YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE

      YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE


As followers of Jesus Christ, we should strive to have a lifestyle of  "righteousness and holy living" DAILY, as the Bible commands us to have... But there are times in our lives, that we fall short and get off the "track of the righteous and holy living" and we sin against God and people. The good news is that, as long as we are here on earth... "We Still Have A Chance" to get up from where we have fallen short and make it right with those we have hurt/offended and start anew with God and them.

The Bible Says:

"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 (Atoning Sacrifice)"  for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world." (1 John 2:1)-NKJV

Note: There are always consequences for the bad choices we make in life and for the sins that we commit against GOD, this is why Jesus gives us this warning.... "STOP SINNING" or something "WORSE" may happen to you."~(John 5:14)

The Apostle Paul says: "For the wages of sin [is] death..."(Romans 6:23)~"NOTHING" good comes from sinning! It is in our best interest to avoid sin at "ALL" cost...  "FLEE" And "RUN" if you must from it, as Joseph did in Genesis 39:10-12. Joseph chose to flee and run from sin rather than to sin against God or his master (Potiphar). GOD told Cain..."SIN" is "CROUCHING" at your door; it "DESIRES" to have YOU, "BUT YOU MUST MASTER IT."~(Genesis 4:7)-NIV

Jesus says: "If your right eye "CAUSES YOU TO SIN", gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body "THAN" for your whole body to be "THROWN INTO HELL". AND if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go "INTO HELL."~(Matthew 5:29-30)

Note: How do we master sin? You may ask... By "WALKING" With The Lord DAILY, by studying and applying God 's word into our lives... This is how we will master sin!  Friends, "SEEK" God daily and "PRAY" in the "Spirit" always, the "Holy Spirit" is "OUR HELPER".

The Bible Says:

"In the same way, "THE SPIRIT HELPS US" in our weakness. We "DO NOT" know what we ought to pray for, BUT the Spirit himself "INTERCEDES" for us with "GROANS" that "WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS". And He (GOD) who "SEARCHES" our hearts "KNOWS" the "MIND" of the "SPIRIT", because the Spirit "INTERCEDES" for the saints "IN ACCORDANCE" with God's "WILL." (Romans 8:26-27, Ephesians 6:18, Jude 1:20, John 14:26)

The LORD Says: "RETURN", you backsliding children, [And] "I WILL HEAL" your "BACKSLIDINGS." "Indeed we do come to You, For "YOU" are the LORD our GOD."~(Jeremiah 3:22)-NKJV

Note: IF You've Being Backsliding A Little Or A Lot... Come To The GOD Who Says, "I Will "HEAL" Your "Backslidings." The Bible Says: "IF" we "CONFESS OUR SINS", HE (GOD) is "FAITHFUL" and "JUST" and "WILL FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND PURIFY US FROM "ALL" UNRIGHTEOUSNESS."~(1 John 1:9)..."As the "HOLY SPIRIT" says: "Today, "IF" you hear HIS voice, "DO NOT" harden your hearts..."~(Hebrews 3:7)


"YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE"... TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD TO RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY LIVING, THE CHOICE IS YOURS....


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

 

 

 

WHAT KIND OF ANSWER WILL YOU GIVE?

WHAT KIND OF ANSWER WILL YOU GIVE?


Most of us don’t like going to court and the thought of going and standing in front of a “Judge” is nerve racking for us! It makes us feel at times nervous and anxious… It’s even worse for those that have to do time in prison and the thought that their freedom will be taking away from them for some time is really devastating for them. The feeling of the unknown it’s very troubling and scary for many of us. In court, your own words can either convict you or acquit you! This blog deals with what the Bible says, about the “Judge” of all mankind and how we must all stand before Him one day… And, how you answer GOD will either acquit you or condemned you!


The Bible gives all mankind the moral compass for us to live by and to follow… Let me start with “The Ten Commandments”

1- “You shall have no other gods before me.”

2- “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.”

3- “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”

4- “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.”

5- “Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

6- “You shall not murder”

7- “You shall not commit adultery”

8- “You shall not steal.”

