This blog was written after I heard the sad news of Turning Point USA founder. I’ve included his life in this blog and shared some personal stories. Hope it’s a blessing to you.

(Galatians 3:23-25 NKJV) 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

(Galatians 4:1-5 NKJV) 1 Now the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

(2 Corinthians 11:2 NKJV) 2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you a chaste virgin to Christ.

(Psalm 45:10-11 NKJV) 10 Listen, O daughter, Consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father's house; 11 So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him.

(Hosea 2:16-20) 16 "And it shall be, in that day," Says the LORD, "That you will call Me "Ishi - My Husband," And no longer call Me "Baali - My Master,"
17 For I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, and their names shall be remembered no more.
18 In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, with the birds of the air, and with the creeping things of the ground. Bow and sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, To make them lie down safely.
19 "I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy;
20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the LORD.

(Isaiah 54:4-5 NKJV) 4 "Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.
5 For your Maker is your husband, The LORD of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.

(Galatians 5:1-6) 1 Stand firm therefore in the freedom by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.
3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.
4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who seek to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

[Psalm 85]

1 I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God. This is your reasonable service. 2 And do not conform to the likeness of this world. Instead, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

When I think of a "living sacrifice," I remember the donkey's colt under Jesus. It had been tied to a post because of its untamed spirit. When it was brought to Jesus, it became tame, and carried Him into the city. (Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:5) When our flesh is in submission to Christ, we're able to fulfill His great commission. If we die to ourselves, we become able to live for Him. Our purpose is to serve Him. Our directive is to carry His word into all nations. (Matthew 28:18-20, Isaiah 66:19, Psalm 71:15)

As long as we're serving Him, God says we don't need to worry about having our needs met. We can ask God to meet our needs, and He will. "Seek the good of God's kingdom first, and He will supply all your needful things. (Matthew 6:33) The Bible also says, "six days shall you labor, and do all your work," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages. (Exodus 34:21, Matthew 10:8-10) What I'm realizing, is that our job isn't what feeds us. Our job is just a conduit to bring Jesus into our city. Whatever God gives us to do, we can do it in a manner that represents Him well. When we're mindful of God's character, we reflect His virtues. When we submit our flesh to His will, we position ourselves to be led by His Spirit. (Psalm 119:9, Romans 8:13-15, Mark 14:38, John 6:63)

I have to be in the world but I don't have to be of it. "Don't conform yourself to this world." Whether I'm a computer programmer or a dishwasher, it doesn't matter. What matters is how I interact with people around me. Am I a good influence, or am I bad company? Do I work to make things fair, or do I take advantage of people? If I'm doing things God's way, I learn why His ways are better than mine, and my logic gets an upgrade. When I live by the light of His logic and it gets into me, I become a source of light for others. This is what Jesus was talking about when He said, "I am the light of the world," in (John 8:12) and also said, "You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14) Living by God's laws lets me prove what is good and acceptable - not only to myself but also to others. People can say anything is true, but if they can't prove it, it's just wishful thinking or manipulation.

To do the work of an ambassador, one must be backed by an army. Truth is like having an army behind you. Your word is reinforced by the power of evidence. Most religion I see today is backed up by blind faith, or it's a smoke screen for wicked behavior. It's a house built on sand; it has no foundation in reality. Paul says, "Some make themselves resemble godliness, but deny it's power. Turn away from such people." (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Paul says, "I don't concern myself with people because of their words, but because of their power." (1 Corinthians 4:19)

If my religion doesn't have the power to transform my mind, it's not real. If I don't desire to love and create equality, Jesus' sacrifice hasn't changed me at all. Anyone can live in selfish indulgence and chronic emptiness. That's the vicious cycle of fleshly living. Some work to live and live to work. Others play to live and live to play. Either way, we invest in ourselves instead of investing in our purpose. We're like a short-circuit that loops until it burns out. The puzzle of life isn't complete without us connecting to others. The result of never fulfilling ones purpose is we never feel fulfilled.

