Who may Ascent?

 Who may ascend?

The apostle Paul writes,

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  

  If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,  his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.  

If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.  

If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.

When I read this portion of scripture I think of the prosperity preachers. Men and women who say “give to God (quite often meaning their ministry) and he’ll give you back ten fold or a hundred fold” such talk is garbage.

The apostle Paul wrote,

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” 2 Timothy 3:1-4.

Those rich preachers will one day stand before God and be judged by what they did in this world. If they truly believed in Christ Jesus they will be saved, but as Paul said, 

“he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” 

While being rich in not a sin. If we put more of an emphasis on our wealth than on God is a problem. 

Further more if someone is are knowingly taking money from others in God’s name with the intentions of making our self rich, especially if those people are poor, this is morally wrong and I believe God will punish them.

The Psalmist writes,

"Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? 

Who may stand in his holy place? 

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, 

who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. 

He will receive blessing from the LORD 

and vindication from God his Saviour. 

Such is the generation of those who seek him, 

who seek your face, O God of Jacob."

                                                            Psalm 24:3-6.

Please think about it.

If you think you are You're probably not

  If you think you are you're probably are not

In the book of Revelations we read,

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.  

I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.  

I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.  

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  

Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.  

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelations 3:7-13.

Someone has said “if you think you or your church is like the church of Philadelphia in the book of revelations, you probably are not.”

Jesus notes that this church has little strength yet they have kept the His word. As a result He will make those who are their enemies to fall down and acknowledge that Christ has loved them.

Some say that when Christ says that He will keep them from the wrath to come means they will be raptured before the tribulation starts.

Others see this as God saying He will keep them safe through this period of intense persecution. 

He makes it clear there is an open door before those in Philadelphia. That leads to their reward. 

The reward for those who stay true to God is that they will be come pillars in the temple of God. And will never again have to leave it.

The bottom line in this is we as individuals should be striving to follow Christ in as pure a way as is humanly possible. 

We must remember that even when we are weak Christ understands and rewards those who although weak remain faithful to Him.

Please think about it.

A Reward

 A Reward

The apostle Paul writes,

“Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8.

Here is a simple reason for believing in God. God will reward us for our belief in Him and for all we have done for Him.

Here’s a simple question: Will you receive a crown of righteousness from God on the day you stand before Him?

Do you truly long for God’s appearing?

Please think about it.

Live good lives

Live Good Lives
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
Peter here calls believers in Christ Jesus, “a royal priesthood, a holy nation belonging to God...”
He commands believers to abstain from sinful desires, to live good lives among those around us.
Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:43,44
He goes on to say,
“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  
   Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:46-48.
We are to live lives that are better than those around us.
One of the criticisms I have heard consistently over the years is about Christians is that they do not live their life any better than those around them. And in some cases the life they live is worse than the people around them.
We have an obligation as believers in Christ Jesus to live a life that is as good and holy as possible. The writer of Hebrews telling us,
"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14.
Thus the questions every individual who believes in Christ Jesus must ask themselves is, Am I living a good and holy life?
Do people see Christ in my life without me saying a word?
Please think about it.