@2017 Dream Of Jesus
None of us know when our lives
will come to an end, which could come suddenly and unexpectedly. We must also recognize that the days in which
we live make the Rapture more imminent than it has ever been. The clear choice, therefore, is to ensure you
are spiritually ready before it's too late.
The Lord is not slow in keeping
his promise, as some understand slowness.
He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to
come to repentance. But the day of the
Lord will come like a thief. The heavens
will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the
earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
Some people, caught up in
"ungodly and worldly passions," think (if only subconsciously) that
they will simply wait and become a "tribulation saint". That is, some people think that they will
turn to Jesus and begin living righteously after the Rapture happens. That is an extremely risky way to approach
eternity! First, as noted previously,
there is no guarantee that you will live to see tomorrow. If you do live to the tribulation, it will be
very difficult to persevere and live without being subjected to great
punishment from the Antichrist, the world in which he'll rule, and the wrath of
God that will be unleashed during that period.
Moreover, hoping to just be a tribulation saint may not even be a
legitimate option...
We read an interesting parable in
Matthew 25:1-13 (just after Jesus provided an overview of end-times events)
about ten bridesmaids (often used in scripture as a symbol for the Church) and
a bridegroom (Jesus). Some had oil (the
Holy Spirit) and some did not. Those
ready and with oil were taken when the bridegroom returned. The foolish ones that were not prepared,
however, were left behind. When they
showed up later and wanted admittance into the wedding banquet (heaven), they
were told, "I tell you the truth, I don't know you." Consequently, that parable strongly indicates
that if you had a chance to be saved and chose to live your life as you
pleased, you will not get a second chance!
If you have put off the decision to make Jesus your Lord and Savior, I
urge you not to wait any longer...
How to Become a Christian
If you're not a Christian, then
the following information will be the most important information you ever read
— if you act upon it. (If you claim to
be a Christian but you are not living as one, then you're encouraged to read
the section below entitled "What Now", as it especially applies to
you.) Jesus said in Revelation 3:20,
“Here I am! I stand at the door and
knock. If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Jesus is asking that you have fellowship with
Him — even in the last book of the Bible.
It's another example of God's desire that nobody perish!
The Bible is very clear: in order
to go to heaven (either after you die or as a result of the Rapture), you must
be “born again”. Jesus said in John 3:3,
“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born
again.” What it means to be “born again”
(and, therefore, how you can become a Christian) is actually quite simple. God’s plan of salvation was designed so that
as many people as possible would turn to Him, as He is a loving Creator and
very much wants an eternal relationship with you. To use an analogy, God has taken 99 steps
towards you, but does ask that you take one step toward Him in order that it
may be of your own free will.
The Process is as Easy as These 4
Steps:
1. Acknowledge God is the one and
only God of the universe.
The very first commandment God
gave was: You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20)
Also, it is important to realize that the only way to heaven is through
Jesus Christ, God's son. Jesus says in
John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me.”
2. Understand that no sin you
have committed will keep you from heaven.
The Bible tells us, “For all have
sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Not accepting God’s plan of salvation,
however, is the one sin that will prevent you from going to heaven.
3. Repent from your past sins.
The Bible explains, “If we claim
to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Jesus said, “For God so loved the
world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life. For God
did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world
through him.” (John 3:16-17)
In essence, all the steps above
can be followed by reciting with a sincere heart what is called “the sinner’s
prayer”:
God, I acknowledge you are the
one, true God. I know that I have sinned
against you and that my sins separate me from you. I am very sorry and want to turn away from my
sinful past. Please forgive me and help
me to quit sinning. I believe that Your
perfect Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, rose again, and is now alive in
heaven. I understand Jesus hears my
prayer, and I invite Him to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule
and reign in my heart from this day forward.
Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey your commands and convict
me when I sin. I pledge to learn more
about you. My greatest purpose in life
is now to follow your example and to do Your will for the rest of my life. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
What Now? - Time to Follow our Only God!
If you recited that prayer and
really meant it, then you are a Christian!!!