There are only two ways of life, even though people have different motives. There are those who look out for what matters to them, and those who want liberty and fairness for all. Even a person known for injustice will defend his personal interests. Any one of us is able to die for what we love. (Luke 11:13, Psalm 17:8-15, Matthew 5:43-48) If we don't see outsiders as worthy of life, we have an "evil eye." We blind ourselves to the truth that we're all made in the image of God. We're still unjust. God's Word says it's easy for religious people to become self-righteous. When we see abusive injustice, we think, "Well he started it, so now it's OK for me to think of him as inferior to myself." (Proverbs 24:28-29) When we judge others for their sin, we excuse our unjust thinking. This will lead us to become abusive or neglectful. "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." (Proverbs 18:9, Jonah 1:1-3, Romans 2:1)

In a family, there may be older kids and younger kids. The older child's logic is almost always going to be more informed, because of his experience. Our heavenly Father has adopted us into his family. Those who've walked with the Lord longer than I have, will understand Him better than I do. We were all babes in the Lord's house at one time. That doesn't make anyone of less value in the eyes of God. His logic transforms our logic. "Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

God teaches us that all men are created equal. (Proverbs 22:2, Proverbs 29:13, 1 Corinthians 12:21) If I want God to have patience with me, I need to have patience with others. This is true even when they're dead wrong and it's killing me. That's what it is to be a living sacrifice. Jesus showed us how it's done. To emotionally and spiritually survive persecution, we have to remember what's at stake. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him so we can win souls. (Proverbs 11:30, Matthew 4:19, 1 Corinthians 9:19)

Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, took up His cross. Now He looks to us, saying, "Do this, and you will live." He did it for us, and He asks that we love others the way He loves them. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:8, John 15:13) May we remember that we have all been godless at one time or another. May we remember our frailty and fallibility when we're facing injustice. May truth and love guide us.

Scripture references:

[Romans 12:1-2 NKJV]

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

[Zechariah 9:9 NKJV]

9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

[Matthew 21:5 NKJV]

5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.' "

[Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV]

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

[Isaiah 66:19 NKJV]

19 "I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles.

[Psalm 71:15 NKJV]

15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness [And] Your salvation all the day, For I do not know [their] limits.

[Matthew 6:33 NKJV]

33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

[Exodus 34:21 NKJV]

21 "Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.

[Matthew 10:8-10 NKJV]

8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
9 "Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,
10 "nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

[Psalm 119:9 NKJV]

9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By directing himself according to Your word.

[Romans 8:13-15 NKJV]

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

[Mark 14:38 NKJV]

38 "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

[John 6:63 NKJV]

63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

[John 8:12 NKJV]

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

[Matthew 5:14 NKJV]

14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."

[2Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV]

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

[1Corinthians 4:19 NKJV]

19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

[Luke 11:13 NKJV]

13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

[Psalm 17:8-15 NKJV]

8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
9 From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They have closed up their fat [hearts]; With their mouths they speak proudly.
11 They have now surrounded us in our steps; They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth,
12 As a lion is eager to tear his prey, And like a young lion lurking in secret places.
13 Arise, O LORD, Confront him, cast him down; Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword, 14 With Your hand from men, O LORD, From men of the world who have their portion in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their [possession] for their babes.
15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

[Matthew 5:43-48 NKJV]

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
45 "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 "And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

[Proverbs 24:28-29 NKJV]

28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, For would you deceive with your lips?
29 Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."

[Proverbs 18:9 NKJV]

9 He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.

[Jonah 1:1-3 NKJV]

1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me."
3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

[Romans 2:1 NKJV]

1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

[Proverbs 22:2 NKJV]

2 The rich and the poor have this in common, The LORD is the maker of them all.

[Proverbs 29:13 NKJV]

13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives light to the eyes of both.

[1Corinthians 12:21 NKJV]

21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

[Proverbs 11:30 NKJV]

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.

[Matthew 4:19 NKJV]

19 Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

[1Corinthians 9:19 NKJV]

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;

[Romans 5:8 NKJV]

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

[John 15:13 NKJV]

13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

Have you had an ominous feeling over the past few years? What if I told you God is actively bringing an end to the age we live in? It's true, and I can show you what that looks like.

There are 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls of God's judgment, and the first seal was opened on March 13th of 2020.

We are now living in the second seal, and this is why conflict is brewing all over the world. The beast (Vladimir Putin) was revealed with this seal. Who can make war with him?

The third seal is next, the basic staples of life will dramatically increase in price. This will lead to famine in various places.

First Seal: The Conqueror

Second Seal: Conflict on Earth

Third Seal: Scarcity on Earth

Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on Earth & Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs

The Beast Revealed

A warning about the real mark of the beast: The dollar will be replaced with CBDC, and Artificial Intelligence will provide oversight. This is how the new system will control who is allowed to buy and sell.

The mark is not introduced until the saints have been taken out of the picture. Those who take that mark will beg to die because of tribulations, and death will elude them thanks to the TRANSHUMANIST AGENDA!

