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Friday, April 25,
2008
The End of the Trail
1 Peter 1:7-9 That the trial of your
faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be
tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the
appearing of Jesus Christ: (8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom,
though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable
and full of glory: (9) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation
of your souls. (KJV)
Wasn’t the whole idea for accepting God’s
plan of salvation into your life was to make it to the end and receive His
eternal reward of inheritance? Having gone through the trial of this life
which one can only be an overcomer by faith, it is the salvation of your soul
that is of the utmost importance, especially when the day comes that you
stand before God and give an account of your life; this life of faith in
the message delivered by Christ. Jesus Christ is the first and the last; it
was His word of life that brought you into the Kingdom and He will have the
last say concerning your entrance into His eternal one. He is the author
and finisher of our faith as well, so if you have been resurrected into the
realm of the Spirit and are confident that the message you preach and
follow came from the Father through the Son, then you will not be ashamed
when it is time to be resurrected into His eternal realm forever. You may
have entered this race with good intentions, but it is so vital that you
continue and endure to the end so that you will be saved and receive the
eternal inheritance. While many think all they have to do is answer some
alter call to be saved, the truth be known, that is just the beginning; now
you need to continue in the faith grounded and settled and don’t be moved
away from the only hope of the gospel, which is Jesus Christ and His
message of faith to the believers, a faith without which we cannot be
pleasing to Him.
Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith
unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity. (KJV)
Do you know what the worst part about
reading the above verses is, that the people described were actually
believers, those that had a zeal for God but obviously it wasn’t according
to His knowledge; God’s people perishing for lack of knowledge. Take note
of the fact that we are not just talking about a few here, but verse 22 is
quite clear to point out that it is many that end up being deceived and do
not receive the reward of inheritance, the salvation of their own souls. Somewhere
along the line in their walk they were no longer communicating with the
Father, but rather the father of lies who comes to steal the truth, kill
the life within them, and then watch their soul eternally destroyed in the
lake of fire. Are you totally sure of the message you are hearing today is
of God? Does it line up with His word or have you been sidetracked and are
now following a different protocol? Are there question marks in your life
concerning your walk? When you stand before God someday you will know and
not guess you are one of His?
Remember the word of God tells us that
whatsoever is not of faith is sin, so if it isn’t the Lord directing your
steps then you are none of His. Those that wish to enter into the Lord’s
eternal inheritance need to let the Lord in their life now, today, so that
there will be no doubt or question marks concerning their reward of
inheritance. Simply put people, if you don’t let the Lord into your life then
He is not going to let you into His either. What rightfully belonged to
people who were at one time children of God was stolen from them without
them even knowing it, because somewhere along the path of life they started
out on they turned and followed a different path that led to destruction.
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait
gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (14) Because strait is
the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be
that find it. (KJV)
There is only one path that leads to
eternal life; and sad to say, only a few who find it. Years ago there was
on old song that said ‘there’s a whole lot of people going home’, however
the truth be known only a few will actually make it in, while many will be
rejected. There is only one path, one Lord, and one faith that lead us unto
life; and without this knowledge of who, what, and where this path is for
you, you will not receive your eternal reward. Have you ever heard the
statement ‘all paths lead to the same place’? Well that’s true, because
when it involves any other way into the Kingdom besides the one our Lord
said would get you in, then all those other ways are that of a thief and a
robber, which is widely known as the path of destruction. Don’t be deceived
into thinking that just because you joined some religious organization, or
because you tithe twice a week or any other of our own works, you have your
ticket stamped. Without faith, as the Bible says the just shall live by
faith, without hearing this message on a daily basis then acting on what is
heard you will end up eternally on the outside wishing in, knowing what was
yours and what you had access to only to let it slip away from your grasp.
1 Corinthians 15:53-57 For this
corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality. (54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption,
and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to
pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (55) O
death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (56) The sting of
death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to
God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV)
You know folks, this once saved always
saved doctrine just doesn’t fly. Oh it sounds good and sure is an ear
tickler which gives many a warm feeling inside, but the truth be known your
salvation is based on your ability to hear the message delivered by Christ,
then being a doer and not a hearer only unto the end. Your born again
experience was just the beginning, now we will see if you will truly allow
Jesus Christ to be the author and finisher of your faith so that you can
receive your eternal inheritance. Again as we notice in the above verses,
that it is not until we are given a new incorruptible body are we then
allowed access into God’s kingdom; then and only then will we escape the
second death which is eternal separation from the Father. So before you
kick back in your easy chair and think you got this thing licked, heed the
warnings in the word of God so that you can continue in the love of God and
spend your eternity with Him.
Revelation 2:11 He that hath an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall
not be hurt of the second death. (KJV)
Strong’s
definition for overcometh:
3528
nikao (nik-ah'-o); from 3529; to subdue (literally or figuratively):
KJV-- conquer, overcome, prevail, get the
victory.
You know the Lord just didn’t ask us to
squeak by or hope we are one of His, but rather we should be an overcomer
and walk in victory. It is our faith in what Christ has begun in us and
continues to do that gives us this victory and will give us access to His
eternal reward so that we can spend eternity doing a victory lap in His
kingdom. Don’t be fooled Church, don’t be lulled back into a spiritual
sleep and entombed into the realm of the flesh again, but hold fast your profession
of faith without wavering, a message coming from the only author who will
lead you to victory.
Hebrews 10:35-39 Cast not away therefore
your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. (36) For ye have
need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might
receive the promise. (37) For yet a little while, and he that shall come
will come, and will not tarry. (38) Now the just shall live by faith: but
if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (39) But we are
not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the
saving of the soul. (KJV)
In this fast paced world patience is not
something that is often spoke of, let alone put into practice. But by
letting patience have its perfect work we can mature in the Lord, lacking
nothing. You have been reborn, resurrected to a new life in Christ, which
is just the beginning. Continue in the faith, letting the good work that
our Lord began in you to continue to the end so that you can receive what
is rightfully yours, the salvation of your soul.
Romans 6:22 But now being made free from
sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the
end everlasting life. (KJV)
My prayer for each and everyone is that
the end of this trail here will result in the beginning of their eternal
reward with our heavenly Father.
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