[Word Count: 1059]
Eternity to the Now
We now turn our attention to GOD's ongoing Work on the Earth: introducing people from all levels of society to the transforming Love of Jesus Christ. Some of you who are agnostics or even nominal Christians may be quite familiar with evangelical terms and concepts.
What i hope to bring to the table is the illumination Divine Sovereignty brings to the already glorious Gospel which, in the last two thousand years, has brought millions out of the unavoidable doom of eternal Hell into the Shalom of Eternal Divine Bliss.
To review: GOD has preordained the following spiritual blessings to every soul who puts their total trust and dependency for wholeness and completeness on the Person of Christ Jesus:
Every believer is Foreknown.
Every believer is Chosen.
Every believer is Predestined.
Every believer is Sanctified.
Every believer is Elected by Divine Grace.
The Relationship that exists between the Members of the GODHEAD is unconditional; therefore, the Gospel that brings sinners into That Eternal Relationship MUST ALSO BE UNCONDITIONAL, free of charge and provided with NO STRINGS ATTACHED.
"That doesn't sound like the Gospel at all...that doesn't even sound realistic."
I understand your position: you have been an "adult" for so long, you've forgotten what it's like to be a child, flying joyfully from one moment to the next WITHOUT A CARE IN THE WORLD (Matthew 11:25,26; 18:1-5; 19:14). You've forgotten what it's like to have gods for parents; gods who knew everything and in whose arms you felt safe; gods who fed and clothed and loved you unconditionally...
...THAT is the Reality created by GOD when He made the Earth...and it's the Reality He will return us to if we will only trust Him!
I realize there's many people who, for one reason or another, were denied a conventional childhood; Christ can provide for you NOW the peace, safety and unconditional love that you missed!
"I'm confused: on the one hand you tell me God has condemned an entire species to eternal torture for one act of disobedience; and on the other hand, God is offering me a free ride to Heaven if I'm willing to kiss up to and bet the whole farm on His Son???"
Yeah...pretty much.
"How am I supposed to trust Someone Who has the power to skewer me on an eternal barbecue as soon as I make a single mistake???"
The Cross.
The Cross of Jesus Christ.
The Cross of Jesus Christ tells me that GOD doesn't receive perverted enjoyment from punishing anyone (Ezekiel 18:32; 33:11).
The Cross of Jesus Christ tells me GOD was willing to FORGIVE my mistakes even while i considered Him my enemy (Romans 5:6-11).
The Cross of Jesus Christ tells me that while it is IMPOSSIBLE for The GODHEAD to compromise Their Justice and Vengeance against evil (and in all honesty none of us would really want Them to) They were willing to turn Their Wrath on Themselves to save you...and me (2 Corinthians 5:20,21).
The Call
That being said, for the last two thousand years GOD has put out a call to every nation, tribe, tongue and people on the face of the planet to turn to His Only-Begotten Son Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of ALL SIN--past, present and future--and to receive The Gift of The Holy Spirit of GOD and embark on the transcendent experience of That Priceless Treasure: a Sinless, Endless Life!
“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the Earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” -- Isaiah 45:22 ESV
“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the Gospel of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.'” -- Mark 1:14,15 ESV
“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a Day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.” -- Acts 17:30-31 ESV
“The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the Water of Life without price.” -- Revelation 22:17 ESV
The GOD Who must judge the world is the Same GOD offering pardon, restoration of fellowship with Himself and Eternal Life indiscriminately to whoever is willing to submit to His Authority and Lordship.
Before the Wrath of GOD is handed out citizenship in the Kingdom of GOD is freely offered--and we're not talking about a second-class citizenship in some Heavenly ghetto; even the "least" in the Kingdom of Christ is a king and a priest, destined to reign with Christ over a brand-new universe where evil is completely absent.
It's time to abandon atheism, materialism, hedonism, superstition, paganism, metaphysics and esoteric spiritism with all occult practices for the glorious holiness, purity, restored innocence and unconditional love provided generously by Jesus, Who allowed His Blood to be shed so that our shameful pasts could be forgiven and forgotten forever.
I believe that within the next 50 years the Gospel of Jesus Christ will penetrate every corner of the Earth, including the three billion souls that have yet to hear It. By Christ's own Words, when that happens, the End of the world will come and Christ Himself will return to restore all things!
If you've read the entire series up to this point and have never prayed to Jesus or His Father, GOD has been calling out to you through my words. Satan has also been calling you to reject my Message...or at least put it off until a "more opportune time."
There's no guarantee any of us will live long enough to see this planet's final hours, much less tomorrow. Do you wish to know if you're predestined for Salvation? Call on the Name of Jesus for Mercy--or even proof--and start reading the New Testament for yourself (a good place to start is the Gospel of John).
In Part Nine of The Narrow Way we will explore further the first response to The Gospel's Call necessary to be saved: Faith.