“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27 KJV). Whatever dream we have for physical healing or flourishing, financial deliverance or success, rescue or freedom from oppression, survival or rising above the elements, a Pre-Tribulational Rapture, or even the salvation of loved ones — Jesus Christ alone “is our hope” (1Timothy 1:1 KJV). If anyone or anything is more valuable than Christ to us, then that is our hope. If Jesus is really worth more than everything to me, do I live that way? Am I waiting for Christ to become more popular? Remember, when everyone realizes this truth, it is too late. “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7 KJV).
Salvation
Fighting Exhausted
Soldiers fighting exhausted against an unrelenting enemy. What are we to do? Quit? Many of Jesus’ disciples quit following Him because He pressed upon them the strange language of eating His flesh and drinking His blood (John 6:53) in order to have eternal life. Natural language would mean cannibalism, but supernatural language would mean receiving Jesus into ourselves, where He becomes part of us. “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” (6:67). Peter’s reply to Jesus voices our reply as well. “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (6:68). In other words, How can we quit, if there is no other path to Heaven? To quit would mean to let go of eternal life. That seems to be the nature of verses like: “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13 KJV). May we continue to treat our lives as if we are living a supernatural religion — because we are — and we all shall meet one day in that happier place. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4 KJV). Amen and amen.
Relationship With Christ
I used to look down on the idea of developing a relationship with God. Just get them saved, and go on and do the same to the next one! But, we are saved from what? For what purpose? Salvation is restoring a lost relationship with God. Remember the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12 KJV). Sure, that lost relationship means eternal separation from God; but, we’re still talking about a relationship. So, how goes our relationship with Yahweh?
Christian Liberty – Part 1
“Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1 NIV).
Would it surprise us to find that the Apostle Paul’s statement from nearly 2,000 years ago was an emancipation declaration that changed the lives of not only his first century readers, but broke the chains of addiction, servitude, and bondage of untold numbers of readers since then? Is Paul trivializing the magnitude of pain and suffering holding us today? Or, are we reading these statements of Scripture with a hardness of heart and unbelief befitting those further away from the first coming of Christ and nearer still to the second coming of Christ? “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8 NIV). Is the diabolical genius of the wicked one, simply to desensitize us to the plain meaning of the words of God, hardening us from receiving their simple truth, and barring the work of the Holy Spirit from allowing His straightforward message from having its clearly stated fulfillment in our lives? “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path” (Matthew 13:19 NIV). If you have the slightest inclination to seek understanding of what the Scripture is saying to you, then the Holy Spirit is still striving to teach you. “2 Turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding — 3 indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:2-6 NIV).
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We Need A Miracle 