God wants you any way you are
A few years ago we were studying the Book of Revelation in a church where I was pastoring. I have studied it before and taught it before, but now it has an all new impact and meaning. For a reason I will share with you in a few moments.
I remember many years ago, in the middle 1960’s I had the opportunity to go to the University of Kentucky College. I had just finished four years in the Air Force in Shreveport, Louisiana. By then I was married, my wife and I were both working, but money still wasn’t plentiful to us. (Wages were much lower than). My wife’s brother who was going to UK for his Engineering Degree, tried to talk me into moving into the apartment above him on Rose Street in Lexington, Ky. Back then we could have rented an apartment for $75.00 a month, furnished and utilities paid. Hard to believe now! But no, I wanted to do other things, and education wasn’t important in my life at that time. Let me stress to all that are taking time to read this, that education is important and is a very vital link in each of our lives and important to all of us. No matter who are.
Now I want to return our thoughts to the Bible and its Book of Revelation. (Rev. 1:1), “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John”. I have read and studied in great length on its subject and content. I have either borrowed or bought a dozen different commentaries, hoping with the Bible and their comments, to teach the truth on this subject, as best I could. None of the commentaries I had, agreed to any great extent to what the others said. There was definitely a great difference in their knowledge and teaching. When I’m teaching, I read directly from the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to be my teacher and guide. I would not knowingly tell or say anything to lead anyone astray or take away from the content of the Word of God. Each night that God allowed me to teach in Revelation, I would ask for open opinions from each person present that night.
It appears to me that many of us are uncertain about many major events that must happen for the Bible to be fulfilled. Such as the rapture (when it’s going to take place), the tribulation, the anti-christ, false prophets, the day of the Lord, the seals, trumpets, vials, the actual coming of the Lord, and especially the wrath that will come in the final days. But through all of this, I have come to one important decision. It’s not what I say it is, or what you think it is. It’s what Christ says it is! After all it’s his revelation of himself, and all future events to come and the blessedness of God’s eternal kingdom. Between God the Father, and He is our Father and His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, they and they alone have all the answers.
Now, don’t let me lose you at this point, please! I have come to even a more important decision that effects us all. We can know all the Bible, word for word. Know all it’s events in all the right places, be a scholar in its entirety or in certain subjects. But if we don’t know Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior then we are a lost person or people, headed straight to hell and subject to all of God’s wrath at the end of times.
We either know him or we don’t. We either serve Christ or Anti-Christ. All the churches in the world that preach and teach Jesus Christ and Him crucified should be full every time the doors open. But most of us have every excuse in the world not to be there anytime, except for a funeral, Easter or at Christmas. Heaven’s not going to have to be to big, because most of us will never see it.
Take a look around our community. We’re all going to be leaving one day. It’s just a matter of time. It would nice if I knew a lot more than I do about the Bible and other things, but all I need and have to know is Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
I wish that many years ago that someone preaching in simple layman terms would have simply, explained to me how to accept Jesus Christ as Lord! And, that his Spirit could enter my spiritual body and change my life forever. Simple preaching of the Gospel brings people to repentance.
In 1973, a year before our only son was born. I had a ford farm tractor fall on top of me, almost killing me. Cutting my right ear off, (later sewed on by two plastic surgeons), with internal damages, I had quite a lengthy stay in the Old General Hospital in Louisville, Ky. Had I died then, I would have been lost eternally forever in the very presence of Hell. The Lord has allowed me many times since then to preach that I have been saved twice. Once physically, but most importantly he saved me spiritually.
Paul wrote in (Romans 10:9-10), “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation". God will accept us in any condition that we come to Him, in belief and faith and trust.
The Bible says, Today is today of salvation. If you are not sure whether Heaven Is going to be your eternal home, don’t lay your head down on that pillow tonight. Get up and get on your knees and ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and soul in true repentance and He alone will cleanse you of all your sins and make you a new creature in Christ Jesus. (1 John-1:9), “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
Sinner, if you would only come tonight Christ will do his part, but you must take the first step!
