IS IT TOO LATE FOR ME?
We have all had people who gave us good advice in our life, right? Whether it was about a relationship we should have not gotten into or ran away from, jobs we should have taken or not taken, financial advice, etc. And for some reason we don’t always follow the good advice that we are given. We’ll say to ourselves that sounds good, BUT I’m going to do it my way, and when our way doesn’t work, that’s when we think back to that person who gave us the good advice and say; "I should have listened to what they told me to do!"
I’m sure there has been many times when we have said… “Wow, I really blew it! Just because we may have missed some opportunities in life and not done the right thing, the first time around it does not mean that other ones won’t come our way again… BUT hopefully we have learned from our past mistakes, and make better choices when the next opportunity presents itself again.
If we follow God’s guidance for our lives…Things WILL begin to start working out for us and we will be much happier in life, guaranteed! BUT we will have to trust God completely and do what HE says FIRST! In this teaching, I would like to show what the Bible says, about a paralyzed man and the woman caught in the act of adultery and how the Lord Jesus gave them a second chance in life, a chance to turn their lives around for the better…
“The Healing at the Pool”
“Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie--the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked…” (Watch This Don’t Miss It! This Is When “The Fork In The Road” Comes To This Man…) Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, YOU are well AGAIN. STOP sinning OR something WORSE may happen to YOU." (John 5:2-9, 14)
Note: By the way Jesus spoke to this man who had been completely cured of his condition, we can safely assume that his condition was brought upon him because of some past sin…. “Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." (John 5:14)- Just to be clear…This is NOT always the case with all sick people… But it was the case for this paralyzed man that Jesus healed at the pool. I can only hope that this man listened to Jesus exhortation about leaving his life of sin… “Stop sinning OR something worse may happen to you." (John 5:14)
There are times in our life that we escape some kind of a bad accident, death, a medical report that we thought would bring us bad news, etc, and we think, we just got lucky. In these times we completely miss that God was compassionate towards us and that HE perhaps spared us from that (accident, death, bad medical report, etc.) in the hopes that we would see His hand in that situation and turn to HIM, seek HIM with all our hearts. But if we fail to see God’s love and mercy for us, and continue to sin then life is not going to get better for us, as a matter of fact… The Bible says, “something worse may happen to you." (John 5:14)
The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23) Sin only brings death and devastation into our lives and homes. The misery that sin brings into our lives and the people that we hurt along the way are NOT worth all the trouble and the pain that it brings with it! The Bible says, “Your own conduct and actions have brought this upon you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is! How it pierces to the heart!” (Jeremiah 4:18) The outcome will always end up bad when we don’t turn from our sins and continue on our sinful lifestyle. Nothing good comes from doing/living wrong… Nothing! As a matter of fact… “Disaster follows disaster…” (Jeremiah 4:20)
The other person I wanted to talk about in this teaching is a woman many wanted stoned for her sin…
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group. and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.” (John 8:3-5) Many wanted her to die for her sin but Jesus wouldn’t condemned her instead Jesus forgave her and gave her this exhortation …"GO NOW and LEAVE your life of SIN." (John 8:11) We are not supposed to keep on sinning once we are told about our wrongdoings and if you think … 'I am innocent; HE (GOD) is not angry with me.' But (GOD says…) I will pass judgment on you because you say, 'I have not sinned.” (Jeremiah 2:35) Only Jesus can set us free from our sins! Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, EVERYONE who SINS is a SLAVE to SIN.”(John 8:34)
Note: I’ve said this before and I’ll continue to say it… If you’re still struggling with sin, then come to the ONLY one that can set you FREE and YOU will be free INDEED… “SO if the SON sets you free, you will be FREE indeed.” (John 8:36) We must confess our sins to GOD and turn from all our wrongdoings! And we will receive mercy from HIM… “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, (Watch This… Don’t Miss It!) but WHOEVER confesses and renounces them FINDS mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)
Some may be wondering… "Is It Too Late For Me?" Friend, as long as you are here on earth… It’s NEVER too late to turn from your sins and come to the Savior of the world! This is a GOD that is ready to forgive all of your wrongdoings, if you ask Him to and turn to HIM with all your heart… "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." (Jeremiah 31:34/ Hebrews 8:12)
Note: People may remember all your wrongdoings BUT when you give your life to Jesus Christ and ask HIM for forgiveness of all your sins… HE will Forgive them and will NEVER remember your sins again, EVER! "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their SINS NO MORE." (Jeremiah 31:34) When GOD says all your sins are forgiven… They ARE truly and completely FORGIVEN! How awesome is that!!! The Bible says, “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you." (Isaiah 44:22) Amen!
If you’re tired of living in that roller-coaster lifestyle that you’ve been living in and are tired of hiding that emptiness that you’ve been feeling inside. And you’re so tired of filling it with things that you thought will help you get by and instead are destroying you!
My friend, if you’re ready for a change, then today is the day… You still have time to turn your life around and come to the GOD who is anxiously waiting for you to give your life completely to Him! JESUS is an expert in healing lives, restoring marriages, HE can break any addictions; HE can restore health and finances, etc. Jesus can help you with whatever help you need! The Bible says, “For NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE with GOD." (Luke 1:37) Amen!
If you give your life to Jesus Christ today I guarantee it will be a decision that you will NEVER regret making… Rejecting the Savior will be the biggest mistake anyone can ever make in this life! Please do not ignore HIS calling. If you’re still thinking… “IS IT TOO LATE FOR ME?” The answer is NO, you’re not too Late! Jesus is still waiting for you… The choice is yours my friend!
Jesus Says: "COME to ME, all you who are weary and burdened, and I WILL give you REST.” (Matthew 11:28)
GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND ALWAYS,
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
