From the beginning, when God created humans, He did not make them robots; he gave them free will with the ability to make choices. The results of their choices were either beneficial or detrimental to them, as you can read in the following selections.
Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden, and God gave him a choice. He said, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” Genesis 2:16-17). Adam and Eve chose to disregard the words of God and ate from that tree, and they suffered the consequence of separation from God and eventual death.
Noah found grace in the eyes of God, so when God decided to destroy the world population, He instructed Noah to build an ark in which he and his family would be safe when He flooded the earth with rain. Noah chose to obey for 120 years he built the ark. Noah’s obedience saved him, his wife, his three sons, and their wives (Genesis 6-8).
When escaping from the doomed city of Sodom, Lot, his wife, and two daughters were told, “Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” However, Lot’s wife chose to look back, and she became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:17, 26).
After they became fearful of the nations that resided in the land of Canaan and rejecting God’s plan for its occupation, God instructed Israel to turn and go into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea. Instead of obeying, Israel rose up early in the morning and went up into the mountain where the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt, and they were greatly slaughtered (Numbers 14:240-45).
Prior to his death, Joshua said to Israel, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” The scripture recorded that Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and the elders that outlived him, but afterward, the new generation forsook God, and everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Consequently, with this choice, God allowed Israel to go into repeated cycles of captivity (Joshua 24:15; Judges 2).
After the death of Solomon, God allowed Israel to be divided into two parts. God told Jeroboam, who became king over the ten northern tribes, that if he listened to all that He commanded him, walked in His ways, did right in His sight, and kept His statutes and commandments, He would be with him, and build him a sure house. However, 1 Kings 13-14 revealed Jeroboam chose not to obey and, unfortunately, led Israel into idolatry.
After informing King Ahab there would be no dew or rain in Israel, God instructed Elijah the Tishbite to go eastward and hide by the brook Cherith. Additionally, while there, he would be able to drink from the brook, and ravens would bring him food. Elijah chose to obey, and he never missed a meal, for in the morning and evening, a raven brought him bread and flesh (1 Kings 17:1-6).
Throughout the gospel books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the stories of Jesus healing the sick can be read. In many of these stories, Jesus gave directions to the recipients of the healing. Everyone wanted to be healed, but they also needed to follow the directions that Jesus had given them. Some had to arise, some had to stretch forth their hand, some had to go, and others had to believe. All of them had a choice.
Every one of us has a choice to make about our salvation, and yes, there are consequences if we make the wrong decision. If you are struggling in making your choice, I’ve included the following suggestions from WikiHow’s article titled “Decision Making 101: A Simple Guide:”
- To make an informed decision, make sure you understand the choice you need to make: why does a decision need to be made? What are your options?
- Identify the worst-case scenario of each choice so that you’re prepared for whatever comes.
- Weigh all your alternatives carefully to understand the possible outcomes of each choice. Who will be affected by your decision?
Furthermore, I’ve included salvation scriptures shared by Jesus during His ministry time on earth to help you make this salvation decision.
- Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21
- Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. John 3:36
- No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:3
- Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13-14
I pray that if you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior after reading this blog, you are ready to do so. Today, I urge you to make the right choice.
ROMANS 13:11-12 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. (KJV)
ROMANS 13:11-12 Another reason for right living is this: you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of the Lord is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is far gone, the day of his return will soon be here. So quit the evil deeds of darkness and put on the armor of right living, as we who live in the daylight should! (TLB)
ROMANS 13:11-12 But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. (MSG)
Paul wrote the book of Romans around 57 AD and according to the above verses, which I shared from three translations, he felt the rapture was imminent. It is now 2024 AD, and approximately 1967 years have passed since Paul admonished the believers to awake. So, I hope all of you who may be reading this blog realize Jesus’ return for His bride can take place at any time.
According to how I chronologically believe the scriptures happen, first comes the rapture, where Jesus will appear in the air and believers will be caught up to meet Him. Then comes the seven-year tribulation period on earth, and lastly, Jesus returns to the earth and begins His millennial reign. As these times and events unfold, believers must remember the words Jesus spoke to the disciples in Matthew 24. He instructed them not to be deceived by people and, most notably, what we are presently experiencing and seeing, such as wars, rumors of wars, nations opposing other nations, famine, hurricanes, earthquakes, pestilence, increasing lawlessness, believers departing from the faith, false prophets, liars, treachery, and lustfulness will not get better but worse.
