An Open Letter to Those Left Behind

Sometime in the near future an event of unprecedented proportions is going to occur. At the same time it takes an eye to blink, countless numbers of people will disappear. This will be a shock to the systems of the world. This will be an astounding event of biblical proportions. If you are one of those remaining on earth after this event, you might wonder, “What just happened?” This letter is for you. It’s an “open letter,” meaning, it’s a letter for you and anyone else wondering what has happened. This is an open letter for all to see.

What Happened? The Rapture Happened

In 1970, during the Jesus People revival, Larry Norman wrote a song entitled, “I Wish We’d All Been Ready, that expressed the eschatology (i.e. doctrine of Last Things) of that movement. It became a very popular song among the young people coming to the LORD. It’s a song about what will one day happen when the Rapture occurs. Here are the lyrics:

I Wish We’d All Been Ready Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Life was filled with guns and war
And everyone got trampled on the floor
I wish we'd all been ready
Children died, the days grew cold
A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold
I wish we'd all been ready
There's no time to change your mind
The Son has come and you've been left behind

[Verse 2]
A man and wife asleep in bed
She hears a noise and turns her head, he's gone
I wish we'd all be ready

Two men walking up a hill

One disappears and one’s left standing still
I wish we'd all been ready
There's no time to change your mind
The Son has come and you've been left behind

[Verse 3]
Life was filled with guns and war
And everyone got trampled on the floor
I wish we'd all been ready
Children died, the days grew cold
A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold
I wish we'd all been ready
There's no time to change your mind
How could you have been so blind?
The Father spoke, the demons dined
The Son has come and you've been left behind

[Outro]
You've been left behind
You've been left behind
You've been left behind
You've been left behind

 

If something like that happened you’d want to know “why?” You’d probably want to apply as many resources as possible to finding the answer to the missing persons. The Bible speaks of an event in the future that will have a very similar effect only on a (hopefully) much broader range. This event is called The Rapture.

The Rapture will be a sudden event. The Bible describes the Rapture as a shockingly sudden event:

• 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 (NKJV) - ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

According to Siri, the average eyeblink takes 350,000 microseconds or 1/3 of a second. Just that suddenly, the Rapture will occur.

The Rapture will be a snatching away by Jesus. The Rapture is also described as Jesus coming in the clouds to receive believers to Himself in the clouds:

• 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 (NKJV) - ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

The phrase “caught up” is a translation of the Greek term harpagesometha (Future/Passive/Indicative of harpadzo which means will be carried off, will be taken, will be snatched away, will be caught up, will be seized. Jesus will one day come and catch us up to Him in the clouds in the twinkling of an eye. The Rapture involves a sudden snatching away.

The Rapture will separate people. Jesus spoke of such an event in His Olivet Discourse saying:

• Matthew 24:36–44 (NKJV) - ³⁶ “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. ³⁷ But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ³⁸ For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, ³⁹ and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. ⁴² Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

The Rapture is not only sudden and snatching, but it involves a separating of people. The Rapture will be a time when people will be separated. Born again believers in Jesus will leave unbelievers behind. True believers will leave false believers behind. Believing family members will leave unbelieving family members behind. Believing friends will leave unbelieving friends behind.

Nothing can be more frightening than the fear of losing a loved one. But those who depart could not be in a safer place when they are taken. They will be with Jesus. The greater cause for concern is for those left behind.

Those who are left behind will not likely know what’s happened. They weren’t paying attention to the gospel message of Jesus. They mocked and threw aside any thought of a “Rapture.” But when the Rapture does occur, they will be thinking, “Now what did that christian say about the Rapture and the End Times?”

Why Did this Happen?

Why did this, the rapture, happen? There are two reasons.

First, God will judge those who reject Him. There is a time of God’s judgment coming for those who persistently resist and rebel against God. God is patient and longsuffering, but there is a time when His patience runs out. When this happens, His judgment on this world will occur.

This is explained in 2 Thessalonians where it states:

• 2 Thessalonians 1:3–10 (NKJV) - ³ We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, ⁴ so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, ⁵ which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; ⁶ since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, ⁷ and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, ⁸ in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, ¹⁰ when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

You have been left behind because you, “do not know God,” and are one of those, “who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Second, the Rapture is Jesus’ rescue plan for the saved. God’s word and promise to those who receive Jesus as Savior, is that they are saved from God’s wrath. This is stated in the following verses:

• Romans 5:9 (NKJV) - ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NKJV) - ¹⁰ and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NKJV) - ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
• Revelation 3:10 (NKJV) - ¹⁰ Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

The Rapture is God’s means to remove His born-again believers out of this world before He pours out His wrath of judgment on this Christ-rejecting world.

