article by site founder, Connie Rice
The grace that God extends to His children is so amazing to me. What is grace? It is “unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification“ or simply undeserved favor, giving us what we have not earned as part of our spiritual journey. Of course, the greatest example of God’s grace is the offer of salvation through the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ. As believers, we experience God’s grace in many ways throughout our lives, but His Word shows much more.
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:1-10
As we study the Bible, we see the Lord’s grace in Him telling us plainly who He is and what He loves, what He hates, the consequences of our choices, what He blesses, what He disciplines, etc. In the latter days we’re living in, I’m especially thankful for the grace He has exhibited to us by prophesying what we should expect to see in the world during the end times and what heaven is like. Students of the Bible should not be surprised by the extent of evil being revealed, seemingly more every day, by rising apostasy, by rising persecution of faithful followers of God (scroll down Religious Freedom page to Websites – Religious Persecution Around the World), by the breakdown of families and governments, or by powerful forces seeking to control everything and everybody. It means time is short and we need to warn as many as possible about the deceptions and lies of this world and upcoming tribulation so they have the opportunity to cry out to the Lord for salvation. We need the Holy Spirit’s help in communicating truth with love and grace. It’s also beneficial for us to ponder heaven because looking forward to that can help us get through tough times while still on earth.
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death’.”
Revelation 21:1-8
There are many prophecies in the Old Testament that have already happened, a number of them about the coming Messiah “who would take away the sins of the world”.
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him’, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who 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.”
1 John 2:1-11
Many may not be aware that the probability of the same person fulfilling even 8 of the prophesies about the Messiah is 1017 or 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (taken from book, “Science Speaks: “ by Peter Stoner), and Jesus fulfilled about 300 prophecies. A more recent Crosswalk.com article on this topic by Dr. Roger Barrier may be helpful: “What Is the Probability of the Reality of Jesus Christ?” Things about heaven were also revealed in the Old Testament book of Isaiah:
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
Isaiah 65:18-19 (continues through verse 25)
And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;
For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people;
The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her,
Nor the voice of crying.“As things progress along the biblical timeline, let’s be about our Father’s business and access the supernatural peace, strength, wisdom, and even joy in the midst of an increasingly confusing and frightening world. Let’s show people the source of our hope and share the light of His grace that He freely offers to those who faithfully follow Him and His ways. Let us give Him the glory He so deserves and ponder heaven, our future home for eternity that Jesus is preparing for us.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way’? Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’.”
John 14:1-6
© Constance Rice 2024
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