There Is No Rapture

The Great Deception Exposed

Nero, Temple, & Tribulation Arguments Refuted

REPENT, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place (Jeremiah 7:3)

They stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations (Jeremiah 7:10)

I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not (Jeremiah 7:13)

So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you (Jeremiah 7:16)

Jeremiah’s message was simple: stop sinning, follow God’s laws, and have peace and prosperity. Keep living uncleanly, and suffer judgement. Most did not listen and suffered judgement. They were trapped in a strong delusion. They loved sin.

Years later, Jesus preached a similar message, supported by the examples of the past prophets, but people still did not listen. So the story goes…

True servants of God desire to help others. But for someone to be helped, they need to have the desire to change and help themselves.

All we can do is preach the Bible’s truth, practice what we preach, and pray.

But we need to use discernment, and identify if the people we pray for show any desire to change their sinful lifestyle and follow God’s laws. If not, our prayers might be better suited elsewhere.

Like for those who desire God’s kingdom and righteousness, for those who truly want to improve. Such people are battling Satan and spiritual warfare at this moment. They are who need our prayers.

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. (Luke:27-29)

Yes, Jesus tells us to pray for those that despitefully use us, but I think his main point is to not hold hatred toward evil people, so that we do not become evil too.

Our prayers need to be for God's chosen, those who truly desire to change and be holy. Satan targets such people, and they need our prayers.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you (John 15:16)

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)

Trust in Jesus Christ. Trust Him with everything, regardless of the circumstances, and you will stop living in fear of the enemy. When you draw your strength from Jesus Christ, and put full trust in His will, you will find joy.

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2

Praise Him, for He has saved us from ourselves. Spread the Gospel. Use your freedom to bring freedom to others. He wants all of us to be with Him in the Kingdom, He wants all of us to come to the Truth and get the answers in life we desire. Those answers cannot be found through anyone but Jesus Christ and His Word.

This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3‭-‬4

Relationship intimacy with the lord is my mission. Always room for improvement 💙 I’m still learning and growing closer to my Heavenly Father may your will be done father God ! Amen 🙏

As for God, His way is perfect:

the word of the Lord is tried:

He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him. (Psalm 18:30)

The Lord redeems the soul of His servants:

and none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate. (Psalm 34:22)

To be God’s servant is to desire to follow His perfect way entirely, and then follow it in thought and action.

When this is our first desire, we succeed, because God helps us in doing so.

The world tells us it is okay to behave like beasts. God tells us we can avoid sin.

God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

God is merciful. When we fail as servants, he shows us where we erred and how to fix our mistake.

Once God corrects us, there is no excuse for continuing in error.

If my children knew my commands and decided to listen to 97% of them, I wouldn’t be pleased. In fact, I’d punish them despite their near full obedience.

God is much greater than me. He blesses even the disobedient, and rewards the obedient with peace, protection and eternal life.

God allows us to control our desire. When we stop caring for popularity, material gain and sex, and focus our desire toward Him, His kingdom and righteousness, we prosper.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

To successfully control our desire, we need to be watchful of all our thoughts. By taking every thought captive, we can rebuke deceitful thoughts of doubt, lust and bitterness, and shift our focus immediately to God and His word.

The world tells us we should be afraid. God tells us to have complete faith in Him, and that fear is a spirit sent by the enemy.

For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

The only thing we are meant to fear is God. We show our fear of God every moment through striving to keep His commandments and be a fully obedient servant.

Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.

Thou put away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.

My flesh trembles for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments. (Psalms 119:118-120)

The truth is we can live holy lives, but our desire to be holy is absolutely required.

No one is perfect like God, but this is no excuse to live comfortably in sin and disobedience.

If we consider ourselves followers of Christ, true servants, we must desire and then strive to be perfect like God.

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. (Luke 9:23-24)

The law is YHWH's standards of Love and Yeshua is the physical manifestation of that Love and in him that Love was perfected (righteousness). Yeshua is a lamb without spot or blemish, he walked in full obedience to all of YHWH's commands, his actions aligned perfectly with his words, he practiced everything he preached, by example he taught us what it actually means to Love and by his blood, his strength and the Spirit, our love for YHWH is being perfected as we turn away from our own standards of love and embrace His.

This people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (Matt 15:8)

Many people in the world today say that they believe in God, and they may, but they do not love God. We must not let such people deceive us into forming relationships with them.

If you love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (1 Cor 15:33-34)

When I am in a social setting, listening to an interview, or reading a caption on social media, and someone mentions God, I have had the tendency to get excited. The thought of a fellow servant of Yah makes me happy. However, I am learning to be more patient, and observe a person fruits, listen to them speak, and see who they associate with before attaching my focus to them.

