Tag Archives: everlasting life

Fire Hazard

By 4110fearnot on March 11, 2017 | Leave a comment

It was a morning filled with the chaos of snow. For those who love snow, I’m sure they were enjoying the white fluffy madness. I’ll admit it looked beautiful on the trees; however, I am more thankful for the arrival of spring. I’ve never been a big fan of snow. Driving in the snow is always nerve-wracking. It just so happened that on my drive to work, in front of me was a truck with the fire hazard warning posted on the back. My nerve issues increased as I was concerned I would slide into the truck and that big explosion that we always see in the movies would be my new reality. I kept a very safe distance as I pressed onward.

With the truck before me, I had a nice conversation with God. I considered how I stayed back so far to avoid the fire hazard. I considered how I was intentionally trying to avoid the posted warning before me. The conversation turned to the topic of hell. Heaven and hell are choices. We make a choice. I asked how can someone knowingly travel forward without caution, knowing that without Christ Jesus, the path leads to death and destruction. The Bible is very clear. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Salvation is through Jesus Christ alone (Romans 10:9). He has paid for the sin debt—and that debt was paid in full at Calvary. But there are many who continue to drive closely toward the truck with the fire hazard warning. It grieves me.

Today, remember the cost that was paid by Jesus Christ. Thank Him that He took on the wrath of God for you and me. The wrath of God is satisfied (Romans 5:9). The debt is paid. Everlasting life is ours through Jesus (Romans 6:23). We are right with God because of our loving Savior (Romans 4:25). Pray for those still driving toward the truck marked with hazard. Pray that eyes would be opened. Pray that hearts would be softened. Ask God how you can be a light today in this dark world, pointing to the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

Posted in: Christian Living, Devotionals, Other ministries, Reflections, Uncategorized | Tagged: being safe, being the light, Calvary, choice of heaven or hell, Christ alone, Christ Jesus, driving in the snow, embrace, empower, encourage, equip, Eternal Life, everlasting life, fire hazard, Heaven, hell, hell is a choice, how to be right with God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is the life, Jesus is the truth, Jesus is the Way, Jesus paid for the sin debt, Jesus saves, living intentionally, pointing to Jesus, price of sin, right with God, Romans, Romans 10, Romans 10:9, Romans 5, romans 5:9, Romans 6, Romans 6:23, salvation is through Jesus Christ alone, snow, the debt was paid in full, the way the truth the life, wages of sin is death, warning, warning sign, wrath of God, wrath of God is satisfied, you choose to go to hell

Found Forever

By 4110fearnot on January 6, 2017 | Leave a comment

Philemon is a short letter but it is surely a gem. In Philemon 1:15, Paul writes that Onesimus was lost for only a little while so that Philemon could have him back forever. The forever that is mentioned is not talking about the return of Onesimus to the position of servant to Philemon, for him to serve forever. The forever mentioned is eternity. Onesimus was lost as a runaway for a little while, so that he could return to Philemon with eternal life. He left a slave to Philemon; he would return a slave to Christ.

In the past few months there have been a lot of deaths among family and friends. Whenever someone is called home to the Lord, we grieve in our own ways as we have lost someone we love. We consider how we won’t be able to do something with someone who is now in heaven. We may recognize that one day we will see them again, but it is the today and tomorrow that we see and our loved one isn’t there. Those who have passed away may be lost for a little while, but we will have them back forever if they have put their faith in Christ Jesus.

Today, remember that it is through faith alone in Jesus Christ that we are saved. Remember, that the only way to the Father is through the Son. Remember, that there are people in your life right now that have not heard the Good News. They could be forever lost. Be intentional. Take the time to share the Gospel and to live it out. Pray that those who come along your path will be found forever.

“It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever.” – Philemon 1:15 [NLT]

Posted in: Christian Living, Devotionals, Other ministries, Reflections, Uncategorized | Tagged: a little while, back forever, embrace, empower, encourage, equip, Eternal Life, eternity, everlasting life, forever found, Good news, Gospel, Heaven, Jesus Christ, life eternal, loss, Onesimus, passing away, Philemon, philemon 1, philemon 1:15, share the good news, share the gospel, sharing the Good News, slave to Christ, slave to Philemon

How the Mighty Have Fallen

By 4110fearnot on March 16, 2015 | Leave a comment

In 2 Samuel 1 we read about the death of Saul and Jonathan at the hands of the Philistines. David is told this news and he lamented. He writes this long lamentation that says “how the mighty have fallen” three times (vs. 19-27). It is such a beautiful collection of words as a tribute for these men. As I read through this passage, it is easy to see how David wanted to honor these men; however, it also can serve as a reminder—“How the mighty have fallen.”