These experiences could lead to despair for the inhabitants of the world. Nevertheless, for believers, we have hope as we engage in spiritual warfare, casting down and relinquishing ungodly habits, for our aim is to be rapture-ready. Furthermore, using the many teaching parables Jesus shared while doing His earthly ministry, believers strive to be like the profitable servants who worked as they should and the five wise virgins who had the necessary oil for their lamps. I am part of this prepared group, and I pray that you are too, for we realize it is high time to wake out of sleep.
After having a conversation with Moses about the disobedient actions of the Israelites and Moses interceding on their behavior, Moses asked God to allow him to see His glory. In response, God told Moses, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen” (Exodus 33:19-23).
God did have a plan for the future to allow people to see His face, and He did it through the person of His son Jesus. In the Old Testament, Isaiah prophesied about the miraculous birth of Jesus approximately six hundred years before it occurred. He said, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
In the New Testament, John described the birth of Jesus as follows: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1,14). Additionally, Jesus, speaking to the Jews who questioned whether He was the Christ, said, “ I and my Father are one” (John 10: 30).
Prior to His crucifixion, Jesus was comforting and instructing His disciples about His departure from them, and He said, “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Then the response of the disciples named Philip made Jesus reply, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?” (John 14:9).
Paul, in 1 Timothy 3:16, described Jesus as the manifested God who completed His earthly assignment in this manner, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” So, we believers who are presently alive can proclaim like Paul that we are looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, for He Jesus is our manifested God.
The definition of eternity is an infinite or unending time, a state to which time has no application, timelessness, or endless life after death. Everyone born on earth is going to experience eternity. Some will enter eternity when they are raptured, and their bodies take on immortality; others will enter it after dying and being raised for the white throne judgment, and others who are living at the time of the white throne judgment will enter it then.
A person’s relationship with God will determine where and how they will experience eternity. Those in the right relationship with God will be spending eternity with Jesus on the new earth, and those whose name is not written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire where they will be tormented day and night for eternity (Revelation 20:10, 15; 21:1-4).
Unfortunately, I believe the masses fail to understand the concept of eternity and the responsibility given to them to determine how they will spend it. Many feel while they are alive, their relationship with God does not matter; however, when they die, the one that they have ignored is going to welcome them in heaven. They fall into the category of clueless and thus will suffer from their inattention and ignorance. Jesus described this kind of action in Matthew 22 to the Sadducees, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”
In this season in which we live, we must be careful that we are not deceived and follow the wrong path. Matthew 7:13-14 states, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
I urge you, if you are not eternity-minded, to become so. Pray and ask God to help you to see beyond the present and what satisfies our carnal nature. Ask Him to help you prepare for a future with Him, and because He loves you, He will answer your sincere prayer.
For this blog, I will be using the theme from the book of Hebrews, “Christ is Better Than,” however, instead of saying, “Christ,” I will be saying, “God is better than.”
The Global Positioning System, which is referred to as GPS, was developed by the United States Department of Defense in the 1970s. Initially, it was designed for military applications; however, in 1993, it became available to civilians, who now dominate its’ usage in their automobiles.
Most drivers who utilize the GPS have experienced its’ multitudinous benefits, such as real-time traffic updates, navigation and directions, tracking and security, fuel efficiency, emergency assistance, travel time estimates, and route planning. However, despite these benefits, be assured that everything that man has created has limitations and failures. We can thank God that He comes to our rescue in our time of need; there is no failure in Him, for He is better than a GPS.
Just as the world relies on the GPS to navigate them as they journey through life, we believers can rely on God to do the same and even more. So, let me share some of the ways God is better than a GPS:
- Talking to God to get direction does not require a satellite hookup; you speak directly to Him.
- Unlike blocked GPS signals due to dense forest areas, bad weather, or tall buildings, nothing hinders your communication with God.
- God never needs an update: from the beginning of time, He knew about all the changes that would occur in your life.
- Obstructions or atmospheric conditions can prevent the satellites from determining where you are located. God always knows where you are.