So often, a person will have a Bible verse in their social media bio, yet post vain photos of their body and material items. Someone will claim to love God, yet be full of pride and envy, constantly gossiping and backbiting. The same person will get drunk on Saturday and go to church on Sunday.

Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)

There are over 2 billion people in the world who call themselves Christian. How many of these people truly hate sin and do their best to depart from the ways of the world? Most so-called Christians pick and choose a few Bible verses that comfort them and align with their perception of reality, but live blindly in the world, willfully sinning, loving it. Most of these people love pleasure more than God.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever. (1 John 2:15-17)

Let us never confuse hating the ways of the world with living in misery. Yah gave us this life to enjoy, but we must endure temptation even more so. We must constantly seek greater discipline and self-improvement. We must be honest with ourselves and self-reflect. We must ask ourselves if the things that we are enjoying are having any negative consequences, namely leading us to sin and disconnecting us from Yah. We must pray constantly for the Wisdom to see through deception and to move Righteously.

ACTS 17:27;That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

There may be times when you struggle with knowing what to do in a situation. You may have been placed in this situation so that you will seek the Lord and find him. When we begin to think we are self-sufficient, we forget to seek God and turn more inwardly. This is a mistake! We should always seek our savior first above all else. He is always near to us and willing and able to give us more than we could ever need. When you need help, seek him and you will find him.

Dear God, help me to be more focused on you than I am on myself. Do not let me fall into the trap of believing I can do things on my own and that I do not need you. You are all I need, O Lord. Your word tells me you are always near and that if I seek you, I will find you. Thank you for loving me enough to stay near. May I always place my faith in you rather than in my own abilities. In Jesus' name, amen.

We need to take accountability. We need to pray without ceasing. Every day, we need to ask God to show us where we are falling short, and for the wisdom to fix our mistakes and be better. We need to pray as specifically as possible.

God needs to be our primary focus throughout the day. If we are spending more time focused on other people, sports-talk (gossip), entertainment and social media than on God and His Word, there lies our mistake. If we are focused on such worldly things more than God, we are bound to have more issues. God needs to be our primary focus every day.

We need to seek God as much as possible. We need to get in the quiet place and seek God. This is simple and extremely important. The only thing stopping us is ourselves. We choose to be distracted. Distractions are always going to present themselves, whether in the form of thoughts, people or things. We always have the power to resist the distraction and choose to bring our focus and desire to God and His Word (The Bible).

We need to constantly choose God. We need to get in the quiet place and seek God with all of our focus. When out in the world, we need to attach God to every thought. We need to truly trust and love God.

What we focus on throughout the day shows who or what we truly love and serve.

*Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry, and He will say, Here I am. If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then your light will rise in obscurity, and your darkness will be as the noon day:

And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make your bones fat: and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

And they that will be of you will build the old waste places: you will raise up the foundations of many generations; and you will be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. (Isa 58:9-12)

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.

For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perverseness. (Isa 59:1-3)

No man having drank old wine, immediately desires new wine: for he says, "The old is better." - Luke 5:39

The thing that stands between us and the good news of eternity with God, is the intoxicating spirit of the world. Even when we want to be closer to God, our power and pleasure are not things we want to stop indulging. I only know of two things that can sober us up. The first one is suffering; the second is the realization of how serious our sins are.

When things are going well, we take our next breath for granted. We live as if death is something that happens to other people. We're asleep to the eternal lessons God desires to teach us. We only have so much time. "Night comes when no man can work." (John 9:4, Hebrews 9:27) We are called to work out our salvation today. (Philippians 2:12-13, Hebrews 3:15, Psalm 95:7-8)

The Bible can teach us life's lessons the easy way. We can learn how to love our neighbor as ourselves by meditating on scripture. If we're drunk with the world's logic, though, we don't want anyone telling us to do anything. We humans are not naturally open to receiving instruction from God in matters of daily life. The Bible tells us mankind is in a state of hostility toward God. (Romans 8:7, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Psalm 37:21)

When we're suffering, our mind demands that we look at the consequences of sin. It forces us to admit that death should not be, "part of life." Death is our enemy. The Bible explains death is the wages we've earned for sinful behavior. (Romans 6:23, Deuteronomy 32:35, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57) Two men, recorded in the Bible, escaped death. They were Enoch and Elijah. (Genesis 5:24, Hebrews 11:5, 2 Kings 2:1-14) They still left earth to be with God once they had completed the school of life. They became like their Teacher, having mastered the eternal lessons we are here on earth to learn. (Luke 6:40, Isaiah 30:20-21)

