Pastor Conway's Sermon This Week

Last Sunday the sermon at church was – as always – a lesson directly from the word of God about Him.  It got me thinking, I have no physical proof that the reason I am strong is because God is here with me.  Anything good in me is from God.  I don’t need proof.  I don’t need it for myself anyway.  I know it’s His strength that abides in me.  I am really unable to understand how anyone can stand under the weight of this world without having a relationship with God.  More and more every day I wonder how anyone can look around and not be depressed or grieved or angry.  I know I would not be able to handle this world without Him.  I do get depressed, grieved AND angry.  What gets me past it, and through it is the hope that I have for eternity with God.  All that said, maybe you don’t feel like you need Him and your life is great without Him.  You don’t really need to read this blog post further.  If you do read further, that’s fine but know this – God’s word never returns void.  It might change you. If you do need peace beyond explanation and want to know you are loved eternally, here are some things right from the Bible God wants all of us to know: 

• God wants you with him in Heaven:

1 Timothy 2 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in [a]authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and [b]dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the[c]knowledge of the truth.
 

• You have to choose God.  Going to heaven when we die has nothing to do with being a good person.  There is no other way to get to heaven but by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior:

 
Acts 4:11-12 11 He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone.12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
 
1 John 5:12  12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

• The things which we experience in this life – that are a part of every person’s life – are not all good and acceptable to God.

Do Not Love the World1 John 2:15-17 15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

• God is preparing a place in heaven for you.  This 100 or so years here on earth is like a vapor and will disappear in a moment compared to how long eternity is.  Do we want to have “fun” for a hundred or so years and then suffer for an infinite number of years?  I don’t.  I don’t want you to.  Even if I don’t like you, I don’t want that for you.  Even if I don’t know you, I don’t want that for you.  Even if you have committed the worst acts known to man, and deserve to be punished for these things, I don’t want you to suffer for eternity.  But beyond all this –God’s love is so extravagant that once you know Him and trust Him, seeking Him in all you do, everything changes and the seeds of hope begin to take root and grow.  Knowing I will have an eternity with God is such wonderful knowledge to have.  You’d think that eternity would be enough but – He stays with us here – on earth.  He never leaves us or forsakes us. 

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
Joshua 1:5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you
Psalm 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
Psalm 37:28 For the Lord loves justice And does not forsake His godly ones; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.
Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
John 14  14 “Do not let your heart be troubled; [a]believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

• You can and will believe whatever you want to believe.  It doesn’t matter to me on a day to day basis.  I will like you if you are kind to me – and even if you’re not – I will be respectful to you.  But if you REALLY need help – I can’t do much.  All I can do is pray for you and encourage you to seek God.  God can help though.  I promise He will help you.  I can promise that because He promises it to all of us.  See above.  The thought of anyone suffering eternally is almost too much for me to bear.  I hope you will – if you have not already – seek God honestly with all your heart.