No matter how strong we are on our own, we will fall. No matter how much we achieve, we will fall. No matter how high up the ladder we climb by our own human standards, we will fall. We will fall. But that’s not the end of the story. It’s only a small smidgen of life. God has promised us life and life in abundance (John 10:10). His Word says that if we believe in Him, we will have everlasting life (John 3:36). We may fall but we will rise with Him. On His shoulders He carries us home (John 6:40).

You can trust in the promises of God for He is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9). He is true. He is the Promise Keeper. Each of us will fall again and again, but with each sin we are covered by the blood of Christ. Each of us will one day breathe our last breath, but that last breath of air is not the end. Oh how the mighty have fallen— but oh how the children of God will live forever with Him rejoicing together, singing “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8 NIV).

“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” – John 5:24 [NLT]

Posted in: Christian Living, Devotionals, Other ministries | Tagged: 1 Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 1, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Samuel, 2 Samuel 1, abundance, believe, believe in God, blood of Christ, children of God, Christ, condemned, David, David lamented over death of Jonathan, David lamented over death of Saul, David lamented over death of Saul and Jonathan, death, Eternal Life, everlasting life, Faith, faithfulness, faithfulness of God, fall, fallen, forgiven, God, God is faithful, Gospel, Heaven, Holy holy holy, how the mighty have fallen, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John, john 10, John 10:10, John 3, John 3:36, John 5, John 5:24, John 6, John 6:40, Jonathan, lament, lamentation, lamented, Life, Message, mighty, Philistines, promise keeper, promises of God, Revelation, Revelation 4, Revelation 4:8, Revelation Song, Saul, sin, Truth

Turn My Eyes

By 4110fearnot on February 14, 2015 | 1 Comment

Moses had a very intimate relationship with God. Moses said to God, “Let me know your ways so I may understand You more fully” (Exodus 33:13b NLT). He desired to understand God—to truly know God. The Psalmist wrote that, “He (God) made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel” (103:7 NASB). God’s ways must be made known. Israel only knew God by His actions; Moses knew God more intimately. God spoke to Moses. Moses wanted to hear Him, wanted to listen and obey.

I love what the Psalmist writes in 119. Verse 34 begins, “Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. The passage continues, “Lead me in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in Your ways” (34-37 ESV).

What an amazing prayer! Give me understanding. I want to keep Your law with all my heart. Lead me. I delight in Your commands. Incline my heart. May it all be about You. Turn my eyes to You. Keep them away from those things that are worthless. I only want You. Give me life in Your ways. Life everlasting. Lord, fix my eyes on You.

Posted in: Christian Living, Devotionals, Other ministries | Tagged: delight, everlasting life, Exodus, Exodus 33, Exodus 33:13, give me life, give me understanding, God, God made known, God spoke to Moses, hear God, I delight in you, incline my heart, intimate relationship, know God, knowing God, lead me God, lead me in the path, lead me to Your truth, life with God, love God, loving God, make known, Moses, Moses wanted to hear God, Moses wanted to obey God, obedience, obey God, obeying God, pray, Prayer, Psalm, Psalm 119, Psalm 119:34, Psalm 119:35, Psalm 119:36, Psalm 119:37, relationship with God, relationship with Jesus, turn my eyes, worthless things

Food that Sticks

By 4110fearnot on July 15, 2014 | Leave a comment

In life we spend a lot of time in the here and now. We see things from a temporal scope rather than an eternal scope. God has a different time scheme than us. We consider our lives here on earth as our lives. Even when we say we have accepted Jesus and will have eternal life, we again and again take ourselves back to considering time as the time we spend on earth.

As we make plans for our lives, as we look at our lives, we see what time we have here on earth. It’s great to plan. It’s great to consider our steps. But we always must have an eternal focus as well. Our life here on earth is such a short blimp of our eternal life. It’s nothing compared to eternity.

Now Jesus said we aren’t to “waste… energy striving for perishable food… [but] work for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of Man provides.” So how do you do that? You read His Word. You pray for direction from the Spirit. He will provide you with nourishment, spiritual nourishment that will help you to grow in Him and the nourishment will last forever. You might think its okay to snack here and there, but the truth is the food that matters is the food that sticks with you. May you seek His food and may you see things from His eternal perspective. Life is so different when you see things through Him.

