PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: THANK YOU

From Pastor John Collins:

Let each of us take a few moments today and say thank you to God, who allowed us to wake up, who has given us life, who has taken us through some really tough times and has shown us the beautiful love that He has, who has given us hope in the form of Jesus Christ who sustains us and keeps us in this world so dark.

Let us each place an extra drop of awe in our hearts day by day for the wonderful God that is ours, for the creator of the universe and all that is in it. Let each of us add more kindness to our hearts and more peace to our minds by claiming the Lord Jesus as our very own.

LOVE THAT CROSS! PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: CRACKPOT CHURCHES AND FAKE PROPHETS

From Pastor John Collins:

“I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor as their fathers forget My name for Baal. The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. ‘What is the chaff to the wheat?’ says the Lord. ‘Is not My word like a fire?’ says the Lord, ‘And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?’ Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who steal My words every one from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’ Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams, says the Lord, and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet, I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:25-32 (NKJV).

There have been churches built on the lies of a ‘prophet’, there have been millions and millions of dollars collected on the basis of the lies of a ‘prophet’ and it has become nothing for people to say that God is giving them dreams and telling them this or that and that this person or that is a prophet to the Lord and is anointed.

There is a higher price to pay for deceiving people in the name of the Lord but the most awful price is paid by the one who is convinced by the deceiver. God is not unable to make His will known to all. God is not without the power to make sure that His message is received and it is unmistakable. God’s voice thundered from heaven when Jesus was baptized. The magnitude of the miracles that we done by Jesus and in the name of Jesus was not questionable. When God wants you to know something, 

He is not subtle.

Many a foolish person has been taken in by a bible scholar who can spin the scriptures to delight the listener and convince them of the authority of the speaker. Do not be fooled by clever orators who eventually base their ‘church’ on themselves and demand your pocketbook and your complete devotion while claiming to have visions from God and instructions from God.

Get a bible for under 10 dollars and read it. Then read it again and again. It will help you to have the ability to rightly discern the crackpot churches that have been around for centuries and it will help you tune out the nonsense that so many are tossing around these days.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.” 2 Timothy 15-16 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: THE CYCLE

From Pastor John Collins:

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV).

Reading through the descriptions in that scripture is to describe most schools, workplaces, social gathering spot, homes and churches in today’s society. That list is commonplace for people. That list describes most of the people we know, whether we want to admit it or not and whether they admit it themselves or not. That list states that most everyone is not going to heaven.

At some point we have got to wake up to the reality of this truth and do something about it. It is not okay that people just go about their lives eating, drinking, playing and having children only to continue the cycle while the outcome of their eternity is being ignored. Just because you ignore a problem does not mean that it will change or go away. You must face problems head on and the problem of rebelling against God is a choice and believe me, ignoring God is choosing to rebel against Him.

We can do better as a nation, as a state, a city, a community, a church, a household and an individual. We can care more about our eternal souls and begin to obey God more and more each day until it is constant and we are consistently acting as Christ would have us act and we can show our children what it means to put God first so that we can meet up in heaven one day.

Life is precious and it is up to us what we do with it. Just remember that God has a pretty amazing and huge reward for those who choose to follow His Son in this life and who choose to obey His will every minute of every day in this life.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:22-26 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: WITCHCRAFT

From Pastor John Collins:

“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.” Deuteronomy 18:10-11 (NKJV).

“Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:31 (NKJV).

“And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.” Leviticus 20:6 (NKJV).

We live in a new age world that is modern and advanced in thought and deed. We are a knowledgeable people and we think that we have come so far from the dark ages and the ignorance of superstitions, right? Our society is fascinated with ghosts, mediums, psychics, astrologers, witches and the like. We watch shows about them, we go and have our palms read, our cards read and we wonder what it must be like to have the gift of sight. We have been played by the devil into accepting this a part of accepted society. We look up our horoscopes and wonder if we are compatible with our partners. What sign are you?

Satan has always been clever and just look at what time has done for him. We have learned to accept forbidden practices as a natural God-given gift to some. We think that the one who talks with the dead is working for God. As if God wants us to communicate with those that have died just to comfort ourselves. Jesus said to let the dead bury the dead. In other words, those who die without faith and salvation cannot be helped by you nor can you help them. Those that die with faith and salvation do not need your help and you still cannot be helped by them. You can be helped by focusing on Jesus Christ and ensure that your faith gets you home to heaven.