- GPS sometimes gives erroneous information, but God’s information is always correct.
- GPS can malfunction or run out of battery power; God is Omnipotent, and He never lacks power.
- Though some GPS routing may be faster, it may not be safe. God will safely guide and protect you at His pace.
- With God, you never have to be concerned about your private information being accessed illegally.
- Whereas the GPS may incur a data usage cost, there is no cost to talk to God.
- When you have lost something of value, God can reveal the hidden thing.
I close this blog hoping if you did not realize it before, you now know God is better than a GPS
It has been documented that people’s interest in extraterrestrial life is not new; as far back as ancient civilization, philosophers have speculated that other forms of life existed, and now, in the twenty-first century, specific fields of study such as astrophysics, biology, and planetary science are doing massive research in this area.
“A Trip to Mars,” released in 1918, was the first movie about aliens seen in the United States, followed by “The First Men in the Moon,“ which was released in 1919. In these films, aliens appeared as humans; however, in later films, aliens were a mixture of either humans, non-humans, or monstrous beings. Additionally, the same could be said for the first alien television show, “The Outer Limits,” which premiered in 1963.
Movies produced for theaters and a wide variety of television shows have increased human interest in alien life. Plus, governments are quietly doing their own research in hopes of answering the question, “Does other forms of life exist in the world?”
I have shared all of the above with you to say, possibly, when the rapture of the church takes place, and those that remain on earth are seeking answers, one of the conclusions that will be said is, “These people that have disappeared were aliens.” Rather than turn to the scriptures and believe what was written, this false narrative will be presented.
In his writing on the tribulation, Paul said to the church in Thessalonica, “He will completely fool those who are on their way to hell because they have said no to the Truth; they have refused to believe it and love it and let it save them, so God will allow them to believe lies with all their hearts” (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 TLB). Here, Paul is talking about the antichrist and his cohorts who will be attempting to win over the world with his reasoning, and according to scripture, he is successful in doing so.
Jesus, in Matthew 24, did a synopsis of the book of Revelation. In this chapter, he answered some questions that his disciples had asked him, and additionally, he gave instructions to those who would be living during the tribulation. One of the words that He repeated four times in this chapter was “deceive,” and this was because Jesus knew what was to come. He knew the spirit of deception would be in full force, but He still tried to help the future generations.
Believers have dual citizenship in earth and heaven, but the only time living raptured believers will not live on earth will be during the tribulation. Remember Psalms 115:15-16 “Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men,” and Isaiah 45:18″ For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.” God made man from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7) God gave man dominion over the earth, not the third heaven because that was not man’s eternal residence; the new earth will be that place (Genesis 2:28; Revelation 21). So, share this information with others; the lie that will permeate the world that raptured believers were alien creatures from another planet living on earth will not be valid. Believers are not aliens; we were created to reside on earth, and though we may leave here for a short time, we will be back at God’s appointed time.
(AMPLIFIED BIBLE)1 Thessalonians 5:1 – 10 Now as to the times and dates, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the [return of the] Lord is coming just as a thief [comes unexpectedly and suddenly] in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety [all is well and secure!]” then [in a moment unforeseen] destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains on a woman with child, and they will absolutely not escape [for there will be no way to escape the judgment of the Lord]. But you, [believers, [all you who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son] are not in spiritual darkness [nor held by its power], that the day [of judgment] would overtake you [by surprise] like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We do not belong to the night nor to darkness. So then let us not sleep [in spiritual indifference] as the rest [of the world does], but let us keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled, calm, and wise]. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we [believers] belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope and confident assurance of salvation. For God has not destined us to [incur His] wrath [that is, He did not select us to condemn us], but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died [willingly] for us, so that whether we are awake (alive) or asleep (dead) [at Christ’s appearing], we will live together with Him [sharing eternal life].
Paul wrote the above verses as part of his letter to the Thessalonica church located in the capital city of Macedonia, which was established during his second missionary journey. This body of believers was looking for the Lord’s return in their lifetime, and Paul wanted to enlighten and encourage them about that event.
