God’s Eternal Purpose

There have been many puzzling statements that have confused honest Christians and stoked the fire of many opponents of the Christian faith. Among these are (1) if God is so loving and kind as 'Christians
'say then why doesn't he crush out evil and sin, or better yet why did He, an all wise God, allow it to happen? (2) If when we die we go straight to heaven, as some Christians teach, then why don't we just kill ourselves and go even faster?

 Many more can be listed but we will turn our attention to the first statement. What does the bible say? ³ "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: ⁴ According as he hath chosen us in him *(Jesus Christ) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." [(Ephesians 1:3, 4)* author's insertion.]


Let us analyse this text of scripture carefully. It says that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in His eternally begotten (proverbs 8: 23) Son. The apostle Paul further says that God has
chosen us in His Son before the world began. In other words, God's plan was that the human race should be perfect in character like His Son, Praise the Lord! It was always in God's mind, His
heart to have people who reflect His glory and love. God wanted a creation that would love Him, not by force, but through an intelligent understanding and appreciation of His unconditional,
all-for-the-other Agape love.

 However, this meant that the freedom of choice which creatures would enjoy could be used against God, in the form of rebellion, sin and opposition to his way. A
creature could choose to not appreciate, not allow God to be the center of their lives and disobey God.

When God announced in Eden "… You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; ¹⁷ but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die;" (Genesis 16, 17) He simply outlined the results of Obedience to His commands, that is LIFE and HAPPINESS and the natural results of disobedience or sin (1 John 3:4) SICKNESS, SUFFERING and ultimately DEATH. Oh dear reader, why not choose to be in God's eternal plan for your life by being in His Son (1 John 5:11, 12)

There is Hope

"Let no one say, I cannot remedy my defects of character. If you come to this decision, you will certainly fail of obtaining everlasting life. The impossibility lies in your own will. If you will not, then you can not overcome. The real difficulty arises from the corruption of an unsanctified heart, and an unwillingness to submit to the control of God.
Many whom God has qualified to do excellent work accomplish very little, because they attempt little. Thousands pass through life as if they had no definite object for which to live, no standard to reach. Such will obtain a reward proportionate to their works.
Remember that you will never reach a higher standard than you yourself set. Then set your mark high, and step by step, even though it be by painful effort, by self-denial and sacrifice, ascend the whole length of the ladder of progress. Let nothing hinder you. Fate has not woven its meshes about any human being so firmly that he need remain helpless and in uncertainty. Opposing circumstances should create a firm determination to overcome them. The breaking down of one barrier will give greater ability and courage to go forward. Press with determination in the right direction, and circumstances will be your helpers, not your hindrances."(COL, 331-332)

Talents

"The talents, however few, are to be put to use. The question that most concerns us is not, How much have I received? but, What am I doing with that which I have? The development of all our powers is the first duty we owe to God and to our fellow men. No one who is not growing daily in capability and usefulness is fulfilling the purpose of life. In making a profession of faith in Christ we pledge ourselves to become all that it is possible for us to be as workers for the Master, and we should cultivate every faculty to the highest degree of perfection, that we may do the greatest amount of good of which we are capable."(COL, 329-330)

Herein is Love

The pathway to God is clear but few take it. Why? "The bible says "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" (Matthew 7:13) Jesus says  "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6). Further Jesus say "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20).

With the offer of salvation so freely offered, packaged and delivered in Christ, its little wonder that its not taken hold of and embraced entirely. Could it be sin in the life that is preventing a person from accepting Jesus? Could it be that a person does not understand the power of grace over sin to deliver? Or could it be failure to pray the prayer of faith that transforms the life - the prayer that ask according to the word for salvation, believes in the salvation already worked out in Jesus Christ and claims the promise of forgiveness and Justification and acts upon the promise as a real literal accomplished fact in Christ. May God grant that His love warns your heard to the point of surrender to His unfailing Love.

God’s glorious Character

"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory."(Rev 18:1)

Revelation 18 shows the earth being filled with the glory of God by another angel.

Scripture tell us that the glory of God is His character (Exodus 33:18, 19; 34:6, 7). What is the character of God? None other but Jesus; the eternal Son of God;

could reveal the beauty of the Character of God. "Looking unto Jesus we see that it is the glory of our God to give."I do nothing of Myself," said Christ; "the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father."

"I seek not Mine own glory," but the glory of Him that sent Me. John 8:28; 6:57; 8:50; 7:18.

In these words is set forth the great principle which is the law of life for the universe."(DA, 21)

God’s Love

Can you imagine a love that does not seek its own. How utterly beyond our way of thinking.

Can you understand why Jesus died to save you? If you can then maybe you don't really know how

Sinful you really are. The bible says "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jer 17:6"

even though we feel good even the we may be under a deception by our own hearts, our only safety and security is in the infinite

and matchless love of God in the Holy Spirit.