Won't be long!
The student, the businessman, the sportsman and many others put
great effort and sacrifice into what they hope will be
successful ventures. The struggle would be made to seem easier and
more worthwhile if they could only be SURE of success in the
end.
When you hear what Jesus had to say to His true followers you might
be tempted to think "Why would anyone want to struggle as a
follower of Jesus if that's what He promises them?"! But, remember
this, there will be NO LOSERS among those who put their faith in
Jesus as Lord and Saviour. 1*.
Jesus promised His followers that He would return to take them into
His eternal Kingdom of peace and joy. He gave them many signs to
watch out for as an indication of His soon return. 2*. These signs are happening all
around us in our day. Jesus said, "When these things begin to take
place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is
drawing near." 3*. It
won't be long until Jesus returns!
Jesus promised His true followers that He would come back again for
them and that they would each receive a place in Heaven.
4*.
"But," Jesus told them, "before all this they will lay hands on you
and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons,
and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on
account of My name. …You will be betrayed even by parents,
brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to
death. All men will hate you because of Me." 5*.
Why would anyone choose to follow Jesus if it was going to be so
difficult and costly? There are many reasons why it is a very wise
choice to trust and obey Jesus, the Son of God and the Saviour of
the world! 6*.
I love Jesus because He first loved me, and was willing to die
on the cross to pay the full debt God demanded for all our
sins. 7*. A God
who loves us as much as that must surely have a wonderful plan and
purpose for us and for our existence! I will trust and obey His
Word! There may be difficult situations and hardships to
struggle with and endure in being a follower of Jesus, but He
promises, "not a hair of your head will perish"! 8*.
Maybe you are wondering how Jesus could promise that when He had
just told them of the persecution and death they would face for His
name? Think of a seed that you sow in the ground. When the harvest
time comes you know without a doubt that the seed did not "perish"
- what had seemed to be a loss had certainly not been a useless
waste! Likewise, Jesus assures His followers that whatever happens
to them for His name's sake - even the loss of a single hair - will
not perish as a useless sacrifice. No! God will use even the
things that seem a loss to us to bring glory to His name for
eternity. 9*.
Christian, don't let your hope and trust in God be shaken by
persecutions for Jesus' sake. 10*. Read Jesus' promises in Luke chapter 21,
verses 12-28.
Bye for now,
John Nixon, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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Bible quotations from N.I.V.
1 John
10:28-29.
2 Luke 21:7-28.
3 Luke 21:28.
4 John 14:1-6.
5 Luke 21:12-17.
6 1st John 4:14. John
3:16-18.
7 1st John 4:19. Romans
5:1-11.
8 Luke 21:18-19.
9 Romans 8:28. 1st Peter
4:12-19.
10 1st Peter 1:3-9.
Matthew 5:10-12.
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