One topic that many people choose not to talk about is the fact that Jesus Christ will one day return...we know not the day nor the hour, but we do know that He will return. The Lord will return for a church without spot, blemish or wrinkle...but the question is, are you ready? Being ready doesn't mean perfection because not one of us will ever be perfect here on this earth...Jesus is the only one who is 100% perfect. The only way anyone can be without spot, blemish or wrinkle is to BE IN CHRIST.
Colossians 1:22 (NLT)
Colossians 1:22 (NLT)
Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the
death of Christ in his physical body.
As a result, he has brought you into his own presence,
and you are holy and blameless
as you stand before him without a single fault.
Phew. What a relief it is to be in Christ...knowing that when I stand before God in Christ when He returns that I will be holy and blameless before Him without a single fault. Its not because of my good deeds and good works, but because of Jesus and His finished work on the Cross and the blood that was shed to make my sin as white as snow.
God warns us to BE ready....not be busy getting ready. There are so many people who are "waiting" to give their life to the Lord and truly live out this Jesus thing for real. They still want to have their fun and turn up at the club and keep a whole bunch of men in their bed that have not paid the price for them called marriage. If this steps on your toes, I make no apologies because it's the truth...and the truth, well it doesn't always feel good when it first hits you. You may be reading this and currently don't have a relationship with God through Christ...if this is the case, know that God loves you and desires to be in a covenant relationship with you. He is patient, kind, loving and forgiving...slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion (Numbers 14:18)
One of my good friends has given me permission to blog about part of her experience in coming to the Lord. Thanks Tasha!! She knew that Jesus was real and that it was time to give Him her heart. She grew up in a Christian household with an awesome, praying mama. The day before she gave her life to Christ, she made a conscious decision to go turn up at the club just one last time before hitting her knees and truly surrendering her life. She wanted to have her last bit of fun and God in His love and grace saw the plans He had for her, to prosper her and not to harm her. It's an honor to say that God has blessed me with the opportunity to now serve in ministry with her. Thankfully, Jesus did not return that night in the midst of her last bit of fun...but some folks are in that current state where they want to have their last bit of fun before truly surrendering their lives to Christ...but what if Jesus returns in the midst of your last bit of fun?
God warns us to BE ready....not be busy getting ready. There are so many people who are "waiting" to give their life to the Lord and truly live out this Jesus thing for real. They still want to have their fun and turn up at the club and keep a whole bunch of men in their bed that have not paid the price for them called marriage. If this steps on your toes, I make no apologies because it's the truth...and the truth, well it doesn't always feel good when it first hits you. You may be reading this and currently don't have a relationship with God through Christ...if this is the case, know that God loves you and desires to be in a covenant relationship with you. He is patient, kind, loving and forgiving...slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion (Numbers 14:18)
One of my good friends has given me permission to blog about part of her experience in coming to the Lord. Thanks Tasha!! She knew that Jesus was real and that it was time to give Him her heart. She grew up in a Christian household with an awesome, praying mama. The day before she gave her life to Christ, she made a conscious decision to go turn up at the club just one last time before hitting her knees and truly surrendering her life. She wanted to have her last bit of fun and God in His love and grace saw the plans He had for her, to prosper her and not to harm her. It's an honor to say that God has blessed me with the opportunity to now serve in ministry with her. Thankfully, Jesus did not return that night in the midst of her last bit of fun...but some folks are in that current state where they want to have their last bit of fun before truly surrendering their lives to Christ...but what if Jesus returns in the midst of your last bit of fun?
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think.
No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
It may seem like there is still time to get our lives together before Jesus returns...that we can still go out and turn up at the club while cussing, drinking, smoking, gossiping, etc...but tomorrow isn't promised. Are you ready to meet the King right now, right this second? Is their oil in your lamp?
Tasha and I after church one Sunday
One of the many parables in the bible is The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids:
Matthew 25: 1-13
“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
Jesus is the eternal oil in our lamps that keep it lit...that keeps the light continuously shining before us so we can see the path that God intends for us to take. The five foolish bridesmaids were those who had no relationship with God and when the Lord returned...it was too late....they couldn't go to the store to buy themselves some oil. On the other hand, the five wise bridesmaids were those who had a relationship with God through Christ and their lamps were lit. All ten bridesmaids had fallen asleep and grew weary in their waiting for the bridegrooms return...and when he returned suddenly those who weren't ready didn't have time to get ready....this is why God is warning us to be ready...to come to Christ and have the lamps of our hearts lit and shining. Ready or not, Christ will return at His appointed time but it is the heart of God for NONE to perish but for all to repent and live in eternity with Him.
Salvation is not something we can go to the store and buy....it's not something we can earn by our own works and effort...it's not something we can borrow from someone else....Salvation is dependent on Christ and Christ alone and His finished work at calvary. It takes a moment of faith to be saved and life long process of sanctification to become more and more like Christ. God promises to finish the good work He has started in us (Philippians 1:6) and doesn't expect perfection, but we can be prepared by receiving the free eternal oil of Christ Jesus. He is a God of perfection, a God of completion...He finishes what He has begun.
Love,
Beth
The day in the life of an infant and toddler teacher
during summer color week!
**Disclaimer: Christians have fun too...I have an absolute blast and absolutely love life with all that God has blessed me with...especially my friends who crack me up!**
If you don't know Jesus and are reading this and want to give your life to the Lord, here is an awesome resource that will support and guide you through this process: Just Click Here :) If you have checked out this resource, prayed and given your life to the Lord and want some further support or prayer, please feel free to email me at bohandley2@gmail.com.
