Not Everyone Who Says To Me 'Lord, Lord, Will Enter The Kingdom Of Heaven

Here is something written by a Facebook Friend. I had thought of this many times, but never was able to put it into words. This is something we need to seriously consider.

"People that always talk scripture and doctrine but never talk about knowing Jesus, like they know Him, scare me.

They scare me because I fear for their Salvation!

If you don't know Him, chances are He doesn't know you either!

They don't demonstrate a relationship or love for Him.

Do you love Him? Are you cold and dead inside?

Do you see and hear Him?

He still speaks, do you hear Him?"
Written by Kelly Crabb.

These words are probably the scariest words in the Bible. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."*

There's a lot of people who would say they are 'Christians', but who live lives as if they don't really know the Lord or don't really care about what He wants. People are not going to be perfect after they come to Christ, but, there will be Godly desires in their hearts and they will be changing as the process of sanctification progresses in their lives.

Being a Christian isn't a matter of trying to do good to replace the bad. Neither is it just believing the things that are true. Just knowing the facts about the Gospel doesn't get us into heaven. We must let God show us our hearts so we can repent and turn away from those things that are displeasing to Him.

Instead of justifying our wrongdoing, and saying that it is all covered under grace (which it is when we truly repent and turn away from sin), we need to own up to our sin and realize who God is in His holiness and majesty. We will all stand before Him one day and all our justification of selfish living will turn us away from Him. God sees through all our self deception. But God wants to give us hope through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

So, the question is, 'Do you know Him?' It is not, 'Do you know what the Bible says?' The devil knows the Bible inside and out, way better than any of us do, but he doesn't have any chance for the forgiveness of his sin.

For more information on the Gospel message and how you can know God, please go to:

http://thegospelconversation.blogspot.com 

* Matthew 7:21 ESV

Life Is Painful - Earth Has No Sorrow That Heaven Can't Cure!

  One of the hard things about life is that life is painful. Why do things have to be so painful? Can't we have a life without pain or hurt?

   I am going through one of those painful times. About seven months ago, my beloved parrot, Petra, died. I spent a couple of weeks playing hospice nurse to her, hoping she would recover. But she died in a seizure while I was holding her. I still haven't recovered from that one.

  We lost our cat last night. He got sick on Wednesday, and I took him to the vet on Thursday, and he died Saturday night. I didn't know that the nap I took on Saturday afternoon was the last nap I would take with Frankie.

  This past year, I think I have seen more people die, who I know, some were young too, than I ever have seen in my life. Friends died. A couple of men became widowers. It is very sad to see.

   Sometimes people go through grieving and become bitter toward God. They misunderstand Him and think that either He is punishing them, or that He is unaware of what they are going through, or that He doesn't care.

   Last year, I talked with a Salvation Army bell ringer. I enjoy talking to them and when possible, sharing the Gospel message with them. As soon as I asked the woman if she had any children, the thought came to mind that perhaps she had a child who died. I almost wished I didn't ask the question after I had that thought. She began to tell me her story. She told of each child, then she told me that she had a son who was killed almost a year before this.

   Great. Just what I feared. But the lady continued. She went through the whole story of what happened to her son, who was in his early 30s at the time of the accident. She was at a neighbor's house, early in the morning, and the people who went to tell her about the accident went to the neighbor's house trying to find her house. When they realized she was there, they told her she would need others around while they explained what happened. The woman fell to the ground reaching out to Jesus for help,  she says. She continued on with the story of how God provided *everything* for the funeral, and how the Lord helped her as she learned to cope with this tragedy.

   I was the one crying when I listened to her story. What impressed me was that she did not become bitter or angry with God because of her son's death. She didn't mention anything vengeful about those who were responsible for the accident. She really praised the Lord concerning this whole incident.

  What I learned from this is that we all have difficulties with some kind of pain in life. Pain can make us bitter and angry. But, that is the default, and we do not have to follow the default pattern for pain. We can trust God in pain, because nothing takes Him by surprise. He feels our pain, even though we don't understand that. When we become bitter or distrusting of God, we are the ones who suffer.

   I believe God wants to heal us. We will not see Him clearly when we are distrusting or angry at Him. He allowed the pain, and will use it as part of His plan as He works in our lives. Pain is not a punishment for us (unless our pain is a result of our disobedience to God) and God will comfort us if we allow Him to.

   If we are grieving, God wants to comfort us. If we are suffering, God will carry us through. God never promised us a painless life. But He promises to be with us and to give us the strength to go through the season of suffering. He also wants to heal us of the pains we have. Please give your pain and suffering to the Lord. He will be with you to comfort you, give you strength, and heal you if you allow Him to.



