The more time I spend reading my Bible the more I realize how much God loves us and the deeper my love grows for Him. The witness of God is ALL around us, how can anyone think that spending eternity with God would be boring??? I mean, seriously??? How many of you for vacation like to go out and spend time in nature?
WHO DO YOU THINK CREATED NATURE, RIGHT DOWN TO IT’S LITTLEST DETAIL????
How many of you find peace and solitude walking along the seashore?
WHO DO YOU THINK TOOK THE TIME TO CREATE THE SOOTHING RYTHMIC WAVES OF THE SEA?
How VERY much God loves us and yet we rarely take the time to really think about it… We are so into our own wants, our own desires
ME, ME, ME, ME, I, I, I, I
We more than naught often think only about ourselves!
My mother use to tease my brother and I when we were kids with a song she made up. The words went like this:
“Gimme, Gimme, Can I have? Will you loan me? Can I borrow?”
God created the garden of Eden – can you imagine how very beautiful Eden must have been? God lovingly and attentively created it and then the Bible tells us, He placed Adam IN the garden of Eden. He presented it to Adam along with every living creature. Genesis 2:19 tells us:
“Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.”
HOW CAN WE REMAIN SO CALLOUS HEARTED AND SELFISH AND NOT RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH THE GOD OF CREATION LOVES US?
When we love someone, a common gesture is to present them with flowers.
GOD PRESENTED MAN WITH THE GARDEN OF EDEN
Why don’t we think about the generosity and acts of love God shows us EVERY day, much of what we miss because we are SO caught up with OUR plans, OUR worries, OUR wishes, OUR wants.
ME, ME, ME, ME, I, I, I, I
Do you feel a bit convicted after reading this so far? I do, writing it. Listen, worship is not just about “singing songs of praise to God” worship is really a HEART thing. Stop for a moment and put aside ALL “religious” thoughts and really digest these words…
GOD LOVES! ACTUALLY, GOD IS LOVE! AND CREATED US WITH THE ABILITY TO LOVE!
This very same God, Who presented Adam with EVERY animal to name that He created was concerned enough about Adam that even after ALL He had given Adam, He saw that Adam needed someone like himself for companionship and intimacy. Genesis 2:18 tells us:
“The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
How can anyone see that and NOT see the abundancy of God’s love? How can anyone NOT love a God Who’s only concern is our well-being? We blame God for the choices WE make. From the very beginning God has wanted the very best for us – and stupidly we have not known that
HE IS OUR BEST
God instructed Adam and Eve in the VERY beginning of what NOT to do – because He knew what the results would be in their doing it. Notice He didn’t say, “IF you eat of it.” When He instructed them in Genesis 2:16- NOT to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He said, “WHEN.” Take look:
“And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
How it must have saddened the Father to ALREADY have known what was going to happen… When all He had done was show His abundant love.
HOW WE EVEN NOW TAKE GOD FOR GRANTED… WE BLAME HIM FOR MISTAKES AND CHOICES WE HAVE MADE.
If you don’t remember anything from the post, I hope and pray you remember this –
GOD DOES NOT SEND ANYONE TO HELL. HELL WAS CREATED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS DEMONS.
If you make the choice to live a life without God in it, it is YOU who makes the choice and God (who has LOVINGLY created us with free-will) WILL abide by your choice. He will allow you (even though it must seriously pain Him) to live a life (as you desire) WITHOUT Him and in doing so, He will allow you to live an eternal life without Him as well, for that is what Hell is – a place void of God. A place void of love, a place void of peace, a place void of mercy. A place that was NEVER intended for YOU – but a place which YOU (NOT God) choose to abide if you decide to live a life WITHOUT God in it.
God has shown us His love in EVERY way possible! Did you wake up this morning? Do you have breath in your lungs? Then you have been blessed with ANOTHER day to change your mind! Listen. God loves you SO much that He left the glories of Heaven, to meet you RIGHT here where you are at! He SAW you in the future and LOVES you SO much that He put on a garment of flesh, being born of the virgin Mary – Jesus is FULLY God AND FULLY man! The Second Member of the Trinity! He came to redeem you and restore you to a RIGHT relationship with the Father! He is our Savior! The Messiah! God IN flesh! He took upon His sin-less self, the sins of the world and died a horrible death on the cross-defeating sin and death by His resurrection and even RIGHT now is seated on the RIGHT HAND of the Father interceding on YOUR behalf! And ALL He asks you to do is:
REPENT AND TURN FROM SIN, RECEIVE HIS PRECIOUS GIFT OF SALVATION!
Don’t you see that THIS is the HIGHEST form of Love from Love Himself that God would go to the utmost extreme to bring you back to Him????
I pray spiritually blind eyes are opened at the realization of this. I pray that spiritually deaf ears are awakened with the realization of God’s love! I pray that your heart receives the most precious gift of love EVER offered to you. I pray that you choose to walk in the fullness of God’s love for you.
Acts 4:12 declares about Jesus:
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
I can tell you personally, that no matter WHAT I have gone through in this life – And I have gone through A LOT! There TRULY is NO greater joy, no greater feeling of completeness and love than choosing to repent and experience the abundant love of God. Remember, we were created to be IN relationship with Him and ironically many of us go through life trying to fill that void deep inside of us with other things – things that can NEVER satisfy what was meant to ONLY be filled with the love of our Creator.
