I felt great urgency to place this in the September 16th Edition, but for the lack of space it had to wait until now... A few days later another Devotional Seven Marks Of A Bible Christian By John Lavier crossed my path and I understood why it had to wait... Please read it with an open mind, search your Bible and dwell on the Word and not what others have told you...
Friday, August 27
Good Morning Everyone,
There is an uneasiness in my Spirit as I get ready to go after the papers in McComb and start delivering today... I headed out of Bogalusa on Thursday, Aug. 26 to get the papers, but a sudden headache in the back of my head helped me realize just how tired I was... A realization that I might make it there, but was not sure that I could make it home... As I turned and drove back to Bogalusa, the headache stopped and a calmness filled me...
Last night I slept for over six hours... I cannot remember the last time I did this without being sick... Even with the Shingles last month and a fatigued feeling I slept off and on but not for long at any one time... The redness in my right eye that had Shingles remains blood shot and aching... There are a few places in my scalp that are still sore... I pushed myself too much this week and probably got too stressed out at times... Praying the Shingles do not return... Chronic cough has returned in the last week... Over a month too soon for my yearly bout with Bronchitis...
Part of a verse comes to mind - Absent from the body - Present with the Lord... I wonder is this something I was taught as a child, but is not in the Bible... I look it up...
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 ( For we walk by faith, not by sight: ) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
The thoughts of Friends of my past that have already faced the Angel of Death and made life's final journey comes to mind... My Dad, RonE, Catherine, Abraham, Donnie, Frank, there are more, but the names do not come to me right now... It is enough to know that these Christian friends are truly in a better place... So many face this each day, their family saying "they are in a better place", but without that person’s realization that JESUS is the Only Way to this better place they face the only alternative - The Lake of FIRE... So many people look at this and say, GOD is a good God and would not punish us that severely for not looking upon HIS Son as the Savior of the World... He/She was a good person... Good people don't go to Hell, or do they???
For those that read this and they have loved one, relative or friend that has faced death recently or perhaps just a breath away and prayers are being lifted to spare their life for a few moments longer, I give you this to think about...
Forget the Fire, forget the unbelievable pain, the stench, and focus if you will on a dark lonely place... Pitch dark, no light, you speak but do not hear, all you have is your thoughts of a life on earth... All the bad times, none of the good... Not so much as a glimmer of love left in your body... All the negative emotions we try to avoid on earth are magnified... To end this is your desire, but the end never comes... All your friends that looked upon Hell as the Eternal Party Place are no where to be found, they are in their own lonely dark place... Alone... The thoughts of your child, friend or spouse that accepted JESUS as their personal savior and are in Heaven with JESUS is blocked... THERE IS NO JOY in the fact that at least someone you knew made it to Heaven... Worst of All, the realization that your refusal to accept JESUS as your Savior and your desire to follow the ways of the World has been you downfall... The words of satan ring true in your ear as you think back to the many times the Holy Spirit tried to convict you of your sinful ways and satan kept telling you that you had time to be a goody two shoe Christian... Have fun now, because once you become a Christian the fun is over... Well you waited a breath too long... Your chance has passed... By not choosing, you made your decision... It's not what GOD will do, it is because of what you didn't do... You Did It... It was Your Decision and You Blew It...
Now you are alone for all eternity... No Light, No Love, No Joy, No Smiles, Not even a happy thought to dwell on, and worst of all - No JESUS...
JESUS said in Matthew 10:28 "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
There are a lot of people that call themselves "CHRISTIANS", but are Christian in name only... Good people, Generous People, People in Church on the front pew every time the door opens that will realize one breath too late that their path to Heaven has lead them to the Broad Gate of Destruction and the Lake of FIRE...
Not by what I say or by what man has said, but by what GOD has said... The Bible - Read, Study, Verify what you have been taught... Don't pick and choose parts of the Bible to believe... It's All or None... There are no contradictions...
Over 350,000 people will die today... Many will spend Eternity in the Lake of FIRE...
