LET US RETURN TO THE LORD!

LET US RETURN TO THE LORD!

“HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD… “The LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: "THERE IS NO FAITHFULNESS, NO LOVE, NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF GOD IN THE LAND. There is ONLY cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away.” (Hosea 4:1-3)

Our nation has fallen so far away from the godly morals it was founded on … From the word of God. When we see the news, our society, our schools, our cities, our jobs, etc.---We can clearly see that good morals, kindness, brotherly love, loyalty, and respect for others … Are rarely seen. Without God our society (Our lives) will continue to deteriorate … Everyone lives their lives by their own standards and not God’s. This kind of behavior will only bring devastating judgments upon ourselves and our nation.

Have you ever heard it said: “Common sense is completely lost these days?” Did you know that sin completely dumbs out a person, a society and a nation of making good choices? God said that it does… “The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. Even as fools walk along the road, THEY LACK SENSE AND SHOW EVERYONE HOW STUPID THEY ARE.” (Ecclesiastes 10:2-3)

Note: As the saying goes, “The BIBLE (God’s word) may hurt you with the truth but it will NEVER comfort you with a LIE.” Why, would you want a lie anyway? It is THE TRUTH of the word of GOD that sets the captives free. (John 8:32, 34, 36)

A sinful lifestyle makes a person stumble in ALL their ways…It completely robs them of knowledge, of a good common sense…And because of their open rebellion against God—they will also be completely incapable of making wise choices (Decisions) in their lives because of their sin. The Lord says that SIN: “…Takes away the understanding of my people.” (Hosea 4:10)

Note: There’s nothing great or attractive in living a sinful life. Sin dumbs people out… Sin brings NOTHING but judgments and destruction to those who partake in them… The LORD says: “WOE to them, because they have strayed from me! DESTRUCTION to them, because they have REBELLED against me!” (Hosea 7:13)

A sinful lifestyle will also keep God’s best away from us too--ALWAYS! The Lord says: “YOUR WRONGDOINGS have kept these away; YOUR SINS have deprived you of good.” (Jeremiah 5:25)

Note: A sinful lifestyle is NOT worth ALL the TROUBLE and the MISERY that it brings to ones life... “Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize HOW EVIL AND BITTER it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of me," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.” (Jeremiah 2:19)

The Lord wants to bless and do good for His people (Jeremiah 29:11) … BUT how can He, if we continue to rebel against Him?  “…They DO NOT realize that I remember ALL their evil deeds. Their sins ENGULF them; they are always before me.” (Hosea 7:2)

 

Friend, if you have been living in sin and are tired of riding that destructive roller coaster in your life …Our loving Savior allows us a way out. (John 8:3-11, Psalm 103:2-4, Jeremiah 3:22, Isaiah 1:18, 44:22) There’s still time to repent and turn from all of your sins. Return to the Lord, admit your guilt and confess your sins to Jesus and He will forgive you of ALL of your sins and purify you from ALL unrighteousness…Jesus loves you so much and He’s reaching out to you now...Because He does not want to lose you.  (Matthew 18:12-14, Luke 15: 4-7, 19:10)

The Bible says:  “If we confess our sins, he (Jesus Christ) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, 2 Peter 3:9) Amen!  

“LET US RETURN TO THE LORD… Because sin does not only destroy our lives, but it also destroys our planet … “There is ONLY cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. (Watch This…Don’t Miss It! à) Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away (Are Dying).” (Hosea 4:1-3)

Note: The mass die outs of animals in our planet today…  Devastating natural disasters are ALL a result of the sins of mankind. Most people do not know or even realize that this is why it is happening. The word of God gave us the warning that this would happen, if we turned our backs on Him and willfully rebel against Him.  Sin is destructive to everyone and to everything around us.  Question: Is sin worth all of this death, disasters, pain and misery that it brings when we sin against our God and break His commands? Answer: ABSOLUTELY NOT!  Friends, NOTHING good comes from living a sinful lifestyle, NOTHING!

Friend, do you also know that if you didn’t give your heart and life to Jesus and you die with your sins, Heaven WILL NOT be your eternal home?

Jesus said: “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins." (John 8:24)

Note: In the book of Matthew Jesus said this: “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”(Matthew 13:40-42)

Sin will cost you more than you know…More than you are willing to pay for them--let them GO, they are NOT worth it! (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:1-8, Colossians 3:1-10, 2 Titus 2:19)  Repent and turn from ALL your sins…Because they will eventually lead you (someday) to a place that you DO NOT want to be in for all eternity! (Hebrews 10:26, 30-31, Revelation 21:8, 27)

If sin has you captive come to the ONLY ONE (Jesus Christ) that can set you free… And you will be “FREE INDEED”, my friend. (John 8:36) DO NOT wait…Tomorrow might be too late.