But I go to church. Why was I still left behind? It’s interesting that in His letter to the church in Thyatira Jesus said the following:

• Revelation 2:21–22 (NKJV) - ²¹ And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. ²² Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

Jesus said not everyone who is in a church is necessarily “born again” or spiritually alive (Matthew 13:24-30). Jesus said some would even call Him “Lord, Lord,” but they aren’t known by Him (Matthew 7:21-23). Some may even do church related things. But the only ones who are accepted by Jesus for heaven and who will be taken at the Rapture are those who have bene “born again.”

Jesus said to Nicodemas the very religious pharisee:

• John 3:3 (NKJV) - ³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

It’s not about religion or religious practice, its about knowing Jesus.

In His High Priestly prayer Jesus said:

• John 17:3 (NKJV) - ³ And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Do you know Jesus? If you knew Jesus, you would not have been left behind. You must be born again!

When Will This Happen?

When will the Rapture happen? No one knows except the Father in heaven according to Jesus. In Matthew 24:36 Jesus said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” No one knows except the Father in heaven. And since no one knows, Jesus says we ought to be watchful:

• Matthew 24:44 - ⁴⁴ Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Jesus gave signs we should look for to know that His return was close:

1. Leading up to Jesus’ return it would be like the Days of Noah – people would be ignoring God’s prophetic warnings and indulging in depravity and sin - Matthew 24:37-39; Genesis 6
2. Leading up to Jesus’ return it would be like the Days of Lot – people will go about their everyday life with no concern for God’s judgment - Luke 17:28-29

The Bible also says that leading up to the prophetic culmination of all things (including the Rapture) believers would be able to discern the “times and the seasons” but unbelievers would be deceived by apparent “peace and safety!”:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 (NKJV) - But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. ² For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. ³ For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. ⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

 There are many passages of scripture which speak of the times leading up to the Rapture and beyond, e.g. Matthew 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 17:20-37; 21; Ezekiel 38-39; Revelation 2-3. You may be hearing or paying attention to these passages for the first time. That’s one of the reasons you have been left behind. God has been calling, shouting a warning, you have not listened.

Why Hasn’t the Rapture Happened Yet?

God still loves you. Why hasn’t the Rapture happened yet? The short answer is because God loves you. This is an open letter to those left behind at the Rapture, but did you know that God has provided us with an open letter long before this? The Bible is God’s open letter to us. In this letter, from the beginning, God has expressed His love toward us. He has also expressed His justness. His love is Holy, it is unique, uncommon, there’s no love like it. And just because you have been left behind doesn’t mean God doesn’t love you anymore.

To give you an idea of the love of God for you, here are a few scriptures from God’s letter:

• John 3:16 (NKJV) - ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
• Romans 5:8 (NKJV) - ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• 1 John 3:16–18 (NKJV) - ¹⁶ By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷ But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? ¹⁸ My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
• 1 John 4:9 (NKJV) - ⁹ In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

Sometimes love must be tough. You have been left behind because you have persisted in your rejection of God. But that doesn’t mean God hates you now. God still loves you. He wants you to spend eternity with Him. But time is running out. You have resisted, so God is resorting to tough love to hopefully shake you up and wake you up to your need of a Savior Jesus, and a willingness to turn from your sins and trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord.

That God is willing to use tough love to get out attention is seen in the following verses:

• Psalm 66:10–12 (NKJV) - For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. ¹¹You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.¹²You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
• Hebrews 12:3–11 (NKJV) ³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. ⁴ You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. ⁵ And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; ⁶For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” ⁷ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? ⁸ But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. ¹¹ Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

 

In life, hardship and trial does not necessarily mean God’s judgment, it may be His efforts to wake you up to your need of repentance and salvation.

Repentance and salvation (forgiveness). To repent is to have a change of heart or mind that leads to a change in behavior. We cannot enter heaven or have a relationship with God is we hold on to our sins. We must be willing to let go of what God calls sin and trust God. This is conveyed to us from God’s heart to ours in His following words:

• 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) - ¹⁴ if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
• 2 Corinthians 7:9–10 (NKJV) - ⁹ Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. ¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

This leads us to the answer to the question of why the Rapture hasn’t yet occurred.

God desires that none perish. If you’re a skeptic, it might interest you to know that the Bible speaks of your skepticism. The Apostle Peter wrote:

• 2 Peter 3:1–9 (NKJV) - Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ² that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, ³ knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, ⁶ by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. ⁷ But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

⁸ But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

You see, its’ really for your benefit that Jesus hasn’t yet come to take His church out of here. It’s to your benefit that you have more time to consider your ways, repent, and trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord.

Why Should I Care to Be Raptured?

Why should a person even care to be raptured? There’s a reason why Jesus takes His bride the church out of this world. Jesus raptures the church out of this world to spare them what will be happening after the Rapture. That’s something unbelievers should consider. Right from the start I’d like to provide you with information on what you can expect to happen after the Rapture.

