[Mom and baby monk seals at Waikiki]
My photograph above was taken back in August of 2017, when the above monk seals caused quite a stir at Waikiki beach by taking a rest there. A rare occurance in Waikiki, to be sure.
The mother seemed not to be alarmed by all of the people around and about; as if she had faith that no harm would come their way.
We true believers in the Savior Jesus Christ should have ultimate and unshakable faith in the good Lord: that no harm will come to us if we abide in His will and obey Him. That is, unless it is His will that we should hurry on home to Him by natural death or death by harm from someone with evil intent; or also we could die by some type of accident. We all know this; but what we don't know is when we will die. That is in the good Lord's hands. However, many believers believe that Jesus will return very soon to take true believers to be with Him in heaven - at the Rapture of the Church. That being the case, some of us will NOT die before being taken to heaven! Hallelujah ! (John 11:25, 26)
How to be strong and of great faith in the Lord is helped by knowing your weaknesses in your spirit and endeavoring to correct those flaws with the Lord's help. Following is a wonderful 12 minute Christian video which tells us warning signs that our spirit may be weak.
The above video stresses that we pray and ask the good Lord to help us. But pray with faith!
Sure, we Christians are NOT perfect. We still make mistakes due to our inherited sin nature from Adam. However, though we may sometimes sin (due to our imperfection -- or even from existing health issues, etc., (such as pain or stress and heartbreak and grief - all of which are usually temporary occurrances; making us on edge and not always full of grace, perhaps); though we may sin and are not sinless, we sin.. LESS. Less than ungodly people of the world; and we true believers do NOT, as a rule, sin intentionally like worldly people do.
Remember, " .. the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins" - Psalm 7:9 b
That means, God understands the character of all people because He is intimately acquainted with all of their thoughts and purposes and feelings . Which is meant by the expression "the heart and the reins". (So one Bible Commentary tells us.) It goes on to say, "The word 'heart' in the Scriptures is often used to denote the seat of the 'thoughts', and the word 'reins' seems to be used to denote the most secret feelings, purposes, and devices of the soul - as if lodged deep in our nature, or covered in the most hidden and concealed portions of the man. (As if utterly concealed from the eye and so unknown to other people.) But they are all known by God. [since God knows all hearts of all people, He is able to judge aright]. .. And to determine correctly in regard to their character, or to administer His government on the principles of exact justice. [...] (Therefore,) God would confirm those who are truly righteous, and would bring the wickedness of the ungodly to an end." - end of quote.
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." - 1 John 5:4
"My defense is of God, which saveth the upright in heart." - Psalm 7:10
In the above Psalm, we can rest assured that if we are endeavoring to obey the Lord as best we can, and we are sincere and truthful, and love the good Lord, that He will save and protect us.
That is encouraging to know in this mixed up and dying world, which can be very cruel at times!
Recently, (this past week) the good Lord impressed upon me to take a deep look into and to ponder the message in the hymn "I Surrender All." It was written by a man who was an artist and who had other talents as well, who gave it all up to do the Lord's work. He wrote more than 60 hymns, but his most famous was "I Surrender All." His name was Judson Van DeVenter and he was born in 1855. More information may be found here about DeVenter and his famous hymn.
Following is my favorite version of "I Surrender All". However, most of the versions do not contain all of the stanzas.
The last stanza most often omitted in versions of this hymn is as follows:
"All to Jesus I surrender; Now I feel the sacred flame. - Oh, the joy of full salvation! - Glory, glory, to His name!"
Following are two quotes from Corrie ten Boom:
"You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have."
"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."
And a quote by Frederick W. Faber: "They always win who side with God."
Speaking of the future, (as in Corrie ten Boom's quote above), to true Christians their future is not unknown. Oh, present earthly events are not always known, of course, but the ultimate and most important future of Christians is to be with the Lord forever in heaven, and of that hope believers are sure of, because the Bible confirms it!
Titus 2:13 and 14 tells us: "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
And of particular comfort are the beautiful words of Jesus at John 14:1-4: "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. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know."
What wonderful words of encouragement and hope!
Maranatha!
If Jesus were to return today, would you be Rapture ready?
Following are Scriptures that explain Salvation for any unbelievers reading this blog.
But remember, all it takes to be saved is repentance and -- Believe in Jesus as the Savior!
But you cannot understand anything well unless it is properly explained. Ultimately, of course, the Holy Spirit will give your heart and mind and soul understanding!
"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
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." - Jude 21
"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
John 11:25,26 tells us : "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?"
"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
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life !
"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous; even as HE is righteous." 1 John 3:7
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world." - 1 John 4:4
"I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." - Revelation 1:8
