We know that we have passed from the death of this world into the eternal life of God’s Kingdom when we find ourselves joyfully obeying His commands.  Those who do not obey have not completely passed from death to life.  We know that no disobedience will remain when we are brought into the presence of God for eternity.  And we also know that when we obey God’s commands we become full of a desire to love.  As we mature this desire becomes a full bloom within us.  And we have confidence before the Most High God through Jesus.

We begin in a tiny shred of belief.  God grants us mercy to grow, according to His wisdom and mercy.  All along the way we encounter items of concern within us that need attention.  And to these encounters I say, strengthen your belief.  Retain the confidence you had at first and do not begin to doubt.

To those who have begun to rest on that shred of faith I say this:

If you do not have this love of God growing within you, you will regret horribly that you did not consider it important to fan it into flame.  I do not say this to frighten you for no reason.  The intent is to wake you from a slumber the music of sin and rebellion in the world has caused in your soul.  On the day you see Him face to face, it will be far too late to cultivate that obedience and love.  What you do here is what will be presented before Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

I urge you to consider these things.  Today is all you have.  Set your face in the direction of obedience and love.  Do not look back as sin and rebellion, so as to go back to it.  This is the day your heart is being tested.  I urge you to do all you can to pass that test.  The gift of God in Jesus is free.  But it is freedom to set you free of sin and disobedience, and rebellion.  It is not freedom to do as you please.   It is freedom to do as God pleases.  Do not allow yourself to be fooled.  He who sows to the flesh will reap destruction.  He who sows to the Holy Spirit of God will reap eternal life.

May God grant you understand, wisdom, mercy, and forgiveness as you contemplate these things.

Image via Wikipedia