He Wants to Take You Higher

[bbyrd009]

The message of Repentance should manifest as joyful preparation for a wedding that the unrepentant (without knowledge) can only see in the life more abundantly that you show them in any situation.

An invitation to avoid hell, and join a funeral, while completely appropriate at a certain stage in a believer's walk, is not the manifestation of the Church that should be demonstrated to an unbeliever, as has been represented to you.

It is easy to envision some future Heaven, especially with the promises held out to us in the Bible, and this is an excellent vision to hold in a place in your heart; but when eschatology replaces, rather than describes your reward, it can only be reflected in your countenance. Any description of a future Heaven becomes meaningless to someone dying of thirst right now.

It is crucial, if you expect to "lead" anyone to Christ, that Heaven be reflected in the changes in you, and thus to the changes in the countenance of others when you walk into a room, and these are your most reliable guide to how effectively Christ is become manifest in you.

There will be a wedding! Come, let us prepare!

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

The message of Repentance should manifest as joyful preparation for a wedding that the unrepentant (without knowledge) can only see in the life more abundantly that you show them in any situation.

An invitation to avoid hell, and join a funeral, while completely appropriate at a certain stage in a believer's walk, is not the manifestation of the Church that should be demonstrated to an unbeliever, as has been represented to you.

It is easy to envision some future Heaven, especially with the promises held out to us in the Bible, and this is an excellent vision to hold in a place in your heart; but when eschatology replaces, rather than describes your reward, it can only be reflected in your countenance. Any description of a future Heaven becomes meaningless to someone dying of thirst right now.

It is crucial, if you expect to "lead" anyone to Christ, that Heaven be reflected in the changes in you, and thus to the changes in the countenance of others when you walk into a room, and these are your most reliable guide to how effectively Christ is become manifest in you.

There will be a wedding! Come, let us prepare!

He is preparing a FEAST for us of things we can't even imagine. Eternity will be a place of rejoicing for ever more.

Yes, can't we tell sinners, prepare your heart for the Lord to reside in it, and enter into the joy now... you don't have to wait until "heaven" to have that joy in your hearts, while at the same time, realizing that the joy we have now, is nothing to be compared to what it will be spending eternity with Jesus!!!!!

And may I add, I don't believe that eternity is some far out place in the heavenlies.... it seems to me scripture speaks strongly of a new earth.... oh yes, what joy does await us .... !

[bbyrd009]

Amen! My def of Heaven, "Wherever God is," should certainly be manifest in the earth, our final resting place; Heaven is coming here.

It is the "awaits us" that I would like to address...

[Titus2woman]

Love the vision! Thanks!

[The Matt]

Amen amen. Wonderful words.

[bbyrd009]

Ty

[bbyrd009]

"A little exercise that can pay you dividends,
if you take it seriously~finish this sentence:

My dog is happier than me
most of the time
because______.

Whatever you put in the blank
is where your dog has the advantage of you,
and only you can change this.

Get, or get rid of,
whatever you put in the blank.

Don't say you can't.

(but I'm not a dog)
Exactly; yet your dog may be happier than you much of the time."

from Conversations with my Dog.

We often ascribe to "responsibility" or some other important-sounding word what might better fall under "sub-optimum life choices," lol, or something. Written any other way allowed for poor imaging.

[bbyrd009]

hhuhhHhhuh...dogs are cool.