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Thursday, November
15, 2007
A Continual Process
Deuteronomy 28:1-2
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice
of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I
command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above
all nations of the earth: (2) And all these blessings shall come on thee,
and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy
God. (KJV)
When one thinks of
salvation, an eternity with God, no more pain, sorrow, or tears, it is
comforting to know that someday when we leave this realm, there is a much
better life waiting for us in the next one. Some think that salvation is a
one and done process, all one needs to do is walk up to some alter, recite
some prayer, and then they are saved, set for this eternal place in heaven
so many speak of. There are those that would even go so far to say that
once saved always saved, eternal securities is another term used as well.
Before you jump on that ear tickling feel good bandwagon, it would do you
well to look at what the word of God says, and what the conditions of this
salvation truly are if you plan on being an inheritor of the kingdom of
God. A simple word like ‘if’ which means on the condition of, can add a
whole new eternal meaning to the true plan of salvation. So if you read
Deuteronomy 28, the first 14 verses sound great, describing all the
blessings that will come upon not only the hearers, but the doers as well.
But it doesn’t end there.
Deuteronomy 28:15
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the
LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which
I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and
overtake thee: (KJV)
Remember Church,
God’s people, this Bible is written to us, the blessings are real and
available, as well as the curses. If you read the rest of Deuteronomy 28,
you see that life from this point on is rather unpleasant and is a death
sentence to those that continue on this path, no matter who they are, or
even the fact that at some time in their life they made a commitment to
God. You are a child of God, adopted into the family of Christ; salvation
is not a ticket to sin, or a free pass to live like the devil. As sure as
there are blessings, be aware the curses are still in play, and no one is
immune to them, just a matter of which path you choose to walk.
John 15:6-7 If a
man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men
gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (7) If ye
abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it
shall be done unto you. (KJV)
Call this an
endurance race, once you have entered, you need to follow the instructor
and His instructions if you wish to inherit eternal life. You need to
observe all the terms and conditions of Father’s last will and testament
given in His word, the fine print if you would, so that you realize that
having made this commitment, now it’s time to follow through. Looking at
verse 6, the branch is withering, drying out. At some point it was actually
a part of the vine, but was cut off from the source of life. Note to
Church, if you are not sure what is cast into the fire; Revelation 20:15
explains it. Think of a job, if you went to the interview, and you like the
job and the benefits, and was hired and told to start on Monday, and you
didn’t show up till Friday, what makes you think you’re going to get a
paycheck? So why would people think we can do that to God? Simply put, if
you don’t make salvation a way of life, a total commitment to the things of
God, expect to reap what you sow, and don’t think you are above the law of
faith, God does not play favorites no matter who you are or who you think
you are.
Romans 11:21-23
For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare
not thee. (22) Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them
which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his
goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (23) And they also, if they
abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff
them in again. (KJV)
It would be my
pleasure to just write of the blessings and joy of the Lord, but I would
not be able to speak on behalf of our Lord if I did not remind the Church
of the flip side as well, so give heed to the voice of the Lord, so that
you don’t fall from grace.
Colossians 1:21-23
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked
works, yet now hath he reconciled (22) In the body of his flesh through
death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (23)
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away
from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to
every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
(KJV)
Jesus Christ was
sent by God to bring His message of salvation, the plan of reconciliation;
not only what allows you access into this plan, but how to maintain this
relationship as well. So will you continue in this plan, so that you can
remain blameless without fault in His sight, and receive the reward of
inheritance?
John 8:31-32 Then
said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word,
then are ye my disciples indeed; (32) And ye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free. (KJV)
By staying in the
word continually, you will be a follower indeed, doing the will of our
Father. It is knowing the truth that will continually set one free from the
bondage of the flesh and allow the spirit to take over in an area that has
hindered our walk in the past.
Hebrews 3:14-15
For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our
confidence stedfast unto the end; (15) While it is said, To day if ye will
hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (KJV)
What are you
holding true to, will you let God be true and mans doctrines be the lie, or
are you following a crowded slippery slope leading to destruction? You may
have started this race with good intentions, but will you finish strong or
drop off?
Matthew 10:22 And
ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to
the end shall be saved. (KJV)
It may not be a
popular path, but it is the only one that leads to our eternal home. Are
you in it for the long haul? To be
continued.
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