More insight from my friend Becca:

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When I was young it was fashionable to be a Christian. It was a time when no one had to explain what it meant to follow in the footsteps of Christ. We all got a good dose of “Hail stones and Damnation” every Sunday and we all knew if you were disobedient of the LORD GOD you would be punished. Our church was full of love of each other and understood the occasional times when a child got unruly in church, or the grandparent fell asleep. There were no fingers pointing saying this person or that person was a sinner, it was just understood we all were sinners trying to emulate the Savior Jesus Christ. Yes, there were ladies talking about the hat of Mrs. So and So, and maybe even an exclamation of how “tacky Mrs. So and So’s dress was”. We all had a few things in common: We went to church to hear the Word of God; we went to church to fellowship, and most of all we went to church because that is what we were expected to do.

Some where everything started getting all mixed up. It is no longer fashionable to go to church. If you say you are a Christian you have to make sure you explain what you mean by the term. There are more false ministers than there are righteous ministers of God. There are far to many ministers who teach the doctrine of men not the doctrine of the LORD GOD. There is very few churches who are guiding their congregation in the ways of Christ teaching and the basic foundation of Christ. If you are blessed enough to have a church with a Godly minister who is teaching the real message of the LORD GOD then you need to uphold him in prayers and praise God for his guidance.

Today for most of us it is up to us to educate our selves using the Word of God and the Holy Spirit that is within us. Far to often I hear things like “no, I don’t read the Bible because there isn’t time” or “when I get to heaven there will be plenty of time for me to change.” Don’t you realize that you will be the same person in heaven or on the New Earth as you are now? You will not be a loving caring people in heaven or the New Earth if you are not a loving caring people now, you will not be a follower of Jesus if you are not a follower of Him now, You will not even be knowledgeable of who Jesus Christ or the LORD GOD is if you are not knowledgeable now. Things are not going to change in our character, knowledge or even in our makeup. That is why it is imperative for you to take time now to know the Word of God and to know the precious gift He gave to mankind. You need to strive to learn from the Bible who Jesus Christ is and why He should be number one in your life today. It is imperative that you keep learning about Jesus Christ who will be our King on the New Earth. You must keep pushing toward a better relationship with Christ and never stop striving for that growth.

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Eph. 1:5-7).

Today it is imperative that we are careful that we are not lead away from the truth; and that we know the truth of Jesus Christ. It is imperative that we do not follow after the traditions of men in the world today, or after the rudiments (principle) of this world we live in today. We must follow Christ, we must learn as much about our Lord as possible and we must hold all our allegiance to Jesus Christ our Lord. The only hope we have in this world today is in the knowledge of Him who dwells deep within our very souls.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” (Col. 2:8-12).

It is crystal clear you are either a child of God by adoption or you are an enemy. You either have eternal life, or you are dead in trespasses and sins. Our standing before the LORD God doesn’t change, our standing before the Sonship of Jesus doesn’t change.

If we are “in Christ” who is the same, yesterday, today and forever then Christ alone is our righteousness and results in our right relationship with God. Christ is of God “made unto us righteousness.” We can not get caught up in the worldliness who tells us “If you want to be righteous all you just to is o stand upon your faith or your faithfulness and that will make you forever eternally saved and you do not have to do anything to be saved.” This is indeed false you would indeed be condemned.

If we live our life today being hateful, ugly or apothecial towards the LORD GOD, Jesus Christ or the followers of the LORD GOD; and then expect to have a loving relationship with the LORD GOD, Jesus Christ and His followers on the New Earth then we are crazy and only fooling our selves. We are now what we will be on the New Earth. Our character, behavior or our dedication to Christ will not change.

Remember this: It will be Jesus Christ who will present us to the Father. We will be clothed in the garments of His own righteousness not our own righteousness. Jesus represents us to God. We see God in Christ. God sees us in Christ. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. We in Christ are reconciled to God.

We can pretend everything is fine and dandy here on this earth, but once we get to the New Earth, I will change my behavior and become meek, and righteous, or happier, or more giving, or less angry, or less cold. We can even ask Jesus to look down on our pure and holy attitudes toward, or say look at me and preserve me the way I am not because I am righteous and I am a good person. This it utter nonsense and foolishness.

Today we need to remember Jesus is the author and the finisher of our faith. We need to strive to continue to grow to His glory and to improve those rough edges we have and do it for His glory. We need to endure the hardship of this life just like Jesus endured the cross, the despising shame He faced during his trail. If we are chastened, or scolded or reprimanded by God then we need to sing His praises because just like we parents chasten, scold, and reprimand our children who we love, our Father in Heaven does the same thing. If we have been chastened, scolded, reprimanded then we know God considers us His children through adoption by the blood of Jesus Christ.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” (Heb. 12:2-8).

We need to remember the anger of the LORD GOD endures but a moment; in His favor is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. We know if we endure unto the end, we will be saved.

“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5).

“ But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matt 24:13).