August 29th 2021
Heaven Is An Award Not A Reward! It Is Always Free!
James 2:19 (NIV)
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
Having faith in this world seems to become more difficult, as we are bombarded with time consuming gadgets that take us into a virtual world that then seems to be the real world. Young people are swept away from reality even before they can speak. Many young children spend most of their waking time sitting in front of a television or some other device they can watch and learn from. It seems certain that this environment leads to better educated young children, but it does also lead to a thinking process that everything is easy to obtain by just pushing a button. In past generations it required more personal attention by the parents to fill this entertainment void. We all desire this personal involvement, and without it more young people become less able to reciprocate any of these needed personal feelings for other people. Therefore, we are losing respect for the needs of others, and no respect is built for the property of others. So, stealing something is not a problem, unless you are caught in the act!
Many people seem to think that the need to work in some form, for the stuff we need, or want, in this life is some form of a curse. As Christians we know or believe that we are living in a cursed world because of sinful attitudes we all possess, through the sinful nature inherited by us from that first sin committed by Adam. And while this is relatively true, it is important to understand that assignment of work was given by God to Adam—before the curse for sinning was enacted! The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15). As you can see God assigned Adam a job to do, before Adam had failed by sinning. It is true that the curse did increase the effort for future generations to accomplish the work they would have after the curse. Remember, the Garden of Eden was akin to heaven, which we all look forward to when we leave this life, and many of us expect it to be free from us doing any work. However, the writer of Revelation tells us that in heaven we will be servants! No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. (Revelation 22:3)
James wrote about how just being born into this cursed world is a blessing and a gift from God. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. (James 1:17-18). God “chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” Yes, it is true mankind was created by God to “be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” Believe God on this, do not believe the evolutionists who preach that we are just another animal, we just evolved to become the top of the food chain. Jesus tells us we were created as the top of the food chain, and not only that, in this cursed world we were created in His image and likeness, thus possessing an immortal soul, which is required to obtain heaven when we leave this lifetime.
In the book of Revelation Jesus tells us that if we repent and turn from this worldly lifestyle, that He will entice us to come and join Him in heaven. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:19-20). Are you listening for Jesus voice as He calls out to you and knocks on the door of your heart? Jesus tells us, “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Notice that Jesus tells us that everyone is acceptable but “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” So, anyone can come, just as you are, but Jesus loves you too much to not work on improving you through His discipline. Are you working on becoming more Christ-like every day?
Having faith in the promises of God and by receiving the free gift of your salvation should cause you to take action to help all those not yet saved to come to a knowledge of Jesus. James wrote about how faith should propel us into action where some action is needed. In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. (James 2:17-18). Does your faith cause you to desire to help others who need help? The most important thing you can do to help someone is to teach them about Jesus and His love for them. Sometimes people are first looking for help in surviving this life. They are more apt to listen if you are willing to first help them survive this lifetime.
Paul wrote to Timothy about preaching or teaching others about Jesus, and their need of Him for their salvation. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2Timothy 2:8-10). Do you believe it, that each of us contains an immortal soul which when we die will spend eternity either in heaven or hell? Jesus believed it and told people about it when He walked this earth as a member of mankind. This lifetime gives each member of mankind a chance to gain heaven as an award for believing that Jesus Christ is who He said He is, The Son of the living God! If you believe that, can you tell someone, so they can choose salvation?
Heaven is an award not a reward! It is always Free!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
James 2:19 (NIV)
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
Having faith in this world seems to become more difficult, as we are bombarded with time consuming gadgets that take us into a virtual world that then seems to be the real world. Young people are swept away from reality even before they can speak. Many young children spend most of their waking time sitting in front of a television or some other device they can watch and learn from. It seems certain that this environment leads to better educated young children, but it does also lead to a thinking process that everything is easy to obtain by just pushing a button. In past generations it required more personal attention by the parents to fill this entertainment void. We all desire this personal involvement, and without it more young people become less able to reciprocate any of these needed personal feelings for other people. Therefore, we are losing respect for the needs of others, and no respect is built for the property of others. So, stealing something is not a problem, unless you are caught in the act!
Many people seem to think that the need to work in some form, for the stuff we need, or want, in this life is some form of a curse. As Christians we know or believe that we are living in a cursed world because of sinful attitudes we all possess, through the sinful nature inherited by us from that first sin committed by Adam. And while this is relatively true, it is important to understand that assignment of work was given by God to Adam—before the curse for sinning was enacted! The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15). As you can see God assigned Adam a job to do, before Adam had failed by sinning. It is true that the curse did increase the effort for future generations to accomplish the work they would have after the curse. Remember, the Garden of Eden was akin to heaven, which we all look forward to when we leave this life, and many of us expect it to be free from us doing any work. However, the writer of Revelation tells us that in heaven we will be servants! No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. (Revelation 22:3)
James wrote about how just being born into this cursed world is a blessing and a gift from God. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. (James 1:17-18). God “chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” Yes, it is true mankind was created by God to “be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” Believe God on this, do not believe the evolutionists who preach that we are just another animal, we just evolved to become the top of the food chain. Jesus tells us we were created as the top of the food chain, and not only that, in this cursed world we were created in His image and likeness, thus possessing an immortal soul, which is required to obtain heaven when we leave this lifetime.
In the book of Revelation Jesus tells us that if we repent and turn from this worldly lifestyle, that He will entice us to come and join Him in heaven. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:19-20). Are you listening for Jesus voice as He calls out to you and knocks on the door of your heart? Jesus tells us, “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Notice that Jesus tells us that everyone is acceptable but “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” So, anyone can come, just as you are, but Jesus loves you too much to not work on improving you through His discipline. Are you working on becoming more Christ-like every day?
Having faith in the promises of God and by receiving the free gift of your salvation should cause you to take action to help all those not yet saved to come to a knowledge of Jesus. James wrote about how faith should propel us into action where some action is needed. In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. (James 2:17-18). Does your faith cause you to desire to help others who need help? The most important thing you can do to help someone is to teach them about Jesus and His love for them. Sometimes people are first looking for help in surviving this life. They are more apt to listen if you are willing to first help them survive this lifetime.
Paul wrote to Timothy about preaching or teaching others about Jesus, and their need of Him for their salvation. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2Timothy 2:8-10). Do you believe it, that each of us contains an immortal soul which when we die will spend eternity either in heaven or hell? Jesus believed it and told people about it when He walked this earth as a member of mankind. This lifetime gives each member of mankind a chance to gain heaven as an award for believing that Jesus Christ is who He said He is, The Son of the living God! If you believe that, can you tell someone, so they can choose salvation?
Heaven is an award not a reward! It is always Free!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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