Hebrews 12:25-28 NLT
[25] Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! [26] When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” [27] This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.
[28] Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.
Good Morning!
As Christian believers, we serve a God that is unshakable. We as His children then are also unshakable. When Paul wrote to the Hebrews in the above verse, he was using the illustration that when God spoke to Moses, the whole earth shook and the people were frightened. Paul also uses the verse from Haggai (below) to tell that when Jesus returns, not only will earth be shaken, but the heavens as well. God is going to sift out His own and remove those that do not belong to Him. The ones who remain are those that are unshakable.
Haggai 2:6 NLT
[6] “For this is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land.
Over and over in the scriptures, the return of Jesus is prophesied. There is going to be a day when He returns. There is going to be a day that many will cry out, “Lord Lord” but He will say, “away from Me for I never knew you.”
Matthew 7:21-23 NLT
[21] “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. [22] On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ [23] But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
We need to live each day as if we knew that today is the day that Jesus will return because we do not know when the day is coming. We cannot put off to tomorrow because we are not guaranteed tomorrow. We should look at each day as an opportunity to serve God to the best of our ability.
James 4:14 NLT
[14] How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog-it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
Paul says it best in 1 Corinthians — that we should run the race with purpose in every step…
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT
[24] Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! [25] All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. [26] So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. [27] I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
When we think about our future, of course it is great to plan ahead, to dream of what your life will become, to think about your career, your family, growing old, having children and grandchildren. Those are all natural things that we long for in this world and there is nothing wrong with any of it. But we also need to plan for our long term — eternity. There, we will live out forever as unshakable members of God’s family. This life is an opportunity for us to run the race with purpose in every step, giving our all to The Lord. We all have a purpose that God has planned for us in this life. He is not willing that any should perish, but wants all of His people to have eternal life. He waits patiently with long-suffering toward us so that all should come to repentance. Let us each do our part to influence those around us that they too should come to repentance. Let us all be bold in our faith and God will do the rest as He works in and through us.
2 Peter 3:8-9 NKJV
[8] But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9] The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Ephesians 6:19 NKJV
[19] and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
I love you and am praying for you today!
Dad