In yesterday's post, I left you a sobering message. Maybe it wasn't as much for you as it was for an unsaved person that you are close to. One or more people that you are concerned may not make it into the Kingdom of God.
The fact is that as Christians, we do have the hope of eternal life. And for those unsaved persons we can have hope but ultimately it is up to them as to whether or not that they will have that same home.
I used to worry a lot about that. What if my children or grandchildren do not come to Jesus? I can't force them to follow Christ. And so, if I die, will I ever get to see them again.
That makes me want to go on here and spend as much time with them as I am now.
It's been a daunting worry on me as I get older.
However, something my Pastor said in his sermon a couple of weeks ago, helped me with that.
He said that God is in control of the future. No amount of worry is going to help our loved ones, and it is not our jobs to constantly worry about something that we have no control over pertaining to whether or not they will go to heaven.
Those words aren't an exact quote but that is basically what he was saying.
And that really has freed me from a lot of the worry I had. Because instead of worrying, I should be enjoying my life now with them. While I can. And also, I try to live a life that God would want me to, in front of them as well. So I am trying to do that.
Oh, I still consider them and the salvation of those that are unsaved. But it is not a constant worry like before, And the fact it, I still pray for their salvation every day because I want them in heaven with me.
But at the same time, God has through my pastors' words in that sermon, given me peace about them.
I pray that He will finish in them, what He started. Back in their Sunday School and Bible School days. The things we taught them about God. Those spiritual things as well as the non-spiritual things that we tried to instill in them while they were growing up.
In the mean time, I look to what the Bible says about hope.
For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth. Palms 71:5
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
These are just a few of the passages in scripture that uses the word hope. There are over 100 and so there is no reason to not be thankful for the hope that God has placed in those that love Him.
So, if you worry about dying and never seeing those loved ones again, remember that it is out of your control but that you do have hope to cling to.
Thanks for coming by today, Friends. Have a blessed and peaceful and hopeful day!
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