1. God’s Righteous Wrath - Once the church is removed, God will begin to pour out His righteous wrath on the Christ-rejecting world – Revelation 6:16-17; 11:18.
2. A Left Behind False Church - God’s wrath will be poured out on the False Church and its congregations who have been left behind – Revelation 2:22
3. Antichrist - A prominent figure who is very attractive, charismatic, cunning, deceptive, powerful, will rise to power. This is the Antichrist spoken of in scripture (e.g. Revelation 13) – Revelation 6:1-2.
4. The Tribulation Begins - The Tribulation will begin when Antichrist brokers a covenant with Israel – Daniel 9:27. This is a seven-year period of history Jesus described as, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21).
5. Unprecedented Conflict – Revelation 6:3-4
6. Unprecedented Scarcity – Revelation 6:5-6
7. Unprecedented Death - Revelation 6:7-8
8. Unprecedented Persecution - Revelation 6:9-11. Those who do come to their sense and turn to Jesus after the Rapture, will be severely persecuted for their faith. Those who put off coming to Jesus now with the idea they can just come to Him later, should consider, if you can’t live for Jesus now, what makes you think you will be able to die for Him later in the Tribulation.
9. Unprecedented Global Shaking – Revelation 6:12-17. The earth will literally be an earthquake. There will be no place to hide. There will be no escape.
10. Revival – Revelation 7. Even in the midst of God’s outpoured wrath, He will be merciful and send out His gospel through 144,000 Apostle-Paul-like evangelists. He will raise up two Tribulation Prophets to call the world to repentance (Revelation 11). He will even send an angel throughout the world to proclaim the everlasting gospel (Revelation 14:6).
11. A Third of the World’s Vegetation will be Destroyed - Revelation 8:7
12. A Third of the Oceans will Be Turned to Blood by a Cataclysmic Event - Revelation 8:8-9
13. A Third of the Rivers and Inland Bodies of Waters will Be Destroyed by a Cataclysmic Event - Revelation 8:10-11
14. Another Cataclysmic Event will Knock Out a Third of the Sun, Moon, and Stars – Revelation 8:12-13
15. Demons will be Let Loose from the Pit of Hell to Torment Earth-dwellers - Revelation 9:1-12
16. A Third of Mankind will be Killed by Four Angels Released on the Earth - Revelation 9:13-21.
17. Israel will be Attacked Mercilessly and There will be Great Persecution of Believers - Revelation 12
18. Satan will Rule through His Counterfeit christ, Antichrist - Revelation 13. You won’t be able to buy or sell unless you take the mark of the Antichrist. This mark will be an oath of allegiance to the Satanically empowered Antichrist. If you take the mark, your soul is lost eternally.
19. God’s Wrath Will Be Just and Severe for Those Who Persist in Rejecting Him - Revelation 14:17-20.
20. The World Will be infected with a “foul and loathsome sore” - Revelation 16:1-2
21. The Sea Turned to Blood - Revelation 16:3
22. Inland Waters Turned to Blood - Revelation 16:4-7
23. People of the World will be Scorched from the Sun - Revelation 16:8-9
24. Darkness and Gnawing of Tongues in Pain - Revelation 16:10-11
25. Terrible Literal Shaking of All the Earth - Revelation 16:17-21
26. The Destruction of the One World Religion - Revelation 17
27. The Collapse of the World’s Economic System - Revelation 18
28. Antichrist and the World’s Nations are Defeated by Jesus at His Second Coming - Revelation 19
29. Satan Bound - Revelation 20:1-3
30. Jesus Reigns 1000 Years on Earth with True Believers Serving as his Ambassadors throughout the Earth – Revelation 20:4-6
31. One Final Rebellion Put Down - Revelation 20:7-10
32. The Great White Throne Judgment - Revelation 20:11-15. If your name isn’t found in the Lamb’s Book of Life, you will be cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity.
33. All Things Made New - Revelation 21-22. Without Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you will miss out on all of this.

 

This is a very brief synopsis of what the person left behind at the Rapture can expect. It will be a terrible time on the earth during the Tribulation. The Tribulation is not merely punitive, but God’s tough-love attempt to shake up the Christ-rejecting world that they might repent and be saved.

Something to remember. The Tribulation is something temporal to be saved from. The Lake of Fire is something eternal that once there, no one can be saved from.

Miracles Happen

Maybe now, before the Rapture takes place, you’re thinking, “Rapture? What a crazy lunatic doctrine that is. It doesn’t make any sense. It defies science. It’s preposterous. It’s impossible. It’s just another lunatic fringe idea.” But one thing such thinking leaves out, the miraculous. Just as surely as God created all things, just as surely as He parted the Red Sea, fed 4,000 and then 5,000 with meagre morsels of food, healed the lame and blind, rose Lazarus from the dead, and resurrected himself from the dead, just as surely God could take all His children out of this world.

