aforetime were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort
of the scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:4
...We faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. II Corinthinans 4:4.The majority of people [including VAST numbers of "so-called Christians"] in this world have only one of two ways to deal with current events. (1) They frantically turn from channel to channel on their tvs and radios, searching for some assurance that "all is well", or that all will go "Back To Normal". Instead of any assurance, though, what they find only unsettles them further: wars and rumors of wars, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, disease, and famine. And as if that is not already too much, add to it murder and mayhem--godless people going their godless ways to do their evil deeds against one another.
Of course, there is an alternate route: (2) They "escape" into countless perversions of pornography, shooting up or guzzling down all kinds of drugs, sitting glassy-eyed through hour after hour of ungodly tv programs, plugging into unholy music. Whichever route is chosen, it all boils down to going about "our business" as if nothing mattered, and to those who act that way, nothing does! Talk show hosts and radio disk jockeys scoff and jest at those who call or write in to say this country (and world) is facing God's judgment for its refusal to repent of their sin and turn back to Him. Psalm 14:1 tells us, The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works...
Oh yes, they have tried to "create" A god who will not condemn their ungodliness, who will not punish sin. It won't work: ...there is ONE God; and there is NONE OTHER BUT HE... Mark 12:32. For there is ONE GOD, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. I Timothy 2:5.
Yes, we want assurances and we get them--from every conceivable direction and source, save one--the ONLY one that counts! Everyone has a theory, an opinion, and they are eagerly garnered to be weighed against that which we ourselves think we know, or can see. Yet we never know what to believe, because we LONG AGO lost track of in Whom to believe! Let me say that again: we never know WHAT to believe because we LONG AGO lost track of in WHOM to believe! We feel betrayed because we long ago lost track of in Whom, the ONLY ONE in Whom, we can trust. Yet it is us, OURSELVES, who are the betrayers, not the betrayed! God hasn't "snuck" anything on us! From Genesis to Revelation, we find warning after warning, words of wisdom and knowledge, yet we turn from that which is as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times to that which we KNOW will surely fail! Think about that for a moment, won't you?
It was sad, and yes, the world STILL grieves for all those "innocents" lost in the planes and buildings on September 11, 2001--we call it murder. But for years, we have killed the most innocent of "innocents"--we call that legal "freedom of choice"! What possible excuse can we give God for our evil ways? There is NOT one!
Despite all manner of proof to the contrary, we keep pouring more and more of that which we have made our god, money, into this program, that study, bigger salaries, larger aid packages. We spend billions getting people on relief--then spend billions getting them OFF relief! Do we EVER stop to realize the source of the money for all those things, that one day that same source must be replenished? On whose shoulders will fall that burden? Oh, that's right, we don't care so long as it's not our shoulders, right? We say, "The NEXT generation will take care of us. I ask you: WHAT NEXT generation? We've ABORTED the next generation! Not much assurance from that source, is there?
Sad, isn't it that we have sight, but are still BLIND to the truth: money only pacifies (and then ONLY temporarily)--it NEVER satisfies! Yet, we keep looking to the material things of this world for assurance; we keep placing our hopes in man's peace or man's resolutions or man's inventions. It's bad enough to have others lie to us and we fall for it--how much the more foolish to lie to ourselves!
But there is an even greater loss to be considered: the loss of one's soul. As much as we cherish the material possessions that we acquire in this life, none of them, not a single solitary one, will follow us beyond the grave. There is ONLY ONE THING that reaches beyond this life into eternity: our soul. The condition of it--its final destination MUST BE (and IS) decided THIS side of the grave. The Word of God tells us,
...Let us LAY ASIDE every weight, and the SIN which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1,2.There are those who say, "Well, I hope to be saved. I tell you: Salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ is a KNOW SO Salvation!
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. I John 5:11-13.Now there's Blessed Assurance for you!
Far too many are worried about what their "friends" or "the world" will think about them if they refuse to go along with the crowd or if they "stand up for Jesus", to witness about the Saving Grace of God.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:11-14.Oh but we don't want to be called "peculiar", do we? We have abandoned the old songs in favor of the new ones:
I Surrender Some
Take My Life And Let Me Be
Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following
Just As I Pretend To Be
My Hope Is Built On Nothing Much
O God, Our Enabler In Ages Past
Pillow of Ages, Fluffed For Me
Then we fall all to pieces when we don't get the "desired" results as we prattle, "Greater is he that is in me..." There's no room for anyone else to be "in us"--we're too full of ourselves!
When that Lamb's Book of Life is opened, our name had better be recorded therein. We had a lifetime of countless + "second chances"--there won't be any that day! God never said He would make it easy; however, all through the Bible we have His Blessed Assurance that He WILL see us THROUGH! I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. II Timothy 4:7,8. Did you notice that the "crown" comes AFTER fighting the good fight, AFTER finishing the course, AFTER keeping the faith?
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. Luke 6:22,23,26.Again we see a scripture that, although they are the words of our Lord as He was talking to His disciples and the multitude gathered about Him, can still be applied to us today. If we go back and study the Word of God (as we all SHOULD be doing), we see time after time that the TRUE prophets of God were shunned, hated, and killed because people didn't want to hear the TRUTH--they wanted to hear sweet soothing words--just the same as the majority want to hear today. We have attempted to slick God down into some kind of a blind, deaf, "I'm OK--you're OK" powerless, pitiful so-called diety to fit our sinful, godless ways of living, but I've news for this world: ...I am the Lord, I change not... Malachi 3:6. From everlasting to everlasting, God does NOT change! Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Psalm 90:2.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:13-18.Now there's a Blessed Assurance for you. Just remember you MUST line up with the condition BEFORE you can claim the promise.
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:2-7.
Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and EVERY eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1:4-7.
"Blessed Assurance" (Article Only) Copyright © 2001 by Patricia Sikes.
All Rights Reserved.
by Fanny J. Crosby
Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of Glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God;
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long!
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, all is at rest.
I in my Savior am happy and blessed;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
If you have been blessed, give God the Glory!
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