“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
2 Corinthians 6:2
Too Late! .
You‘re running through the airport, racing to catch your connecting flight; only to find that the gate is closed and you can see the aircraft rolling back. Too late! a sinking feeling of desperation, for which there is no remedy in sight.
Be in time — Life is like that. Most everyone who believes there is SOMETHING after death, feels it is up to them to live according to the standards God has set in place, and thus secure a place in paradise. But a basic belief in God doesn’t give us the right to set the conditions for our acceptance into heaven.That is up to God.
Who can measure how much time we have before death intervenes? And at that point the opportunity to accept God’s gracious offer is over. It is a matter of urgency. Thankfully, God has given us a book called THE HOLY BIBLE which imparts His thoughts about these things. Although it is a thick book, the message boils down to a few key principles.
From beginning to end it is about God’s Son, Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament there are dozens of prophecies about Him, and then the New Testament unfolds the story of His birth, death, resurrection, His glories and His message of invitation. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15)
Lorne for Vision 2020 in 2024 (PART 1)
N.J.Hiebert — # 9625
“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
The Old Testament shows how impossible it is for any person to measure up to God’s standard. The New Testament makes clear the one and only way to be ready for heaven; through relying on and trusting in the work of Christ at Calvary when His blood was shed to pay for the sins of all who would believe. “But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
The dividing line between Old and New Testaments is remarkable. Everything before is about death and judgment, everything after is about the love and grace of God as expressed in His Son. The cross of Christ is the great dividing line. “As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:27-28).
We could go on listing more of the basic principles imparted in the Bible, but these are sufficient for now. Jesus has given us a direct, personal message of invitation: “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). Come believing, while there is still time. Don’t put off the decision until it’s Too Late. Lorne for Vision 2020 in 2024 (PART 2)
N.J.Hiebert—9626
“One thing have I desired . . . to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4)
Jesus! Thou art enough the mind and heart to fill;
Thy patient life — to calm the soul, Thy love — its fear dispel.
O fix our earnest gaze so wholly, Lord, on Thee,
That, with Thy beauty occupied, we elsewhere none may see.
The perfection of the Christian life is to lose sight of oneself completely and to make everything of Christ.
The sign of a good state of soul is enjoyment of the presence of Christ. Everything that takes your eye off Christ is a snare of the devil.
The one object of the Christian life is to learn more of Himself, and Satan cannot find entrance into a heart that is full of Christ.
We are not to rejoice so much in the deliverances when they come as in the One who delivers us.
The deeper the sense of the state from which we have been delivered the more absorbingly intense our affection for the Deliverer.
Footprints for Pilgrims - Edward Dennett
N.J.Hiebert — 9627
"(Paul) said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives."
(Acts 27:10)
It is easy to imagine how unpopular this warning of the Apostle Paul was to those on Julius' ship who did not find Fair Havens an appealing place. Is that how you react when dad or mom, or other Christians lovingly seek to warn you about your life and ways? Remember that the truth of God is for your safety and protection, though it will not always sound like those good words and fair speeches which deceive the ears of the simple. (Romans 16:18). The world looks more inviting, but how much better to be safe than sorry! (D.N. - The Journey of Life)
N.J.Hiebert — 9628
"That in all things He might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18)
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
What proportion of your moments do you think enough for Jesus? How many for the spirit of praise, and how many for the spirit of heaviness? Be explicit about it, and come to an understanding. If He is not to have all, then how much? Calculate, balance, and apportion. You will not be able to do this in heaven - you know it will be all praise there; but you are free to half your service of praise here, or to make the proportion what you will.
Yet - He made you for His glory.
Yet - He chose you that you should be to the praise of His glory.
Yet - He loves you every moment, waters you every moment, watches you un-slumberingly, cares for you unceasingly.
Yet - He died for you!
Shall you or I remember all this love, and hesitate to give all our moments up to Him? Let us entrust Him with them, and ask Him to keep them all, every single one, for His own beloved self, and fill them all with His praise, and let them all be to His praise! (Francis Ridley Havergal- Kept for the Master's Use)
N.J.Hiebert — 9629
"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." (Malachi 3:3)
Years ago a few ladies who met together in Dublin to study the Scriptures came, in their reading, to the third chapter of Malachi. They were struck with the expression in verse 3: "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
One of the ladies promised to call on a silversmith to get any information which she could on the subject. She went, accordingly, and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know from him the process of refining sliver, which he fully described to her. "But, sir," said she, "do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh yes, madam." replied the silversmith, "I must sit, with my eyes steadily fixed on the crucible, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree the silver is sure to be injured."
At once she saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression: "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Christ sees it needful to put His children into the furnace, but He is seated by the side of it; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying; and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them.
Their trials do not come at random; the very hairs of their heads are all numbered. As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had still further to mention that he only knew when the process of purifying was complete, by seeing his own image reflected in the silver.
