MESSAGES
Like a Thief in the Night (1 Thessalonians 5:2)
We all know that God's plans can never be stopped.
Isaiah 14:27 For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?
God created man in His own image and likeness.
God's original plan for man was for him to live in fellowship with the Creator, enjoying the freedom and privilege of talking to God every day, without barriers or hindrances.
Genesis 3:8-9 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
Adam and Eve's disobedience caused man to be expelled from God's presence, bringing with it curses and death.
Genesis 3:17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.
But, as we've already said, God's plans cannot be stopped. God's desire is still to meet with us and talk to us every day through our prayers.
And one day we will return to the original state of creation: we will live by God's side forever.
This return is only possible through Jesus, because, as the Word says:
1 John 3:8 ...The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
Through Jesus' sacrifice, death no longer has authority over us, because the price of sin was paid, and there is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
But many—just like the Jews who crucified Jesus—still reject the sacrifice of the cross and continue living in sin. Therefore, the separation between these people and God remains, and death still has authority over them. They fall short of the glory of God.
1 John 3:6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
There's a popular saying that goes: “All paths lead to God”. But, contrary to what many think, the only truth in this is that we will all, one day, stand before Jesus to be judged by Him—and not the lie that Satan has made many believe, that God accepts just anything.
THE ONLY PATH THAT LEADS US TO FELLOWSHIP AND LIFE WITH GOD IS JESUS, because He is the one who reconciled us with God. Only through Him can we be called children of God.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Make no mistake: Jesus will come for His church—His people—those who have accepted His sacrifice and do not live practicing sin.
THE LAST DAY OF OUR LIVES COULD BE TODAY, whether through our death or through the return of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
Look to the cross and receive Jesus' sacrifice. Repent and ask God for forgiveness for your sins, and He will receive you as a child. God's inheritance will be restored in your life.
DO THIS TODAY AND DON'T TURN BACK, BECAUSE TOMORROW MIGHT BE TOO LATE.