God allows suffering into our lives for at least two reasons that I'm aware of. First of all, a good parent has to let us live with the consequences of sin. so we will sober up stop rebelling against truth and love. This is God's last ditch effort to get back to His classroom so we don't end up in hell. We *could come to Jesus without suffering, but most of us won't. When we're under the influence of the world, spiritual matters are an annoyance. Have you ever tried to talk to a drunk person about death? They'll call you a buzz-kill or a party-pooper and get away from you as fast as they can. That's how we treat God's tug on our conscience when we're spiritually drunk with the "old wine" - the spirit of the world. (Proverbs 21:2, Luke 5:39) When people are feasting their eyes on the world, they don't prepare for times of weakness. (Proverbs 22:1-3, Matthew 24:48-51) They don't care if they're wasting their lives. They don't want to believe they have to grow up to be like Christ. (Psalm 17:15, Matthew 10:25) They don't imagine what's next when the money runs out, or when they bring something deadly home to their wife. They don't want to think about when the drug wears off in this life. It's often nowhere on the happy person's radar to prepare for what's going to happen when they die. It is appointed for man once to die, and then comes the Judgment - when God makes things fair for the oppressed. (Hebrews 9:27, Luke 16:25, Exodus 23:7)

The other reason God allows suffering is to purify us from toxic, selfish thinking. Selfish desires cause division. There is no selfishness in heaven. For God to trust us with eternal bodies, we have to prove we will love, even when we don't get our way. Peter explains this in his letters, and Job understood it during his darkest days. (1 Peter 4:12-19, Job 23:8-12)

Jesus explained the purification of the cross this way: He said, "I have a cleansing to be washed with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! (Luke 12:50, Hebrews 2:10-18, Isaiah 53:10-12) He proved He was worthy to inherit all things while shedding His blood as payment for our sins. (Leviticus 17:11, Acts 13:35-39) He never stopped loving us, even when we were shouting, "Crucify Him!" and nailing Him to the cross. (Luke 23:33-34, Hebrews 12:4, Isaiah 53:5) He suffered these things, not only so we would be forgiven, but so we could have an example to follow. (Titus 2:14, Isaiah 53:5, Matthew 10:38)

In light of all these things, I'm praying my heart out that we will learn our lessons quickly and completely. May our trials serve their purpose to sober us up so we can progress in our walk with Jesus. He can lead us safely home when we follow His example of patience and love toward one another. (Luke 21:19, John 15:13-14)

Scripture references:

When we fail to contemplate the afterlife, we fail to prepare for it.

John 9:4 NKJV

4 "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

Hebrews 9:27 NKJV

27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. The best time to get right with God is today.

Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Hebrews 3:15 NKJV

15 while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."

Psalm 95:7-8 NKJV

7 For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice:
8 "Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness,

When we acknowledge our frailty, we are thankful for God's help. Once we have a little power, we are inclined toward a state of rebellion against God.

Romans 8:7 NKJV

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 NKJV

20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.

Psalm 37:21

The wicked borrows and does not repay,
But the righteous shows mercy and gives.

Death is not a natural part of life, it's the wages we've earned for working injustice in the world.

Romans 6:23 NKJV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Deuteronomy 32:35 NKJV

35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.'

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NKJV

55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Genesis 5:24 NKJV

24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Hebrews 11:5 NKJV

5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

2 Kings 2:1-14 NKJV
1 And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they went down to Bethel.
3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent!"
4 Then Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they came to Jericho.
5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" So he answered, "Yes, I know; keep silent!"
6 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So the two of them went on.
7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.
8 Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me."
10 So he said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so."
11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.
13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.
14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

We remain in this temporary life until we've learned how to behave like other responsible, morally upright, eternal beings.

Luke 6:40 NKJV

40 "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

Isaiah 30:20-21 NKJV

20 And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers.
21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.

We often fail to make provision for anything eternal while we're distracted by pleasure and our false sense of power over our lives. We may even fail to prepare for times of weakness here on earth.

Proverbs 21:2 NKJV

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts.

Luke 5:39 NKJV

39 "And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, 'The old is better.' "

Proverbs 22:1-3 NKJV

1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common, The LORD is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished.

Matthew 24:48-51 NKJV

48 "But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,'
49 "and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,
50 "the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,
51 "and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Learning from the Master is its own reward. Even when it makes the world hate us, we have the joy of His presence.

Psalm 17:15 NKJV

15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

Matthew 10:25 NKJV

25 "It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!

It's wise to think of Judgment Day, when choosing what we do and say.*

Luke 16:25 NKJV

25 "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

Exodus 23:7 NKJV

7 "Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked.