GOD IS LOVE AND NOTHING CAN PLACATE OR ADEQUATELY FILL WITHIN YOU WHAT IS ONLY MEANT TO BE FILLED BY HIM
Holy Spirit is the 3rd Member of the Trinity and when you accept Jesus as Savior, make the choice of making Him Lord OVER your life, Holy Spirit comes into your heart and takes up residency! He is your Instructor! He is your Comforter! He is your Guide! You can read about the Trinity for a better understanding by clicking on the link below and scrolling all the way down to the part that explains “the Trinity”:
People are under the impression that Heaven “will be boring” and that Hell will be fun! That is SUCH a lie and a misconception. Think about this – in this life, in your spare time you find enjoyment in certain things, right? Many people enjoy hiking through nature (which I *might* remind you was created by God…) or travel to see different parts of the world or go to the beach or whatever – and even though the world is in its fallen state of nature, it is STILL beautiful! The glory of God is ALL around us! In the sounds of the birds, in the view of sunrises or sunsets or in the beauty of a sunny day! Some of us find rainstorms peaceful! Or snowstorms exquisite! And if that is the case, can you imagine how much MORE beautiful the world was BEFORE the fall of Adam and Eve???? So, if that is the case – how much more glorious is Heaven? Or how the new earth will be when God restores it? (Read the book of Revelations). How can ANYONE think that God OR Heaven will be boring?????? It is going to be ABSOLUTELY AMAZING because God Himself IS amazing! The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:9:
“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
I can hardly wrap my own mind around that scripture because the mere thought of being in a place where sickness, sin and death no longer abide, in the presence of the Almighty, Loving, Merciful, Graceful God alone seems to me like enough! YET there is more!!!!! An eternity of walking in love WITH Love Himself! But the Bible describes Heaven as if that alone is not enough! Our Heavenly Father floods us with His love! Yet His love can be experienced in the here and now, as God IS with us! We don’t have to WAIT to get to Heaven to experience being with Him. God desires to be in a relationship with you – and I can tell you
BEING IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS TRULY PERSONAL! AS YOU GROW IN CHRIST, YOUR WALK BECOMES DEEPER AND MORE PERSONAL WITH HIM EACH DAY!
Revelations 22:1-5 tells us:
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Psalm 16:11 proclaims:
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Did you read that? “Pleasures FOREVERMORE”!!!! How could ANYONE not want to experience all of the above for ALL eternity??? I don’t know about you but I SO want that! And it is NOT found in ANY other way – except by accepting God’s gift of salvation which is ONLY made possible because of Jesus! Acts 4:12 tells us:
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
As for Hell, contrary to popular belief – you will not be “partying with your friends” whooping it up. Each person who chooses to live an eternity without God, rejecting His gift of eternal salvation will spend it void of love, void of every good thing. I would be remiss in not pointing out the horror of Hell. But Hell is REAL! 2 Thessalonians 1:9 describes Hell as such:
They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might.
Revelations 9:20 describes Hell as:
Lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
Have you ever smelled sulfur before??? It is NOT a good smell! Luke chapter 16 describes Hell as a place of anguish and torment! Matthew 8:12 describes Hell as:
“In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Isaiah 66:24 tells us:
“And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 says:
“In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”
Does that sound like a place of partying and having a good time?????? No, hell is a place of eternal torment. I hope in writing these destressing words that you come to the realization of how GREAT the gift of salvation is for those Who choose to accept it! If you are reading these words, Holy Spirit has brought you to this post for a reason!
TODAY IS THE DAY FOR YOU TO ACCEPT SALVATION! TOMORROW MAY BE TOO LATE!
If fear in reading the words describing Hell has filled your heart, please know that perfect love casts out fear! And perfect love is ONLY found in the Creator of Love Who is Love itself!!!! Pray with me! Hell does NOT have to be YOUR portion! But it IS YOUR choice. God doesn’t send ANYONE to Hell, they choose to go there themselves.
“Father God, thank You for loving me! Thank You for enabling ME to love! Thank You for desiring me to be with You, free of fear, free of pain, free of sickness, sin and disease. Thank You for sending Jesus to provide the gift of salvation mentioned above. Forgive me Lord for my sins! I CHOOSE this day to accept Jesus as my Savior! Jesus, please be Lord OVER my life! Holy Spirit, please reign in me! I am so thankful Father for Your mercies, for Your forgiveness, for Your grace, for your overflowing amount of love. Who am I that You would love me???? I accept Your gift of love and I ask that You receive mine! I LOVE You Father! I LOVE You, Jesus! I LOVE You Holy Spirit! I don’t ever want to spend a moment without You. Be with me always! Walk with me! Teach me! Guide me! Fulfill Your purpose in my life – a life that I WILLINGLY give over to You! I receive and accept Your gift of love THIS day! THIS moment! Right now! In Jesus’ precious name I pray, AMEN.”
God IS love. God GIVES love, God teaches us HOW to love. There is NO greater joy or purpose than belonging to Him. Bask in it! Grow in it! Cherish it! Because He IS amazing, and He loves you completely! Receive it and walk in it. God IS love! \0/ \0/ \0/
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