Separation

Did you ever just open your Bible and see what is before you, what message might jump out from the arbitrary page?  I did that this morning and landed on Daniel chapter 12.  My first thought was "There is no way that I am writing about Daniel 12."  But I looked at the page and here is what it said:

"At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time.  And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book.  And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.  Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever."

Now, I don't know when these things will occur, but it seems clear that this prophesy, written hundreds of years before Christ, will happen....and there will be a great separation between those who followed the Lord and those who did not.  It reminded me of other passages in the New Testament that teach the same thing.  This passage in 1 Thessalonians 4 tells of some of these end-time things:

"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep (died), lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from the heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words."

This teaching is comforting, but only to those who are "in Jesus."  And there is a great separation to come...as we read here.

There are many other passages that teach about this subject, but we will look at one more only.  Note the end of the Sermon on the Mount at the end of Matthew chapter 7:

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.  Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell.  And great was its fall."

The message is certainly clear.  There are two choices in life.....and only two:   we follow Jesus or we don't.  Lets "do."

Thank you for reading.  Have a great week!

Adoption

Adoption is a beautiful thing.  Yes, I guess we would all like to be born into our family, a full blooded member.  But anyone who has ever adopted a child knows how special this one is.  There is just nothing like it.  The Bible calls us adopted children of God.  Now, how special is that?

Note how Ephesians addresses His beloved Christians:  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will...."

This passage shows that God planned to have His special people before He even created the world.  He didn't specify then which people would accept His adoption, but He planned a great adoption to come.  We know from other passages that God will accept any and all who will come to Him. 

We see a discussion in Galatians 4 about the adoption process that God has provided.  "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons."

It is a wonderful thing to be adopted into the family of God.  Those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ can enjoy this privilege.  And from all that we learn in the Bible, God takes care of His own.  He knows His people (note John 10) and provides eternal life for his people.

The only challenge then for us is to be one of His people...a follower of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Remember that He loves you....more than you or I can possibly know. 

Thanks for reading.  Feel the love.