There are many miraculous supernatural God-events in the Bible that those who don’t know God or who actively defy God mock and disbelieve. A miracle is something God does that defies nature and natural law. A miracle is God’s intervention in His creation. For instance the Bible says God created the world by merely speaking it into existence (Gen. 1 and John 1). There are incidents recorded in the Bible where God parted seas making a way for His people to escape their pursuers, parted rivers to allow His people to pass through on dry ground, and provided for His people with manna from heaven, squadrons of quail and water from a rock. There are incidents of miraculous healings in the Old Testament where the dead were raised back to life. In the New Testament Jesus and His followers healed people of many assorted ailments. Jesus walked on water, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and promised to return. All of these incidents and events defy human logic. They were God-incidents. So the bottom line is not merely did they actually happen, but do you believe they could happen. If you believe God is who He says He is, then the miraculous is not only possible but logical. Jesus said He would return to take up physically to Himself born again believers of His church. Preposterous? Illogical? Maybe to an atheist, but not to a believer and follower of God in Jesus Christ who knows nothing is impossible with God. If God is Who He says He is, He can do whatever He purposes to do.

What Should I Do Now?

If you are reading this, it means there is still time for you to escape the Lake of Fire and spend eternity in heaven with the Lord. But you must accept the gospel, or “good news” God has offered to you. It’s time to get right with God.

Below is some straight talk on your need to be forgiven for your sins. So, get out your Bible and begin looking up these verses that instruct on how to be forgiven our sins and receive spiritual life in Christ. (You should get in the habit of opening and studying the Bible. It is Gods’ love letter to you and tells you what life is all about.) 

Straight Talk on Salvation

• Life is a vapor – James 4:14
• Death is sure – Hebrews 9:27
• Sins the curse – Romans 6:23
• Christ is the cure – Romans 5:8; 10:9-10; 2 Cor. 5;21; Ephesians 2:1-10
• By grace through faith, not works – John 16:8-11; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7
• But faith leads to works; faith without works is dead – James 2
• Grace is not an excuse to sin – Romans 6
• We must repent – Matthew 4:17 Mark 1:15 Acts 2:37-39
• We must not continue to follow the world – James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17; Gal. 2;20; Colossians 2:6-10
• We need to rely on the Holy Spirit to help us live holy lives – John 14:15 and 21; 16:13;   1 Peter 1:15-16
• We must learn to love – 2 Cor. 5:14-16; 1 John 3:16-23; 4:7-19
• Love is the fruit or product, the evidence that the Holy Spirit is within you and giving you life – Galatians 5:22-24.

Now, simply pray from your heart, sincerely, for God to forgive your sins. By faith trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord. When you do this, the Holy Spirit will come to indwell you. Then live in constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit asking Him to help you live and please God. Welcome to the family of God! See you soon.

 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE RAPTURE GET PASTOR CLAUDE'S BOOK UNDER THE SAME TITLE An Open Letter to Those Left Behind AVAILABLE AT AMAZON -  Cut and paste into your browser - https://www.amazon.com/Open-Letter-Those-Left-Behind-ebook/dp/B0BJ3BX6KS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=35CSWQVBMMX0E&keywords=An+open+letter+to+those+left+behind&qid=1665822635&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjk2IiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=an+open+letter+to+those+left+behind%2Caps%2C65&sr=8-1  

 

What Does Tragedy Teach Us? – Part 3

 

“I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.’”  - Isaiah 45:7

 

“For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” – Lamentations 3:33

 

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” – Romans 8:28

 

 

 

Many, if not most people of these United States of America, live as though there is no God. And we in the Church have shown a tendency to procrastinate in and neglect our walk with God. Ask yourself a question, and answer it truthfully, when are you more inclined to pray, in hard times or easy times? In good times or bad times? When the skies are blue, or when they are black with the smoke of a terrorist attack? When tragedy strikes it shakes us up from our lethargy and drops us to our knees before God. It is sad that that is what it takes to get us on our knees, but if that is what it takes, God will allow it.

 

Fifth, God Allows Tragedy to Show Us We Need to Be Right with Him, NOW!

 

 

Read some of the following verses which talk to us about our need to be ready and right before God, now:

 

• Matthew 7:24-27 - “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:25 “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:27 “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” 

“Ánd great was its fall.” The fall of the Twin Towers in New York City pale in comparison to the crash this country will suffer at the hands of her enemies and other things unless we repent. God allowed us to experience a wake-up call on 9/11. There are signs of life in our nation. There seems to be a “Great Awakening” in some quarters and to some degree. But the wake-up calls of God, if neglected, will likely get more severe. We have seen school shootings, 9/11, and other mass shootings. We have seen natural disasters like massive hurricanes and flooding. I believe God loves this nation. But, “. . . have you forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” (Hebrews 12:5-6). This is nothing new. God disciplines us, “for our profit, that we may be partakers of holiness” (Hebrews 12:10). Consider this.   

