Thursday, June 12, 2008

The End

Usually, I like to keep things somewhat light, but today will be different. This is a serious post.

I was blessed beyond belief to be raised in the home I was. My parents, and extended family, are all Christians, and going to church was never questioned. When I was 9 years old, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and was baptized. Now, this didn't make life a breeze, but it did make things really really good. No matter what I go through, I know that God is right beside me. He know the plans He has for my life (Jeremiah 29:11) - what more could I ever ask for? I pray that, at minimum, one person is at least nudged a little bit closer to God, and to knowing Him as their Heavenly Father by my life.

This coming Sunday, our Bible Study class will complete a study of the book of Revelation. I've always been scared and intimidated by it, but our study has been so eye-opening. By no means am I ever claiming to say I understand it, or the end times. It has really reminded me that I need to get serious about praying for friends and distant family members who are not Christians.

God is serious, and judgement is very real - Revelation makes that incredibly clear. He will rule with an iron scepter (Revelation 19:15), and anyone whose name is not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life will be thrown into a lake of fire (Revelation 20:15), which I must say doesn't sounds pleasant in the least.

I'm not writing this to sound like a radical Christian, but because over the past several weeks, it has become very clear to me what some people I know will endure for eternity, if they do not change their lives. That's very scary stuff. In today's world that teaches only tolerance, it is heartbreaking to know how far from the truth we are. Tolerance is not the answer.

Even though God's judgement is very real, so is His forgiveness and His mercy. No matter how big we think our sins are, they've already been paid for, and can be forgiven. All you have to do is ask. He sent His son to die for us - how amazing is that? Jesus died on YOUR behalf. Yes, I'm talking to you. If we belong to Him, He has such really cool plans for us on the other side of death.

I pray for each and every one of you, that you already know Christ as your Savior, or will come to know Him.

Please continue to pray for the salvation of those you love, so we can all spend eternity together. If there is someone you'd like me to keep in my prayers, please comment, or email me. If you do not want to leave their name, it's OK. God knows who they are.

If you need information about knowing Jesus, please, please, please, just ask. I don't have all the answers, but can definitely get you connected with someone who can help.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the reminder to never forget the importance of praying for those who don't know Jesus! I am inspired to live more like Him so that others see Jesus in me...

Mandy said...

Have you ever read anything by Randy Alcorn? If not, you SHOULD! He studies Heaven and all, and is a great inspiration and resource on this topic. ;) My favorites by him are Safely Home and Dominion. Also good are Heaven (nonfiction), Deadline, and Lord Foulgrin's Letters.

Anonymous said...

Your blog is so sweet. Thanks for reminding me that we should all be concerned for the lost. And, be grateful that we know Jesus and he loves us. Thanks to my Mom for taking me to church when I was a child and learning about Jesus. What a wonderful life!