What is your decision?

Even on my best day with my best effort, I have still not behaved well enough to get into Heaven. I am not better than those destined for hell. Just one sin, even the “smallest”of sins in the eyes of man will send me straight to hell if I dont allow Jesus to cover that sin with His blood that was shed for me.

The difference between Heaven and hell is not about behavior. The difference between Heaven and hell is the presence of God. What brings me home to Heaven is admitting I am a sinner, believing Jesus died for my sins, and confessing Him as Lord of my life.

Once that has happened I am sealed for eternity in the promised Holy Spirit. When the Spirit resides in me it becomes evident in my behavior. Am I suddenly perfect? No, I am still very flawed and sin daily. Even on my best day with my best effort, I am still a sinner in need of a Savior. There is a difference in me though. My heart is no longer comfortable with sin. I begin to move farther and farther from it because of the work the Spirit is doing in me. Not because of my own flawed efforts but because He is moving in me. Each step of obedience that He guides me to leads me to more freedom from sin.

He has freed us from sin. He has not freed us to sin.

If you cannot see the difference in that then you need to question if the Spirit actually abides in you.

I am not better than the person destined for hell. They have decided to live without the presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit here on earth and in their eternity.

My decision makes me different. My decision sets me apart from the world. My decision leads to a presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit here on earth and in eternity.

I am not better.

I am saved.

It is not too late to change your decision. Someday it will be. When you feel Him call to you dont hesitate. Just make the decision. Choose Him. He has already chosen you.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9

Run to Jesus

One of the most detrimental mistakes I have ever made was thinking that if I simply believed in Jesus then I had my path to heaven. Afterall, doesn’t John 3:16 state that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life? But what kind of belief did I have if I just believed Jesus once existed and died on the cross but didnt believe the words He said? I didnt believe sex before marriage was really all that wrong. I didnt believe living with my boyfriend was an issue. I didnt believe drinking and drugs were really that bad. I was just having a good time. Who was I hurting? Well, it is a pretty long list but Ill start with the ones that bother me the most. Dylan and Myles. I hurt them. I didnt live a life that reflected God’s love. I lived very selfishly. While I did do things with and for my kids, my life was not about them. It was not about bringing them up in the way that they should go so as they got older they would not depart from it. My life was about me. And if I was happy then they would be happy. I had no clue what happiness was. Do you? Happiness is a fleeting emotion. It comes and it goes. And if I am real honest, it feels like it goes more than it comes. In fact, happiness has left me so many times that I just stopped trying to be happy. Sound depressing? Its not really. Trying to make myself happy led me down roads full of lies. It took my eyes off of Jesus and others and put them solely on myself. As I said before, I hurt many people but namely, my kids.

God has rescued me. It doesnt always feel like rescue. Seeing all the ways I was wrong when I had felt I was so right is heartbreaking. The word tells me God is close to the broken hearted and when I meditate on that it brings me comfort and healing. Sometimes I look back at my past too long and from the word I hear Paul say “dont stare at the past, but strive for what is ahead.” And that gives me hope. I dont pray anymore for God to make me happy. I pray for my feet to be on solid ground. I dont need the happiness roller coaster anymore. Happiness lies and says it serves me but it becomes my master. The word tells me to resemble Jesus. Jesus was not here to be served but to serve. When I live to serve others with the love of Jesus I find joy. When I trust in Him even when I dont understand the what or why then I am able to rejoice in all things. Even the bad things because the word tells me God works all bad into good for those that love Him.
You see what I mean about only believing Jesus existed without believing what He said? If you do that, you are already in hell. If you dont feel it yet, bother/sister, you soon will. The things of this world that you use to soothe your misery are temporary. They will only fulfill you here and for short bursts. They lie to you and more and more you shove the Spirit away that is trying to tell you the truth. You believe the lie that you must behave perfectly to be in church, in your bible, or around God’s people at all. Every place that can help you the devil will attack. He will tell you it is a no go and dont even try. You are far too gone. I will be honest again and tell you the evil one still attacks me with a “good works” mentality. The word tells me I can never behave good enough to get my place in heaven only believing Jesus died for my sins does that. Once again, believing in what Jesus said instead of only believing He exisited delivers me from legalistic hell every day. It teaches me to do good works from a place of love instead of selfish ambition of marking my spot in heaven. Obedience to the Lord, then, comes from a place of trust in Him instead of trying to be perfect so I can make sure I get to where I want to go.

You may can tell me you believe Jesus came and died on the cross, but do you believe He did it for you? If you believe in Jesus, do you believe in every word He said? Hell is real yall, on earth and even worse in the everafter. Jesus is the cure. He heals you and seals you as His own. Jesus’ words tell me He knows me by name and I am His. Paul reminds me that nothing can pluck from the hand of God. Even when I stumble. Even when my faith is shaken to its core. As soon as I lean on Jesus and believe that He is the Messiah and His words are true…I am His and He is mine. Nothing can pluck me from God’s hand.

And those relationships you hurt? He is a God of restoration. Time and time again in the word God restores what was broken. God is for you. He sent His Son to die for you so your sins can be washed away, and He left the Spirit behind to guide you through His word and worship. Run to Jesus. Trust Him. Believe in Him AND His words. He will claim you and nothing will pluck you away.

What is your answer?

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
1 Peter 3:15

My faith comes from forgiveness. Love. Guidance. I know it is real because I feel the Spirit reveal wisdom to me. I feel these thoughts seperate from myself. I am a sinner. I am a liar, an adulterer, a thief, a coveter, a glutton, and more. I am in need of a Savior that washes all those sins off of me and makes me to walk in the Spirit. The closer I draw to Him, the closer He draws to me. He is real. He walked this earth. I believe it. The only words this old that have been commanded to never change or be added to and they never have. All these thousands of years Jesus has remained the same. God’s word has remained the same. Why would it stand so strong for thousands of years? Because it is true. Deep down we all feel it. Yes, deep down even you do, too. You may have chosen a worldly way of handling things but only one way washes away your guilt and brings you home.

Fellow believers, what is your answer?