The Bible says: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; “ALL WHO FOLLOW HIS PRECEPTS HAVE GOOD UNDERSTANDING.” To him belongs eternal praise.” (Psalm 111:10) Amen

The Lord says: “My people are “DESTROYED” from lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)

Friends, “LET US RETURN TO THE LORD, WHILE WE STILL CAN” … “SEEK the LORD while he may be found; CALL on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)

GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS

YOUR FRIEND,

VICKY RIVERA  

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE


The Bible says:

“According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” Hallelujah! (1Thessalonians 4: 15-17) NIV


Note: Some of us have family members and friends that have fallen asleep (who have died) in the Lord. This is a wonderful and exciting promise that the Lord has given for all of us who believe in Him. We will be reunited with our loved ones in Heaven someday... We won’t be separated from them ever again! What a glorious day that will be. To see Our Lord and Savior, face to face, our families and friends... I can't wait! I’m also looking forward to meeting some of you on that day face to face.

This is why we have to be obedient to Our Lord’s commands. We have our families and friends waiting for us. This is one of the many reasons, we cannot let anything or anyone derail us from the path that the Lord teaches us to stay on... "Fight the good fight of faith." (1 Timothy 6: 12)

The Bible says:

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-11)

The Lord is near, my friends. We must obey the Lord, study His word and "DO" what it says. (James 1:22)

This is what the Word of the Lord says:

"What good is it, my brothers; if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “ Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by actions, is dead."(James 2:14-17)

"As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14-16)

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith… (Hebrews 12:2)

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)


Note: We have all heard the phrase “ No Pain, No Gain”  The Lord never said it was going to be easy. The Christian life is one of self-discipline and self-denial. As a matter of fact Jesus said as they treated me they would treat you. (John 15:18-21) "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9) We live in this world but we are not of this world. Jesus said that he went to prepare a place for us and He also said that He would come back for us. (John 14:2-3) This world is not our home, in no shape or form should we submit to it. We should not set our minds in the things of this world but in heavenly things, our citizenship is in heaven. (Colossians 3:2, Philippians 3:20)

God has given us a gleam into the future… What will it be like on that glorious day. In the book of Revelation 21:1-7 it says:

“ Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “ Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (I don’t know about you but that sounds like a pretty good deal to me… Sounds like an amazing place!!)  He who was seated on the throne said, “ I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”

Note: These are the rewards for all of those that lived a life here on earth following the Lord and obeying His commands BUT for those WHO DID NOT believed in Jesus Christ, WHO DID NOT follow or obeyed Him… Read what the word of the Lord says:

“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” (Revelation 21:8)

“IF ANYYONE'S" name was NOT found written in the book of life, he was THROWN into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15)

“NOTHING" impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27)

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:7)

Note: Be faithful to the Lord, trust Him, follow Him, and obey Him. He’s coming soon!…  "However, as it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Keep your eyes on the prize, my friends. Don’t look to see who’s in front of you or who’s behind you… Keep your eyes on the finish line, which is Jesus Christ our Lord.. With Jesus by your side, you cannot lose!

Jesus says:

“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” (Revelation 3:11)  Jesus says, Our crowns can be taken away… So lets make sure that "NO ONE" takes it from us…Be an overcomer in Jesus name!
If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and would like to have a relationship with Him… All you have to do is believe in Him, invite Jesus into your heart, ask Him to forgive you of all your sins and He’ll take care of the rest. The Bible says: “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

Here is a sample prayer that you can say to invite Jesus into your life. As long as it comes from your heart and you mean it… That’s really all that matters:

“Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. Thank you for sacrificing Your life to save me, then rising to life again that I might live forever in Heaven with You. I turn from my sins and invite You into my life. Help me to live in a way that pleases You, for whatever time You give me here on earth”. Amen

If you just invited Jesus into your heart, God bless you and welcome to God’s family. The Holy Scriptures says... FOR, “EVERYONE" who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)



GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA

IS THERE A HELL?

IS THERE A HELL?


Some may say … I don’t believe that there’s a "HELL".  Some may think that when a person dies they automatically go to heaven and there are still some that believe when we die… We just reincarnate or turn into some form of energy.

According to the Bible, "HELL" does exist and is a "REAL" place. It is an eternal place of torment, and unimaginable pain and suffering. Let us see what the Lord Jesus says about this dreadful place…

The Rich Man and Lazarus:

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire’.