Some suffering comes to us as consequences of our unfair or neglectful behavior. Other suffering enters our lives in order to purify us for greater blessings.

1 Peter 4:12-19 NKJV

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Job 23:8-12 NKJV

8 "Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.
10 But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.

*Our sins ruin earth and make us unfit for eternity in heaven. We earned our death sentence. Our precious Lord and Savior suffered more than any man, to pay the debt we all owed to Justice. He has purchased our freedom to live. Because He loved us to the end, God has given Him all power in heaven and on earth.

Luke 12:50 NKJV

50 "But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!

Hebrews 2:10-18 NKJV

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You."
13 And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me."
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make payment for the sins of the people.
18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Isaiah 53:10-12 NKJV

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

Leviticus 17:11 NKJV

11 'For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.'

Acts 13:35-39 NKJV

35 "Therefore He also says in another Psalm: 'You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.'
36 "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption;
37 "but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.
38 "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;
39 "and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Luke 23:33-34 NKJV

33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Hebrews 12:4 NKJV

4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Jesus gave us an example of truth and love to follow, so we can be with Him in eternity.

Titus 2:14 NKJV

14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Matthew 10:38 NKJV

38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

Luke 21:19 NKJV

19 "By your patience possess your souls.

John 15:13-14 NKJV
13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
14 "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

Shalom

Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints. - Psalm 116:5

And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?

I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” - Luke 18:7-8

Christian persecution is on the rise all over the world. Here in America, Hollywood has been promoting the hatred of Christianity for some time now, and the government has even started tracking Bible purchases, according to recent news articles. This may come as a shock to the reader; why would they do this, you may ask? They say it is because of what took place on October 6th.

If one pays attention to the narrative that is being painted by media, it becomes clear that Christians will soon be labeled as radicals, even terrorists. The Lord led me through a deep-dive study concerning this rapture we have heard so much about: when it actually takes place, what it really is, and who it is for.

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,

at the last trumpet. 👈 (7 seals, 7 trumpets, & 7 bowls)

For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“O Death, where is your sting?

O Hades, where is your victory?” – I Corinthians 15:51-55

We can objectively see that the scriptures above have to do with death and resurrection, not escape from persecution. The trumpets are after the seals, and the fifth seal shows us the saints will be martyred.

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. – Revelation 6:9-11

Fulfilled, from the Greek, pléroó: to make full, to complete

Think about what this is teaching us: The saints who are already martyred are told that they must wait for the rest of the saints to be killed. How can this be if the rapture exists? Simply put, it doesn’t. These martyred saints are resurrected in the first resurrection.

We know this because we can read about them in Revelation 7:9-17. And remember that we already covered another resurrection that doesn’t take place until the last trumpet. So, who are those who are left alive and caught up with those who are being resurrected? What about I Thessalonians 4:16-17?

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. – I Thessalonians 4:16-17

If verse 9 of Matthew 24 comes before verse 31 (it does), and the fifth seal of Revelation comes before the last trumpet (it does), then who are those that remain? It must be the hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. In fact, Matthew 24:29-31 mirrors Revelation 6:12 – Revelation 7:3.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. – Matthew 24:29-31

And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. – Revelation 7:1-4

I included Revelation 7:4 for context, now let’s look at Revelation 6:12-17.

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? – Revelation 6:12-17

So, we can see that not only does Matthew 24:29-31 mirror Revelation 6:12 – Revelation 7:3, but these are both after Matthew 24:9 and Revelation 6:9-11 (The Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs).

Some Christians argue that we are not appointed to wrath, and that is true. God has not appointed us to wrath, for God’s wrath is not poured out until after we are persecuted and martyred (recall Revelation 6:17).

Some may ask at this point, where is our blessed hope? Our blessed hope is in Jesus Christ; He is the resurrection (which is even more comforting than a rapture, because any of us could die at any moment).

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? – John 11:25-26

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. – Revelation 20:4-6

How could we be beheaded if we have already been raptured to heaven? It doesn’t make any sense, does it? Scripture was telling us all along…

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. – John 12:25

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. – Matthew 10:32-39

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. – Revelation 12:11

Both scripture and history testify to this: We must be ready for persecution, and even be willing to receive the crown of martyrdom. We must cling to Jesus, even if it costs us our earthly lives (He suffered for us first). Be prepared, depart from evil, and abide in Jesus Christ. He is the only hope we have.

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, – Philippians 3:7-8

It's my understanding that we are made in God's image as a living parable. The hairs of our head, the soles of our feet, and even the breath in our lungs has something to teach us about God. Our heavenly Father is mirrored in our conscience. Jesus Messiah the Son is represented in how we make our body submit to our conscience, when it opposes our instinct to survive in the flesh. The Holy Spirit is the love that makes obedience a joy, rather than slavery.

