Be Sure - By Donna Wasson - http://www.raptureready.com/soap2/wasson155.html
I got saved when I was seven years old and from that moment on, I knew I was responsible before God to conduct myself in a manner that would please Him. However, during those times when I was being bratty and acting like the sin-sick human being I am, a bizarre thing would always happen.
My friends could think up schemes and plans, and get away with them just about every time. But me?? Nope! When I came up with some brilliant idea for trouble, my Mom would catch me. Every. Single. Time. Know why? Because I had been purchased by the Blood of the Lamb and He owned me.
"...and be sure your sin will find you out." Numbers 32:23 (KJV) My Mama held that scripture over my head from the time I was a young child, and it literally put the fear of God in me more than once, because it's TRUE! If you've accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you think you can get away with some secret sin, think again. You can't. Believe me. I've tried.
The Lord won't allow you to get away with unrepentant, habitual sin for long. I guarantee you He'll end up yanking a knot in your tail to get your attention, and you will NOT like it! He's a good Father who won't hesitate to spank His children who get out of line.
Because of Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden, every human being enters this world a slave. We will never be free agents, able to do whatever we please. ALL of us are owned by one of two masters; either satan or Christ. Those that are owned by satan might think they're free to live their lives the way they choose, but that's just a short term illusion. There will be hell to pay in the end.
Those who accept the pardon for sin Jesus died to provide them are thereafter owned by Christ. They belong to Him and were purchased with the most costly, precious substance this universe has ever known: the Blood of God's only Son.
"What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV)
From the moment of our salvation, the Holy Spirit enters us and we are no longer our own. We're 'possessed,' but in a good way! We literally have God living within these fleshly containers we call human bodies, and we're under orders from our new Master to control our containers, because they can get us into all sorts of trouble!
The way most people act, you'd think there was nothing more to human beings than our dust bodies with their animalistic appetites. Our flesh acts up every step of the way home to heaven because it is mortal and cannot be redeemed. Thank God we'll eventually shed this decaying cocoon when it dies, or when we're raptured home. Until then, it's one hellacious fight to make it mind its manners.
This fleshly container has fantastically strong cravings and in moments of weakness, can cause us to act like idiots. 'No flesh, you cannot eat all twelve donuts and think you won't gain unnecessary weight. I know you WANT them, but you can only have one.'
'No flesh, you cannot abuse drugs, no matter how much fun it looks like your friends are having. Those chemicals can harm you. The Holy Spirit is driving this ship now, and that's just the way it is!'
'No flesh, you're not going to drink a pint of vodka tonight. You'll just end up dancing on the table with a lampshade on your head, while people laugh at you and take pictures to post on twitter.'
'No flesh, you can't give in to your overwhelming 'urge to merge' and stay overnight with your honey. It doesn't matter that society says having sex with someone you're not in a marriage covenant with is hunky-dory. Yes, I know you r-e-a-l-l-y want to, but you have to remember that you'd be effectively forcing the Holy Ghost into an unholy three-some, and He doesn't look kindly on that, so cool it!'
I have to admit, crucifying this flesh is painful and can be a real drag. This earthly existence is all we know, so it's natural for us to want to go for the gusto while we're here. But those of us who belong to Jesus live by faith-not by sight. Some of us have made the choice to trade short-term pleasure for long-term bliss; for eternal pleasure that promises to blow away everything we could possibly imagine.
Unfortunately, that's not the way the vast majority of 'Christians' in America and Europe are living their lives. They want to indulge their flesh with earthly pleasures, thinking that God will just wink at them and turn a blind eye. Ho-boy, are they wrong! God hasn't changed. Yes, He's the gentle, forgiving Jesus of the New Testament, but He's also still YHWH, the thundering God of the Old Testament, who shook Mount Sinai and terrified the Israelites. Same God.
His commandments haven't changed. He still expects us to obey those commandments despite what the rest of the heathens on earth are doing. Listen carefully: being saved does NOT give us license to sin! Whoever started that little rumor needs a good slap upside the head!
Folks, we're living in the final seconds of the Dispensation of Grace. The rapture of the Bride could literally occur at any second. Yes, I know you've heard that a million times. Well, you're hearing it for the millionth and one. Wake up and get your spiritual house in order! These are not the days to be playing around with blatant, habitual sin! The Bible is very clear on this.
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, not covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (KJV)
Did you catch that? Paul was reminding his audience of believers that some of them had been hard-core naughty before they were saved...BUT, they were washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit. They were no longer those kind of people, and were not to indulge in those old behaviors.
Now, don't get me wrong. We ALL mess up from time to time. We all still sin here and there; Lord knows I do! BUT (there's that 'but' again!) that's not who I am anymore. I still battle my flesh and have to repent every day of the stupid things I do, say, and think, that I know offends God.
I even repent of the stuff I don't know I'm doing that offends God, just to make sure. After all, I'm not bright enough to know every time I hurt the Lord. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV) Look, I've got too much time, pain, tears, and sacrifice invested in making the rapture to deliberately screw up now!
I'm not missing that boat for anything! There is NOTHING on this earth that can turn my head or heart away from the Lord at this point. I'm not staying here for the Tribulation. Uh-uh, not this chick! The door of the proverbial ark is about to close.
So what about you? Are you dancing around with things you know full well are displeasing to God? Be honest with yourself because time's-a-wastin'. Are you SURE you're rapture ready? What's that, you ask?
"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1: 13-16 (KJV)
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14 (KJV) Repent and put habitual sin behind you. Don't be stupid and take the chance of being left behind! May He find you living a righteous and holy life.
Get it? Got it? Good!
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