The believers knew that the actual date of Christ’s return was unknown to all, and from the Old Testament prophets, believers understood the Day of the Lord was a time of judgment. Paul reminded them that this day would likely occur when everything appeared to be tranquil, but like the experience of a woman giving birth, chaos could suddenly happen. Also, like the woman who does not know when she will go into labor, once it starts, it intensifies and cannot be reversed.
Unlike unbelievers who relish darkness, believers are children of light, and their lifestyle differ from the world. Since they are cognizant of Christ’s return, they are expected to be sober, watchful, and ready, as well as to stand in faith and love. Most importantly, believers have hope and confident assurance that God did not condemn them but rather provided salvation through the death and resurrection of His son Jesus. Additionally, believers will forever dwell with Him in eternity.
With all of this in our minds, as we witness seasons and times and feel the approaching rapture of the church of Jesus Christ, let us cherish and heed the words of Paul, knowing we have a God-expected end.
As I grow older, I understand why many senior believers welcome the thought of death. Their bodies can no longer perform the acts of their youth, and the world around them no longer resembles the one they knew. Thus, they have lived their life on earth and have turned their vision to their future home with the Lord. Also, I believe many seniors are comforted by the words spoken by Paul to the church in Thessalonica and Corinth, and in this blog, I am going to share a few of these scriptures. To do this, I am going to share the scriptures, and then I will do a short commentary after each of them.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
Presently, Jesus Christ is in our hearts and minds. We are unable to see Jesus, nor can we physically touch Him. However, when the rapture happens, everyone who is part of Jesus’ body will meet Him in the air and travel with Him to the third heaven. We will see Him, be able to touch Him, and enjoy all the pleasures God has in store for those who loved and served Him not for a day, a week, a month, or a year but forever and ever.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
The sin of disobedience by Adam in the Garden of Eden caused humanity to become corruptible and mortal. The Greek meaning for the word “corruptible” is to be perishable and to decay. The English dictionary defines it as the action of making someone morally depraved, sinful, ungodly, unrighteousness, dishonest, and unscrupulous. The Greek meaning and the English dictionary for the word “mortal” is capable of dying. From these meanings, I conclude that immediately at the rapture, our bodies, which were capable of dying due to old age or sickness, will take on the same attributes as Jesus’ body and become an eternal body. Plus, thank God, we will be devoid of our sinful nature; we will no longer be tainted by sin, and death and all that it represents will no longer be part of our lives.
So, in this lawless world that is filled with destruction, sickness, death and every other product of sin as Paul stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 we believers can comfort one another in knowing we have a future with Jesus and our troubles will not last always.
As I grow older, I understand why many senior believers welcome the thought of death. Their bodies can no longer perform the acts of their youth, and the world around them no longer resembles the one they knew. Thus, they have lived their life on earth and have turned their vision to their future home with the Lord. Also, I believe many seniors are comforted by the words spoken by Paul to the church in Thessalonica and Corinth, and in this blog, I am going to share a few of these scriptures. To do this, I am going to share the scriptures, and then I will do a short commentary after each of them.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
Presently, Jesus Christ is in our hearts and minds. We are unable to see Jesus, nor can we physically touch Him. However, when the rapture happens, everyone who is part of Jesus’ body will meet Him in the air and travel with Him to the third heaven. We will see Him, be able to touch Him, and enjoy all the pleasures God has in store for those who loved and served Him not for a day, a week, a month, or a year but forever and ever.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
The sin of disobedience by Adam in the Garden of Eden caused humanity to become corruptible and mortal. The Greek meaning for the word “corruptible” is to be perishable and to decay. The English dictionary defines it as the action of making someone morally depraved, sinful, ungodly, unrighteousness, dishonest, and unscrupulous. The Greek meaning and the English dictionary for the word “mortal” is capable of dying. From these meanings, I conclude that immediately at the rapture, our bodies, which were capable of dying due to old age or sickness, will take on the same attributes as Jesus’ body and become an eternal body. Plus, thank God, we will be devoid of our sinful nature; we will no longer be tainted by sin, and death and all that it represents will no longer be part of our lives.
So, in this lawless world that is filled with destruction, sickness, death and every other product of sin as Paul stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 we believers can comfort one another in knowing we have a future with Jesus and our troubles will not last always.
The Teacher's Pick 