 

There seems to be a stirring in the hearts of people, a coming to truth about things and in certain ways. There seems to be a sense that all is not right in our nation. The political realm is part of the problem and will be part of the solution, but it is not the answer. We need to go beyond politics. If we settle for something less than a revival involving true repentance, what will happen next? Will a city be lost, a county, a state, a region? Will terror planes turn into terror chemical warfare, or nuclear terror? Will an earthquake split our nation in two? Will it take an asteroid from outer space to get our attention? What is it going to take to wake up this nation? What will it take to wake you up?

 

You may say, “Wait a minute, those verses were written thousands of years ago, they don’t apply to me.” But the Bible says as we get closer to the End of time things will get “worse and worse” (1 Timothy 3:13). The world is not going to get better, but worse, (until Jesus returns). Today is the day. Today we need to awaken to our perilous plight.

 

Scripture is replete with calls to wake up, be alert, to recognize the times in which we live. Read some of these verses:

 

• Luke 21:34-36 - “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.35 “For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.36 “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 
• Romans 13:11-14 – “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
• 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 – “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.14 Let all that you do be done with love.”

Now is the time to get right with God (Hebrews 4). God wants us to wake up now. He says, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand.” Get into God’s word and let it get into you. Get right with God through faith alone in Christ alone. I’m talking about something far more than religious ritual or ceremony. I’m talking about spiritual birth, a second birth, spiritual life (e.g. John 3). Ask God to fill you and overflow you with the Holy Spirit. Be burdened for the lost and empowered by the Spirit to do something about it. Get ready, because the tragedy of the World Trade Center is not likely to be the last nation shaking tragedy this nation will face.

 

Many today fail to remember, but in 1993 the Twin Towers were nearly destroyed. For a time, we were vigilant and took precautions toward potential terrorism. But over time we became lax and negligent as 9/11/01 attests. It’s very similar to today. The same is true of us spiritually. We draw close to God when a hard time comes. But as soon as He gets us over the hump, we slip back into our easy chair and settle for coasting in our faith and being a Christian couch potato. My friend, this should not be.

 

Sixth, Tragedy Teaches Us to Pray

 

If we look at the book of Daniel, we see a great man of God was moved to pray for his captive people (Daniel 9:3-19). Daniel confessed and prayed to God for himself and his people. His heart was broken before the LORD. That is the effect tragedy should have upon all of us. Did you pray on 9/11/01? Have you prayed since? Are you praying now? Did you stop praying? Please pray. Pray through to the Promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14.

 

Lastly, Tragedy Teaches Us That God Can Bring Good Even from Tragedy

 

What good can possibly come from a tragedy such as the terrorist attacks on September 11^th?  One of God’s most incredible promises in His word is – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). We read such a verse in light of 9/11 and other horrific tragedies in the world and it seems impossible. For those caught up in the midst of tragedy such words may even seem offensive. We only begin to see and understand the possible good God can bring from tragedy, when we see it from God’s perspective and His purpose. God’s perspective is eternal. His perspective is from eternity and is in light of eternity. He wants us to spend eternity with Him. What He allows and uses in this life, though it may involve pain and suffering, is acceptable to Him if it means it will have an eternal value for us. Everything in this world is temporary. Our life is a vapor (James 4:14). For us to be raised to eternal life with our loving heavenly Father, there are times when tragedy becomes part of His plan.

 

God is not the Author of evil. But the reality of His creation with beings that have the capacity to make choices, is that some of these choices are sinful and produce evil. God can bring much good even from these circumstances. To sinful humanity God says, “What you meant for evil, I have used for good” (e.g. Genesis 50:20). That is what we have been seeing in this study. God can take the horror and pain and loss and suffering of a 9/11, and He can bring good even from that. That is miraculous. That is something only God can do. How does God bring good from evil?

 

First, people can be shaken up and wakened up to their need of salvation through faith alone in Christ alone. Of Jesus it was prophesied, “A bruised reed He will not break, a smoldering wick He will not snuff out” (Matthew 12:20; Isaiah 42:1-4). If this tragedy has nearly broken you like a bruised reed, if your spirit is about to go out like a flickering wick, understand that Jesus is there for you and offers you eternal life. Jesus calls us to Himself:

 

• Matthew 11:28-30 - “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” 
• Revelation 3:20 - “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” 

Jesus says, “Come to Me.” He says, “Open the door for Me and let Me in.” Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). The word “know” here is translated from the Greek term ginosko. The idea of this word “know” in the original language means to become aware, perceive (as in “seeing is believing”), to understand, to be conscious of, to see something or someone as it/they truly are (not merely opinion or speculation).

 

When this word is used in the sense of knowing someone it means:

·       To know someone personally

·       To be personally acquainted with someone

·       To trust someone

·       To have a friendship with someone

·       To have an intimate personal relationship with someone

 

It is possible to know personally the only true God and His Son Jesus Christ. He is the One who can get you through any and every tragedy. Because of Him we need not fear death. Because of Him we have hope no matter the darkness that threatens to engulf us. In light of this the question arises, do you know Jesus?