George Henderson - Heaven's Cure for Earth's Care
N.J.Hiebert — 9630
"I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten." (Joel 2:25)
How many years we are not told; only this: "I will restore the years." Human lives are often laid bare - barren patches produced by our own failures; a wilderness stretching across our life. But what comfort in these words: "I will RESTORE the years that the locust hath eaten."
Have you been brooding over some sorrow? Has it darkened your life as a swarm of locusts might darken the sun at midday? And have you cried out in your anguish "The sun will never shine again?" But read the word He has promised: "I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten."
Turn to Him, to the One whom you may have been inclined to forget when you lived in the larger house. He is waiting; and if he does not see fit to give you back the earthly possession once so highly prized by you, remember this: in a higher and better way He will restore those years.
The years that the locust hath eaten sometimes take another form: years spent away from God in pursuit of worldly pleasure and self-gratification! How many have tried this! No wonder the fields are bare! Can God restore these years? Did He not restore the years for Naomi?
GOD CAN! The blue water-lily abounds in several of the canals in Alexandria, Egypt, which at certain seasons become dry; and the beds of these canals, which quickly become burnt as hard as bricks by the action of the sun, are then used as carriage roads. When, however, the water is admitted again, the lily resumes its growth with redoubled vigour and splendour. (Springs in the Valley)
N.J.Hiebert — 9631
"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
(2 Corinthians 4:3,4)
Men did not ignore or refuse God's Word because the facts of life deny HIM or contradict His existence. They deny Him because they are the "enemies in mind by wicked works" (Colossians 1:21). They want a life free from divine restraint.
The question has been asked, "Why are so many educated people unbelievers?" The answer is: "For the same reason that so many uneducated people are unbelievers.
At the cross of Calvary the heart of man was fully exposed, and it has never changed. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ in all its horror was the act of the human heart. All were represented - the whole world - around the cross (compare Acts 4:26, 27). The cross presented man's fullest hatred, and there this was met by God's fullest love.
Why then will men not look at the crucified One and live? Why do they utter the words of the fool, "No God"? Because they are the captives of Satan, the "god" and "prince" of this world (compare 2 Corinthians 4:3,4; John 12:31).
Jim Kilcup. - Christian Truth - Vol. 23 - August 1970)
N.J.Hiebert — 9632
“In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving . . .” (Philippians 4:6)
Happy moments - Praise God
Difficult moments - Seek God
Quiet moments - Worship God
Painful moments - Trust God
Every moment - Thank God
(From “Singing-pilgrim” by Dick Gorgas, 30/July2003)
N.J.Hiebert # 9633
"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ." (2 Corinthians 1:5)
In the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) we have the
FIGURES (or types) of the sufferings of Christ.
In the Psalms we have the FEELINGS of the sufferings of Christ.
In the prophets we have the FORECASTS of the sufferings of Christ.
In the gospels we have the FACTS of the sufferings of Christ.
In the epistles we have the FRUITS of the sufferings of Christ.
(Christian Truth -Vol. 20 - October 1967)
N.J.Hiebert # 9634
"The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."
(James 3:8)
Keep a watch on your words, dear Christian, for words are wonderful things;
They are sweet, like bees' fresh honey - Like bees they have terrible stings!
They can bless like the warm, glad sunshine, and brighten a lonely life;
They can cut in the strife of anger, Like an open two-edged knife.
Let them pass through the lips unchallenged if their errand is true and kind
If they come to support the weary, To comfort and help the blind;
If a bitter, revengeful spirit prompt the words, let them be unsaid;
They may flash through a brain like lightning or fall on the heart like lead.
Keep them back if they are cold and cruel, under bar and lock and seal;
The wounds they make, dear Christian, are always slow to heal.
God guard your lips, and ever, from the time of your early youth,
May the words that you daily utter be the words of beautiful truth.
(R. Cecil)
N.J.Hiebert — 9635
"And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt." (Genesis 41:41)
The brother they had hated and sold into slavery had gone from pit to prison to palace and finally to the pinnacle of Egypt's power and prestige. Our beloved Lord trod the same path, but in the reverse order. He went from the pinnacle of universal power to the miry pit (Psalm 40:2) of Calvary's awful shame and suffering to find you and me. On the Lord's Day, may we gratefully remember the One whom God has highly exalted and has given the name which is above every name, our Lord Jesus Christ. (Arnot P. Mclntee)
The storm that bowed Thy blessed head
Is hushed forever now,
And rest divine is ours instead,
While glory crowns Thy brow.
(H.L. ROSSIER)
N.J.Hiebert — 9636
"One thing have I desired ... to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple." (Psalm 27:4)
Jesus! Thou art enough
The heart and mind to fill;
Thy patient life - to calm the soul,
Thy love - its fear dispel.
O fix our earnest gaze
So wholly, Lord, on Thee,
That, with Thy beauty occupied,
We elsewhere none may see.
The perfection of the Christian life is to lose sight of oneself completely and to make
everything of Christ. The sign of a good state of soul is enjoyment of the presence of Christ. Everything that takes your eye off Christ is a snare of the devil.
(Edward Dennett)
N.J.Hiebert — 9637
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