THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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Will Rogers once said that there were many places he fell in love with when he visited there. And he would think that he would like to move and live there. But before he would decide to move, he would subscribe to the local paper. And he would read the news in that city or town for thirty days before making a decision.
He always decided to remain where he was. Because, he said, "The news in that place was no better than the news where I lived."
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Mark 8:38
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
KJV
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Have you ever done the "if only" thing in your mind?
If only I could move to a new to a new town and make a fresh start - things would be better.
If only I could change jobs, buy a new home, finish college, have enough to retire....etc., etc.
If only I had this, or if only I could find that....
Looking for happiness in all the wrong places.
The news of almost every place is usually the same. We live in an "adulterous and sinful generation!"
Perhaps, for physical and social purposes, we may decide to live in one place above another. But where we reside physically is not as important as how we reside spiritually!
If we are "in Christ," then we suffer the shame and reproach of the cross along with Him wherever we live. When we come to Christ for forgiveness and salvation, we come humbly, begging, pleading and "forsaking all others." We exchange whatever crowns may be in this life for the cross.
At the cross He laid down His life for our redemption.
At the cross we lay down our lives for His glory and purposes.
There can be no heavenly crown without a cross!
But......when He comes AGAIN....it'll be a DIFFERENT STORY!
When Christ comes "in the glory of His Father and with the holy angels," those who have exchanged worldly crowns for crosses will be given heavenly crowns!
These will be eternal crowns!
These will be crowns given by Christ Himself which are symbols of our permanent residence in eternal heaven!
That's not an "if only!" That's a promise from God Who never fails!
When Christ came as the "son of man," He came to take our sins upon Himself. He perished under the burden.
But when He comes "in the glory of His Father," He shall place His glory upon all those who have taken His shame.
"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:35-37)
Love ya,
Bruce