Today’s Scrip-Bit   10 August 2022   James 4:7.

10 Aug 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

James 4:7.      Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.​

I don’t understand it nuh friends…and you’re wondering just what I don’t understand eh. (smile) Well, it’s how come today can already be the tenth of August when the month just began sometime last week. And you know what happens when August is done? September rolls in with its colder temps and we on the down track to that wonderful season called winter. (smile) It’s interesting to note how the supposedly good seasons finish much quicker than those we consider less amenable. But that’s just the way of Mother Nature, and if you want to live in the Northern Climes then you will have to learn to put up with the eccentricities of the weather. 

And though you may be born and raised in the changing seasons, it’s still difficult for many people to adjust to it. I guess that’s because mankind was not really made to live in the cold, but because of our wandering hearts and minds we’ve ended up in some of the most inhospitable climates in the universe. Now, that wandering spirit that’s never contented or satisfied, also leads us to suffer other unnecessary pain and sorrow as we seem to revel in the sinful and ungodly things of Satan which only bring us death and damnation. 

Oh my wayward friends, although we know better, somehow or the other we just can’t refuse the lure, the clarion call of the enemy’s deceitful and empty promises. Meanwhile, we’re turning a blind eye to all the marvellous, magnificent and true promises that Jesus is offering, free, gratis, and for nothing! Promises of hope, faith, forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with our Creator, salvation and eternal life in heaven, where there are no tears, no pain, no sorrow and above all no death! 

Our brains must be badly muddled and addled if we consciously choose the disastrous and painful life that comes to those who follow the evil Beelzebub; things like hell, death, damnation and eventual interment in lake of fire, instead of the wonderful halls of heaven. No wonder James, the brother of Jesus wrote this tough passage on worldliness and pride to his fellow believers. 

He sagely begins by asking: ‘From whence come wars (conflicts) and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts (desires for pleasure) that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill (murder), and desire to have (covet), and cannot obtain: ye fight and war (battle), yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts (pleasures).’ (James 4:1-3) 

Wow! What wisdom, what insight into our ungodly behaviour! And re those verses, the scholars tell us: ‘Chapter 3 ended by stressing the peace that results from heavenly wisdom. Now James emphasizes the strife common among his readers, stemming from their unsatisfied, selfish desires. Instead of wrestling with God in prayer, these believers are striving with one another.’ 

And would you believe that nothing much has changed in our society since then, except that we’ve gotten even more lustful, sinful and more interested in pleasures than the righteousness of God, with the avowed intention to kick God out. But just for the record, that’s NEVER going to happen, because God is still in control of His universe and will always be. He’s just giving us enough rope so we can hang our own selves and not blame Him when our paper houses with such beautiful facades come tumbling down. Hn! 

And I like how James doesn’t let up on the unfaithful believers. He continues taking them to task: ‘Ye adulterers and adulteresses (those unfaithful to God), know ye not that the friendship of (with) the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be (wants to make) a friend of the world is (makes himself) the enemy of God.’ (James 4:4) Yes my brethren, we cannot be a LOVER of the world and a LOVER of God at the same time. 

Jesus said it loud and clear: ‘No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and LOVE the other; or else he will hold to (be loyal to) the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (worldly riches).’ (Matt. 6:24) But friends, unfortunately, when it comes to whom we are serving, many of us have a spiritual double vision. (smile) However, try as we might, ‘total loyalty to God cannot be divided between Him and one’s material possessions.’ And the having of material possessions is not wrong in itself, but it’s ‘our improper attitude of enslavement toward wealth’ that causes the problem. 

And James continues to lay into his readers. ‘Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy (yearns jealously)? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.’ (James 5-6) Ah mih people, our natural spirits do yearn after jealousy and covetousness, but God gives us much more grace that we can overcome the attractions of the world. And there, when James talks about God giving more grace to the humble, he is quoting Cousin Sol in Proverbs 3:34. 

Now don’t think that James is done with his fellow believers or us. Not by a long shot! He’s now getting into the parts that we so badly need, as he strongly advises: ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw nigh (near) to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. Be afflicted (lament) and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness (gloom). Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.’ (James 4:7-10) 

Oh my fellow saints, I don’t think we can get a better prescription than that for what currently ails us nuh! First off, we must submit ourselves to God, who’s response is always positive and welcoming towards us. Then He will give us the grace and strength to resist Satan. Not to fear or flee from him, but to stand strong against him. And per the cleansing of our hands and hearts, that means our lives need to be cleansed ‘both by outward deeds and inner thoughts.’ 

