This world is not getting any better. And I don’t need to recap any of our current events today. But in the meantime, as we see that day approaching, with all that is going on in the world today, what do we have to look forward to?
For sinners and those who do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, the Lake of Fire will be your eternal place to come, when you die. This will be your reward for rejection or indecision to repent from your sins, receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and follow Him as Lord of your life.
For Christians on the other hand, when we get in that place of discouragement, we need to reflect on those things that are ahead. For God did not keep us in suspense, or kept us wondering what’s up ahead. The Holy Bible tells us what to look forward to, in great details.
What will we (Christians) receive when we enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Some people say, “salvation is enough for me. I would be happy just to make it in.” But Jesus Christ taught specifically: to store up treasures in Heaven
Opening Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Jesus Christ is teaching here, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven.” That sound’s a little selfish doesn’t it? He says this to His children, giving us an incentive to keep our eyes focused in the Spirit on Jesus Christ, and on Heaven. Because that’s our human nature.
And if we store up treasures on earth, we will be earth bound and never make it into the kingdom of Heaven, “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
The world believes, that all will make it into Heaven. But Jesus taught, only born again children of God will enter in. In order to be rewarded with the blessings by God, you must be a child of God. How does one become a child of God?
1). You must believe and acknowledge in your heart and confess out of your mouth:
- Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God; born in the flesh, conceived by the Holy Spirit
- Jesus Christ died on the cross to save His people from their sins
- Jesus Christ risen from the dead
- Jesus Christ also ascended back into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God, as the glorified Christ, Lord and King
Romans 10:9-13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.
2). Washed in His blood (justified, forgiven and delivered from all past sins (Romans 5)
3). Born again by the baptism of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8)
4). Have an active relationship with God (Matthew 7:21-23)
5). Live right and obedient to God who bought us at a price with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, as a result of a real relationship with God
1 John 3:1-10 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.
Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in Him: and He cannot sin, because He is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither He that loveth not his brother.
The Holy Bible teaches that in order to be blessed by God, we must live in obedience to Jesus Christ. We live right according to God’s holy and righteous standards, to love and honor Him as God. And with that, He will reward us. That’s according to His promises found in the Holy Bible.
From the Old through the New Testament, there are conditions to every blessing. Meaning you have to do something in order to get something from the Lord. There is no such thing as a free blessing in acceptation to:
- Salvation/Justification (you cannot earn justification, because it’s a free gift of pardoning your past sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. You cannot earn salvation through good works. It is by grace through faith and that not of ourselves: for it is the gift of God)
- Love of God (you cannot earn, neither can it be taken away from you. The reason why I say that, The Holy Bible says in, Romans 8:35-39, “nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. For whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (The love of God is given by the mercy of God)
- Grace (simply means, unmerited favor. Grace is not deserved, but God given. It’s a free gift. In fact Salvation/justification, the Love of God and grace are all given freely by the mercies of God)
These are the only blessings that no one can earn. They are given freely by God, through His complete sovereign mercy. But every other blessings throughout the Holy Bible has a condition attached to them. And it all starts in,
Deuteronomy 28:1-3; 13-14 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth.
And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
(Verses 13-14) And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
I’ve heard several people have proclaimed healing upon this nation and begging God to heal our land. But America will not be healed until we do what He says in,
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Until then, God promises that He cannot be mocked, whatever we sow as a nation, we will also reap, that is our reward now in the meantime. You see, there are conditions to the blessing God has promised. But there is also conditions to the curses as well.
Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
Another example is also found in, Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path
There are so many forks in the road we face in our journey of life with Jesus Christ. And for those who knows Jesus Christ, we need to stop… where we are, and ask the Lord, “What direction should I take?”
So in order for your steps to be directed, you must first “trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding” Stop where you are, ask the Lord, wait patiently upon the Lord and know what the Lord wants for your life before you do anything.
Get His perspective on your situation. There are so many people reacting in haste today. And make so many mistakes, great or small, they will regret for the rest of their life.
Anything major that happens in life. Any major fork in the road, you must stop and take heed to this instruction in order to be blessed or remain blessed, with this written blessing
“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path” He’ll tell you what to do, if you have a close relationship with God. And if you have a trained listening ear, and are sensitive in the Holy Spirit to hear Him.
And for those who don’t know Jesus Christ as Lord, Do not go to psychic friends hotline, because they will lie to you and leads you down paths of regrets and dead ends. Causing you to Circle around to no return.
Humble yourself! turn to Jesus Christ! Give your heart and soul to Him. Know the true Savior of your soul and then trust in Him!
God has given His children another opportunity of blessings, If we apply this word to our walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. If we honor God with a 10th of all our increase off the top. Whether it be a 10th of food, clothing or a 10th of every paycheck in,
Malachi 3:10-11 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the LORD of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and He shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of Hosts.
James 1:21-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that heareth the word of this prophesy and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand
The point of all this is to prove that God’s blessings are not free. It is based upon the applying of the Word of God to our lives and doing what He instructs.
Heaven is the eternal reward above all other rewards to those who kept the faith, didn’t give up, stayed in the Lord and did not compromise righteousness for a sinful life.
Matthew 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
But God does not stop there. There are more blessings to obtain like the Garment of salvation and the robe of righteousness, promised to those who knows Jesus Christ on a personal relationship level. Loves the Lord, kept His commandments and sanctified.
Conditions For Our Eternal Rewards
* Crown of Righteousness
2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight of faith, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.
Those who not only fought the good of faith, by keeping the faith in Jesus Christ, enduring to the end of the race or the church age. But also kept ready and love the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ we’ve been hearing and reading about for 2000 years, will receive this crown of righteousness
* Crown of Life
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.
Revelation 3:7-13 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name.
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of Heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Hope For A Hopeless Generation 