When I think of a person who believes or says all one needs to do in order to go to Heaven is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, I imagine that his or her prayer might sound something like the following. My heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you sent your Son from Heaven. He came here and lived an obedient life as an example for me, suffered and died a horrible death, and shed His blood for me that I can have forgiveness of my sins. Father, I am so thankful for this and to show you just how thankful and appreciative I am, here is what I plan to do for the remainder of my physical life. I plan to do nothing. Father, I have read in your Word about the parables of the Talents and the Sower in Matthew 13 and 25, but my preacher told me I don’t need to do anything but to believe. So, that’s what I plan to do. I know I will hear you say at judgment, “Enter in my good, faithful, productive servant.” However, the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV). Taking a spiritual inventory of ourselves, we could ask, “Am I a productive worker in the kingdom, or am I like the one talent man, wicked and lazy?” Note

Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). He was speaking about food, clothing and such like. Just before that in verses 19-20, our Lord said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:15 records Jesus saying, “…For one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” The apostle Paul wrote, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Timothy 6:7-9). Many years ago, I saw a man on a television show making a confession. He said, “All my life has been devoted to making money. In doing so, I have lost all my friends and most of my family. Here I stand in my late eighties not far from standing before the Lord in Judgment, and I am spiritually destitute.” Jesus told the rich young ruler, “If you want to be perfect, go,

When I think of a person who believes or says all one needs to do in order to go to Heaven is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, his or her prayer might sound something like this: My heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you sent your Son from Heaven. He came here and lived an obedient life as an example for me, suffered and died a horrible death, and shed His blood for me that I can have forgiveness of my sins. Father, I am so thankful for this, and to show you just how thankful and appreciative I am, here is what I plan to do for the remainder of my physical life. I plan to do nothing. Father, I have read in your Word about the parables of the talents and the sower in Matthew 13 and 25, but my preacher told me that I don’t need to do anything but to believe. So, that’s what I plan to do. I know I will hear you say at judgment, “Enter in my good, faithful, productive servant.“ The apostle Paul in writing to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 15:58 penned, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” When we take spiritual inventory, we could ask ourselves this question, “Am I a productive worker in the kingdom or am I like the one talent man,

When an individual decides to become a Christian (a follower of Christ, a child of God), he or she has decided to turn his or her life over to God, surrender the will to His will and live the remainder of one’s life in subjection to His Word. This procedure begins by obeying the Gospel. After this, baptized believers are babes in Christ. They begin their journey; it will be a tough journey, but it will be worth it. Jesus said in Revelation 2:10, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” No reward is ever given when one runs a race until he has crossed the finish line. The apostle Paul said at the end of his life in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” The young Christian studies God’s Word daily to learn what he or she is to do—and not to do. Also, Bible study draws strength from His powerful Word. The apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and

he word “deceive” is used many times in the Old and New testaments. What does the word mean? One dictionary says it means to mislead by falsehood or to lie. Following are some places the word “deceived” appears in the New Testament. Matthew 24:4-5, “Take heed that no one deceives you for many will come in my name saying I am the Christ and will deceive many.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” Ephesians 5:6, “Let no one deceive you with empty words.” Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” 1 Timothy 2:14, “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” Titus 3:3, “For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” James 1:26, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.” Romans 16:17-18, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you have

James wrote in James 1:12, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” In Matthew 4, Jesus was tempted by the devil with every temptation he could throw at Him. In verse 11 it says the devil left Him. I believe that Satan preys on the weak in faith. First Peter 5:8 reads, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” James wrote in James 4:7, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” It only makes sense to conclude that the devil works in those who are weak in the faith; they present the least resistance. He left Jesus because of His great faith and His determination and dedication to His Father. The same holds true for us. If we deny self and take up our cross and follow Jesus as He instructed, that doesn’t leave us much time to follow Satan. Paul said in Ephesians 6:10-11, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” So, to get back to the question, “How can I resist temptation?” Remember, God’s written Word is the most powerful tool you have. Use it not only for

When a person grows old, the one thing that makes him the happiest is to know and see his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and loved ones walking in harmony with God’s will. Having their priorities in the right prospective is: When people reach the last years of their lives and reflect back, I doubt if recounting how much they accumulated in material things would be of any importance. They could ask this question, “What have I done in my lifetime for the cause of Christ?” [Editor’s Note: At the close of one’s life one wonders, “What’s next for me?” and “Have I prepared adequately for the commencement of eternity.” ~ Louis Rushmore