And on that subject, the scholars give us this marvellous reference to Psalm 24. ‘Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity (an idol), nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.’ (Ps. 24:3-5) 

Yes friends, when we come before the Lord with true confession and repentance, He will gladly lift us up. So, for those of us who are sincerely trying to live for Him in these perilous and ungodly times, let’s go home declaring (yeahhh!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our most wonderful position in Christ Jesus. 

Altogether now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

Now, let’s not forget that if we endure to the very end, that future with Jesus is going to be even more glorious than we can even ask or imagine! Wow! So, let’s use that as encouragement to keep on keeping on to the very end nuh! Much LOVE!

…it’s possibly easier to serve Satan than God…but the benefits of God far outweigh those of Satan… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8​               

Today’s Scrip-Bit 30 May 2015 James 4:8‏‏

30 May 2015 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

James 4:8.     Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw nigh (near) to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. 

And then it was Saturday; a supposedly rainy day. But who knows eh? We’ve been promised some showers of blessing for the longest while, but we haven’t seen hide nor hair of heavenly water for at least two, possibly three weeks in my area. It’s been cloudy at times, but not even rain-clouding dark, and the strong winds we’ve recently been having have blown those wispy rain clouds away. (smile)

They remind me of the story of Elijah when he prayed for rain in Israel. On the seventh time Elijah’s servant went to see if any rain was in the offing per Elijah’s prayers, he came back and reported: ‘Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.’ (1 Kin.18:44)

That was the beginning of an abundance of rain for Israel, but no such luck for us. Anyway, it’s still pretty early in the morning to despair, for with our God’s omnipotent powers anything can happen at any time,  in the blink of an eye.

But here’s an interesting general prayer that we can say every morning when we arise. It’s attributed to Norman Grubb (1895-1993), a British Christian missionary, writer and theological teacher. Please pray with me. ‘Good morning, Christ. I LOVE you! What are you up to today? I want to be a part of it! Thank you, God. Amen!’

Now my people, isn’t that simple and straight to the point? It certainly is. And it does help to get you connected with the Father as soon as you get up, before any evil and negative thoughts can enter your still fragile and not wide awake mind and spoil your day. And that’s all it takes Friends, something short and to the point to get us running on the correct spiritual track.

But before we can get to that, we first have to put into operation the words of our Bit, where we’re born again and can have that kind of ongoing relationship with Almighty God. ‘Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw nigh (near) to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.’

Yes my people, it’s of the utmost importance that we have a close personal relationship with the Father, through the Son, Jesus Christ, while being indwelt by the Holy Spirit. And we can only do that by repenting of our sins, cleansing our hearts and turning over a new leaf, becoming a new creation in Christ.

Now listen to how Peter deals with the matter. ‘Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned (sincere) LOVE of the brethren, see that ye LOVE one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible (perishable) seed, but of incorruptible (imperishable), by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

For all flesh is as grass, and the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the (spoken) word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.’ (1 Pet.1:22-25)

Yes Friends, Peter is there repeating the words of Isaiah 40:6-8, where  mankind is likened to the grass that sprouts up bright and fresh in the morning, but soon withers and dies, especially when the hot sun beats down on it. And that’s the absolute truth!

But unlike that short-lived grass, the word of our Creator lives for ever, through the gospel being preached throughout the earth; the good news of his Son Jesus Christ, who was sacrificed for us on Calvary’s cross, then rose again in glory and ascended to heaven, where He now sits on the right hand of the Father, advocating for us.

Wow! What an omnipotent, but magnanimous God we serve and worship my brethren! It just can’t get any better than that, though a lot of us seem to think otherwise. But as I keep saying Friends, refusing to accept God’s grace and mercy and His free offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, which ultimately leads to eternal life, is the wisdom of a fool. And there surely are a lot of fools in this evil and ungodly world.

Anyway, enough of my carping, or proselytizing (smile), whichever one catches your fancy, and listen instead to an explanation by the scholars on the topic at hand. ‘1:23. Being born again (lit., “having been born again”) refers to all believers having been regenerated by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, which communicates His offer of salvation to mankind. Thus our salvation rests, from the human perspective, upon OUR willing reception of that offer.’

Yuh see Friends, it all depends on us willingly receiving God’s wonderful offer, that’s why I capitalized and highlighted ‘our’ above. The Lord has done His part by putting the offer of salvation through Jesus Christ on the table, so like any contract that is worthless unless there’s offer and acceptance, we now have the opportunity to accept or reject God’s offer.

