The Cross 12-29-16

The Cross is offensive

The cross is offensive because it confronts us. It confronts the sin in our heart.
Once we understand that, we know we have to leave that sin lifestyle.
But, folks just don't want to change....
Sin is fun- lust, idolship, greed, drugs, drink, wrath, sex, lies, games.

- Jesus - 
Just saying his name makes people uncomfortable because in our hearts we know Him and what He requires of us. And we are not all ready to let go of ourselves, acknowledge this life belongs not to us but to Him who created us for His purpose.
We want control. But we never had it to begin with. We never will have it. Whether we like it or not - we will all come to understand this fact at some point.
Original Sin separated us from God Almighty and the Savior allows us the opportunity to live in communion with God for eternity. God sacrificed His only Son on a cross bearing the weight and sin of the world. So that if we trust in and follow Him we can live. 
Simple.
Eternity is a long time. It's not worth gambling with what we don't understand.

We mean well... But we are not good. Only God is good. Jesus covers our sin with His blood so that when we meet God he doesn't see it at all. That process is called sanctification. On earth that looks like the lessons we learn, the challenges we face, the conditioning we go through in our lives. And the answer to the call of choosing obedience.
If you think your good... Answer these questions:
Have you ever lied? taken anything that doesn't belong to you? Blasphemed? Fornicated, idolized someone or something?
If you answered yes, then you have broken just five of Gods laws or commandments. Based on Gods standard of perfection where will you end up on judgement day?
Heaven or Hell?
The bible states that all liars, thieves, fornicators and idolaters go to Hell.
We have all fallen short. No one is perfect in Gods eyes. The only one that can cover our sins is Jesus. We will be cloaked in righteousness for he was the only righteous one. He lived a perfect life without sin.
God sent His son Jesus to pay the price for us but only for those who put their faith and trust in Him. Those who repent (turn from) their sins.
Sin is a disease and the therapy is Christ.
It's not worth gambling with eternity.

It's all about Jesus!

Everyone who is not in Jesus is in bondage to this world and the sin in their hearts.  Bondage..., In the spirit world may look like chained lost souls marching into the dark abyss of the underworld. Basically to hell. Which is where unrepented souls go and may never return.  Many don't believe such a place exists- however they are not considering that we have a "just" God who punishes sinners. Imagine a judge and jury allowing all criminals to go without any form of punishment or retribution. How "just" would our God be to allow people like Hitler to live without punishment.
God IS Just. That means there is justice coming to this World when He returns. 
Since we have established no one is good, and there is a place for all sinners, then we must consider a Saviour. Which we have! This Savior is Yeshua, Jesus Christ of Nazereth who came in the not too distant past to die for our sins so that we may be saved. The gift of salvation is free, but it takes a decision and discipline.

The only way to know the truth is to seek it and answer the calling God has placed on our heart. Stop running and face  the reality that this life is so short and this life offers the only opportunity we will ever have to get right with God.

In conclusion, 
We live in a truly dark world with a spirit realm that we cannot understand nor comprehend. Everyday angels battle for our souls and fight on our behalf. Everyday they fight for us and whisper, protect and guide us. We for the large part ignore them. But they are there, devoted to God doing His work regardless. Have you stopped to listen to them? What is that longing in your heart for justice and peace? What about the voice that tells you right from wrong? God is here, for now, and wants a relationship with you. For every single question you have, there is an answer.

God will reveal himself to ALL of those who seek His face.

This is serious. Eternity is everlasting. So is your Soul.

Romans 5:12 ESV / 95 

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 7 

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Matthew 10:28 ESV / 6 

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Proverbs 21:15 ESV / 404 

When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.

Matthew 25:46 ESV / 27

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Isaiah 30:18 ESV / 7 

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

Acts 3:19-21 ESV / 16 

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

Luke 18:19 ESV / 14 

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 120 

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV / 213 

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.