MY FRIENDS, NOW ARE WE IN A POSITION TO REASON WITH GOD?

Feb. 7, 2017

MY FRIENDS, NOW ARE WE IN A POSITION TO REASON WITH GOD?

“We are God’s children NOW, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as he is.” 1 John 3:2 (ESV) The adverb NOW or “at our present time or moment” in the context of our relationship with Christ speaks to our imperfect character NOW. And any hope of beholding Him beyond NOW must become an incentive not to “pass through this probationary period from birth to death as if we had no definite goals “for which to live, and no standard to reach.”

Standard, being those moral and ethical habits we live and stand by through God’s Word and Spirt. Isaiah 1:18, (KJV) states “Come NOW, let’s reason together, saith the Lord” which tells us a personal God sends out a gracious “invitation” to reason with the great I Am. His love, grace, and mercy gives us the opportunity to come before the Creator of all the universe and state our case.

But, in our finite minds, if we think we have a defense for not submitting completely to the will of God, it is to “our advantage” that we first “forsake all others” as we allow His word and Spirit to Change us into the image of His only Begotten Son who He personally gave to mankind so that “whoever believe in Him shall not parish, but receive life-eternal”

Consistent with this, is the fact that God’s only begotten Son “our Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous one” stands with outstretched arms with the marks of the nails that were driven in His hands as He tells the Father for them I died. And though their sins were as scarlet, they are NOW white as snow; though they were once red like crimson, they are NOW as wool.”

And, “[in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. [Now] we know in part [just in fragments], but then we will know fully, just as we have been fully known [by God].” And NOW there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for us]…..1 Cor. 13:11-13 (AMP)

NOW, look deep within self and see how far we are from the purity and glory of God. And ask, if Christ came today would “we hide ourselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains” while crying out, fall on me, NOW, “hide me from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath [has] come;” [and I am not ready. My friends,] “who shall be able to stand”? Rev 6:15-17 (KJV)

And who, when Christ appears “shall be like him because we shall see him as he is” in all of His glory, holiness and purity? NOW, let’s reason with God by falling on our knees, crying out in repentance, “not my will, but thou will be done.” Then, when Christ enter those clouds He can NOW say to His faithful, “well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: [NOW] enter into the joy of thy lord.” Matt 25:23 (KJV)