However Friends, in this case, rejection of the Lord’s offer will bring disastrous and calamitous consequences, namely eternal separation from Him, and eventual death and damnation. So as far as I can see, with my limited human reasoning powers, accepting God’s offer is the wise thing to do.

I’m therefore urging us to do so as quickly as possible, if possible right now, because the time for Jesus’ return is imminent, and once He returns in majestic splendour and awesome might, that offer will be taken off the table…forever. So please take my wise advice and seriously get involved with Jesus. It will be the best decision you’ve ever made. I guarantee it! Much LOVE!

…to be separated from Christ…for all eternity…is the biggest mistake  a man can make…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 May 2013 Psalm 49:20.

24 May 2013 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 49:20:    Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
 
Oh Friends, it’s Friday! And the loudest shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ comes from the workers in the U.S, where they are celebrating Memorial Day weekend, in honour of the fallen soldiers, the valiant brethren who gave their lives to protect our freedom.
 
Those of us in Canada and other parts of the British Commonwealth where Victoria Day was celebrated last Monday, are also happier than usual, because this was a short work week.
  
But Friends, please be aware of all the evil, ungodly stuff we can get into with too much free time on our hands. So let’s all remember Granny’s wise warning: ‘Sonny Boy, drunk or sober, mind yuh business.’
 
And let’s all be careful of how, where and with whom we celebrate, for it takes only the smallest niche for Lucifer to wangle his evil way into our lives. And to help us develop the right approach, and keep everything in its proper perspective, let’s chant our Friday Chant.
 
As one voice now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
 
And with that matter settled, let’s turn to our Bit: ‘Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.’
 
And that’s the God awesome truth, my people! Men that are granted a lot, wealth, power and position, and don’t understand the laws of the Most High God Jehovah, are just like the brainless beasts that just live and die and return to the dust from whence they came.
 
The Psalm is aptly titled, ‘Trust in God, not wealth.’ Another awesome truth!
 
Per the scholars, the psalm, like the Book of Proverbs, stands out ‘with its bold contrast between the destinies of the wicked and righteous. It addresses and age old question: the prosperity of the wicked. The psalmist lived in a day when many evil men were boasting of their wealth (vv.5-6).
 
The psalm was therefore written to enable God’s people to rise above the ungodly drive for riches. There is first an invitation to listen (vv.1-4): the poet calls on all men because the psalm has a universal application. Second, he demonstrates how woefully inadequate riches are (vv.5-12): on the day of one’s death they cannot redeem (vv.6,7).
 
Finally the divergent destinies of the wicked and the righteous are vividly stated (vv.13-20): the wicked man has no hope beyond this life (v.14), but the righteous man will be resurrected to eternal life (v.15)’ 
 
Oh Friends, all those aspects of life that were true back then, are still true today, and unfortunately we still don’t understand them. Why do I say that? Because the wicked still boast of their riches, and we’re still jealous of them.
 
And we still tend to put wealth and the drive to attain it before the search for the kingdom of God, which Jesus so adamantly warned us to do. ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt.6:33)
 
Yes my people, if we seek God first, then all we need will be forthcoming from our heavenly Father. Now that can also include the same, but more lasting wealth that the wicked accumulate by wicked ways. So wealth is not only possible through wicked means, for there are many wealthy Christians, who obtained it through the auspices of God.
 
And we’re also reminded that once this earthly life is over, the wicked doesn’t have a chance in hell of seeing heaven, despite all of their earthly riches. However, the righteous man will see resurrection through Jesus and have eternal life with Him.
 
So what’s your choice Friends? The wickedness and evil of this world that lead to death and damnation, or the righteousness of Jesus Christ, which brings salvation and eternal life?
 
Each of us has to choose the path we’ll follow. No one else can choose it for us. They can certainly advise us on it, as I’m doing now, but in the long run it all boils down to individual choice.
 
Ah my people, let’s sincerely hope that we all choose Jesus, because that’s the wise choice, for who wants to exist with Lucifer and all his evil cohorts in darkness, death and damnation, when we can enjoy a rich and righteous life with Jesus for all eternity.
 
And all God’s people said a loud and hearty: ‘Praise the Lord! Amen!’
 