The Good News is that we can have a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Entering into such a relationship is as simple as ABC: Admit/Ask, Believe/Receive, and Confess/Call.

Admit your sin and ask God’s forgiveness. Our sins separate us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). And we all have sinned and fall short of what it takes to enter heaven (Romans 3). We need to admit this truth before God. Once we admit our sin before God, we need to ask God’s forgiveness for our sins. This implies turning from our sins to God (i.e. repentance). This is humbling but necessary. We come to Him on His terms not our terms. We come humbly before God who is Awesome and Holy.

Believe in Jesus and His atoning work. Jesus and Jesus atoning work on the cross alone, not our efforts or works, is the basis for God’s forgiveness of our sins. The wages or consequences of our sin is death. Jesus died on the cross in our place, paying our punishment and penalty for sin. God offers us salvation from our sins freely as a gift of His grace through Jesus’ death on the cross (Romans 6:23). We are saved from our sins because of His work not our work. To believe, trust, or put our faith in Jesus as Savior is not a “work,” it is God’s grace working in us (Ephesians 2:8-9). Once we believe in Jesus and His atoning work, we believe and receive forgiveness for our sins based on Jesus and His work. God has a just basis to forgive our sins because of Jesus justifying work on the cross on our behalf. Jesus paid our death penalty on the cross for us. He’s the only One qualified to do that. Jesus took our sins on Himself on the cross and when we trust in Him and His work, He offers us His righteousness to be put to our account (cf. Isaiah 53; 2 Corinthians 5:21). God did this for us in Christ because He loves us. God is Love with a capitol “L” (e.g. John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:8 and 16).

Confess and call. We confess our sins to God and receive His forgiveness (1 John 1:9). But we also confess Jesus to those around us. We tell others about Jesus. We call others to follow Jesus too. These are not a works that lead to salvation. This is a fruit or evidence that salvation has genuinely taken place in us. The Bible states, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). Look up these verses and pray over them. “So, then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).  

Don’t let this tragedy have its effect compounded for evil by driving you away from God. Turn to Jesus and find rest for your souls and a saving relationship that will last an eternity. That is good.

 

Second, those who face tragedy in the Lord, see the reality of His sustaining grace. If we turn to God, we will find a strong faith that will get us through anything. And that is true of our nation as well as for the individual. God’s grace is sufficient for whatever our need might be. He says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). His grace is most clearly seen in our times of weakness. We realize the reality and power of God’s grace when we need it most, in times of tragedy. God can bring good even from tragedy if the tragedy causes people to repent and turn to Him through faith in Christ and salvation to experience His saving sustaining grace.

 

The Apostle Paul testified, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Tragedies reveal the strength of God in the believer. Tragedies provide opportunities to be more than a conqueror through Him who loved us. Wouldn’t you rather be more than a conqueror who cannot be separated from God’s love by anything or anyone, not even the most horrific and brutal terrorist attack in history? That’s where I want to be, close to God, in His love, depending on Him, forgiven. That is good and that comes from the dark contrast of tragedy (cf. Romans 8:28-39).

Third, understand this world is not our home. The events of September 11^th were filled with the darkness of smoke. But there is light here too. The dark tragedy and evil that we have seen serves as a contrast to the light of the blessedness of Jesus for the believer. Jesus is our blessed hope and we look forward all the more today, after this tragedy, eighteen years later, for His glorious appearing (Titus 2:13). This tragedy and all the other tragedies, have made this world a little less, (maybe a lot less) palatable to us. Maybe through tragedy we will come to realize our citizenship is not in this world but in heaven (Philippians 3:20). That is good and that can come as the result of tragedy.

 

The tragedy of the destruction of the World Trade Center, attack on the Pentagon, hijacked and crashed planes and the murder of thousands is a reality. This tragedy has come upon us. Now we need to turn to God. This tragedy is the result of God’s hedge of protection being lowered by Him to allow a wake-up call in the form of tragedy. Read the words of the psalmist and consider:

• Psalm 80:12-19 – “Why have You broken down her hedges, so that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit?13 The boar out of the woods uproots it, and the wild beast of the field devours it.14 Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts; look down from heaven and see, and visit this vine15 and the vineyard which Your right hand has planted, and the branch that You made strong for Yourself.16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down; they perish at the rebuke of Your countenance. 17 Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.18 Then we will not turn back from You; revive us, and we will call upon Your name.19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!” 

We need to understand that if we do not repent, then this tragedy, which has taken our breath away, is only the beginning. If we do not genuinely repent, it may be the beginning of the end.

We need to repent as a nation and as individual people. We need to pray for the victims, their families, friends, for the firemen and policemen and EMT workers, the doctors and nurses, the governmental leaders, our President and our nation. We cannot afford to let this tragedy pass us by without affecting us. Read again the words of promise for those who go to their knees:

• 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 - “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,14 “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 

May God help us. May God revive us. May God bless America.

