Someone once asked me why she should be like Jesus now since she would become like Him when she got to heaven
(I john 3:1-3) Great question! Especially when it's easier to just be yourself.
Actually, there are several reasons why becoming like Him now is important, but one is near the top. When we see and stand before Him, we will give an account as to whether or not we lived in ways that were consistent with His will. Or, as Paul put it, whether or not we have build on Him as our foundations with "gold, silver, precious stones, wood , hay, Or straw." (I Cor.3:12-13).
All that we do to advance His kingdom things like contribute to the strength of His church, serve the poor and needy, and promote righteousness and justice as He did is like building with essential materials that will survive the fire of His judgement.
On the contrary, building with things that reflect our fallen ways, and living to advance ourselves and our earthly desires are commodities that will turn into a pile of ashes before the consuming fire of His glory.
I don't know about you, but I'd rather love Jesus enough to live like Him now, for the thought of standing before Him in a heap of ashes is an unthinkable alternative.
AWESOME WORD, Angel, you are so right! Thanks for sharing this, becasue there are many so-called Christian believers who are ash-heap christians in many things and ways... they love living in spiritual retardation, becasue it means they have to WORK hard to be like Jesus, and they think its enough just to say they believe in Him, and that's all they have to do. Paul exhorts us to PUT AWAY the old nature, and put on the new, and that takes a lot of hard work.. its like cleaning out your closet and hating to get rid of clothes you know you can't any long wear, but you have fond memories of when YOU USETO could wear an outfit... but its much easier to hold on to it and put it back in the closet until the next closet cleaning, and MAYBE, JUST MAYBE in a year or two you MIGHT throw it out or be able to wear it... :laugh:
We as Christian ought to start now trying our very best to reach for the higher call that is found in Christ Jesus, waiting until you dies is too late, even of you do believe in Jesus Christ, as Jesus says many will be turned away at the door, and He will say I never knew you...
Ephesians 4:28: "Work so that you:rolleyes: may have something to share with those in need!"
James 4:3: �When you ask you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures:devil:!"
In the old covenant God's commandments were only preached to Jews but in the New Covenant Jesus commands us to preach to every nation in the world teaching them to obey *EVERYTHING* He commanded and everything would also include all of the approximately 400 NT commandments also taught in Acts to Revelation {See 2 Timothy 3-16 to 4:2.}
Jesus also eliminated the earthly rewards for faithful service and commanded us to sell our possessions and give to the poor and get *TREASURES IN HEAVEN* and **THEN** come follow Him.
Luke 12:33,34: Jesus says, �Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted....For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.�:angel:
Matthew 20:20-24: �All these {Commandments} I have kept, the young man said. �What do I still lack?� Jesus answered, �If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. **THEN** come, follow Me.� When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus says, �It is hard for a rich man to enter the *KINGDOM OF HEAVEN*. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the *KINGDOM OF GOD*.�
Luke 6:20: Jesus says �Blessed are you who are *POOR*, for *YOURS* is the *KINGDOM OF GOD*.�:applause:
2 Corinthians 6:4-10: As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance, in troubles, hardships and distresses, in beatings, imprisonments; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love, in truthful speech and in the power of God; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; dying, and yet we live on; beaten and yet not killed; *POOR*, yet making many rich; *HAVING NOTHING*; and yet possessing everything.�:angel:
I Timothy 6:5-10: There are men of corrupt mind:devil:, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness:devil: is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain....If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with m:devil:any griefs.�
Unfortunately there are many who teach the Satanic Prosperity Gospel :devil:such as Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, ET and PJ who teach the exact opposite of what Jesus commanded in His New Covenant.
John 12:48: Jesus says, "There is a Judge for the one who does not accept My Words; that very Word which I spoke will condemn him at the Last Day."
I John 2:3-5: " We know that we have come to know Him {Jesus} *IF* we obey His commands. The man who says, "I know Him," but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His Word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him!!":applause::angel::peace:
The early saints followed the commands of Jesus and the NT Covenant:
Acts 2:44,45: "*ALL* the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need." Acts 4:32: "*ALL* the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.":angel:
