Come To Jesus Part 8 Heaven

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

Come To Jesus day 8: That You May Enter Heaven….Come! From the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet “Come To Jesus”  published in 1848!

 

It has been said (and I think rightly) that for the unbeliever, this life is the only heaven he or she will ever experience. Hell is an eternal environment where any shred of goodness is forever absent.

 

In today’s edition of Come To Jesus, Neuman zeroes in on the myriad bliss and joys of heaven: “How delightful is the description that the Bible gives of heaven!

 

We are told that sickness, sorrow, and death never enter there; that cares, fears, and anxieties are never felt there; that poverty, privation, unkindness and disappointment are never known there.

 

The glorified, incorruptible body will never experience pain, weariness, or decay. Old age will never enfeeble, for there will be perpetual youth; and death will never snatch away those we love.

 

Hearts will be full of perfect love of God and one another. All the good men and women of faith in the former ages will be there; the martyrs, the prophets, the apostles. And very likely, those who had a part in leading you to Christ!

In heaven, “they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” “In His presence is fullness of joy, and at His righthand are pleasures forevermore!”

 

Reader, listener, this heaven may be thine! Jesus keeps the door, but He has opened it wide for all sinners to enter! He is the door! He is the ONLY Door, but He invites you to come!

 

However guilty and vile you are and have been, heaven may and certainly be yours if you but come.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Come To Jesus Part 7

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

This one is a little lengthy but I encourage you to let his words sink in because we often forget the privileges we have as children of God!

 

Come To Jesus day 7: For the Privileges and Joys of Adoption…..Come! From the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet “Come To Jesus”  published in 1848!

 

All of our earthly fathers are imperfect, (some more than others) but when you Come To Jesus you are adopted by the Perfect Father!

 

“Ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord God Almighty!”

“We have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father.”

 We are permitted in prayer to address God as “Our Father, which art in heaven.”

 

As Father, He teaches, watches over, comforts, feeds and protects. Sorrows are His kind chastisements, intended for our benefit. “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons: for whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth.”

 

In all our trials, He consoles us. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.”

 

As one who his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.”

Sickness, poverty, all our troubles, are overruled for our advantage. “All things work together for good to them that love God.”

 

“They shall not want any good thing.”

 

“No weapon formed against them shall prosper”

 

In every difficulty and danger their Father is at their side. “Fear not for I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. When thou passeth through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. I will never leave nor forsake .

 

 

 

We may tell our Father all our wants. “In everything make your requests known to God.”

 

As a father, He provides us with an incorruptible inheritance. …undefiled, which fadeth not away.”

 

Oh what happiness  to be a child of God! He loves you! He pities you! Pardons and keeps you! I am safe from all evil!

 

“God is my refuge, ever near, and He never slumbers, never is weary, never forgets.

 

He says, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.

 

What earthly greatness can equal these things? Would you be a child of God? You may if you “come to Jesus.” For as many as received Him. To them gave He power to become the sons of God.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Come To Jesus Part 6

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Come To Jesus day 6: For A New Heart… Come! More thoughts from the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet published in 1848! He writes:

 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God! (Jn 3:5)

 

Unconverted sinner, there is no place of happiness and bliss for you in the next life. Hell is eternal torture and while you are unconverted, the things of the kingdom (heaven)  are not appealing to you.

 

But heaven is nou just sitting on a cloud and playing a harp! Heaven is all sabbaths, (perfect peace)  all worship, all holiness, (no sin)  its inhabitants all righteous, (no sinners) and their talk and actions all have reference to God. (In whose image we were meant to be)  Heaven is happy because it is holy and because God is there. Hell on the other hand is a total lack of goodness, because He’s not!

 

Holiness, and eternal happiness only matter to those who have a new heart, those who have been “born again.”

You cannot change your heart but the Holy Spirit can! And God sincerely desires to give you the life changing gift of the Holy Spirit!

 

“If ye being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father, which is in heaven, give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.” (Luke 11:13)

 

There is still time for you to experience the new birth! You who have despised baptism. Come to Jesus and pray with David, “Create in me a clean heart O God  and renew a right spirit within me.”

 

Come to Jesus and live!

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Come To Jesus Part 5

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Come To Jesus day 5: For Peace of Conscience, Come! More thoughts from the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet published in 1848! He writes:

 

Isa 48:22 "There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked." Some sinners seem to be at peace, but it is only by refusing to think. But such thoughtlessness is not worthy to be called peace.

 

Sinner, you are evading the issue. You cannot have true peace unless you have assurance of full pardon for your sins.

Such pardon is only available when we come to Jesus. In Jesus, all our sins are forgiven. We still think of them with sorrow, but we need no more think of them with terror.

 

God says to us: “Your sins will I remember no more.” He casts them behind His back into the depths of the sea. They will not be mentioned on Judgement Day. He will abundantly pardon.

Instead of hiding from Him as Adam did, we hide in Him as David did saying, “Thou art my hiding place.”

 

Oh what a happy change!

 

Whatever dreadful things my conscience tells me, Jesus says, They sins are forgiven thee go in peace!”

