Most of us have heard singing the famous song "Imagine"-John Lennon her second hit as an ex-Beatle. I heard that this morning and continues to work and over in my head.
"Imagine not that there's no heaven."
OK, let's play. We imagine that there is no heaven. What then? It would be still a Christian? Let's face it, signed most of us because we don't want to go to hell. In most cases, someone has submitted to us a "safeguard clause", as set out for us exactly how we might avoid "the wages of sin" that we all have deserved, the eternal torment of hell. Our interest has been raised. We have recited a prayer or are baptized, skipped through some hoops Confessionals and-BAM! -in an instant, we were heaven bound!
But what if there were no heaven? It would be signed?
Years ago, I heard a tape of a preacher named Jesse Duplantis. If I remember the theme, I remember that she was screaming and yelling and the preaching of a storm on this tape, while I laugh. Then, said a few words that I'll never forget. In a soft, delicate tone, in a whisper near uttered, "Jesus Christ wants to be a real person in your life."
At first, I was offended. "Of course Jesus is a real person in my life ..." So I was in prey with the cold reality that was not more real to me by Davy Crocket or George Washington or any other historical figure. Was the kid at Christmas and the individual resurrected at Easter ... but was not true for me.
A few years later, I heard a preacher named j. Vernon McGee on radio. Once again, I have heard of the reality of Jesus Christ and how he wants to be as real to us as the closest friend or spouse.
We fall in love with Jesus in the same way that we fall in love with any other person, i.e., spend our time with them. Actually, it was said that "love ' must be typed and t-I-M-.
When he was only 10 years before I met my beloved Barbara, people occasionally ask when I was getting married. Reply, "I'm married ...I'm married to Jesus! " An old from Barbados once told me that, when he met his wife, he KNEW was that for him, because as he said, "we were in love with the same person."
Speaking of my wife, Barbara, I knew it was the one for me to our first appointment. I've actually never asked to marry me. Both we just knew that God wanted to tandem. What gave away? We weren't in need! We were complete, only in our relationship with Jesus. Yet, somehow, we knew that would be stronger set of over ... just the three of us (a threefold cord is not easily broken, Etc 4: 12).
Over the years, I've lost my enthusiasm for the sky. I find myself rarely speak or think that much more, not sure how I did that as a Christian girl. I learned to understand what Paul meant when he wrote, "to live is Christ, to die is gain." In other words, if they killed him, he should get to be with Jesus. If they let him live, well ... he could get to be with Jesus! "Killing me and I am the King; Allow me to live and I'll build his Kingdom. What does Satan with people like that?
Truth is that the world is full of people, people who stay without fear of persecution, happy to know that the Lord has promised us would be days like this. I speak with some believers of this calibre and, frankly, is encouraging. I am not in this for heaven's sake; are in it because they love Jesus and love his people.
Hard times Are the way to come? Jesus said: "in this world you will have many problems, but I have overcome the world be comforted" (Jn 16: 33)
You know the overcome one? Means to know him really? There's an intimacy of relationship that grows daily between you two? Do you want to be a Christian (literally "a small Christ") if there was no promise of heaven?
I am convinced that the sky is a mirror image of the Earth. After all, Jesus himself taught his disciples, "thy will be done, on Earth as in heaven." He did not do or say anything, unless his heavenly father has given directive. I'm inclined to say: "is the natural, so is spiritual." We have many wars on the planet now, because there are wars going into the realm of spirit. We have many orphaned children of the planet, why the Church can't "father" of those entering the Kingdom. America's obesity problem is the result of being spiritually fat and lazy. You get the picture, I'm sure. Even the Bible amplified version of Matthew 18: 18-a verse often wrongly and misapplied by many of those who teach that the sky takes his orders from us-quotes Jesus as saying, "truly I say to you, whatever prohibit and claim to be improper and unlawful on Earth must be what is already banned in heaven, and whatever permission and declare correct and lawful on Earth must be what already is allowed in heaven". There are the reflection of what's happening on n the sky; NOT the image-maker.
When he sang Lennon, "Imagine there is no heaven ... is easy if you try," he is woefully wrong. Psalm 19: 1 tell us, "the heavens declare the glory of God ..." It would be very difficult to deny something so glaringly obvious. In fact, Romans 1: 20 says, "for the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so they are without excuse: "
No excuse? Sorry, Mr Lennon. The 8 December 1980, was murdered in cold blood by a deranged fan. As regards its belief in the sky, sure he is singing a different song today.
When I was Minister of youth and a pastor of the Church of the College, one thing that often encountered was the complete lack of sincerity displayed by many of the boys. Have loved the social aspects of a Christian. Visit of parks, attend concerts, having fellowship, wearing the t-shirt-these were all testimonies very superficial a relationship with Christ. When came the tests and trials, many kids impossible, even turning their backs on Christianity, all together.
If you want to know the truth, the same exists among adults. Trails will arrive. Everything will be tested, including Jesus himself (remember her encounter with Satan; desert He was led there by the Holy Spirit, we are told).
These tests you will pass? If Christianity is probably not everyone on the sky and onto Jesus, not all.
Don't fret. You get to take the test later.
Every blessing,
Michael Tummillo
A servant of God
http://www.yourtown4jesus.com
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