“Don’t waste your energy striving for perishable food like that. Work for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of Man provides. He and what he does are guaranteed by God the Father to last.”
-John 6:27 [MSG]

Posted in: Christian Living, Devotionals, Other ministries, Uncategorized | Tagged: consider your steps, eternal, eternal focus, eternal food, Eternal Life, eternity, everlasting life, focus, focused on eternal, focused on temporal, focused on temporary things, food, food from God, food that nourishes, food that sticks, future, God's food, here and now, Jesus, John, John 6, John 6:27, lasting life, making a plan, past, perishable, present, temporal

Between You

By 4110fearnot on October 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

As a parent, a dog owner, and a former caretaker, I have made an observation. When there is something that may seem to be dangerous to a person or a pet, people and animals feel safer in the situation if there is someone between them and the danger. I can note that my best friend would most likely jokingly say that if I was between the danger, it gives her a chance to push me toward the danger and run. All joking aside, the truth is that we feel comfort knowing we are not alone with the situation, and there is this protective barrier that causes us to feel safe as well. My children were not so scared to approach the scary looking clown when they were little if I was standing on the side closest to the clown. It gave them security. They knew they were safe with mum.

We have a barrier of protection from God our Father. We are facing much more than scary looking clowns in this life, but God promises us that we are under His protective wing. “He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge” (Psalm 91:4a NASB). The Bible says that “He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:11 NASB). Isaiah 49:2 says that the shadow of God’s hand conceals us, and we can rest knowing that our walls are continually before Him (v.16).

God is between us and the world, protecting us from evil. This is not saying that evil will not come our way. It simply means that He will keep protection of our soul. When we are His children, we have the promise of victory in Christ. We have the promise of everlasting life with Him. There will be evil– bad things will come your way– but you can find comfort knowing that God is between you and the evil. He is your barrier of protection. You are able to seek Him at all times and at any location to help you walk by whatever is trying to break you down, cause you to fall, and disrupt your life. We never need to do life alone.

“The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.”
– Psalm 121:7-8 [NASB]

Posted in: Christian Living, Devotionals, Other ministries, Uncategorized | Tagged: barrier, Christ, Eternal Life, everlasting life, evil, Father, forever, God, guard, Isaiah 49:16, Isaiah 49:2, promise, protection, Psalm 121:7, Psalm 121:8, Psalm 91:11, soul, victory, world

Unashamed

By 4110fearnot on October 4, 2012 | Leave a comment

As the school bus passed by, my daughter waved to me, unafraid of what her classmates might say if they spotted her waving to her mum. She was not ashamed to show her love for me. I’ll admit that after the bus was out of view, I thought of her wave and was teary eyed that she shows her love despite the consequences she may face. I sometimes wonder if we are that open to show our love for Christ.

We are told that if we are ashamed of Christ, that He too will be ashamed of us (Mark 8:38). Yet, we are not always boastful of what Christ has done for our lives. We are not always quick to tell our co-workers about Jesus because most of the staff is not Christian. When we get through a difficult situation, we sometimes would rather attribute it to some self-help book or quick fix solution instead of sharing what God did for us. Some people skip praying when they are out at a public restaurant because they do not want people staring.

Jesus stood on trial with humility. Jesus hung on the cross with humility. Jesus was not ashamed to undergo whatever it took– and it took everything– so that we could have a relationship with God and have everlasting life. I pray today that you will ask the Spirit for guidance to share your faith today. I hope you will be able to step out and share Jesus and see how greatly it blesses you and others.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
– Romans 1:16 [NASB]

Posted in: Christian Living, Devotionals, Other ministries, Uncategorized | Tagged: believes, bless, boastful, Christ, Eternal Life, everlasting life, God, humility, Jesus, Life, love, love for Christ, Mark 8:38, not ashamed, praying, relationship, Romans, Romans 1, Romans 1:16, Salvation, share Gospel, share Jesus, show love, unashamed

The Car Park

By 4110fearnot on September 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

As I walked by the church car park, I noticed that a lady pulled her car into the lot, and then she turned around and drove out of the car park, only to park down the street. She used the lot simply to turn around so that she could get on the side of the street she wished to park. I thought then about the options that we have with the church parking area. We all drive into the church car park with the intentions of turning around. Some of us wish to turn our lives around, and we enter the car park with the desire to get to know God and have a relationship with Christ. Then there are other people who go into the parking area simply because they are using it as a way to turn their vehicles around so that they can go in another direction.

But then, there are the other people– the people who are considering what the church has to offer– but then change their mind and leave quickly, trying not to be noticed. I wonder how many people do that at our churches. Do we have a welcoming church? Have we placed out a welcome mat, or are we keeping the doors closed up? This is not really a question about the grounds maintenance and the presence of a welcome mat, but rather, a deep question that we need to all consider as we enter the walls of our church. If we are to share the gospel and bring people to know Christ, we must certainly be inviting. How is your church inviting? How are you inviting? This isn’t a question meant to judge and rate your church’s outreach program. This is a question to get you to consider more ways to share Christ. There’s so many people out there who haven’t heard about Jesus yet. Lets not lose hope.

“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.”
– John 4:35-36 [ESV]