Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 28.05.2000
Future
A man tells to his friend: I remember when I had to give up my property for the sake of Jesus for 10 000 years ago. I would have been crazy, if I would have held on to my earthly property only for 80 years and lost eternal life. His friend points out: Yes, but it was then so difficult for you to see what really is valuable. The man says: Thanks to God! He opened my eyes, when I saw how Jesus went onto the cross and gave up His earthly life for my sake. Some have found the treasure which never loses its value. They are ready to give up everything to be able to keep their share of it.
A preview of the distant future
A man tells to his friend: "My wife deserted me, when I became a believer. She said to me: 'I will not live with a believer. You must choose me or Jesus'. I said to her: 'I love you, but I love Jesus more. So I choose Jesus.'"
The friend points out: "It would have been crazy to lose eternal life for the sake of some tens of years of happiness."
The man continues: "I lived alone up to the day when my wife died, because Jesus says that 'anyone who marries a divorced one commits adultery'. Sometimes I felt myself lonely, but I do not regret that I was faithful to Jesus. Now I am so happy in this splendour and eternal body that the life in that earthly body seems very unreal."
The friend tells: "When God was calling me it was difficult to me to become a believer, because I was afraid that I must give up my property. I had gained it using many kinds of frauds. When I became a believer I confessed my crimes and lost all my property. I was even in a jail for my frauds." The man points out to his friend: "It would have been stupid to exchange eternal life for money and property. By the way, now it has been already 9000 years since all those were burnt out in the destruction of the old earth."
The friend continues: "Now I have so fine a house here that those earthly properties seem very poor. Really, God is good and so generous! 10 000 years ago all seemed so different, when we had to live by faith and we could not see what we see now."
A man tells to his friend: "My wife deserted me, when I became a believer. She said to me: 'I will not live with a believer. You must choose me or Jesus'. I said to her: 'I love you, but I love Jesus more. So I choose Jesus.'"
The friend points out: "It would have been crazy to lose eternal life for the sake of some tens of years of happiness."
The man continues: "I lived alone up to the day when my wife died, because Jesus says that 'anyone who marries a divorced one commits adultery'. Sometimes I felt myself lonely, but I do not regret that I was faithful to Jesus. Now I am so happy in this splendour and eternal body that the life in that earthly body seems very unreal."
The friend tells: "When God was calling me it was difficult to me to become a believer, because I was afraid that I must give up my property. I had gained it using many kinds of frauds. When I became a believer I confessed my crimes and lost all my property. I was even in a jail for my frauds." The man points out to his friend: "It would have been stupid to exchange eternal life for money and property. By the way, now it has been already 9000 years since all those were burnt out in the destruction of the old earth."
The friend continues: "Now I have so fine a house here that those earthly properties seem very poor. Really, God is good and so generous! 10 000 years ago all seemed so different, when we had to live by faith and we could not see what we see now."
Jesus or nothing
Open your eyes and see what there is for you in future. Jesus promises very much for your future. He promises so many good things that everybody wants to own them. Who doesn't want to get forgiveness of his sins? Who could refuse to receive eternal life? Who doesn't want an immortal body? Who would not like to live in the splendour of God's city?
Therefore everybody who has rejected Jesus claims that He is a liar.
It would be really terrible, if Bible's Jesus would be a liar. The most terrible thing would not be that we would then be left without the forgiveness of our sins or that we would be left without eternal life. It would be so terrible because He is so good and perfect.
If the greatest Goodness would lie nothing would exist. Look at nature how well it is planned! Glory to God! He has done all well! Look at Jesus Nazareth as man! There has never been another like Him, and there is not one now and never will be.
Open your eyes and see what there is for you in future. Jesus promises very much for your future. He promises so many good things that everybody wants to own them. Who doesn't want to get forgiveness of his sins? Who could refuse to receive eternal life? Who doesn't want an immortal body? Who would not like to live in the splendour of God's city?
Therefore everybody who has rejected Jesus claims that He is a liar.
It would be really terrible, if Bible's Jesus would be a liar. The most terrible thing would not be that we would then be left without the forgiveness of our sins or that we would be left without eternal life. It would be so terrible because He is so good and perfect.