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

“He answered, “Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied, “ They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

“No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

“He said to him, ‘ If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” (Luke 16:19-31)

Note: According to the Lord Jesus this place called "HELL" is a real place. A place assigned for the wicked and the unrighteous. This is a place that once you go there you won’t be let out for "Good Behavior"; you won’t be let out on an "Ankle Bracelet" and serve the rest of your time at home. Once you go there, you’re staying there! “ NO WAY OUT”!  Hell is just the "Pre-Trial"; the "Lake Of Fire" is the "Eternal Sentence". The Bible says: "The Lake Of Fire" is the second death." (Watch This…Don’t Miss It!) If anyone’s name "WAS NOT" found written in the book of life, "HE WAS THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.” (Revelation 20:14-15)

The rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to his father’s house and warned his brothers of that agonizing place called hell, where he was in terrible torment and this is what the rich man said… “But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent." (Luke 16:27, 30)

REALLY???… Their was "ONE" that rose from the dead and people till this day "DO NOT" believe in Him!! Question: Who is this who died and rose from the dead? Answer: The man they called "Jesus Christ"!! The Bible says: “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Matthew 16:21)

In the book of Luke we read of this prophecy fulfilled… “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “ Why do you look for the living among the dead? (Watch what they tell the women…Don’t Miss It!!)  HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN!  Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “ The Son Of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.” (Luke 24:1-7)

Note: Jesus has risen from the dead, just like He told his disciples that He would!! And still people do not believe in Him!!… So father Abraham is absolutely right, in saying… “If they "DO NOT" listen to Moses and the Prophets, they "WILL NOT" be convinced "EVEN" if someone "RISES" from the "DEAD." (Luke 16:31)

Some say, “Only God Can Judge Me"! That day will soon come when God will do just that..."I will deal with them according to their conduct, and "BY THEIR OWN STANDARDS" I will judge them. Then they will know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 7:27)

Jesus says: “I tell you the truth, "WHOEVER" hears my word and "BELIEVES" him who sent me "HAS" eternal life and "WILL NOT" be condemned; he has crossed OVER from "DEATH to LIFE". “ Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to live, (Watch This...Don't Miss It!) and those who have "DONE"evil will rise to be "CONDEMNED.” (John Ch.5:24, 28-29, Ezekiel 24:15) 

Note: When a person dies according to what the Lord Jesus said, We can only be escorted to two places… "HEAVEN or HELL". If God chose to tell this story then we can be certain that there is a "Rich Man" in hell right now and that "Lazarus" is in heaven just as He said. God is warning all of us that if we don’t turn from our sins and we willfully reject "His Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior"… We will have the same fate as the “Rich Man”. Only in accepting and inviting the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Savior can we escape this dreadful place called "HELL". According to the Bible… When people die, they will not automatically go to heaven, turn into another life form or just hang around us to watch over us. (The devil puts those thoughts in the minds of men to keep them from the plan of salvation, which is found in Jesus Christ alone!)

The Bible says:

Jesus answered, “ I am the way and the truth and the life. (Watch This… Don’t Miss It!!) "NO ONE"comes to the Father except "THROUGH ME". (John 14:6) Let me give you another Scripture … Jesus says: “ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved ” (John 10:9) Jesus is the only way to heaven; there is "NO OTHER WAY IN"!!  He is the man at the door, if you don’t know the man at the door of heaven … You’re "NOT" getting in!

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and turned from your sins… Living a devoted, dedicated, committed lifestyle to our Creator then Heaven is going to be your home. If you have lived as an "Enemy" of the cross and you have sneered at the gift that God has given to the world through "His Son Jesus Christ" then Hell will be your home. The life you lived here on this earth and the choices you made here on earth will either lead you to "Heaven" with God or separated from Him for all eternity in "Hell" and then to the "Lake Of Fire". The choice is always ours to make!

The Apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation word for word what He was told and shown. This is what John wrote:

“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, "BUT ONLY" those whose names are written in the "Lamb’s Book Of Life” (Revelation 21:27) If your name is not in the Lamb’s book of life… You're not getting into Heaven.

If you want to change the direction in which your life is going, then, now is the time to do so, "DO NOT" wait, tomorrow may be too late! My friends, it is not God’s will to condemn us, He wants to save us. (Luke 19:10, John 3:16-17, 2 Peter 3:9) The Bible says: “That if you confess with your mouth “ Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “ Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (Watch This … Don’t Miss It!)  For, “EVERYONE" who calls on the name of the Lord "WILL BE SAVED.” (Romans 10:9-12 &13)

Note: "NOT" some will be saved, but “EVERYONE" who calls on the name of the Lord” is what The Holy Scriptures says! That’s God’s guarantee to all of us. The Bible says, that… “GOD IS NOT" a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill”? (Numbers 23:19) So we can rest assured that God will keep ALL His promises!

If Heaven is the place that someday you want to call your home, then Jesus is the "ONLY" way to get there. All you have to do is invite Him into your life, ask Him to forgive you of all your sins and He’ll gladly come in and transform your life from the inside out. (Revelation 3:20) This is why the Lord Jesus came to the world, to save us from our sins and to someday take us to where He is…

Jesus says:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME BACK AND TAKE YOU TO BE WITH ME THAT YOU ALSO MAY BE WHERE I AM. (John 14:1-3) JESUS IS COMING BACK FOR US! We have Jesus word on this promise. I know that, what Jesus has spoken "WILL HAPPEN" just as He said it will. (Matthew 24:35)  If we obey and follow the Lord like He commands, then, this promise will be ours for sure. (John 14:15, Ch.15: 10)


“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. ”
                                 (Acts 4:12)


GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA