All over THIS PLANET there are Christians that are struggling, persecuted (http://www.persecution.org, http://www.persecution.com/), murdered, in hiding, etc. all for their faith.
Now I have to watch my tone and what I say because here I am, sit in my living room with my Mac, having yet to plan a mission trip. But nonetheless, this ain't no joke, and I will not be disqualified from speaking on such issues.
(As I was writing this I actually just stopped and priced tickets to a place I am considering, and sent off an email to get more info on possible ministry opportunities in that area. So... I ain't playin...)
Anyways... back on point. Suffering is real for Christians all over the world. And what are our excuses? ...that's not where I want to go though. You have people of other faiths that have NO PROBLEM dying and murdering for their faith and false gods. All to reap fake rewards and to end up burning in Hell with everyone who, sadly, did not trust in Jesus alone as salvation. HEY! I DESERVE IT TOO SO DON'T MISS MY POINT, which I am getting to.
I was reading in revelation 20:4-
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
This is heavy and a freakin reality check for some of you, but take it, and may you be better for it. All these people that are dying for nothing, false Gods or for drug addiction it doesn't matter. It is a waste. You want something to die over? How about die an unnatural death here and FREAKING wake up a thousand years earlier than everyone else and reign with Christ!!!! OH MY GOD!! There is nothing more.......... honoring??, unbelieveable, humbling, ???, than to be able to reign with my King and be a priest of God and Christ for a thousand years. That's the thing, when I am back in love with my first love (I'm trying to get there again) Death, and ALL of the innumerable things of this world are TRASH!!! They have no (lasting) appeal.
This sounds crazy, and it is, but in context of eternity, my fear of the reality of these things, and the implications of serving God no matter what, are life-changing! There is nothing else that matters. There is nothing more beautiful that I can give to my God than my life. Surrendered in life or death. Life is the stinkin' hard part though....
My only real point was to get on here and just give God the glory that He is the only thing worth living or dying for. Every fool that dies for anything else, is a wasted life, and missed out on knowing the TRUE and LIVING, SOVEREIGN GOD.
Oh but they know Him now....
Now I have to watch my tone and what I say because here I am, sit in my living room with my Mac, having yet to plan a mission trip. But nonetheless, this ain't no joke, and I will not be disqualified from speaking on such issues.
(As I was writing this I actually just stopped and priced tickets to a place I am considering, and sent off an email to get more info on possible ministry opportunities in that area. So... I ain't playin...)
Anyways... back on point. Suffering is real for Christians all over the world. And what are our excuses? ...that's not where I want to go though. You have people of other faiths that have NO PROBLEM dying and murdering for their faith and false gods. All to reap fake rewards and to end up burning in Hell with everyone who, sadly, did not trust in Jesus alone as salvation. HEY! I DESERVE IT TOO SO DON'T MISS MY POINT, which I am getting to.
I was reading in revelation 20:4-
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
This is heavy and a freakin reality check for some of you, but take it, and may you be better for it. All these people that are dying for nothing, false Gods or for drug addiction it doesn't matter. It is a waste. You want something to die over? How about die an unnatural death here and FREAKING wake up a thousand years earlier than everyone else and reign with Christ!!!! OH MY GOD!! There is nothing more.......... honoring??, unbelieveable, humbling, ???, than to be able to reign with my King and be a priest of God and Christ for a thousand years. That's the thing, when I am back in love with my first love (I'm trying to get there again) Death, and ALL of the innumerable things of this world are TRASH!!! They have no (lasting) appeal.
This sounds crazy, and it is, but in context of eternity, my fear of the reality of these things, and the implications of serving God no matter what, are life-changing! There is nothing else that matters. There is nothing more beautiful that I can give to my God than my life. Surrendered in life or death. Life is the stinkin' hard part though....
My only real point was to get on here and just give God the glory that He is the only thing worth living or dying for. Every fool that dies for anything else, is a wasted life, and missed out on knowing the TRUE and LIVING, SOVEREIGN GOD.
Oh but they know Him now....