Now I do have more to say on this topic, but adding the remainder will make the Bit too long, so we’ll close here for today, keeping it short and sweet. You know I never like to pressure us with too much information all at once, what with our short attention spans and busy lives. (smile)
 
So more on this tomorrow, God in favour. Till then my Friends and fellow believers in Jesus, please, let’s walk safely, firmly ensconced and protected under the broad and mighty wings of our omnipotent and ever-LOVING God, doing His will and thus furthering His glorious kingdom. Remember, that’s our earthly mandate. Much LOVE!
 
…you’ve tried the rest…now try the BEST…Jesus…I guarantee, you’ll never regret it… 
 
  

Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 June 2012 Proverbs 1:20

15 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Proverbs 1:20.    Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets.
 
Oh Friends, Praise the Lord that my day has begun so much better than it did yesterday. Yes, I have to give Him plenty thanks and praise because my arthritic pains and allergies aren’t acting up as badly as they did yesterday. Thank you so much Lord for that improvement! And those of you with similar dysfunctions will be able to empathize. That’s why we’ll declare with righteous optimism: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!’ Oh my people, it’s also Friday, the last day of the regular workweek, and this morning I heard an interesting take on our Friday theme. It went like this: ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday yes! Thank God is Friday, and ah going home to mih family this weekend! Thank God is Friday!’ – a sad and wistful but yet happy shake of the head accompanying the words. Yes Friends, many of us are forced to live away from our families during the week, and sometimes even months and years, so that we can provide a decent living for them. And believe me, it’s getting worse in that respect as jobs and futures in the outlying areas are drying up and forcing people to move to the big cities and towns, or anywhere they can find work. What a crying shame that in this big, still wealthy capitalistic society, which once prided itself on providing jobs for its people, has now replaced that noble pursuit with making the bottom line the Holy Grail, where if it means losing thousands of jobs in one’s homeland, just to save a penny, then the jobs are outsourced to cheaper jurisdictions, regardless of the shoddy quality or the unhealthy, evil, sweat shop conditions under which they’re then made, then shipped back home so that the jobless can buy them at still exorbitant prices. But the captains of industry don’t care that they’re destroying the fundamental foundation of their society. Once they can increase their profits and continue living their profligate, wasteful lifestyle, wherever they choose, they’re contented. However Friends, the most important thing to realize here, is that we’re staunch believers in Jesus Christ, and that with His wonderful help, we can handle anything that comes against us. Thus, this Friday morning, let’s chant down the evil Babylonian system with our Friday Chant. All together now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’ Yes mih people, with a LOVING and providential God as our leader and guide, nothing or no one can come against us with any evil doings. And because we know, that we know, that we know, as sister Joyce (Joyce Meyer) would say, that Jesus sacrificed His holy, sinless life for us on the cross at Calvary, we can afford to stand strong in hope, faith, courage, belief and assurance that all will eventually be made right, for those who are called by Him to dwell in LOVE and unity. Ah mih people, the ole fella’s chuckling here because he doesn’t have a Bit as yet, but the Holy Spirit’s been guiding my pen this Friday morning, and like a good believer, I’m just following His lead. (smile) And it’s telling me to stop now and seek a suitable Bit. So, soon come. I’m back Friends! In roughly five minutes, cause I found the suitable Bit on the second page I looked at. And they trying to tell me that my God isn’t a living, hard working, helpful and faithful God! Steups! But here, from the pen of Cousin Sol is our Bit: ‘Wisdom crieth without (calls aloud in the streets); she uttereth (raises) her voice in the streets (plazas).’ Yes my brethren, the wisdom of the Holy Spirit is crying out to us all today, as our evil world gaily and foolishly sways evermore towards certain death and damnation, away from the great promises of Almighty God and a wonderful future of salvation and eternal life. Now let’s end with the solemn but true words of the Good Book, as Cousin Sol continues his discourse. ‘She (wisdom) crieth in the chief place of concourse (concourses), in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, How long, ye simple (naive) ones, will ye LOVE simplicity (naivety)? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought (disdained) all my counsel, and would (have) none of my reproof.’ (Prov.1:21-25) Oh Friends, although those words were written thousands of years ago, there’s no doubt about their veracity and applicability to our society today. Please, let’s ponder them today and see how they apply to and affect our individual lives, then work with the Holy Spirit to wisely bring our lives into proper sync with the teachings of Almighty God, so that we can then go out and help others. More on this tomorrow, the Good Lord willing. Till then, please listen to the voice of wisdom, God’s Spirit, as it cries out to each of us today. Much LOVE!…when wisdom cries out…wise men sit up and take notice…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 9 June 2012 1 John 4:10