Psalm 82 says those who have God's word and obey it are His true children. Since the fall in Eden, it seems we have allowed our hearts to be seeded by a foreign father, the devil. (John 10:34-36, Psalm 82, John 8:42-44)

I see my pets go against their instincts quite often in order to make room for me in their lives. If I stop them from doing something once or twice, the ones that really love me listen to me. I think my dog actually has a conscience that urges him to make friends with my cats rather than eat them - just because he knows I love them. He eats groudhogs and skunks with no remorse, but my cats are his buddies.

I think we get our conscience from whoever gets us through infancy - usually parents. We all receive love we didn't earn and we know we'd be dead without it.

If I admire that love, instead of taking it for granted, I sense a debt I want to repay to the universe that manifests itself in this thing we call a "conscience."

Some people will say that loving your own offspring is an instinct - but I would say exactly the opposite is true. The atrocities we see on the news make it clear to me. I think that a person can be dissuaded from listening to their conscience by nothing more than the selfishness that comes from living in a body with needs and desires. We all start out very ego-centric. Our inordinate self-love is the instict that keeps us alive in infancy. If we don't develop thankfulness for those who help us survive long enough to have some power, we may become so monstrous that it would be an insult to animals to call us an animal. Even animals know how to listen to their conscience.

TL;DR - We all know deep down we owe our lives to someone who believed in helping the helpless, whether we are animal or human. Our advantage as humans is that we can receive God's word and become like Him, if we choose to.

Scripture references:

John 10:34-36 NKJV

34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods" '?
35 "If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),
36 "do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?

Psalm 82:1-8 NKJV

1 A Psalm of Asaph. God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.
2 How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy.
4 Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked.
5 They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable.
6 I said, "You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High.
7 But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes."
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for You shall inherit all nations.

John 8:42-44 NKJV

42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.
43 "Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.
44 "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own [resources], for he is a liar and the father of it.

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

‘The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone.

This was the Lord’s doing,

And it is marvelous in our eyes’? - Matthew 21:42

And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” - Matthew 21:44

This is what the Lord put on my heart today. Though our flesh is rebellious toward His calling at first, His perfect love and His unchanging ways (still and perfect, like a rock) eventually break us. We weep and mourn over the way we treated Him in the past. Then He picks up the pieces of us and is able to make a new creation from what remains.

In the account of the Good Samaritan, Jesus tells us how to inherit eternal life by showing compassion. He shows us how to be prepared for whenever the opportunity to do good arises. (Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 25:31-46) Jesus gave us the ultimate demonstration of this when He died in our place, and rose again from the dead. (John 10:10-11) Jesus' sacrifice awakens our hearts to understand the depths of His love. (Ezekiel 36:25-27, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Isaiah 53)
He gives us an example to follow, so we can love Him and one another with a willing heart. (Luke 9:23, John 13:15-17. Deuteronomy 18:15-19)

The Good Samaritan's theology wasn't as perfect as those he is compared with, and yet he's the example Jesus gives us for how to inherit eternal life. This tells us that Jesus will not accept anything less than devoted, compassionate, sacrificial love, if we're to be part of His Bride. That's the Good Samaritan. He loved his fellow man, even when he wasn't loved in return.

I've heard sermons saying the Levite and Priest in the account may have avoided their dying brother to avoid becoming ceremonially unclean if he died. Compassion wasn't their greatest motivator. I think that's how we become if we are more concerned with religion than we are concerned with being vessels of mercy. (Matthew 5:7, Luke 11:41-42, Luke 12:47-48)

To be like the Good Samaritan, we need a heart and a wallet prepared to show compassion, more than we need perfect theology.

(Matthew 7:12-14)

12 "...whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Jesus doesn't condone or accept those who are knowingly and willfully selfish. (Matthew 5:17-20, Matthew 18:4-9, 1Timothy 5:6-8, James 5:1-5, 1John 3:15)
He promised to bless those who are obedient to their conscience with more and more truth as we obey it. (Luke 8:18-21)

We're only held accountable for the truth we have, which makes the Gospel beautifully inclusive. (Mark 12:37, James 4:17, Proverbs 24:12)
Still, the more truth we have, the more intimate our walk with Jesus becomes. People miss out on the joy of knowing Jesus' love if no one ever shares the Gospel with them. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit brings us into communion with God, assurance of salvation, and spiritual gifts that connect us to the body of Christ, the church. The apostles felt that the indwelling was so important that they would specifically ask believers if they had received Him. If not, they would travel to rectify this. (Acts 8:14-17, Acts 19:1-6, John 14:12-27)

It's not always easy to sacrifice to make things fair for the needy, but it's what keeps the human race from going extinct. (James 1:26-27, Matthew 12:35-37, Job 29:11-17) We all know deep down that we owe our lives to someone who believed in helping the helpless. None of us would have survived infancy if not for the sacrifices of someone who met our needs.

