As stated previously on this blog, to live in Hawaii has been said to be like living in Paradise! But we all know where the very best dwelling-place is! HEAVEN! And, later, during the 1000 year reign of Christ, we will enjoy life again on this earth. More about the millennial reign on another post here in the future, perhaps.
We believers can enjoy a sense of dwelling with the good Lord right now. The following verse at Deuteronomy 33:27 gives an explanation of what is meant:
"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: " - Deut. 33:27 a
One commentator has given a wonderful explanation on the above Scripture: "God is the refuge or dwelling-place of His people, their protection amid the storms of life, and the unfailing source of comfort and blessing to them in their pilgrimage state. Over them is His sheltering protection, and underneath them the support of His everlasting arms."
On the subject of God's everlasting arms and the Eternal God, here follows an excellent 37 minute sermon by Pastor Chuck Smith (now deceased) who was the founder of the Calvary Chapel Churches.
Pastor Smith tells us that God's everlasting arms are to "hold us up, and to take care of us", and "When you hit bottom... great! Because underneath you are the everlasting arms." Also, Pastor Chuck reminds us "Don't fight tomorrow's battles with today's strength."
Miller was a 19th Century (1840-1912) American author and Pastor. You may check the Internet for more information about him.
Please read all of this article above if you possibly can. It is very encouraging, and a very tender and loving message. Following are portions of Miller's article:
"We are not fighting our own battles unaided. We are not alone, unsheltered, unprotected, in this great world of danger. We are kept by the power of God. God's omnipotence encircles us and enfolds us. The things that are too strong for us we need not fear - for Almighty Arms are encircling us. .... Our part, then, is simple TRUST ! ...... This picture of God embracing His children with His arm, tells of His love for them. It tells also of intimacy, closeness of relation. .... God draws us nearest when we are in trouble or we are in pain! The "arm" is also the symbol of strength. A mother's arm may be physically frail - but love makes it strong. The arm of God is strong. It is omnipotent. It supports the worlds! When that Divine arm encircles one of His feeble children - all the power of the universe cannot tear it away! .... Then, when death comes, and every earthly thing is gone from beneath us, and every hand unclasps from ours, and every face of love fades from our eyes, and we sink away into what seems darkness and the shadow of death, it will be only into the Everlasting Arms....." (end of quote.)
You will enjoy the following hymn "Leaning on the everlasting arms".
Jeremiah 32:27 :"Behold, I Am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for Me?"
Jeremiah 17:7 : "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is."
Isaiah 26:3,4: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength."
Hebrews 10:37: "For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry."
As I uploaded my photograph of the butterfly, I thought "metamorphosis" in my mind immediately. We all know that particularly applies to insects such as a butterfly. It was first a worm - a caterpillar- when it was in the chrysalis state, before it changed and developed into a beautiful creature as above. So the word metamorphosis means any change of form or shape; a transformation. Not only where insects are concerned: it can mean ANY change of form or shape! (So explains Webster's 1828 dictionary.)
That is true of a sinner when he sincerely repents and turns in faith and belief in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Did you realize that the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament, refers to man as a "worm"? Check out Job 25:6, Psalm 22:6, and Micah 7:17. And God Himself refers to Israel (Jacob) also as a worm in Isaiah 41:14 which follows:
"Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."
The point is, the same can be said today of when a sinner, a "worm" in a sense (who is not a Christian) is transformed into a new creature when he becomes a true believer in Jesus Christ as the Savior. If he is truly saved and born again, he will change and become more Christlike and he will learn to rid his life of anything that hinders his walk with the Lord.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17
If Jesus were to return today or next week, or in the following months (no one knows the day or the hour, the Bible tells us) - if the Savior would return soon for His true believers, would you be raptured to heaven to be with Him?
Are you Rapture Ready?
If you are not saved by faith and belief that Jesus' shed blood at the cross can save you - by wiping the slate clean, so to speak- because He died in our place - He ransomed us - He paid our sin debt for us, in full ! Just believe in Him and in His resurrection; repent and pray for forgiveness - in all sincerity and with all of your very being and soul !
Following are Salvation Scriptures :
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." - John 3:36
"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 saith 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
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
The above will occur stronger over time after you have been saved; you may not understand much about reformation and restitution and sanctification when you are first born again. After all, you are a "babe in Christ" at first; but saved indeed (!!) if you have a faith and belief in Jesus as the Savior - a true repentance and salvation. Other things (such as restitution and giving up certain habits and the like) will take time to realize and also to learn to know what it is to follow in Christ's footsteps. What saves you is NOT WORKS but Faith! However, if you are "born again", works will naturally follow.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2: 8-10
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life!