09 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

1 John 4:10.    Herein is LOVE, not that we LOVED God, but that he LOVED us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Oh Friends, here it comes; one more morning, one more day, one more ray of brilliant sunshine, to chase the darkness of night away! It’s so refreshing and revitalizing to see a new day dawn. Something about a new day just naturally causes a conscious stream of hope and great expectations to rise in our souls, bringing the thought and belief that something good is going to happen to us that very day. Wow! Looking at the sun come up over the horizon seems to reawaken the Spirit of Jesus in our hearts and minds, giving us the strength, faith and energy to face the new day. For we know that with Jesus on our side, we can face anything that comes our way; we can do all things through Him, who strengthens us. (Phil.4:13) And furthermore, God’s goodness to us, unworthy as we are, is surely a good reason to be excited and appreciative of a new day, for He clearly went out of His way to make sure we had a chance to bypass the ‘sufferation’ for our just desserts: death for our disobedience. ‘For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through (in) Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (Rom.6:23) And the scholars explain: ‘Wages: Emphasizes what we deserve. Gift of God: Emphasizes God’s unmerited favour.’  And why did He provide eternal life for us, even though we didn’t deserve it? Because He LOVED us! As the song says, it was LOVE  that caused our first heartbeat. And as our Bit so succinctly explains: ‘Herein is LOVE, not that we LOVED God, but that he LOVED us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.’ Yes Friends, the Lord did it all because of LOVE; the greatest emotion there is and the most significant trait of His amazing and wonderful personality! I only wish there was so much more of it present in our troubled, strife filled world. And God’s LOVE is so great, that the scholars declare; ‘No human LOVE is the standard for understanding God’s great compassion, but God’s own action on man’s behalf.’ God’s LOVE, like all His other attributes, are so much greater than ours, that we can’t even begin to comprehend it. It was such an intense LOVE that He made Jesus pay for our sins. Listen to John earlier on: ‘My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate (intercessor) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.’ (1 John 2:1-2) And that’s the gospel truth Friends! The sins of whoever believes in Jesus have been paid for! And all God’s people shouted: ‘Thank You Lord for Jesus! We praise and worship Your Holy Name!’ Now hear the scholars, re the process of propitiation. ‘Propitiation is here an atoning sacrifice. Jesus bore in His body the punishment due us for our sin; in so doing He propitiated God, satisfied God’s just demand that sin be punished. Thus Jesus is both the advocate for sinners (v.1) and the sacrifice for their sins.’ Surprisingly though, there are too many fools and unwise men on this earth, who though they know of and about Jesus, still refuse to take Him seriously, still refuse to believe, to put their hope, faith and trust in Him. How sad mih people. They don’t know what they’re missing. Unfortunately they don’t realize the seriousness of the situation; that it’s their eternal destiny they’re playing with. They obviously don’t believe that there’s nothing they can do to gain heaven’s shores, unless it’s through Christ. Listen to Bruh Paul postulate on the subject to the Ephesians: ‘For by grace are ye (you have been) saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship (creation), created in Christ Jesus unto (for) good works, which God hath before ordained (prepared) that we should walk in them.’ (Eph.2:8-10) And here’s the scholars explanation: ‘The grace of God is the expression of His goodness toward the undeserving. Grace means unmerited favour, and can be expressed by the acrostic “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” This grace is the basis of our salvation (1.7; 2:8) Illustration: In salvation, men who deserve hell obtain heaven. This cannot be explained apart from God’s grace. Every conversion in Scripture is an example of God’s grace. When Paul (Saul) met the Lord on the Damascus Road, Paul was a persecutor of the church. Yet God made him one of the church’s chief preachers. Application: We need to remember that we are saved, given the Holy Spirit, and allowed to serve God – by His grace. (Gen.6:8; Eph.2:8) Yes Friends, only through the saving grace that flows from a belief in Jesus can we ever attain heaven’s bliss, for He is indeed as He declares: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ (John 14:6) Oh my people, it is therefore expedient, rather imperative, that mankind believes in Christ if they want to dwell in heaven, and escape the death and damnation that characterizes Hades. And it’s our responsibility, our duty to spread that fact around the globe, because Jesus doesn’t even want to lose one human to Lucifer’s evil claws. So please, let’s get out there and tell them with a burning passion, let’s convince them to see the bright light shining in the darkness that’s Jesus, their only hope for deliverance. Much LOVE!…a world full of darkness and evil…can only be  saved by believing in Jesus…the eternal day star of heaven…