9- “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”

10-“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife… Or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:3-17)


Note: The first four commandments deal with loving God and the last six deals with loving people… If we truly love GOD we will show it by our actions… The same goes for if we truly love people! We wouldn’t purposely hurt anyone that we truly love… Right? Most of us will go all out for the ones we love and cherish. So, shouldn’t we also love and be good to "GOD" and “Everyone” else also?! Jesus says: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) for this sums up the Law (The Commandments) and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12) Friends, “Actions speak louder than words”!

These Commandments were given to us by the “Judge” of all the earth to follow and abide by. When God judges us according to the Commandments and examines how we live and conduct ourselves here on Earth… Not one of us would have a chance in the world, in GOD’s courtroom. We have all broken His Commandments and Laws…God already knew this would be the case for all of us, which is why he sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins and to redeem all mankind from death and hell… Jesus Christ is the “ONLY” one that can do this … And “No One Else” can do it!

The Bible says: “For GOD so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus Christ), that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For GOD did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17) Jesus is the SAVIOR” of the world!

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; (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) He has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24) What is Jesus word/message to us you may ask? This is what Jesus says of “Himself”, “I am the way and the truth and the life. NO ONE comes to the Father expect through me.” (John 14:6)

Paul and Silas were asked by a jailer in the book of Acts… “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.” (Acts 16:29-31) Only Jesus can save us according to the Holy Scriptures!

Paul is addressing the 1st and 2nd Commandments to the Athenians in the New Testament… This is what he says:

“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone – an image made by man’s design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. (Watch this…Don’t miss it!) For he (GOD) has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man (Jesus Christ) he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:29-31)

Note: Paul tells the Athenians, that God will judge the world for their sins… We already established through the Holy Scriptures that Jesus is the “ONLY” way to Heaven and the “Only” one that can save us from our sins! And after this truth has been told to us and we willing and knowingly reject God’s plan of salvation which is in Christ ALONE!  What then?  Rejecting Christ will be our biggest downfall in the courtroom of the “All Mighty God”!

What will we do or say when God asks you, why didn’t you believe in my Son Jesus Christ?  Why didn’t you accept my plan of salvation?  What kind of answer will you give?  At that time it will be too late to turn back the clock… Time is up!  Now what?  What’s done is done and without Jesus you will be condemned for "ALL" your sins. According to Jesus own words… “Whoever believes in him is "NOT" condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son (Jesus Christ).”(John 3:18) Only Jesus blood can wipe "ALL" our sins whiter than snow and only through Him, we are made into a brand new person. (1 John 2:2, Isaiah 1:18, 2 Corinthians 5:17-19) God will show the people who refused to repent and who were not willing to believe the good news of the Gospel...What they said NO to.  What a devastating day it will be for the "MANY" that rejected the love of the living Christ!

Some people here on earth get cocky with God and they say “I only answer to myself and if I’m happy living without God so be it!”  And they find many others that would agree with them and cheer them on; but GOD will not be amused on judgment day … He will not be persuaded by what others think or say!  He will not be playing games. God won’t care how many of your friends say things like this … “Live it up”… “Live how you want”… “Do what makes you happy even if it is against God’s law”!  God will judge us according to His written word and in that ALONE… Not anybody else’s opinions or sayings will matter to Him on judgment day!

We Christians are saved by Grace but this doesn’t mean that we continue to sin! (Ephesians 2:8-9) Let me show you what The Book of Hebrews says:

“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of truth, no sacrifice for sins is left (Watch this… Don’t miss this!), but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”… “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands “of the living GOD.” (Hebrews 10:26-27, 30-31)

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:9-10)

Through out the New Testament we read of "The Ten Commandments" mentioned time and time again and these two verses in 1 John summarized them also… God hasn’t changed his mind about the Commandments and how we should all live and conduct ourselves while living here on earth! The Bible says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

The Book of Revelation is describing the Courtroom of GOD and what we should expect to see in it…

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small (The Rich and the Poor), standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. 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 20:11-15)

If you didn’t accept Jesus as Lord and Savior while you lived here on earth… You can be certain that your name won’t be in the book of “Life” and that all your sins still remained on you. And you will have to pay for all the sins that you committed while living in this world. There’s no other way around this! What GOD says in His “Word”… HE really means!

