Yes, it is the close of another year celebrating God’s most precious gift to all mankind. Jesus – wonder upon wonder of God’s love and grace. How blessed are all who have repented, received, and followed Jesus as Lord and Savior. Frankly, it overwhelms me when I try to comprehend it. 

When we give good gifts, we love to see them appreciated. We hope those receiving them are grateful for the love and cost represented. God is no different. 

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:12-13). 

Jesus Christ, as Savior, is a gift unimaginable. Do we value Him as the best gift ever? Do we praise and worship Him every day? Is He our joy and purpose in life? May it be! 

GLORY!

See any similarities?

• Adam, don’t eat the fruit.
• Noah, build the ark.
• Abraham, sacrifice Issac. 
• Lot, flee this city.
• Moses, lead them out.
• Joshua, take the land.
• Samson, live the life of a Nazarite.
• Jonah, go to Ninevah. 
• John the Baptist, prepare the way.
• Paul, go to the Gentiles.
• Peter, go the the Jews. 

God’s Word has many clear commands to men God had a special calling on. Might God want to use you in a special way? I understand that times have changed, but our world is in desperate need of committed believers. Are you committed to obeying His Word as best you can? He died for us. Will we live for Him?

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:3-6).

If you have spent any time in the Word you understand there will be a time when everyone will appear before Jesus Who is the Judge of all mankind (John 5:22). He is worthy to judge us considering He lived and died to be be able to offer us salvation and new life in Him at His expense. 

What I didn’t realize is that at the Judgement there is another factor that takes the Judgement to a whole new level. For that we look at 1 Corinthians 4. Paul is defending himself regarding criticism he has received. He says that he isn’t concerned if they judge him because he knows he will be judged by the Lord ultimately. He says “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:3-4). 

Then he says, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

The “hidden things of darkness” are our works, the things we have done. That is no surprise. We expect to be judged for what we have done. But, we are also to be judged regarding “the counsels of the hearts,” our motives! Oh brothers, that takes it to a whole new level. Something we did may have been good, but what was our motivation, our glory or our Savior’s? He purchased us with His blood. Shouldn’t it all be done for His glory? We are His servants. 

In sales, if a prospect is considered an easy sell, they might be referred to as “easy money” and when hunting, if the ducks are on the lake, they are called “sitting ducks.” I wonder what the cults refer to someone as whom they think will be easy to convert and bring into the “fold.” Regardless of the expression, might that be you? Could you, or worse, your wife or children be on their “radar” as a future cult member(s)? You might be seen as vulnerable and targeted if you have noticed the same group knocking on your door semi-regularly.

How does a born again believer protect against the logic and well-crafted arguments/stories that the cults bring? First would be to know what you believe. Be in the Word, studying to know what you believe and why. Also, know why the Bible is our sole basis of faith (not tradition nor another book), why we can trust it, and how it came to us, This is very important. 

Should you study the cults so you can engage them when they come to your door? I wouldn’t recommend it as that fills your mind with their deceit. Also you will likely not be able to learn enough to convince them away from what they know so well and are trained to defend. Tell them “No, thank you,” and close the door. 

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). 

“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

“Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever” (Psalms 119:160).

It’s coming for us all as the normal course of life. 100% of us will die. The only question is what will the circumstances be. Will it be sudden and unexpected? In my dream last night it was the result of a criminal. The majority of us will die due to cardiovascular disease (most likely for me since I have it already) since it is the leading cause of death. However, the web says that in high income areas cancer is the leading cause. The bottom line is we are dying from the moment we are born. 

Since no one will dispute that, then why doesn’t everyone prepare for death and eternity? One reason is that it is easier not to think about it, and if one does, the possibility of facing a Righteous Judge must be dealt with. If someone acknowledges he will face God and have to answer for his sin, that might even affect his current choices. Groan. 

It is very sad when some turn to a religion instead of Jesus the Savior as presented in Scripture. One popular religion states in its catechism that if you claim to know you will spend eternity in Heaven, you are anathema (cursed). Scripture says otherwise. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). Oh what peace a person can have on his deathbed knowing he will be with his Savior in Heaven. Contrast that with a dying person, dealing with the pain of dying AND a mind screaming at him in fear of eternity in hell. 

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10). Good works don’t save us, but God puts us to work after we are saved. 

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). We don’t suffer for our sins, Jesus did.