 

Poor sinner, you and peace have long been strangers. Worldly pleasure is not peace and nothing can give you true peace while your sins hang heavily on your soul.

 

Come then to Jesus. He both makes peace and gives it. Come to Jesus and you will know firsthand, “The peace of God which passeth all understanding.

.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

 

Come To Jesus Part 4

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Come To Jesus day 4: Hell Awaits You! Come To Be Saved! More thoughts from the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet published in 1848! He writes:

 

It is appointed for all men to die ONCE and after death, the judgement. God will judge the secrets of men. All sinners who have not obtained pardon by coming to Jesus will be told to depart from the presence of God forever.

”Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire!”

 

Who can tell the torments of that place!

 The rich man can take none of his wealth, the gay man none of his amusements. The world and sin will cease to charm. The pleasant light of day, the cheerful voice of friends, the quiet comforts of home will be no more!

 

Opportunities for escape will be gone forever. Oh for one more Sabbath, Oh for one more hour to pray for mercy!

 

Every unforgiven sinner is on their way to this place for eternity. Yes you, who may be viewing this vlog, or reading the hard copy, if you are not pardoned, you are on your way! And every hour brings you closer!

 

Yet there remains a way to escape for you! Flee to Jesus! He came to save you from hell.

 

Nothing can save you, if you will not come to Jesus, and nothing can prevent your salvation if you do come to Him. Come to Jesus for He has promised in Jn 10:28, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Come To Jesus Part 3

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Come To Jesus day 3: God is angry! Come, to be reconciled!2: More thoughts from the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet published in 1848!

 

Wow! Facebook blocked my last post, I wonder what they will do with this one! Hall takes the gloves off in this one as he points out God’s anger at sin and yet God’s gracious invitation to be reconciled through the appeasement (propitiation) offered freely by Him through faith in His Son Jesus.

 

This entire devotion of Hall’s is reminiscent of the classic Jonathan Edwards sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God” delivered in 1741 during the “Great Awakening.”

 

It’s a warning shot fired by the anointing of the Holy Spirit to remind us that God is indeed love, BUT He is also just and unrepentant lawbreakers rouse His anger.

 

Fasten your seat belts. Here we go. Hall writes:

 

The Bible says God is angry with the wicked everyday. Ps 7:11 God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.

And has not God much cause to be angry with thee sinner? He gave and preserves your life and faculties, and bestows all your comforts. Yet you forget Him!

 

He gave you His commands which are meant for your good, but you ignore them and you live your lives as if He didn’t exist. He is a loving Father and you have rejected Him!

 

Isa 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: "I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me;

 

As long as you live without repenting of sin His anger must ever be hot against you sinner and you cannot escape nor hide from Him.

 

Wherever you are, He is there and He is ANGRY! He compasses your path and your lying down and He is ANGRY!

It depends on Him whether you draw your next breath and He is ANGRY!

 

How dreadful to feel  when going to bed, God is ANGRY! To awake and know that God is ANGRY!

 

And oh to die knowing that God is ANGRY and to stand before His judgement seat, and see that He is ANGRY!

 

But sinner, HE is only ANGRY while you make Him so. He is willing to be your friend. He sent His Son with this message, “Be ye reconciled to God.” If you will trust in that Messenger and turn from your sins, all this anger will cease!

 

You will no longer need to be afraid of your Maker, but will rejoice in the love  He has always wished to show you

Oh then come to Jesus! Be no longer God’s enemy but receive the offer to be His friend.

I read this devotion from Hall and I wish all, (including myself) could visit Calvary on Good Friday for just a minute (if we could stand it) and observe the ANGER of God poured out against sin. I wonder how deeply it would affect my view of God’s love for the world, God’s love for me, if I truly realized what is my just due.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Come To Jesus Part 2

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Come To Jesus day 2: Thoughts from the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet published in 1848!

 

Why should you come? You are a sinner! Come for pardon!

 

Perhaps you do not feel you are a sinner. At least you think you are no worse than others. But have you indeed obeyed all the commandments? Been true, chaste, sober, honest, forgiving, kind?

 

Never indulged in pride, malice, anger, deceit or lust? The very first command is to love the Lord our God with all our mind and strength. Have you always done this?

Always been thankful for His mercies, always carefully read His Word in order to believe and obey it?

 

 

Always tried to please Him, loved to pray to Him, taken delight in the Sabbath, His people, His worship?

             

Always striven to make known His truth, to induce others to love Him?

 

If you have always done these things, you have just done your duty and have nothing to boast of!

 

But you have not done these things and you know it! You know you have sought your own pleasure rather than the pleasure of God! If a man say he hath no sin, he deceiveth himself. There is none righteous, no, not one. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God!

 

We are sinners! Enormous guilt hangs over each of us. Were we to labor for thousands of years, we could not atone for the least of our sins.

 

BUT, BUT, there IS forgiveness, free, full, eternal, for the guilty. Jesus has pardon for thee, sinner, purchased with His own blood. He is waiting to give it to all who ask. Come for it! Come for it! Come to Jesus.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word