To God who gave me not only physical life so many years ago. And a renewed spiritual life 42 years later. To Him I owe it all. I am blessed beyond my deepest thoughts.
To my mother and father who raised me and taught me right from wrong. The meaning of a dollar. The value of respect. The freedom to choose my career, my life. Who didn't really understand but supported me in all my endeavors. Thank you.
I was far from perfect, I used to follow the course of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who works in the sons of disobedience. I was BY Nature a child of God's wrath. For there is a way that seems right to a person, but it's way is death. (Eph 2;)
God's Laws , His Commandments mean something. His Word still stands. Wickedness, evil, sin over powers the hearts of the profane. And without Jesus Christ all is hopeless...all is lost.The unregenerate HATE the God of Scripture. And many Christians, so-called--portray God--as a genie in a lamp at their beck and call for health, wealth, a trouble free exsistence.
Yet Jesus Himself said,"in this life you will have tribulation but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
And Paul the Apostle of Christ himself said, 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2 Tim 3:12)
Without Christ there is no hope. Only dishonor (disgrace) without value, worthless in the sight of God. (all our righteous acts are as filthy rags Is. 64:6).
To the ones who have been brought from death to life and from darkness to light by the grace of God through faith and not of themselves.... But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13-14)
Those who have repented, confessed , cried out to God, and proclaimed" "Have mercy on me, a sinner." To those born again, Jesus transfers. His perfection... (we are repositioned before God as righteous not that we ourselves are righteous, but when God the Father sees us He sees His Son)... we are declared as honorable, of value and worth, to stand in His presence. The blood of Christ (God's anointed One) cleanses...the blood of Jesus (The Savior) covers.
"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."( Jude 24-25)
Sin permeates every sinew of our being. Nothing we do can ingratiate us to God. (Is. 64:6) Only His regenerating gift to believe in the only name under heaven by which we can be saved, accomplished, and continues to accomplish God's plan for the redemption of His people.
God said "Life is in the blood." Therefore a spiritual blood transfusion was necessary. His righteousness poured out to wash us clean of our unrighteousness. His obedience for our disobedience. His perfection for our imperfection.
How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?(Heb 9:14)
For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.(Col 1:19-20)
But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph. 2:13)
He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." (Acts 17:31)
In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Heb. 9:22)
There is a problem with the human race. That problem is our rebellion, our hatred, our disdain for the God of the Bible. " Because the carnal mind is enmity (hatred) against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God."(Romans 8:7-8)
Every other god, idol, idea is OK. All are one. All roads lead to God. That is a lie straight from the lowest depths of the pit. And mankind is quick to accept and embrace that thought. Why?
"The god of this age(The devil-satan-serpent of old) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.' (2 Cor 4:4)
Where will you spend eternity?
As I enter into another year this day, I realize that this is not my home. My citizenship is in heaven. It is a promise from God Himself. He has prepared a place for me. It wasn't anything I did or will ever do. I simply cried out to God and he brought me from the pit, the miry clay, hopelessness and depair, and set my feet upon a Rock and that Rock was/is Christ.
There is no other way. It's not me that says that, it is the Word of God Himself.
"This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" (2 Peter 1:17)
I will leave you with Jesus the Christ's own words to Peter...
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. (Matt 16:13-17)
May you likewise be Blessed.
If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, "Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:9-13)