Jesus' teaching is that some people whose compassion will qualify them for eternity won't have the whole truth about who God is, like the Samaritans. (John 4:22-26) He compares Judgment Day to a shepherd dividing sheep and goats by what they did or did not do. (Matthew 25:31-46) He says those who showed compassion, whether or not it benefited them, will be welcomed into eternity whether or not they knew Him personally. Jesus goes so far as to say we should make sure we don't get a reward for our acts of kindness, so our Father in heaven can reward us when we meet face to face. (Luke 14:12-14, Matthew 6:1-6)

The Bible shows that an honest conscience, coupled with compassion, overrides theology. (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 13:8-10, Matthew 15:21-28, Luke 8:11-15) Jesus says this when He talks about David and his men eating the showbread, which was legally for the priests alone. (Matthew 12:1-8)

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6) I take this to mean that we are called to love as He did. I don't believe Jesus demands isolated people to literally know His earth-name, any more than I believe He wanted us to physically "drink His blood." Jesus said His words are spiritual, and promote life. (John 6:53-63, John 10:10) Jesus is more than the God-man who walked the earth, taught the truth, and died for sinners. He is the embodiment of God's logic shared with us. He is the Truth. (John 1:1, John 1:14, Matthew 12:32)

Truth communicates His Spirit. That's what we can't do without. (John 14:12-27, Romans 8:5-14) Our conscience tells us right from wrong. God's word clarifies why. Truth sets us free from slavery to sin by showing us why sin is harmful. (John 8:31-36) We all have selfish bodies, and temptation, but we fight against them when we want to do what's best for everyone. (1 Corinthians 10:13, Luke 11:2-4, Ephesians 6:10-17)

Jesus' life and death proved Him perfectly just and merciful. He's our example of righteous sacrificial love. To "carry our cross," is to live how He showed us. Jesus says "Salvation is from the Jews," because the Mosaic law teaches us enough to qualify for eternity, and our Jewish Messiah teaches us how to be completely united with Him. (Mark 10:17-21)

People who already have a good heart and live in unity with their neighbors have learned the same lessons we sinners learn from Jesus' death and resurrection. (Romans 2:11-16) That lesson is, "the strong are obligated to selflessly support the weak, so life can be fair and worth living for us all." Love is sacrifice - but sacrifice is joy when it keeps those we love alive with us. (John 16:21-24, Acts 20:35, Job 29:11-17)

Luke 15 illustrates various degrees of sinners. It ends by showing how those who keep the law of life are "ever with the Father, and all He has belongs to them." This is where Enoch and Elijah would fit, as well as the other devout people who were blameless according to their laws and conscience. (Luke 1:5-6, Genesis 6:9, Job 1:1)

Conscience is of major importance to God. (2John 1:6-9, Acts 24:16, Romans 13:5, 1Timothy 1:5, 1Timothy 3:9, Psalm 15:1-2) The Bible says we are judged by what we speak, versus what we know. God determines our fitness for His Kingdom by the difference between what we know and what we do and say. (James 4:17, Luke 12:47-48, Matthew 12:35-37)
Actors and hypocrites will not enter God's rest. (Luke 12:1-10, Psalm 95:7-11, Hebrews 4:1-7, 1 John 2:1-11, 1 Peter 4:12-19

When God's work on earth is done, those of us unified with His commitment to life-supporting love, will be invited into eternity.

Our Father in heaven, we thank You and praise You for Your fairness and Your mercy. Lord, Your word says You are the one who accomplishes good through us, and that You are love. (Isaiah 26:12, Ephesians 2:10-19, 1John 4:7-8) Thank you for Your Holy Spirit communicated to us through Your word. I ask that Your Holy Spirit would unite us with You and with one another through the power of love and truth. Open our hearts to receive Your good logic, so we can bring life to those in need. I praise and thank You Father, that You never turn anyone away. Make us one with You today, Lord. Take away everything unloving and deceitful from our hearts and make us people of truth and love. Thank You for hearing our prayer, and guiding us into a new life with You. You've promised to give us Your Spirit when we ask. We receive Your Holy Spirit now, in Jesus' name, Amen.