The link to my book - Destroy and Deliver (Autobiography)

Monday 30 May 2016

A paradox understood

The call to Christianity is one of endurance, I guess that we all understand that endurance for an athlete is not just a given, it is worked for; with hours of dedication fixed on a particular practice, day in and out with months on end of repetition as stamina is drilled into ones muscle memory preparing the individual and giving them the title, “a person of endurance”. On the other hand it is obvious that salvation is a gift from God, it cannot be worked for or earned; “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)  - And with both those thoughts infiltrating our mind at the same time we find a paradox that is in conflict. But only if we leave it there and we do not explore a little deeper. God has equipped the believer with a resolve to find the “good works” prepare for them to walk in; “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)   

If misunderstood it is in these areas where Satan likes to use doubt against babes or those living in rebellion as our minds are impregnated with thoughts of “free grace” running riot; allowing the deceived to live a lifestyle in blatant contradiction to Christian practices believing that the grace of God will cover you. If the understanding of the grace of God is twisted just a tweak you will end up with a perverted result and there are those who have been taken by that was of thinking, I too was once amongst that number. However we will be turned from that type of deception if our conversion was implemented by God. The Lord Jesus is the great Shepherd; bless His name now and forever more.

God will get ever “true” born again believer home, of this I am persuaded; He has initiated a covenant with those individuals which He will never default on. Desertion belongs to us because we are naturally sinful but God is perfect in righteousness and therefore it is impossible for God to lie. The work of Calvary is a finished work, it is done, it is sealed and the book of life was penned prior to the foundations of the worlds. A skilled potter will always arrive at their desire result and once the artefact is complete it will serve its intended purpose, we too need to serve our purpose as Christians and end up in the position that God has intended. Life is full of challenges and just like a fruit tree in a garden, it needs tender loving care; if left to its own devises, its fruit will eventually end up being marred or full of worms and unpalatable. This is where the Father-son relationship of God becomes marvellously evident to the one who is living in rebellion. God disciplines the ones he loves. The child caught up in mutiny will be turned and repentance will follow; if not then our son ship is questionable. God’s warnings are very precise and not to be taken lightly, do that at you own peril. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrew 10:31)   

Let me make it clear that not everyone who claims to be a Christian will make it to heaven. These were the words of our great Saviour; "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'” (Matthew 7:20-23) - There will be those we come across that claim to be Christian but in fact are nothing more than workers of lawlessness (free to live in sin and call it grace) – here is the teaching; Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
                                                      
Heaven will be filled with righteousness not lawlessness; our life on earth is a training ground to prepare us for heaven; “Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (Revelation 22:11-15) 

Lord willing and with that in mind we will travel with the next post into the book of Revelation and the instruction it has for the churches; with an intent to examine ourselves in light of the Lord Jesus’ direction, remembering that if the shoe fits we need to act quickly seeking out the grace of God that is available to His children. Repentance if needed and then to find endurance to overcome.

Signing off

Tyrone

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