I have been convinced. The Holy Spirit, through the preaching of God’s Word this morning in church confronted my soul about something.
That something is this –we talk a lot. We talk about this, that and everything in between. We aren’t shy to express our favorite things or those ‘things’ we’d like to do. We talk about our favorite sports team, politics, that recipe we gotta try. We blog. We talked about relationships, love, what we like, what we dislike and even what we struggle with. But do we talk about Christ as much as we talk about everything else? Does Christ easily flow off our lips as much as everything else? Are we as intense about Christ as we are about that next movie we want to see or DIY project?
Are those ‘things’ bad? Many or most aren’t. So way the conviction? When I stop and consider how much I “talk” and compare it to Christ –I am shamefully falling short in sharing my faith, sharing Christ, and being a mouthpiece in proclaiming Christ –and His free gift of salvation. When I stop to consider, the scope of eternity becomes more valuable than my here and now talk.
Now do you understand my conviction?!
So below you will see an entry called “Eternity” which comes right off my blog. I am simply obeying. May God’s Word change you too!
Colleen Woodruff
In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}
The reality is real, we will all face death at some point in our life. The question is, are we ready for that appointed day?
Eternity is real. Just as you live and breathe right now, your eternal state has an eternal forever. The destination is the question.
Whether it is something you think about or something you have rejected, the reality is sure — your eternity is coming. Do you know where you will spend your eternity?
This is thee most important question you could ever ask yourself. According to 2 Corinthians 6:2 it reads, “for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation.”
We know not the hour nor the day when our finally breathe will be. We do not know if we have tomorrow, we only know that we had yesterday. TODAY is the day of your salvation. Putting it off could mean the difference between hell and heaven.
Sometimes people say, “If God is so loving, why would He allow bad things to happen to good people?” May ask you this question, “Why blame God for all the bad things that happen? If God doesn’t existent and eternity is just a fairy tale, why blame Him?”
Sin entered into the world through one man, Adam, and through Adam all have sinned. But God didn’t leave it there.
You see, love has one source and its author is God. God’s love is repeated over and over and over and over again throughout the pages of Scripture, the Bible — God’s love letter to mankind. The ultimate demonstration of love is when God sent His only Son, Jesus, to earth. There are millions of ways God could have chosen to saved the world, but God didn’t choose the easy way out…He choose a cross.
Jesus Christ came to earth, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life while being 100% man/100% God, ministered for about three years on earth — healing physical and spiritual needs, ministering to the hearts of mankind, then was betrayed. Being guiltless, just, holy, righteous in all manners was falsely convicted then crucified on a cross.
His death on the Cross wasn’t without purpose. On that cross He took the FULL payment for your sin, my sin, and for everyone the was, is, and that would be in the future —all of mankind. He bore the rejection of His holy Father as He turned away, for He couldn’t look upon His Son, due to our sin. But Jesus Christ did not stay on the cross. No, three days later He rose again from the dead. Yes, He was dead then rose again and now lives in Heaven with His Father preparing a mansion for each and every one who believes on Him.
Satan hasn’t nor will ever do anything like this — satan has NEVER done anything selfless in his existence. In fact he is seeking whom he may destroy or devour (to chew up and spit out). There are no recordings that even remotely stated that satan gives of himself for mankind…no where! 1 Peter 5:8 “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Satan has never been your friend…NEVER!
So let’s take an extremely short travel through the Bible as we look and see how God does indeed love you and you can know where you will spend eternity today!
- The Bible says, we all fall short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23) How? Why, you ask? Because we are sinners. Now before you turn away, think about it. Have you ever told a lie? What does that make you? Be honest! (a liar) Have you ever stolen something? What does that make you? (a thief) Have you ever disobeyed your parents, lusted after something that wasn’t yours? Get my point? We ALL fall short of God’s glory! He is holy — we are sinful! Romans 3:10 says it plain and clearly. “…There is none righteous, not even one.”
- But remember that love —that GOD LOVE? Oh there is HOPE because of Jesus Christ! There is only ONE that has provided the way and His name is JESUS CHRIST! John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.”
- “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9) “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10) In the book of Acts is says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (16:31).
My friend, there are hundreds of verses we could read together that prove that Christ did indeed die on the cross for YOU and paid your debt (sin). For your sins He died! Through the precious blood of Jesus Christ and the LOVE of the Father there has been made a way or redemption for you, but YOU have to do something first.
It is like this. If I went to a very expensive store and bought you a very expensive gift. I had that gift specially wrapped just for you, made a special time and place to meet you, and once we were together I excitedly gave you that awesome gift…you’d be placed with a decision to make. We usually don’t think about it because we like receiving gifts, but you do have two options: 1) You could reject my gift to you. Yes, you could make the decision to reject the gift I was handing to you. You could say you didn’t want it for whatever reasons you had. Or 2) you could reach out and take my gift. You would then unwrap it and see what I had given you. THIS TOO IS LIKE GOD’S FREE GIFT OF SALVATION — YOU HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE. 1) REJECT IT 2) ACCEPT IT. IT IS REALLY THAT SIMPLE. We make is harder then it really is.
So, what will your decision be? I wouldn’t wait —for you never know when your last breath will be. Today is the day of salvation!You are free to choose. You could reject God’s free gift of salvation, but I would be uncaring of your soul to tell you that your rejection of God would both grieve the heart of God, and send your eternal destination to the lake of fire (“into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” Matthew 25:30) but this doesn’t have to be!!!!!
Would you ACCEPT God’s gift of salvation?!!!!
- How? Confess with your mouth (pray), acknowledge to God that you are a sinner, that your sin is separating you from Him. Ask God to forgive you of your sins and to cleanse your heart (to create in you a clean heart). Put your whole faith and trust in God for your eternal life. He will save you. Go online and look up “the Bridge” it is a small booklet that will show you more from God’s Word on how you may know where you will spend eternity.
- Your eternity is worth it!
Praying for you, friend!
If you’d like to talk about Christ or tell me that Jesus is your Saviour, I’d love to hear from you! Send me a message or comment below.
Eternity is forever! You can know your destination.
God loves you!
In Christ I am SHE 