Matthew 7:13-15 “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. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
I ask you One Question -
Do You Know My JESUS???
Seven Marks Of A Bible Christian By John Lavier
Editor Note: John Lavier is not a local writer; however I find that his Devotional was a great follow up for the previous Devotional by Richard Spurlock entitled "Good Morning Denominational Christian"
1. Gods people are a SAVED people.
Theirs is not a hope-so salvation, but a know-so salvation. They know on the authority of Gods own Holy Word. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life (1 John 5:13). Having believed, they are saved from sin. They are saved from the wages of sin, which is death. They are saved from the lake of fire, and the blackness of darkness forever. They are saved, not by their own works, but by God, Who hath SAVED us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began (2 Tim. 1:9).
2. Gods people are a SANCTIFIED people.
But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through SANCTIFICATION of the Spirit and belief of the truth (2 Thess. 2:13). Like the Corinthians, they were sinners of the deepest dye, yet now it may be said of them: But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6:11). Sanctification is that work of the Holy Spirit by which the believer, even before he is conscious of his justification, is set apart to God. It is based upon the redemptive work of Christ. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Heb. 10:10). Christ Himself becomes the believers sanctification. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30).
3. Gods people are a SEPARATED people.
Just as God of old put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel (Exo. 11:7), so there is today a difference between the people of God and the people of the world. Jesus said, If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you (John 15:19). The separation is to be manifested by Gods people, for the Lords command is, Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you (2 Cor. 6:17). Though in the world, Gods people are not of the world, and they are to walk in separation from the evil that surrounds them.
4. Gods people are a SPIRITUAL people.
Paul wrote, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the SPIRIT, if so be that the SPIRIT of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the SPIRIT of Christ, he is none of his (Rom. 8:9). All of Gods people are indwelt by the Spirit, and their bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost. They are taught by the Spirit (John 14:26), they are led by the Spirit (Rom. 8:14), and they are empowered by the Spirit (Acts 1:8). They should all be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18) and manifest the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, faith, meekness, temperance (Gal. 5:22-23).
5. Gods people are a SEALED people.
The believer is instructed, And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are SEALED unto the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30). Then in Ephesians 1:13, In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that Holy Spirit of promise. The words after that ye believed are in the Greek only one word pisteusantes, which means believing. Simultaneously with their believing the gospel, Gods people are sealed. First, the seal signifies a finished transaction. The work of our redemption has been completed. Jesus cried, It is finished (John 19:30). The seal also signifies ownership. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are Gods (1 Cor. 6:19-20). They belong to God. His seal is upon them. Finally, the seal signifies security. They are sealed unto the day of redemption. There will be a safe delivery of Gods purchased possession at the end of the line. They are safe and secure in Christ. Sealed in Him so that all the legions of hell cannot touch them.
6. Gods people are a SEATED people.
The Lord Jesus, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God (Heb. 10:12). Those who have trusted Him and are resting in His finished and all-perfect work, are also seated with Him. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, and hath raised us up together, and made us SIT together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:4-6). The saved are, in very truth, a heavenly people. Their names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20). Their citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Their home is in heaven (2 Cor. 5:1). Their blessings are in heaven (Eph. 1:3). Their inheritance is in heaven (1 Pet. 1:4). They are seated in heaven. As members of the Body, they are there with the Head, seated at the Fathers right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.
7. Gods people are a SATISFIED people.
The prophet asked, Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? (Isa. 55:2) Many there are today who are giving all their time and attention to the things of earth; seeking satisfaction in that which satisfieth not. How happy are those who have found Him Who alone can satisfy. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he SATISFIETH the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness (Psa. 107:8-9). Lasting joy, and peace, and satisfaction is to be found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. He satisfies. Daily, hourly, moment by moment, He satisfies. All through lifes journey, He satisfies, and when Gods children close their eyes to this earthly scene, and open them in the realms of endless glory Ah! then, their satisfaction will be complete. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be SATISFIED, when I awake, with thy likeness (Psa. 17:15).
