The Calling, Glorification

Time to Celebrate

We are talking about the Five Steps of life in Romans 8:29-30

"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."

We have already covered

Step 1 - Foreknowledge of You.
Step 2 - Predestination.
Step 3 - Calling.
Step 4 - Justification

You are no longer of the World. The World hates you now. Sorry. Jesus told us that it would. It hated Him first. {John 15:18} You may even lose Loved Ones. Families will even come to hate each other because of the Faith in Jesus. {Luke 12:51-53}

The World may even come after you. Sorry. It Crucified Him. {Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23} However, just as He rose from the Dead, so shall we. When the time comes.

"Who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." {Philippians 3:21 }

That Person that hated you? That Person that spitefully used and abused you? That Job? That Company? That????? Gone. They are no more. Do you care if an Ant looks at you cross-eyed? Of course not. Why? They are an Ant. They are here for a bit, and then they are gone. They mean nothing. They can run on you. They may even bite you. But you know what? With a single step, they are crushed and completely destroyed. This is how we should see those that are not of God. They are nothing more than Ants, standing in the Shadow of God's Foot, as it is preparing to come down. What are they to you?

Remember Child of God, God Created you. He Created a Plan and Purpose for you and your Life. He Called you to accept it. He did, or will, depending on where you are in your Journey, Justify you and prepare you for what He wants you to do. There is coming the time that all things as we know them are crushed and completely destroyed, at the same time, YOU? You are being Glorified by God Himself. God Himself "will wipe away every tear from" your eye. Are you His Child? Have you accepted His Call? If "Yes?" Not even Death itself has a hold on you any longer.

I understand that many fear Death. It is natural to fear the unknown. But it doesn't have to be the unknown. As a Child of God, you know what to expect. You should understand, that when that time comes for you, it is not a punishment. It is not a horrific event. It comes because it must. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

In other words, Death will come. There is an Appointed Time. We all must face our Immortality in this Temporal World. Fear of what comes next is really unnecessary. Jesus tells us this in John 14:1-3

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

According to Revelations 21:1-27.

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Now, this is after the Tribulation. The end time. But I want you to think about this. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." And "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
Imagine that. It is a far better place to that of which we go, than this of which we leave. A place where God Himself will wipe away our Tears. A place where there will be no more Sorrow, Pain, Sickness, Death itself.

Really think about this. From the beginning of Time, man has sought out ways to extend his Life here on Earth. They seek Immortality. They want to live forever. However, would that be a Blessing or a Curse? Have you really thought about that?

We know that the Word declares "Absent the body, present with the Lord." If you do not leave your Body? You can not be with the Lord. For the Lord and the Kingdom of Heaven is Spiritual. The Body is Material. It's Physical. We are in Physical Bodies to enjoy this gift God gave us. Besides all that. How long would you want to live in a place where there IS Sickness, Disease, Sorrow, Pain, etc? One hundred years? Two hundred years?

Remember, for God, our time on Earth is nothing. Even time as we know it. The world as we know it WILL come to an end. 2 Peter 3:8-18

"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."

This is why Jesus tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God. We are His Children, He will meet our needs. All this "Stuff" the World has to offer is nothing. It's here one moment and gone the next. As a Child of God, you ARE Immortal. You are going to live forever.

When a Child of God, "dies" what really happens is that they are transformed. They leave the Physical and become Spiritual. They go to a place where God Himself will wipe away their tears. Who is better off? Us? Still living here? Or them? Who has passed on? I submit to you, they are. By FAR.

Even Death is a time of celebration for a Child of God. Of course, you will have sorrow. That is normal. I get sad if someone I love takes a trip. I miss them. I know I will see them again in time. But I miss them. When a loved one dies, they are simply taking a very long Trip.

But the good news is, if they are a Child of God, as are you, you WILL see them again. Celebrate their Passing, and look forward to seeing them again. Live on and seek first the Kingdom of God. Continue to spread the Word. Your time will come as well. As well will the time come for the end of everything. But as a Child of God, these things are not to be feared, but things to be looked forward to. A Time of God's Ultimate Glorification.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord..