An Open Invite

Jesus death on the cross was not a martyr's death -- it was a vicarious death.
Jesus death on the cross was not a human tragedy -- but a divine plan. Before
the foundation of the world, the Lord knew that He would do this -- and
accomplish His will. His death on the cross made the way for sinners to be
reconciled back to God -- and offered the hope of eternal life. He has extended
to us the invitation of salvation, opportunity of forgiveness -- and is
available to every man. The Lord of Hosts has done this. In laying down His life
for the sins of the world, He sprinkled the nations in His blood -- and has
entered the Holy of Holies for us -- and made intercession for those who were
far off -- for those who were transgressors, and separated from God. The veil
that kept us from approaching the Lord has been torn down. Jesus purchased for
us such an awesome gift -- payed for in His own blood -- that we can now come to
Him, and receive forgiveness of sins -- and be saved from His wrath. At the
cross, Jesus took the punishment of the Father for our sins in His own body --
He became sin for us who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of
God in Him. The Lord hates sin -- everything that is tainted with iniquity He
cannot look upon. The Lord is also just -- He cannot let crimes go unpunished --
justice must be served. So instead of condemning us, He took on a flesh body
Himself -- prepared and ready -- for the suffering of death -- and took the
punishment we deserved for our sins -- so that we wouldn't have to die! He does
not desire everlasting death for us -- but everlasting life. God's wrath against
sin was appeased at the cross -- and rained down His mercy in His blood. We
had a debt we could not pay -- it was His blood or ours -- and He chose to come
down here to this sick, putrid, dark, filthy state of a world -- be handed over
into the hands of sinners -- and become the ransom of the world. He payed our
debt! There was nothing we could do to earn what Jesus had to die for. We could
save ourselves no more than a drowning man can save himself. He died for every
sin -- from the beginning straight through to the end -- He paid it all. If we
could get to heaven by doing good things -- if there were someway we could
somehow earn our salvation, and buy it ourselves -- Jesus wouldn't have had to
come. Nothing we do would ever be good enough. Isaiah says through the Spirit
that our righteousness is as filthy rags -- used menstrual garments if you want
to get technical. This is what we have to offer Him. This will not do. In order
to fix the problem of sin -- it required a sinless sacrifice. Jesus blood was
the only antidote for sin. His blood is that medicine -- the cure -- that saves
us. Now, there's a problem when one doesn't accept what the Lord has done for
Him. The Lord died for all men, Hebrews 2:9 tells us -- but this does not mean
that all men are automatically saved -- or are exempt from personal
responsibility. Every person who has ever lived or ever will live has a
responsibility to come to the Lord. And the Lord has made coming to Him
incredibly easy to do. He has given us His word -- and He's told us who He is,
why He's come -- what HE did -- and what will happen into the future. He's
revealed to us that He is the Lord -- and Jesus -- God in the flesh -- has come
to save us from wrath. However, those who reject Him can only expect wrath.
Those who are not saved are on the path to judgement. The offer of salvation is
there -- but unless you receive it, and put your faith in Jesus -- and make HIM
Lord of your life -- you only have trouble ahead of you....
The Lord has done what needed to be done. If He went through all of the
shame and beatings and death -- giving up Himself to save the very ones who
hated Him -- there's not much else He won't do for those who believe in and
trust in Him. He is sovereign -- but He is not a tyrant. He has a perfect will
for your life -- but in His permissive will, let's you choose your own path.
Don't miss the opportunity to come to the Lord...every day you live is another
chance He's given you -- every breath even...Behold, to day is the day of
salvation. Tomorrow is not promised to you. Do not refuse the outstretched arm
of the Lord....If your living in disobedience, if your not sure where you stand
with the Lord...That can be remedied the very
moment you confess Him as Lord, and repent of your sins...Jesus asks just one
thing -- Follow Him. Don't miss that awesome opportunity He's given you to be
made right.....

Impressions...

