The photograph above was taken a couple of days ago of my Christmas Cactus. It has been blooming profusely since February. Isn't it funny how such a thing as this plant - blooming once a year (although one year it bloomed twice) - how such a simple pleasure of its gorgeous blossoms can give you a sense of well-being; a sense that all is well and going as "scheduled"; that all is normal and things are okay. That the promise of future things (such as next year will bring more beautiful blossoms on my cactus) will surely come to pass, and that life goes on.
I realize that today in this chaotic world, all is NOT normal and is not going as we sincere Christians would want. Yet, at the same time, all we see happening now is fulfilling Bible prophecy as pertaining to the last days of this system of things. We are in the last hour of the end times. We should be "looking up" - looking to the time of Jesus' return, as our redemption "draws nigh." (Luke 21:28
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." - Romans 8:28
The verse above is very familiar to Christians. This is a promise from God, and we can depend upon it. It gives us comfort and, if we are true believers, we will be so grateful for this promise that we will live our lives in a manner that is pleasing to the good Lord.
"For all the promises of God in Him [Jesus] are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." - 2 Corinthians 1:20
The greatest promise of God was salvation through faith and belief in Jesus as the Savior.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." - John 3:16
Not only is John 3:16 a glorious promise, it is also a wonderful love story in itself as well. How can we mere finite humans ever comprehend a love such as that; a love so strong that Jesus was willing to die a horrible and painful death on the cross at Calvary so that if we but believe He is the Christ, the Savior, whose shed blood can wash our sins away, we may thereby obtain eternal life. Jesus took our place on the cross; He was our substitute, our Redeemer, the Lamb whose shed blood can save us, if we but have faith and believe in Him.
Another promise of God (Jesus ) is found at John 14:1-3, which follows:
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
Think of it ! Not only is Jesus in heaven now preparing a place for true believers, but He says that He will come again to take us to be with Him forever. That is a promise to rejoice over! It will occur very soon at the rate that prophecy is coming true in these end times; the rate that precursors of prophecy are occurring right at this moment in time.
There are many, many promises of God to be found in the Bible. Don't forget the promises made to men like Abraham in the Old Testament. Promises that came true, such as Abraham and Sarah having a son in their old age. Pour over and study your Bible and you will uncover many of God's promises for yourself.
Not too long ago, I was praying and I was in tears as I pleaded with God to save my unbelieving family members. The words "Is anything too hard for Me" popped into my mind. I knew it was the Lord promising me that my prayers would be answered. I looked up in the Bible and found more than one verse to confirm God's promise. Previously, I had not come across these verses recently and had quite forgotten them.
"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" - Genesis 18:14
"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for Me?" - Jeremiah 32:27
Later I ran across Isaiah 59:1 which tells us:
"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear:"
Following is a hymn which has special meaning to me. It is titled "Standing On The Promises Of God" :
Below is a 49 minute audio sermon by Charles Spurgeon titled "Obtaining Promises." Please take the time to listen to all of this wonderful discourse. In it, Spurgeon says to wait and have patience on the good Lord. Wait for the promise. He tells us three ways to obtain the promise.
If you are unsaved - not born again - then all these promises cannot be yours. That is, unless you repent and pray to the good Lord for forgiveness of your sins. But first you must believe that Jesus is the Savior, and that He is the only way to heaven and to the heavenly Father.
Romans 10:9,10,13 tells us: (9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." - John 14:6
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?" - John 11: 25-26
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend...... and life !
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