Prepare to meet thy God
Editor: Biblical prophecies foretell that we are living in a period called âthe time of the endâ. Through Divine revelation to His servants, Jesus Christ outlines significant events to take place before He returns. Some of these events include: signs in the sun, the mark of the Beast (enforcement of Sunday Holiness) and the pouring out of seven last plagues upon the wicked.{{more}} In spite of these pre-advent warnings, there are many who scoff, mock and put the coming of Christ afar off. They fail to understand that “the Lord is not slack concerning His promisesâ and that His long-suffering is for our salvation. He is not willing that any of us should perish, “but that all should come to repentance.â He who is Love, pleads with us to prepare for His appearing. He is calling you today to “Repent and turn from your transgressions; so that iniquity shall not be your ruinâ ( Ezekiel 18:30). Nevertheless, He does not force our will to serve Him. In Love for us, he outlines the benefits of loving obedience to Him and the consequences of rebellion against His just authority. He tells us that obedience to His commandments gives us the right to enter heaven. This obedience is by faith (the revealed truths of Jesus) and is what characterizes His remnant people in these last days. They keep the commandments of God by faith. So, not only does God tell us of the reward (Revelation 22:14) of obedience to Him but he tells us the distinct characteristics of His last day servants- “â¦they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.â(Rev.14:12). On the other hand, He does not leave us ignorant of the fate of those who transgress His law- trampling upon His Sabbath and who hate the truth of salvation. They “shall drink of the wine of the wrath of Godâ¦â( Rev. 14:10) . In other words, they would receive the seven last plagues outlined in Revelation 15 and 16.
Sadly, there are many who are fastening their doom in disobedience-loving pleasures more than loving God. They seek security in temporal things (wealth, status, position etc.).
My friend, our only security is to have the character of Jesus Christ in us which gives us a sin-free experience. This happens when Jesus cleanses us from all sin-values and places His truths within us. Christ in His love is willing to do this work in you, if you would repent of your sins and accept the truths of the gospel as your living experience. And, it is NOW we must have this experience. Titus tells us that ” the grace of God hath appeared to all menâ. And what does grace do? It teaches us that “denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present worldâ (Titus 2:11,12). All this shows that to be accepted of the LORD at His second coming, we must have holiness in us. We must have a sin-free character by the grace of God.
What would your decision be today? How shall you stand in that Great Day? Are you wasting your life away or are you preparing to meet Your Saviour, Jesus Christ? Amos speaking under the inspiration of God admonishes all to ” Prepare to meet thy Godâ . You must determine how you want to be found by making the right choice today. Christ has no pleasure in your destruction. Repent of your sins and receive the Gospel into your heart that you may be found in Him- having a holy, spotless character fitted to live and reign with the King of kings. May this be your experience for the New year and beyond.
Ann-Marie Ballantyne
svgpatriot@hotmail.com
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