Sometimes there is no better place to be than out in the woods, reading the Word
of the Lord and learning of Him. Jesus did this many times, the gospels record.
He would go up into mountains, or out in the wilderness and pray, and talk to
God. This is such a good thing to do! A place where it is just you and the Lord,
where you can simply listen to Him speak to you through His Word. And any time
one does this, it's never by accident. This is an awesome
opportunity to tell the Lord everything that's going on in your life, and to
pray for all those who are hurting, in trouble, and who are far from Christ. The
Lord will hear your prayers, and He will answer them according to His will. I
feel that in a far out, wild setting such as the wilderness, it really helps put
all things at ease -- and helps you to glorify the Lord. Take a look at the
trees, the flowing creek that never ends, nor runs out of water, the
unbelievably blue sky, the sound of birds and bugs alike making music as if in a
symphony to the Lord -- the wild grass and the blossoming flowers, and the
overrunning color of the green vegetation in every direction -- all things for His glory.
He made them, and they were made by Him and for Him. And in Him, do all these
things consist. Seeing that He has made all of these things, and demonstrated
His power and glory through His creation, do you think it's a hard
thing for the Lord to deliver you out of trouble?
Many times I have forget to trust the Lord, and take things into my
own hands. But in things we see every day like the ones I mentioned
above, the trees, sky, flowers, birds, color, etc...His mercy is displayed so
awesomely through the things He has created! The trees He has made to give us
oxygen, for the wicked AND for the righteous -- the animals for food, help, and
enjoyment, for the wicked AND for the good -- a stream of water which has no
end, it flows to the ocean and comes back again, yet the ocean is never full,
this too the Lord has given to the wicked AND the good, and water is for
everyone who is thirsty because without it, there is no life. None of us deserve
these things that the Lord gives us every day. Without these things, we die --
but these are things that we always seem to overlook -- it's never enough
because we always want more -- we are never content with the things God has
graciously given to us. The Lord's mercy is everlasting -- and His mercy is
renewed every morning. There is never a better day to come to the Lord and be
saved than today. If He continually blesses
all men each day because He loves them, though they be wicked -- how much more
do you think He desires to see you come to Him, that He might give you eternal life?
Just like the water that runs in a river -- His mercy will never run dry, and He gives it
freely to those who ask Him.
If your looking for the Lord, if you want to know who He is and what He's like
-- Jesus is your answer. He is the wellspring of water that will never run dry!
He will never fail you, and if you put your hope in Him, you will not be
ashamed. He's the one who put up His life as a sacrifice for us, that He might
be our Dad, and that we might become His children. He didn't send someone else to
make this happen -- He came down from eternity and accomplished this Himself!
How much more does He need to do to prove that He loves us? I can look back on
my life, and, though I've never been delivered while in the lion's den, never
been led through a gaping path in the Red Sea, never been delivered on war
against all odds -- I can see that in everything in my life, the Lord of Hosts
has been with me through all of my life. He has been there, and He has met every
need that I had -- and He has never failed. This too, I do not deserve from Him.
Man, how good the Lord is! The Lord knows when you awake, when you rise, when you
pray, and when you curse Him, and He loves you the same. When you stumble and
fall, He's there through it all -- watching and waiting for you to call on His
name. The Lord on heaven is so much more than what some people might make Him
out to be. And I pray that the Lord will teach and reach people -- whether
through me or in spite of me.
He is so good, and if only those who hate Him or don't believe would simply read
His Word they might see how great He really is. So many people want to knock the
Word of God, or pass it off as some fairy tale or collection of fables
without ever knowing what He's written and the plans that He has for
them. His Word is the only sure foundation we have -- and in His mercy and good
will, has made it known to us. His never-ending mercy is so far beyond our
understanding, but is so real. And for all the wicked things that people do in
this world, His anger is not turned away -- but His hand is outstretched still!
Just as He was patient with Israel, He is also patient
with us. He loved us enough to be executed in our place, taking a the shame and
condemnation that we so deserved -- when it should have been us who needed to be
condemned. He's given us another shot at life! When put this way, there is no
reason why you should die! To die in sin is something He never willed to happen
-- and yet if you choose to reject Him, He will let you. Those who die in sin and
are sent to hell are not sent because God desired them there, but because of
their own decision to not come to Him, that they might be saved.
The Lord did not come to judge and condemn, but He came to save.
If any man is thirsty, let Him come to the Lord. If any man is weary,
let Him come to the Lord. Is any man is in need, let Him come to the Lord. He is able,
and He is just, and He is true. His hand is outstretched still.
If any man will believe on Him he will not be ashamed.

"...My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid..." -- John 14:27.
"...I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through Me..." -- John 14:6.
"...And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say,
"Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whosoever desires, let him take
the water of life freely..." -- Revelation 22:17.