



| What if Jesus came back now? |
| What do these letters mean? |
| What to say? When someone asks, "what do the letters on your shirt stand for," you ask them, "what if Jesus came back now." To those who don't follow Jesus (more than likely you'll know based on their response to the question) another question is asked, "would you be left standing here with this shirt"? Then to the believer ( again, more than likely you'll know based on their response to the question whether on not they follow Jesus) a scripture and question is presented: I John 2:28 "And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." Is there anything in your life, that if Jesus came back right now, that you would be ashamed of? This verse tells us to abide in Him. I John 4:16 states, "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who loves, abides in God and God in Him." That word abide means to be in a state that begins and continues. Jesus said in Matthew 24:12 "And because lawlessness will abound the love of many will grow cold." The laws of thermodynamics teaches us that all the energy in the world is going from bad to worse. Jesus said that the love of many will be progressing the same way; from hot to cold. Matthew 6:23 "If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness"? If you think that you are in the light and your love is cold, you are in a great darkness. I John 2:10-11 " he who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But whoever hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes! When we think of something blinding someone's eyes we think of things like bright light and objects. However, this verse tells us that if we have darkness in our our hearts and we don't expose it through confession and repentance, that we WILL become BLIND! IT WILL HAPPEN! THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO DEAL WITH IT! REPENT OR BECOME BLIND! We see this happening in cave life, such as the crabs, bats, and salamanders. They have stayed in the caves darkness so long that they've become blind. Right now, even as you read this, your walking to the cave's exit, follow through all the way, get right with your brothers and sisters and neighbors, and you will get right with God, for you cannot love God without loving your neighbor as well.I (John 5:20-21) Offense is like poison; you don't drink it expecting it to hurt someone else. Then you ask, is there bitterness, anger, offense, depression, unforgiveness, or resentment in your heart? And resentment is tricky. I Corinthians 13:5 "love keeps no record of wrong," this means when you have forgiven someone you don't hold any grudges as if they take your forgiveness for granted. Forgiveness means you release the other person from what they owe you. This means they don't have to apologize, they can curse you, and hit you, or just take it lightly as if they really did nothing wrong. You forgive and forget what they did. Just be led by God's Spirit when you speak and pray. And we know when we are led if we're led by compassion. Now go destroy the works of darkness as Jesus did. Be strong and brave. Let all that you do be done with love. Amen. |
