Where do you stand in your thoughts about life after death?
Atheists believe there is no God…
Some say “I don’t believe in God and I hate him”. Now think about this for a moment. How can you hate something you don’t believe in? So really they do believe there is a God or they couldn’t make the statement. I’m sure thoughts of God run through their heads from time to time to come to some sort of conclusion of what is now their believe system.
Others are sure but insecure
Sometimes they feel saved but they aren’t sure if they are going to Heaven.
No one is perfect and we don’t live in a perfect world either. The world is full of people who will lead you in the wrong directions and have you doubt your faith. It’s up to you to stand strong in your belief and not waver from them.
Sure and Secure!
When you have come to this point in your faith you know it’s not about you! It’s all about God and his love to send his only son to save our souls. It’s about not just sitting in a pew and letting the preacher do all the work of saving souls! You know you have to get out there and show others with how you live and share the word of God.
Luke 23: 26-43
The Crucifixion of Jesus
26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ 31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[c] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”.
Have you come to grips who Jesus is? Who is he to you? Do you put God first in your life? Do you see your needs?
Examples:
How many have ever told a lie? It makes you a liar. There are no degrees of liars. A tiny lie to not hurt someone’s feelings is still just that a lie! You have to be honest with yourself! Telling yourself you can’t do something when you know you can is only lying to yourself first and then you know after one lie you’ll follow it up with another, then another until you are so consumed by lies you either start to believe them or you forget one and get caught in the middle of a drama filled life you feel you can’t get out of. Many will just push people out of their lives or some may run away and try and start all over again. But until you realize what you’re doing it will happen all over again. There is another way out and that is to confess it and let God sort it out.
How many have stolen something? It doesn’t matter how small or large it was it still makes you a thief.
Has there ever been a time you put something before God? You are committing Idolatry! It clearly states not to put anything before him. I will be the first to admit I’ve done it before. We are creatures of habit and to change a bad habit we have to really work hard at it. We have to want it! It’s like learning to walk as a child. We fall down so many times before we learn to walk without falling. Same goes for putting God first in your life in everything you do. It takes time to retrain your brain but once you start doing it you will see your life change for the better!
We are all sinners and we have to own up to what we have done and not blame others or think you are better than anyone because your sins are less than others. Don’t be a blamer toward your fellow Christians!
In the scripture ‘Jesus, Remember me when you come in your kingdom’! And with his reply when he spoke the words “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”; it was to grab attention!
Truly, means you aren’t going to believe this back in Jesus’ time.
Don’t allow the world to bring you down and doubt what you believe! Our faith, Our Jesus guarantees everlasting life!
Pastor Jeff gave examples of different religions and their belief systems have no guarantees and or relationships with what they believe in; no assurance in them except our son of God, Jesus who died on the cross to save our souls from sin and hell but so we could have everlasting life in heaven!
Don’t take life for granted!
Don’t take your God for granted!
Take time each day and put God first in your life!
Serving Jesus and get your mind off yourself and start thinking about others and not just focusing on the ‘me me me’ life which surrounds us all!
Did you know: If a child doesn’t get saved by the time they are in the 5th grade statically speaking they will never get saved.
Get off your pews and get out for Christ!
The preacher can only do so much but when are you going to get out there and do what God wants you to do!
Stepping up to the plate and hit one for God!
How much does it take someone to invest in God and in your church? Are you watching the plate being passed and not giving when he is blessing your life?
Jesus is the answer to all the world’s problems! Relationships, Marriage, Wars, Our Country’s Leadership, Porn addictions or addictions of any kind!
OWN UP TO YOUR SINS! Ask God for forgiveness of those sins…and leave them with Jesus.
I often say “Let God and Let Go”!
He teaches us through his word to give it to him! God doesn’t want us to stress and worry he wants us
Spread his word… He wants us to have a smile on our face as we spread his word. When we come to let God in our hearts it first started with a smile which lead to a tear and an over whelming feeling of being complete right? At least it was this way for me.
Not every day is going to be a perfect day. There will be ones which don’t feel like you can take another step because you only see what you want to see. Sometimes you have to look beyond the moment in time you are in and see the bigger picture! There are people who won’t ever get past their past or find true happiness in their life because it is much easier to blame others for how they feel their lives are now.
If you could look more at what you do have and less at what you don’t have you will find things will start to change. We’ve heard ‘taking it one day at a time’; sometimes you have to take a minute at a time to get you going. One breathe a time is a good way to get started.
And remember 90 % of prayers won’t matter 100 years from now… so learn to pray for bigger and better things!
Be Blessed and Bless others!
Dee Stevens
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