Here are the words to a song that I heard on the radio this morning. The song is called, 'Come As You Are" by David Crowder

"Come As You Are"

Come out of sadness
From wherever you've been
Come broken hearted
Let rescue begin
Come find your mercy
Oh sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You're not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are

There's hope for the hopeless
And all those who've strayed
Come sit at the table
Come taste the grace
There's rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't cure

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You're not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Fall in his arms
Come as you are
There's joy for the morning
Oh sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You're not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Come as you are

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/crowder/comeasyouare.html

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Is God Really A Bully?

There is a lot of talk about 'Bullies' these days. Sometimes, when I talk to people about the Gospel, the person I am talking to says that God is a 'Bully'. But is that true?

Here is an internet definition of a bully: a person who uses strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker.

synonyms: persecutor, oppressor, tyrant, tormentor, intimidator;
tough guy, thug, ruffian, strong-arm;

So, why would people say that God is a bully? Does God use His power and strength to harm us? Does He use His power and strength to intimidate us?

First, we have to decide if God is bigger and more powerful than we are. Second, we have to decide if God is good and desires to bring good to His people. Third, if God is bigger and more powerful than we are, and if He desires to bring good to His people, we have to determine who His people are. Fourth, if we have determined who His people are, and we realize that we are not counted as one of His people, then how can that change?

First, looking at evidence around us, we can see design, order, and even artistry in creation. There is no question about God being the creator of everything. He created all the germs and bacteria as well as all the stars and galaxies out there. He created human beings with all their unique individual traits and characteristics. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth..." Genesis 1:1

Second, although life can be very hard at times, God promises to be with those who are His. He promises to take care of them and will use everything for the good of His people and for His glory. He is in complete control of everything going on, and knows about every detail that happens to His people. "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." Romans 8:28-30 ESV

Third, who are those who belong to Him? The Bible makes it clear that we do not belong to Him until we put our faith in Jesus Christ and turn from our sins. We have to understand that sin separates us from God and we are under a curse until we respond to Him. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life on earth and died to take our sins completely away. When we trust in what He did on the Cross for us, and leave our lives of sin, we can be made right in God's eyes. Not only that, but He will give us power to say 'no' to the temptations of sin, and to say 'yes' to Him and live a life of obedience to Him. Those who refuse to respond to God belong to the devil. 

"Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.  Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:42-44 ESV

Fourth, the Bible says that we all must be born again. We must be born into God's family in order to have God as our Father. "Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 ESV

So, is God really the Bully here? Here is the story in a nutshell:

God created people and His creation was good. The devil was thrown down to earth because he rebelled against God. The devil lied to Adam and Eve about the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve listened to Satan instead of obeying God. God placed a curse on the earth, on man, on woman, and on the devil. But, God also promised the man and the woman that He would send Someone to rescue us and destroy the works of the devil. 

Ever since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, the human race has been in chaos. The earth has been in turmoil. God promises that all the will be restored one day. 

Every human being born since that time has been born with a sinful, selfish heart and needs to be redeemed. Throughout the Old Testament, God gave clues about the One He would send to redeem us and to eventually restore the earth and creation. Around 2,000 years ago, God fulfilled that promise by sending His Son to earth to live among us. His Son lived a perfect life, but was killed by sinful men. He died willingly in order to take the punishment for all of our sins, upon Himself. God the Father placed every sin on His Son, when Jesus died on the cross. Jesus did not stay dead. He was buried and arose from the dead on the third day after He died. He is alive today and will return to earth to receive the people who are His. 

The real bully in this situation is the devil. Just as he lied to Eve in the Garden, he still lies to us today. He would like for you and me to believe that God is a bully. The devil has some control over you and me. Whenever we choose to believe him instead of believing what God says in His word, we have fallen prey to the devil's desires. 

Remember, a bully isn't an all powerful being who desires good for His people. A bully is someone who has some power and takes advantage of those who are weaker. The bully doesn't desire anything good for those he is bullying around.

If you choose to continue to reject God and what He has done for you, you will be subject to Satan. There is no other way around this. You can call God a bully all you want, but in the end, you are doing Satan's will, not God's. By threatening God with your rejection of Him, puts you under God's curse, by default. God is not a wimp, nor is He a Being who can be swayed by our manipulation. God calls the shots. We don't. But God is good and wants good for all His people. 

We are either inside God's boundaries or we are inside the devil's boundaries. Which one will it be for you?