Note: The doors of salvation are still open… Come to the Lord Jesus while there’s still time to do so! The Bible says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, (Watch this…Don’t miss it!) But everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Only Jesus can wipe all our sins away… Once we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and we live our life, on earth like Jesus commands (1 John 2:5-6 and 2 John 1:9), then our names will be written in the book of “Life”!

Jesus says, “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent.”… “He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) I WILL NEVER BLOT OUT HIS NAME FROM “THE BOOK OF LIFE”, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.” (Revelation 3:3,5) God will always be faithful to all his promises! (Numbers 23:19) Whatever the Bible says is going to happen, will happen just as God says it will! The time is now to turn from our sins and repent! Don’t wait another minute… Tomorrow might be too late! The book of Hebrews says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7)

For those who choose not to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior …. According to the Holy Scriptures will not enter Heaven. GOD will have to judge them for all the sins they have committed here on Earth and the sentence will be an eternal separation from God and their place according to Scripture will be in the “Lake of Fire” (Revelation 21:27 and Chapter 20:15)

The Lord our God is very merciful and He is always ready to give us second chances… Please, don’t ignore His calling! God loves us very much and this is why He’s extending His arms wide to you… Is your choice to accept Him or reject Him! GOD won’t force anyone to love Him or accept His plan of salvation! But rejecting Jesus Christ will be the biggest mistake that we will ever make… It has an eternal consequence of which there’s no escape! (Exodus 34:6-7, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Luke 16:19-26, Revelation 20:10)


Jesus says, “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, BUT TO SAVE IT. There is a “Judge” for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.” (John 12:47-48)



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

IDOLATRY FORBIDDEN

IDOLATRY FORBIDDEN


In the book of Exodus the Lord gives the law to the Israelites. The Ten Commandments and this is what it says…

Exodus 20:1-6

“ I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

“ You shall have no other gods, before me.

“ You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Note: The Lord has given us the right to choose either life or death…. Obedience to our Father and Creator brings life and prosperity. Disobedience to Him brings death and destruction. What will you choose? It does not matter what that image may be or what it may represent. The Lord is very clear that we cannot make an image in the form of anything. (In heaven above or on the earth beneath or the waters below) You may call these images “saints” and Our Creator calls them “idols”. If you are bowing down to these images/idols and worshiping them, praying to them ... Whether you know it or not, you’re committing a great sin. You’re arousing our Creator’s jealousy… Are we stronger than He?

In the book of Deuteronomy 4:15-19 it says:

"You saw "NO FORM" of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that "YOU DO NOT" become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of ANY shape, whether formed like a man OR a woman, OR like any animal on earth OR any bird that flies in the air, OR like any creature that moves along the ground OR any fish in the waters below. And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and stars – all the heavenly array – "DO NOT" be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven."

Note: Verses 23-24 of the same chapter (4) Moses reminds the people NOT to forget the covenant that they had made with the Lord…

“BE CAREFUL NOT" to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; "DO NOT" make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. For the Lord your God is a CONSUMING FIRE, A JEALOUS GOD." (See also Hebrews 12:29)

Let me show you how serious this is to God:

In the book of Deuteronomy Ch.31: Verses 16-18 God tells Moses of Israel’s rebellion.

"And the Lord said to Moses: “You are going to rest with your fathers, and these people "WILL SOON PROSTITUTE" themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They WILL forsake me and BREAK the covenant I made with them. On that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed. (Don’t miss this last verse!) MANY disasters and difficulties will come upon them, and on that day they will ask, ‘ Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is not with us? And I will certainly hide my face on that day because of ALL their wickedness in TURNING to other gods."


Note: God gave Moses "a song", so that, it might be a witness between God and the people in their rebellion against Him, which would take place sometime in the future. (Deuteronomy 31:19) In the next chapter 32 we read of that song… Here are a few verses of that song.