If the greatest Goodness would lie nothing would exist. Look at nature how well it is planned! Glory to God! He has done all well! Look at Jesus Nazareth as man! There has never been another like Him, and there is not one now and never will be.
Rejecting Jesus
Everybody wants to take the good that Jesus promises, but they would not want to give up anything for His sake. Therefore so many rather bear the judgement of their sins. They are satisfied with enjoyments of their earthly life and close their eyes to eternity. They dream only of the cities built by men and achievements of science.
They are ready to believe in the good things promised by Jesus, if they at the same time can live as godless people do without giving up anything. The majority of Christianity consists of churches with that kind of people. They believe that they can walk on two ways at the same time, but they deceive themselves.. They have not godliness given by God's grace, but only the form of Christianity.
Everybody wants to take the good that Jesus promises, but they would not want to give up anything for His sake. Therefore so many rather bear the judgement of their sins. They are satisfied with enjoyments of their earthly life and close their eyes to eternity. They dream only of the cities built by men and achievements of science.
They are ready to believe in the good things promised by Jesus, if they at the same time can live as godless people do without giving up anything. The majority of Christianity consists of churches with that kind of people. They believe that they can walk on two ways at the same time, but they deceive themselves.. They have not godliness given by God's grace, but only the form of Christianity.
Give up your godless thoughts
"Let the wicked forsake his way and evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon." Isaiah 55:7 We do not get a share of mercy of the atonement work of Jesus in the water of baptism neither in the Holy Communion, because it is our heart that needs to turn to Him.
To give up one's dear opinions is the most difficult cession for man.
However it is the crucial thing so that we can be saved. The faith comes from hearing of God's message. If you don't abandon your own thoughts and instead adopt the thoughts of Jesus, you cannot have the faith of Jesus. When you come to the faith the thoughts of your heart are changed acceptable to God and therefore He gives you His grace and the heavenly gifts. All other cessions in your practical life for Jesus' sake are the result of thinking like Jesus.
"Let the wicked forsake his way and evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon." Isaiah 55:7 We do not get a share of mercy of the atonement work of Jesus in the water of baptism neither in the Holy Communion, because it is our heart that needs to turn to Him.
To give up one's dear opinions is the most difficult cession for man.
However it is the crucial thing so that we can be saved. The faith comes from hearing of God's message. If you don't abandon your own thoughts and instead adopt the thoughts of Jesus, you cannot have the faith of Jesus. When you come to the faith the thoughts of your heart are changed acceptable to God and therefore He gives you His grace and the heavenly gifts. All other cessions in your practical life for Jesus' sake are the result of thinking like Jesus.
What must I give up for Jesus' sake?
You may give up your sins. Because Jesus died for your sins you don't want to continue in sin. You are ready to give up everything for Jesus' sake, because you love Him. Because Jesus paid the price for your freedom from the slavery of sin, you submit yourself in all cases to Him with joy.
"Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:33 This may sound very hard, but actually it is a great relief for us, because we will get something better instead of it. As a matter of fact it is even a good investment, for Jesus promises to repay it to our heavenly account. The things which we are allowed to give up for Jesus' sake are very different for individuals.
"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." Matth.19:29-30
It is obvious that without the hope of eternal life everybody acts only for the benefit of earthly aims. Take pains to know God through Jesus Christ. Give up everything that is in a conflict with Jesus. Receive with joy everything He gives you. He will make Himself so real to us that we can follow Him. "Christ Jesus my Lord, for who sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." Phil.3:8
You may give up your sins. Because Jesus died for your sins you don't want to continue in sin. You are ready to give up everything for Jesus' sake, because you love Him. Because Jesus paid the price for your freedom from the slavery of sin, you submit yourself in all cases to Him with joy.
"Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:33 This may sound very hard, but actually it is a great relief for us, because we will get something better instead of it. As a matter of fact it is even a good investment, for Jesus promises to repay it to our heavenly account. The things which we are allowed to give up for Jesus' sake are very different for individuals.
"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." Matth.19:29-30
It is obvious that without the hope of eternal life everybody acts only for the benefit of earthly aims. Take pains to know God through Jesus Christ. Give up everything that is in a conflict with Jesus. Receive with joy everything He gives you. He will make Himself so real to us that we can follow Him. "Christ Jesus my Lord, for who sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." Phil.3:8
The Bible version used in references is NIV