The following information will help you begin your wonderful journey and
to grow in your knowledge and commitment; just as you recited you would do in
the prayer. The four main things I would
recommend, described in more detail below, are:
1. Get Actively Involved In a Good Church2. Spend Time Reading the Bible Every Day
3. Develop a Habit of Praying to God
4. Fill Your Life With Godly Activities, Friends, and Entertainment
1. Get Actively Involved In a
Good Church
Finding a church home is very
important because fellowship with other believers can help strengthen your
knowledge and spiritual walk with the Lord.
We read these important words in Hebrews 10:25, “Let us not give up
meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one
another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” In other words, your fellowship with other
believers is very important!
Baptism is a public
acknowledgement of your new commitment to Christ and represents the “washing
away” of your sins; therefore you should find a church that honors that act of
faith and commitment. If Christ Himself,
being perfect in all ways, provided an example of being baptized before He
began His ministry, then it stands to reason that we should follow that
example. We also read in Luke 12:8, “I
tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge
him before the angels of God.”
Finding a good church can be a
challenge, but your diligence will be rewarded many times over. Also be sure to get involved in more than
just attending Sunday morning services so that you will get “plugged in” and be
able to build important, lasting friendships with fellow believers. Going in at the beginning of church service
and slipping out at the end will not help you get involved.
2. Spend Time Reading the Bible
Every Day
The Creator of the universe has
left us with words of comfort, instruction, wisdom, and hope via the Bible;
which is an amazing concept! Sadly, it's
also well known that the Bible is the least read best seller that has ever
existed. Now that you have the Holy
Spirit in you, He will help you understand the Bible in a way that could not
have been possible before. Just as food
and water nourishes our physical body, the Bible nourishes our soul. Therefore, just as one would not neglect
feeding their body, we should not neglect the feeding of our soul. A good study Bible is essential. I can highly recommend The Full Life Study
Bible for both new Christians and people that have studied the Bible for years
and would like to gain further insight.
It may help to also find a good daily devotional to help nudge you along
each day.
3. Develop a Habit of Praying to
God
A Christian's prayer life is
extremely important. It is our way to
communicate with God (you should feel incredibly honored and loved knowing that
the Creator of the entire universe wants an intimate relationship with you!). We read in the Bible that Jesus exemplified
prayer to us many times, and if He, being perfect, needed to pray to remain in
the Father's will and to keep that important line of communication open, how
much more do we need to pray? Indeed,
Philippians 4:6-7 commands us to pray, "Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus."
When you pray, is not necessary
that you always be on your knees, with hands folded and eyes closed (though
doing so from time to time can also serve a purpose and help you approach the
throne of God humbly and in reverence of Him).
God wants to hear from you often, which mean you can silently communicate
with God frequently throughout the day (in your car, at work, at school, or
wherever you may be). You can pray to
give thanks, to praise Him, to ask for wisdom, and to ask for help. Like any relationship, your relationship with
God also requires good communication that is done honestly and often!
4. Fill Your Life With Godly
Activities, Friends, and Entertainment
Sadly, many people who call
themselves “Christians” do not follow this important rule. While nobody is perfect (and dying to sin is
a daily process), it is important that Christians make every attempt to tap
into the power of the Holy Spirit and, therefore, live Holy lives. Living righteously (but not "self
righteously") is very important and is commanded throughout the
Bible. Old lifestyles, old habits, and
sometimes even old friends will have to be given up. The Apostle Paul, through the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit, wrote:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers,
in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and
pleasing to God— this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve
what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
Christians are not sinless
people, just forgiven sinners. Yet, as
noted in the previous verses and those cited at the beginning of this web page,
we are still instructed to live godly lives.
It bears repeating:
For the grace of God that brings
salvation has appeared to all men. It
teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live
self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for
the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus
Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify
for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Thus, the distinction is that,
while we cannot be perfect, we can be godly.
If you are a new Christian, then please understand that the process can
take time. It is important that you ask
the Holy Spirit to help you. Notice the
preceding verse calls the process a "transformation", which implies
that it is a drawn out process: like when a caterpillar eventually becomes a
butterfly. As previously noted, getting
involved in a good church, reading your Bible, and praying will help you with
that process.
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