 

 

 

What Does Tragedy Teach Us? – Part 2

 

“I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.’”  - Isaiah 45:7

 

“For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” – Lamentations 3:33

 

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” – Romans 8:28

 

 

What should we learn from a tragedy like the one experienced 9/11/2001? There’s a lot we could and should learn. America is a nation that is not only asleep spiritually, but defiantly seeking to eliminate God from our schools and every way of life. Did you ever think that the gender confusion of our day is a defiant shaken fist to God denying His sovereign decision to create us in a certain way? I believe it is. We like to think that this nation is great because of democracy, or even because of being a federal republic with an incredible constitution, but that is false. This nation is great because those who founded it were faithful to God. That is the truth. Haters of America can try to redact that truth out of our heritage, but it is too deeply ingrained in us. Just walk around Washington DC and take note of the myriad of Biblical chiseled into the stone of our monuments. But we have lost our bearings and foundation in God. We need to be awakened to that fact.

 

Despite the recent Supreme Court decision to return authority from the Federal government to the States in regard to abortion, we continue to be a nation that not only kills its unborn children in the safety of a mother’s womb but argue about whether or not to deliver a child partially to make killing it easier. Too many are proud sponsors of abortion. We are immoral and lascivious. We are heartless and calloused. We are a licentious nation that legislates to approve that which is repulsive to God as revealed in His Holy Word. There are even segments of the “Church” that support such immorality. The “Church” today supports a lot the Bible calls immoral and sinful. And they do it proudly

 

In the name of tolerance, lifestyles aberrant and repulsive to God are not only allowed but promoted, and that to our youth! (Romans 1:18-32). We have schools approving transvestites in full absurd regalia teaching young children. Not only is homosexuality promoted but now the list of alternative “lifestyles” or gender choices include so many representative letters that its hard to keep up with the list. Generally speaking, the list includes LGBTTQQIAAP standing for Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, ally, pansexual. This is the short list. I saw an article listing 71 genders!^[1] The BBC in England is telling kids there are more than 100 genders!^[2] All of this is preposterous. But it is promoted as reality. We are a very confused nation and a confused world. Why such confusion? We are confused due to having left our spiritual moorings. We are a people who are selfish and self-absorbed. We major in the minors of sports and leisure. We minor in the majors of truth, justice and the salvation of souls. And tragically, the Church is not much better than the secular.

 

The Church has become secularized. Segments of “the Church” have given up ministering to such confused lost people and instead affirm their lifestyles as “normal” and acceptable to God. There have even been some who have left the church and apologized to proponents of this confusion and immorality and then joined in their sin! ^[3] Blasphemous! They have cast aside the eternal Word of God and replaced its eternal truths with the trendiness of the day. The world has given up trying to help such people, but why has the church? Where is the power of the Gospel? “To the law and the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). Where is holiness? Where is the Spirit in and through us? Where is the Spirit of Christ in us? We need to break up the fallow hard ground of our hearts (Jeremiah 4). We need to repent and call the lost to do the same. The Church should be leading the way to help such lost and confused people, not condoning their sin, not aiding and abetting their lostness.

 

You may think these words are harsh and insensitive in a discussion involving the innocents of tragedy. You may still be stewing in your “Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?” mind and heart set. But the truth of the matter is that, there are no good people. All fall short of the glory of God and we need to repent and turn to Him. “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). God is willing to heal us and heal our land, but we need to turn to Him and give Him our hearts (Romans 10:9-10).

 

We are not called by God to speak watered down truth. We are called by God to speak all His truth and speak it in His love (Ephesians 4:15). You may say, “Pastor, I read those previous paragraphs and they don’t’ sound loving.” I would say, when a house is on fire, even if its early in the morning and people would dislike being disturbed from their slumber, I’ll risk their anger to tell them truth that will save them. I’m willing to shout the truth that there is a “Fire!” And, “You better get out! You must get out!” I’ll even enter the house to save them and wake them up, to shake them up. Wouldn’t you? There is a much hotter, a much more damaging fire in eternity that we want no one to experience. Yes, this is part of the truth of the gospel. Its something that must be shared.

 

That is why Jesus came, to speak truth, to witness to the truth (John 18:37). God’s purpose for us is to be conformed to His likeness (Romans 8:29). Therefore, that means we too, like Him, are to testify to God’s truth. Our calling is to follow in His steps and walk as He walked (1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6).  That means, we must love people enough to share the truth with them. It’s not loving to ignore sin and condone it. Sin leads to pain and suffering. True love speaks truth that brings salvation from sin, freedom from sin, healing.

 

The truth, the undiluted truth here is that the aim of God in allowing tragedy is to get us to search out our ways and return to Him. In Lamentations it states:

 

• Lamentations 3:40-41 – “Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord;41 Let us lift our hearts and hands To God in heaven.” 

This is the greatest aim and lesson of tragedy; to turn to God in the midst of them.

