVE, and living in ONE in SPIRIT and in ONE MIND, we do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in HUMILITY, we VALUE OTHERS above ourselves. As we have ALWAYS OBEYED — we continue to WORK OUT our SALVATION with FEAR and TREMBLING, for it is GOD who WORKS in each of us. His WILL be done on earth as it is in heaven as we  ACT in order to fulfill HIS good PURPOSE. We do everything without grumbling or arguing, as we HOLD FIRMLY to the WORD of LIFE.” Phil 2 is read and personally applied.

Even as we near the end of the church age, the ongoing argument about eternal salvation goes on, and on. Here are scriptures that discuss eternal life:

1. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that HE gave HIS one and only Son, that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have ETERNAL life.”

2. John 10:28 “I give them ETERNAL life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of MY hand.”

3. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is ETERNAL life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

4. John 17:3  “Now this is ETERNAL life: that they KNOW YOU, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom YOU have sent.”

5. 1 John 5:11-12 “This is the testimony: God has given us ETERNAL life, and this life is in HIS Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

6. Titus 1:2 “In the HOPE of ETERNAL life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.”

7. Revelation 21:4 “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is DONE. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.” Eat and assimilate all Truth.

We stretch the truth, we agree with a news narrative and slander those who do not believe as we do. We slip a hotel pen in our pocket, and we steal the reputation of people on the other side of politics or religion. So we are all guilty of at least lying and stealing weekly or daily. So I trust God’s Word as it is written and by faith I believe God’s grace covers me, but I also continue to confess my shortcomings.

A disturbing dream aroused me at midnight. It was a real battle and in my weakness, I denied truth as my old nature took over. I woke up rebuking Satan the read where my Bible opened. Job chapter 10. Yes, I war against my selfish flesh. I complain to my God, the only One who commands the sunrise and thunder to crash. The bitterness of my soul cries out, ‘Oh God, You are faithful to not condemn me as You watch evil invade my dreams and interrupt the dominion of God’s peace.

My God does not search out my faults as I do. Holy Spirit probes deep to convict me, so as the adopted kid of the King, I confess my guilt. God fashioned me in His likeness  and His Word watered the seed of faith within. My Father gave me new life and countless fresh starts of mercy. He has shown me endless patience, kindness, and love as Holy Spirit floods my spirit. My spirit knows that my sins are covered by the blood, and in my resurrected body, my Father sees me as innocent. I am humbled by His amazing grace, and my constant need of ongoing forgiveness. As my selfish flesh torments me with pride, and a heart that deceives itself, as I crave  affirmation and the sweet desires of my flesh. Oh Lord Jesus, deliver me from evil. AMEN

Encouraged by reading Job, my spirit rises above the nauseating noise of this world. My body may slowly rot, but Christ in me, is His hope for glory as it screams, “I will live eternally live with Jesus, and not die.” The Resurrection and the Life in Christ Jesus is now and forevermore. Jesus called me by name and all my sins are erased in eternity. With my countenance reignited by the Truth, the treasures of my blessed hope stir up like a tsunami wave of joy!