Chapter 32: 16-18

"They made Him JEALOUS" with their foreign gods and "ANGERED" him with their detestable idols.

On the next verse we see what God sees in these idols…

“ They sacrificed to "DEMONS", which are NOT God­ - (Demons can manifest through idols)
gods they had NOT known,
gods that recently appeared,
gods your fathers did not fear."

And by turning from God and serving idols, the Israelites deserted the GOD, that brought them out of the land of slavery.... "You deserted the Rock, who fathered you;
You forgot the God who gave you birth."


Note: These idols/images are man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear, or eat, or smell. They cannot help you in times of trouble and they definitely can’t save you or get you into Heaven. For the Bible says… “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Jesus is the only way to heaven. (Acts 4:12, John 3:16-18, Isaiah 45:20, Habakkuk 2:18-19, Revelation 9:20)

Note: The only thing that idol worshiping brings is destruction and a curse for a people, for a nation. (Deuteronomy 27:15 & Deuteronomy 30:17-18) This is the penalty for turning from the "ONE TRUE GOD", Creator of heaven and earth and worshiping worthless things. The Lord "ALONE" is God; besides Him there is "NO" other. (Isaiah 45:5)

You may say to yourself … That’s the Old Testament and that’s how God did things back then…I will show you in the New Testament that "idolatry" is still a detestable sin to the Creator. The God that we serve is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

In the book of Acts 14:8-18 …we read of Paul and Barnabas in the cities of Lystra and Derbe…

“ In the Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “ Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk." (Watch what happens to Paul and Barnabas after this man received his healing)..."When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “ The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. (There goes out the window, the big bang theory)

Note: The servants of God are not to be worship. God gave all his disciples/ apostles … Power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1-2/ Matthew 10:1) Paul was called later by God to be an Apostle and to carry the Lord’s name to the Gentiles…You can read about his conversion in the book of Acts 9:1-22.  Paul had the same authority as the other Apostles. These chosen men are the instruments that the Lord used to demonstrate His power…They’re coming in His name (Jesus Christ) and pointing men to Him. So they are not to be made into an idol/image and be worshiped. It is forbidden.

In the book of Acts Paul tells the men of Athens this concerning idolatry…

“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, (With this statement Paul knocks off the Darwin Theory also) we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone – an image made by man’s design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead(Jesus Christ)."~Acts 17:29-31

In the book of Romans we read of the punishment for the sin of idolatry…

"For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.THEREFORE GOD GAVE THEM OVER in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. THEY EXCHANGED" the truth of God FOR a lie, "AND WORSHIPED AND SERVED" created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen. (Watch This... Don't Miss It!) BECAUSE OF THIS, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion."~Romans 1:21-27 (No one is born a homosexual as some may think…According to the "WORD OF GOD" it is the result for worshipping and serving created things rather than the Creator.)

Note: The book of Romans says: “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie… Let me show you what this means…

The Bible says: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) And the lie, that man has taught is, that the world was formed by this “Big Bang Theory”.

The Bible says: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27) And man has taught, that the human race has descended from monkey’s…“Darwin’s Theory”

And then we wonder, why have "ALL" these calamites and disasters have fallen on our nation…It is time to repent from all these sins and turn to the one true God and serve Him only. . He is our Father…our Creator…our loving and merciful God.

Note: The Bible says… that God is a jealous God. He says of Himself… “For your maker is your husband…(Isaiah 54:5, Jeremiah 3:14) and as your husband … He considers the "sin of idolatry" as your committing adultery against Him. “Because Israel’s immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood.” (Jeremiah 3:9)

You are being unfaithful (cheating) on your Creator by worshipping and serving created things instead of worshiping and serving Him…Who is the one true God! GOD created the world and everything in it for the benefit of man and then man turns around and worships and serves those created things…What a let down this is to our Creator.

Now that you heard from the Lord…What are you going to do? “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7)

The LORD Says: “Turn to me and be saved, ALL you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is "NO OTHER.” (Isaiah 45:22)~Amen


GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA