Eternal Serenity

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

It is hard to describe the feeling to have the first thought in your head when you awake a passage of scripture; my thoughts this morning seem to be flooding, and I hope to share with you what is on my heart clearly. Your life, this one and the one after it, is lost without Jesus. Your life may seem here to be abundantly blessed with material possessions and wealth, but your soul will be destroyed eternally for your idol worship here of the god of money. There was a meme on social media this week, “The devil doesn’t come to you with his ugly red face and scary horns. He comes to you disguised as everything you ever wanted.” Satan is the father of lies, deception is his greatest tool, and we all fall for it. Jesus came down harshly on the religious leaders of the day; those who were using religion for profit, and living in self-righteousness. John 8:44 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. Satan is seemingly peaking in society around us today. The church has lost it’s spine for standing for truth, and we have watered down the Gospel to simply asking the lost to accept Jesus into their hearts; we are painting Jesus as a needy wanna be, instead of the righteous Judge that will return. He demands discipleship that is fruit producing, not just saying prayers and signing cards and returning to sin.

One of the most disturbing tweets I have seen, that was quickly removed, was from Creflo Dollar. “Jesus bled and died for us so that we can lay claim to the blessing of financial prosperity. #ProsperityInChrist #Wealthyliving #Abudantlife” That is straight from Hell through one of Satan’s messengers, and repentance is the only hope for him before he answers for that brutal assault on scripture. Jesus is promising a life of liberty, and an eternal life of prosperity in heaven with him, in a place free from sin. Jesus has come that they may have life; eternal life, not death, but eternal life to those who will repent and believe. John 10:28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. If God is tugging at your heart, respond by turning from your sins (repentance) and believing in the Gospel that Jesus came and died for you, arose from the dead, conquering death, and will return to call all those who do believe into heaven eternally with him.

An abundant life here is a life that lives for the next. A life of liberty (freedom) as the Apostle Paul describes in his epistles. It is a life that has grasped a glimpse of the sovereignty of God, understanding that he is in control of this world and your life, and you rest in that understanding. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. That peace that John speaks of is the Holy Spirit of God given to each believer, living inside of you, you are walking and living your life with him. The peace of him grants you the eternal serenity of facing all of Satan’s attacks with the strength of God; knowing you are fighting a defeated enemy; eternally defeated by Jesus.