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| On Death Row without Jesus |
According to the person speaking, many of the men and women in prison have really had no kind of family life. Few numbered found to have some kind of family institution: father, mother, and siblings, yet most had no father, sometimes a mother but was absent from the scene at odd times, so the man or woman seen in prison had absentee parents!
Now parents are to have prepared a place for their newborn baby, bring them up in admonition of the Lord and speak life over them everyday of their life. My parents were not the 'perfect' ones but they certainly worked hard to present to us an example of a wonderful home life where the father worked to provide for his family, the mother provided clean clothes, good food and a warm bed at night (with clean sheets and a comfy pillow for the head). Still, we saw and knew we had to work to create those things as well for the children we would have one day. My sister and I certainly had good examples of good parents. We went to church and learned Bible verses as children. As an adult, we still look into the perfect law of liberty that came through Jesus Christ.
In thinking of that teaching the other day, I go back to the thought that value for life has somehow been lost in these many decades since my youth. And the value for God is lost in most cases as well. Within that thought all those who would not know God live on 'death row'! Whether they live in the Penthouse of the tallest building in a great city, or in a multi-million dollar mansion in Beverly Hills California, still they are on death row if they know not the Lord.
In John 14:1 Jesus told us this: Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated), You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God, believe in and rely also on Me.
Now this 'Me' is Jesus Himself! Verse 2 continues: In My Father's house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 And when (if) I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way. 5 Thomas said to Him, Lord we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way? 6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. 7 If you had known Me [had learned to recognize Me] you would also have known My Father. From now on, you know Him and have seen Him.
8 Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father [cause us to see the Father----that is all we ask]; then we shall be satisfied. 9 Jesus replied, "Have I been with all of you for long a time and do you not recognize and know Me yet Philip? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say then, Show us the Father?"
Is not 'relationship' important? Relationship is given in Ecclesiastes 6:10-12. NKJV 10 Whatever one is, he has been named already, For it is known that he is man; And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he. 11 Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better? 12 For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?
We had looked at this previously and anything under the sun is living life without God included in it. From this verse 10, God is sovereign and there are some things that He has established cannot be changed. In naming a thing, is knowing it is set in place. We can see other important points of this in John 4:34 and of Psalm 16:11..........for to be converted, to be born-again is important to value of life, but also is of value in God and also of valuing others!
Jesus spoke this in John 4:34.. Amplified Bible..My food (nourishment) is to do the will (pleasure) of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish and completely finish His work.
Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
Acts 2:25-28 For David says in regard to Him, I saw the Lord constantly before me, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken or overthrown or cast down [from my secure and happy state]. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue exulted exceedingly; moreover, my flesh also will dwell in hope [will encamp, pitch its tent, and dwell in hope in anticipation of the resurrection]. 27 For You will not abandon my soul, leaving it helpless in Hades ( the state of departed spirits), nor let Your Holy One know decay or see destruction [ of the body after death]. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will enrapture [diffusing my soul with joy] with and in Your Presence.
For God's purpose, man was created. Being in His presence is the paramount solution! From the above statements we see both Jesus and David gave assuring contentment that is deliberate life in His presence. It is one who properly knows or had the knowledge of God, His plan for salvation, His kingdom that has come and deliberately we take it spiritually by faith....that trust in Him!
It was yesterday evening I saw this commercial. It was images of all these people, all colors, shapes, sizes and ages. The song being sung was Spread the Love....Spread the Love...and in the speaking was referencing God's children. It goes on through the commercial and then gives a name. com to visit.
In truth God's children are those who obey His instruction. Certainly God created man and woman, and He gave them their assignment to multiply. They were to create more children and those would be children who would know God and abide in Him always receiving His instruction and correction!
Proverbs 15:11 Hell and Destruction are before the LORD; so how much more the hearts of the sons of men.
God is aware of men's thoughts and He knows those who are His!
1 John 3: 2 Beloved, now we are children of God and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He as manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifest, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
Yes, there remains a Death Row for many. There is a day coming soon when people will have to give an account of their life before Him. Nothing is hidden from God, and what is within man will be made known indeed!
People must hear the Gospel. They must know of Jesus and the blood shed for them. For His perfect sacrifice, yes the appeasing force....that propitiation speaks plainly of the requirements of obedience to God.
One can certainly put on a 'happy song' and dance a little step or jig and call everyone the children of God but truly only those who are obedient to Him, who have received Jesus as Lord are the children of God. Remember Jesus' sacrifice was to assist you and me in perfecting holiness and that each of us would be the proven witness of God working in our lives....Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
For those who are truly children of God, is not another fancy song with smiling faces of many people of many colors, but the children of God reflect kingdom citizens that influence for good when moving through this life to the next. They are all colors of man under the one true color the blood of Jesus Christ. For you and me, our lives will either have a positive or negative effect. Certainly let us live responsibly by our faith in God, bringing glory to His great name, that speaks truth with great joy and peace in our hearts!
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Also visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching
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