"Where You Are ... He Is!"
"Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear."
(Isaiah 65:24)
Jesus Christ our Lord is "present!" He is THE "present" to a hurting world; His Angels are all around, and He is right where You are .... if You have made Him Your Lord and Savior; He will never leave You nor forsake You. (Hebrews 13:5) The "present" for You this month could be "the present" of Your life ... Be filled with "THE present," which is a constant comforter, an abiding Joy, the gift that is new every morning, a love like no other ... the Spirit of the mighty Lord Jesus Christ, THE One, who will carry You in times of trouble, deliver You in dire circumstances, hold You in the mourning season, bless You with wonders untold, and You will always know, without a doubt, that "Where You Are ... He Is!"
"Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose
very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an
oath ... it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold
of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope
as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure ..."
(Hebrews 6:17-19)
It's wonderful to know that we will always have those arms of a loving God underneath us, bearing us up, sustaining us, comforting us, and protecting us through life's trials. Even when the rain falls on the "just," because we live in a fallen world, we know He will never put more on us than we can bear ... He will make a way where there is no way; He will whisper sweet peace in the darkest of night; He will make everything beautiful in its time, because He Is ... right where You are ...
" ... From the beginning God chose you to be saved
through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth."
(2 Thessalonians 2:13)
What is Truth? What is the purpose of life in earth? Why are we here? Why are we separated from heaven? What is the point of it all? All good questions, and you're not alone; many wonder these things. It was God's intention for us to live with Him forever, in heaven, paradise, the Garden of Eden, but Adam and Eve sinned and ate of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil; they then were banned from the garden, to work and toil all of their days.
It is Almighty's God's desire that earth be like heaven ... "in earth as it is in heaven." We are on a trek to make the circle complete, and return to the Garden of Eden ... a place of no sin, a place of peace, no pain, no tears, no disease, no infirmity, no hatred, no war, no crime, no evil, no death ... " ... in Christ all will be made alive." (I Corinthians 15:22) "How can that happen in earth?" you ask. It happens one at a time, soul to soul, Nation to Nation, people to people, Church to Church, brother to brother, sister to sister, hand to hand ... until ... "That's impossible," you say. Nothing is impossible with God!
"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand
firm in Christ, He anointed us, set His seal of ownership
on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit,
guaranteeing what is to come."
(2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
The Holy Ghost and fire living within us is our ticket to eternity. Be repentant of your sins with godly sorrow and sincerity, be filled with the Holy Ghost and speak with tongues as the Spirit gives you utterance; and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins ... These are the deposits that never lose their value; euros may fail, dollars may diminish, assets may be taken, homes and treasures may fall away, but the Spirit of Almighty God, Jesus Christ our Lord, and His name over us in baptism, no man can take or remove. "These" are the real importance of life, the Gold that is destined for heaven's vault, the commodity the Stock Market cannot fathom or calculate; it is the Glory of eternity living in a human soul.
Lily of the Valley
"For we are to God the aroma of Christ
among those who are being saved and those
who are perishing. To the one we are the smell
of death; to the other the fragrance of life ..."
(2Corinthians 2:15-16)
"Because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." (Hebrews 10:14) Jesus Christ is the Lily of the Valley and the bright and morning star; salvation in Him brings the aroma of holiness, the beauty of righteousness, the scent of purity, the darkness made light, in the image of Glory. This is the illustration of the Garden of Eden, and this is our target.
"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to
enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by
a new and living way opened for us through the curtain,
this is His body, and since we have a great priest over
the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere
heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled
to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our
bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly
to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."
(Hebrews 10:19-23)
It all comes down to "a promise," an oath sealed with a rainbow, a pledge evidenced with nail-scarred hands, a vow completed with His Spirit, a commitment from the betrothed to His Church, a sacrifice paid with blood, an omnipotent "I Will" if You will, a death-defying assurance from the One with the keys to everyone who belongs to Him, in Spirit, in baptism in His name, in repentance to follow Him forever.
May this Christmas be the blessing of Your life! May Your "present" be the Gift of life, Jesus Christ living within you, in Spirit and truth. And, You will always know, through life, through death, through all of eternity that You are never alone, never forsaken, for "Where You Are ... He Is!"
(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.
PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)
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