 

Fourth, God Allows Tragedy to Cause Us to Call Out to Him and Repent of Our Sin

 

Jeremiah goes on to say:

 

• Lamentations 3:55-58 – “I called on Your name, O Lord, From the lowest pit.56 You have heard my voice: “Do not hide Your ear From my sighing, from my cry for help.”57 You drew near on the day I called on You, And said, “Do not fear!”58 O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed my life.” 

As we turn to God, we find a loving God of hope willing and waiting to heal us and have us personally relate to Him in an eternal relationship of love. He is able to fix that which is broken. He is able to right that which is wrong. He is able to solve that which we’ve found unsolvable. Jeremiah was inspired to write of this by saying:

 

• Lamentations 3:21-26 – “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the Lord.” 

In the New Testament Jesus speaks of a tragedy similar to that of the World Trade Center collapse. He says the important thing is not whether or not the tragedy happened because of the sin of the victims. God is not vindictive or cruel.  The important point to get, according to Jesus, was that the tragedy should cause us, the survivors, to repent and turn to Him:

 

• Luke 13:1-5 – “There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?3 “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.4 “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?5 “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”  

Notice in these verses, Jesus does not concern Himself with assessing blame. Jesus focuses on the fragile condition of life. He focuses on the need to repent and get right with God. We are not guaranteed our next breath. Those who went to work at the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11^th 2001 had no idea of what the day would hold for them. And we too likely gave no thought to our eternal destiny until grim reality slapped us in the face.

 

Tragedy confronts us with the fragile nature of life. Life is a vapor. “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14b). Death is a certainty. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Death is caused by sin. The curse of sin is death (Galatians 3:10). But Jesus is the cure for that curse. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse” (Galatians 3:13). “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57). And because of that we can stand strong in the storms of life. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

 

 

Are You Going to Heaven?

 

The Bible states you can know for sure whether or not you are going to heaven?

·       1 John 5:13 – “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

How can you know for sure?

Realize eternal life involves personally knowing God -

·       John 17:3 – “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Realize sin separates people from Holy God –

 

• Psalm 66:18 – “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear”
• Isaiah 59:2 – “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you”
• Habakkuk 1:13 – “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness”

 

Realize you are a sinner –

·       Exodus 20:1-17 – Examine and assess yourself by the Ten Commandments

·       2 Corinthians 13:5 – “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?”

·       Romans 3:10 – “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one”

·       Romans 3:23 – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

·       Galatians 3:10 – “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

·       James 2:10 – “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Realize there is a penalty for sin –

·       Romans 6:23a – “For the wages of sin is death,”

Realize you need to be saved from your sins –

·       Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

·       Ephesians 2:8–9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.

·       Titus 3:5 - ⁵ not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

Realize Jesus paid the penalty for you –

·       Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

·       2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Realize your salvation is a free gift from God that requires only a repentant heart faith decision from you to receive it – To “repent” means to confess to God and forsake your sin. To “believe” or have “faith” unto salvation means Forsaking All (others or other means of salvation) I Trust Him.

·       Acts 3:19-20 – “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you”

·       Acts 16:31 – “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”

·       John 1:12 – “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name”

Realize salvation is a matter of the heart –

• Acts 8:36–38 - Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” ³⁷ Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” ³⁸ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

·       Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Realize now is the time to call on God to be saved from your sins –

·       Romans 10:13 - For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

·       2 Corinthians 6:2 – “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

A SALVATION PRAYER:

If you believe the above Gospel and are willing to trust in Jesus with all your heart as Savior, if you want the forgiveness of sins and eternal life God in this Gospel freely offers to you, with all your heart, pray this prayer:

“Dear God, I have sinned and disobeyed Your Laws.  I admit I deserve eternal punishment. But I repent; I confess my sins to You and forsake them. I ask that You please forgive me, not because of any good works I have done, but because I believe Jesus paid the just penalty for my sins by dying for me on the cross. I believe He rose from the dead. I believe that with all my heart. I receive it by faith, as a gift of Your grace. Help me to live for You.  Please Holy Spirit fill me, give me spiritual life, eternal life. Please help me to know you Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. Help me grow in a relationship with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Now, begin praying and reading your Bible daily, regularly. Find a church that believes in and teaches the Bible as the word of God. Find a church where the Gospel is preached and people believe in being born again. Find such a church and become a part of your new eternal family. And tell someone else about what God has done for you. Don’t go by feelings, live by faith in Jesus. He is faithful. He will help you. Remember this:

2 Corinthians 5:17 - ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

1 Corinthians 10:13 - ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

2 Timothy 2:15 - ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

2 Timothy 3:16–17 - ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

 

 

 

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[1] https://archive.triblive.com/opinion/featuredcommentary/12128195-74/71-gender-options-oh-boy

[2] https://www.christian.org.uk/news/bbc-tells-kids-there-are-more-than-100-gender-identities/

[3] https://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-joshua-harris-author-of-i-kissed-dating-goodbye-separates-from-wife.html