IT'S TIME TO GET YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER

Jesus said, "It shall come upon you like a snare." He also said, "At a time when you think not, the Son of Man cometh." The Church has been warning for years that the end is near--Jesus is coming soon. Because the end never did come, many said, "We have plenty of time. Let's eat drink and be merry." Therefore, many went there own way--getting caught up in the many things that satisfy the flesh--the Super Bowl, March Madness, eating, drinking, building, etc. It seems they always forget the warnings Jesus gave us, until some great disaster hits close to home. Then suddenly  they remember and quickly look upward and inwardly toward the spirit. But it doesn't last long, because when the time passes to remove the memories of the recent calamity, they return to the wallow of the flesh..

Today we are facing another crises close-to-home, however this time it involves the whole world. Many are scared, fearful, some terrified without hope. Some look to the government to help. Perhaps the tragedy will only last a little while longer and we can get back to normal again. We can forget the hardships and start living again. Bring on the games; eat, drink and be merry. However, someday it will all come to an end and we shall give an account for the things we did in the flesh while here on this earth. It is time to get serious with God. It is time to get your house in order before your house runs out on you.

I read of a man who was a contractor and recently had a job to do 500 miles away in Detroit. After his job was completed a week or two later he was ready to return home. However, he started feeling sick. Thinking he better not go home and perhaps expose his family, he decided to stay in a hotel until he felt better. Soon after checking into the hotel he began feeling worse and went to the nearby hospital. They were heavily overloaded with patients  and told him to go home. Later on he became real sick and called an ambulance, which took  to the same hospital. After putting him on a ventilator, his lungs gave out and he died. He was a healthy 49 years old with no past health issues, I know nothing of this man's spiritual life, but this is a good example of how fast things can happen.

Life is fragile and unpredictable. To put off your eternal salvation until you think you are ready is like playing Russian roulette with your life. Why? Because we are all sinners and sin cannot enter into heaven. We all inherited a sin-nature from Adam and the wages of sin is death. Not only death in the grave, but spiritual death (eternally separated from God). The Bible says, "Today is the day of salvation."  No one is guaranteed tomorrow, today is the acceptable time. Give your heart to Jesus today and He will change you from the inside out. Say this little prayer now. "Jesus I believe you died, was buried and rose again from the dead, come into my heart and be my Lord and my Savior, Amen." God will take you right where  you are, no matter what you have done. Trust Him today and you will not want to go back to where you were yesterday.

 

The Rewards of Praising God

The Bible tells that the Lord inhibits the praises of His people. He becomes overjoyed when we lift our praises to Him. But there is a two-fold reward for us also. The Bible declares that the joy of the Lord is OUR strength. When the Lord is overjoyed by our praises, His joy becomes our strength. When we sing and praise God with our voice, the Holy Spirit begins His work within us.

There is a beautiful passage in Ephesians 5:14-19. In essence it tells us to "awake from sleeping and Christ will give you light. See that you do not walk as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

It is a two-way street. You giving thanks and praises to the Lord. The Lord being overjoyed with your praises, at the same time is filling you with His Spirit and the joy of the Lord becomes your strength. I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor heights, nor depths, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Lord inhibits the praises of His people. If you need joy -- you must sing for it, if you want joy -- just shout for it -- with praises unto our Lord. Give it a try -- you will be glad you did. He loves you.

Why be Faithful?

You are "Jewels" in God's crown. He loves you because you are good, and you trust in His Son to be Lord of your life -- but there is another reason. He loves you for your faithfulness. By faithful, I mean committed to do what He has entrusted you with. You might think -- what can I be entrusted with? However, God sees you right where you are. You don't have to be a Billy Graham but whoever you are, be faithful in what you do. God sees you in your infirmities and He knows you and what you are capable of doing. If you are even faithful in little things, He will make you rulers over much. When you sing, do you do it to the Lord, or do you hope no one can hear you because you can't sing too good? God only cares where your heart is. Is that praise to Him with joy, or is it blowing in the wind not knowing where it will go?

No supervisor or manager wants to see their help slack in their work or not show up when expected. God is no different. You may not think you can give much to God and maybe you can't, but are you faithful? That is the important thing. Then when we meet the Lord on that day, He will say -- "Well done good and faithful servant." What you are doing for the Lord might seem trivial now. You might not even think of it as doing something for the Lord. As the Scripture says, "Whatsoever you do, do it as unto the Lord." Sometimes circumstances get in our way and takes our mind off our priority. Yet, within our situation we can find a way to keep on track. To keep our heart and mind stayed on the Lord who can lead us out of our circumstances. He said He will never leave you, nor forsake you. Proverbs 28:20 says, a faithful man shall abound with blessings. Luke 16:10 says, He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. A faithful son or servant is one that sends joy to the heart. You are a son or daughter of the Most High God and you can send joy into your Father's heart by being faithful.