Now and Then….

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For NOW we see in a mirror dimly, but THEN face to face. NOW I know in part, but THEN I shall know just as I am known. And NOW abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:11-13

NOW we are blanketed in Grace by the Holy Spirit Himself. NOW we are meant to live the ABUNDANCE of SALVATION. NOW we will suffer the trials of earthly life with the presence of Christ Himself, our Helper the Holy Spirit and all mighty God the Father. We are to be found looking
past our present, "light afflictions" which are not heavy or lengthy" compared to eternity! We are to be found looking faithfully, to eternal, unbroken time with Jesus, THEN, after earth.  NOW and THEN we see glimpses of heaven. Sometimes we see heaven when one comes to salvation, when one gives birth and when one goes home. Everyday, NOW, we can see God through His word, hear God through prayer. We are reminded to remember God's descriptions of today, in the Bible, as we gaze into current events, as well as the social and moral, global, decline. He has designed these days for planet earth and the hard times are part of His plan for redemption. He allows sin to continue, but only for so long.  Judgment always has come and is certainly on it's way for a final time.

Do I understand why God allows sin, murdering, violence, sicknesses, beheadings and all that is evil to continue? No. Sin hasn't changed. It is the same sin from the same source, Satan, since the beginning of earth. One day God will END it. Life will be hell on earth for 7 years and then the new earth, the millennial reign and heaven of course. No I don't fully understand. Some of my understanding is a bit dim, but I fully accept, BY FAITH, know all God has said, will entirely, come to pass. It is so great that FAITH zooms past understanding and sees beyond, beyond. I love that about FAITH.

Since every word of God is true, and so far has taken place just as He said it would, then I choose to trust Him, trust God, believe God, serve God, enjoy God, and spread God's love for all everywhere I go. I judge no one. I have no condemnation in my heart. God alone is just. God alone has all the facts about anything and everything. So why not trust Him? Christ is gain. Christlessness is loss.

Father in heaven, Maker of every mountain, Mover of every mountain, it is to YOU we come to give YOU honor, glory, love, trust and to serve YOU more and more. Please form and inform our prayers.
Cause anyone who reads this, who has doubts about who YOU ARE, to drop the doubt and BY FAITH, become born again, by asking YOU into their hearts. By asking YOU to forgive their sin, believing that is what Jesus did on the cross, once and for all. That on the third day Jesus rose from the dead and is now with us. Cause them to decide to believe YOU are who YOU say YOU are,  and that YOU say who YOU are in YOUR word. Cause them to ask YOU into their hearts and to give YOU thanks for dying on the cross in their place, cleansing them from all sin, for all time.

We don't fully understand holiness or sin, but we know, all have sinned and have fallen short of Your glory. That only the blood sacrifice of Jesus, satisfies payment for sin, for all, forever. Thank You for Jesus and that He lives to make intercession for us now, our High Priest.

May they KNOW at once YOUR impartial love, unconditional love, impartial, unconditional forgiveness and the POWER TO CHANGE OUT OF SIN, through the mighty opportunity of repentance. Help us all make friends with repenting. That we repent so that we will not repeat a sin. Thank YOU for the newness of life everyday offers in JESUS. Thanks for the promise of unbroken time with JESUS in heaven that YOU have for all believers.  Thank YOU. Amen.