Signs of the times

"He answered and said to them, 'When it is evening you say, it will be fair weather, for the sky is red; and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times." Matthew 16.2-3

People can tell whether or not the weather will be good from the appearance of the sky, but they are not able to discern the signs of the coming of the Lord Jesus by the social situation in the world. Famine, war, terrorism, violence, drugs, destruction of homes, lack of love, children who kill their parents because of drugs, parents who rape children, prostitution, social injustice, political corruption, moral corruption, spiritual corruption, pests that spread, satanic religions, unprecedented immorality... Only someone who does not reason cannot see the whirlwind of events that point to the end of times.

The Book of Life

"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." Revelation 3.5

Who said that once saved you're saved forever? The sacred text denies this thesis. If the Lord Jesus promises not to erase the overcomer's name from the Book of Life is because it is possible to erase it. Therefore, salvation is something that needs to be maintained until our last breath. And to keep the garments white until the end, one must live away from the filth of this world.

All things new

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’” Revelation 21.5

In this world, everything ages, everything ceases to exist, everything ends... But He who sits on the throne, who is the Fountain of Eternal Life, makes all things new. But for this to happen, there must be total surrender. Well, how can you make an omelette without breaking eggs? How can you make a new vase if the clay is not soft?

Abound in hope

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15.13

Our hope is that one day our tears, fears, sorrows, worries and all sorts of trouble that we have suffered in this world will be transformed into joy, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. So let us stand firm in this faith until the day of our departure to be with our Lord Jesus Christ.

All things consist

"And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." Colossians 1.17

It is painful know of people who, until recently, seemed to be firm in their faith and are now fallen. I was wondering, why Lord? His response was immediate: Those who really are in Jesus do not remain for a time only, but for eternity. Those who were in the faith and have fallen is because they were never in Jesus in the first place. Because neither life, nor death, nor the world, or family problems, or sickness, or disease, or loved ones, that is, nothing in this world has the power to separate those who are in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hatred

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you." John 15.18

The feeling of hatred from the children of this world towards the children of God is part of carrying the cross. The Lord Jesus warned His disciples about it. It is waste of time trying to please God and the children of the world. It is more comfortable to keep the cross and take its sacrifices than trying to reconcile faith with the world.

Afflictions

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16.33

There's no other way, those who want to follow the Lord Jesus cannot expect flowers in this world. There is no avoiding hardship when trying to practice the Word of God. Escaping the afflictions is like putting the cross aside, satisfying the flesh and not following the Lord Jesus. Is this what you want? 

Sincerely

 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6.21

Treasure means what is most important for each one of us. It is the center of life. Who or what has been your greatest treasure in the whole world? Family? Profession? Assets? Boyfriend Fiancé? Bank account? Car? Religion? You?
Who would you, SINCERELY and HONESTLY, give up your own life for?
Your answer indicates where your heart is.

Faithfulness

"...Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." Revelation 2.10

The crown of life, that is, eternal life, depends on our faithfulness to the Lord Jesus until death. Just as faith is proven to death, our faithfulness is also. If our forefathers in faith have been proven to the end of their journeys in this world, why would we be spared?
If athletes take pains and sacrifice everything for a perishable gold medal, why should we not sacrifice everything for eternal life?

Guarantee of Salvation

"...you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." Ephesians 1.13-14

Sealed with the Holy Spirit, guarantee of inheritance, redeemed possession, and the praise of His glory. In practical terms, the seal of the Holy Spirit is the GUARANTEE OF SALVATION of His servants until Jesus comes to rescue them. Just as jewels guarantee a loan, the servants of God are the jewels of His Private Treasure. To ensure that these jewels are untouched while they are temporarily serving in this world, He sealed them with His Spirit until the day of his final redemption.

Entry price

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5.19-21

Anyone who is willing to be different and make to a difference in this world - and to inherit the Kingdom of God - has to pay the fair price, which is to behave according to God's Kingdom. Or would it be possible to live by the darkness and still inherit the Kingdom of Light?

Who follows Me?

"Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'" John 8.12

Walking in the Light is living with a clear conscience, detoxified of any impurity of this evil world. It is to live at peace with oneself and especially with the Holy Spirit.
Living in darkness is to be subject to the immorality imposed by the corrupting society.

We are hated

"If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15.19

We cannot be surprised by the world's hatred for us. This is part of the Christian faith. We should find it strange if the world loved us. In this case, it would show we have nothing to do with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prophetic cry

 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’" Matthew 25.6

The prophetic cry has been echoed around the world. But who will listen? There are virgins waiting for the Bridegroom and virgins corrupting themselves with other boyfriends. Time is near, the faithful virgins know this and are prepared. The unfaithful, however, enjoy life with the delay of the Bridegroom.

Enemies of God

"Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4.4

The Holy Spirit considers all those who are friends with the world to be unfaithful. They are much more than unfaithful, they are considered as enemies of God, just as the devil and his demons.

WIN OR LOSE

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"     Mark 8.36

What good is it to have faith to gain the whole world and not have faith to save your own soul?
Or what good is it to conquer a whole nation and end up being overcome by sin?  

THE REWARD OF FAITH

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."     James 1.12

The race to find a sunny place in this world is cruel and unfair.
The same is true with regards to our eternal salvation.
Because of the constant sacrifices, few reach the finish line.
The crown of life is not for everyone. If it were, there would be no point for its existence.
It is only for winners. It is for those who withstand the ups and downs of life in order to remain faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ.

WHAT IS IT WORTH?

"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"    Matthew 16.26

If you try to gain the world, your soul can only take delight in this until you are about 70, or maybe even 80, if you still have the strength. However, most of these years will be of tiresome work and grief, because everything passes quickly.
But what happens when your physical body dies?
What will happen to your soul?
The wise man does not invest his faith in a life with limits.
On the contrary, he gains by investing his wisdom, vision and faith into his eternal life.  

ANGER

"Be angry, and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil."       Ephesians 6.26-27

The world we live in does not allow us to be perfect. There are moments where we get angry. However, we cannot allow this anger to turn into grief. Before the sun goes down that anger must give way to repentance and forgiveness. 
By doing this, the devil will not find any gaps to enter into your life.

WHO IS WHO

"Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."        James 4.4

This verse clearly defines who is who. The friends of God are enemies of the world and the friends of the world are enemies of God.  
The enemies of God automatically become friends of the devil. The friends of God automatically become enemies of the devil.