Just because something becomes familiar to us should not mean that it has become condoned by God. The bible is clear about psychics and mediums and we should never assume that just because society deems them acceptable and God-given talents that they are. We allow ourselves to be seduced into following those things that are against God. We allow ourselves to be talked into accepting those things that God has forbidden. What is your fruit of the forbidden tree that you eat from? We each can be lured into accepting what tempts us. Are you driven to connect with a loved one who died? Do you feel the need for a psychic to tell you when you will marry? Do you not trust that God is with you? Do you seek the advice and guidance of Satan and his minions because it has been deemed okay by society? Where do you find your solace? Does your faith allow you to seek God and Jesus alone?

Do not be deceived by a society that will enable the destruction of your soul. Psychics, mediums and those that would prey on your vulnerability are not going to be of service. Cling to Jesus and all of His glory and know that He wants you to be free of any influence that would cause your soul to perish. Be true to your faith and all will be will. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, BELIEVE THAT

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: HALLOWEEN = PAGAN HOLIDAY

From Pastor John Collins: 

“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.” 1 Corinthians 10:21 (NKJV).

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them, I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.’” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NKJV).

Halloween is paganism. God has spent a lot of time and effort and has sent many a prophet, messenger and apostle to fight paganism, which is of the devil and straight from Hell, to teach us what His will is and to teach us to know what is of Satan. Halloween is a holiday for Satan.

Just because the world is doing it does not make it right. Six billion dollars spent in the US per year on the devil’s day is appalling. Do you think because your kids enjoy it and it is a fun party for the adults too that God approves of it? No. God does not approve and He does take notice. There have been many people who are ignorant to the history of Halloween and therefore are acting against God in ignorance, but if you do know then there is no excuse for you to continue to celebrate this evil day.

Halloween is a pagan holiday and always has been. Choose this year to do something with your faith and stop joining in with the unbelievers and stop being unequally yoked with the unbelievers. It matters how you choose to spend your time here on earth and this holiday should never be celebrated and should not be a holiday. Choose to be a faithful Christian this year and every year after. Your soul is more important than some laughs, candy, pictures and drinks among the heathens.

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9 (NKJV).

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:12 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: PAYBACK

From Pastor John Collins:

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:19-21 (NKJV).

I am sure that there are many people who would like to do this but are unable. It is very hard when you are hurt, insulted or mistreated by someone you just want to fight back and get even. It feels good to add insult to injury to someone whom you feel deserves it. It is easy to treat your enemy with utter disrespect and contempt.

Who says that they are your enemy though? What drives people to group up together to hate another group whether it’s nationally, internationally, in school, at work, or even in our own families? It is not what God wants from us and it is just not our right to determine who has value and who does not.

It is our responsibility to grow in our faith and learn to have true compassion, even on those that we would ‘consider’ our enemy. God knows if any one of us has behaved with righteousness or not and every one will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. It is up to us to let go of the grudges and the pettiness that we can hold so dear. It is up to us to see things as Jesus would and choose to forgive and to let the justice of God play out.

It is also necessary to know that false kindness and fake friendliness gains you nothing. When your heart holds contempt for someone there is not enough smiles and kind gestures that will make up for it. You must allow clarity to enter your mind and pureness to enter your heart. Hold on to God and His Son and they will help you heal. Let God do His job and you do yours, worship Him in Spirit and Truth.

“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:17-18 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: HONEST, NO EXCUSES

From Pastor John Collins:

“For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:20-21 (NKJV).

Honesty is a necessity if you wish to see the kingdom of God. It is not always needed for you to discuss your past with all those who cross your path, but it is needed for you to be willing to acknowledge your past with forthrightness.

When you are no longer the person that you once were and you are that new creature and a man or woman of God then you can easily speak of who you were as I have done and as Paul so easily spoke of the man that he was. There is not any shame in admitting where you were when you know where you are. It does not need to be the main focus of your life but it should not ever be something that you hide from either.

Each person that is born on earth will have a testimony that will be able to help another with the light of God shining on them. Each person needs to look at who they are, who they were and who they want to be. God is willing to forgive His children and that will only happen when you can admit your sins and stop sinning. I know that many will say that it is not possible to not sin but it is possible to attain righteousness in life and that does not include sinning.

Righteousness is possible when you make every effort to please God, to not sin and to monitor your heart and mind continuously to keep from backsliding. A liar should no longer lie, a thief should no longer steal and a cheater should no longer cheat. Those words should sound familiar and each person who believes in Christ should never make excuses for their sin but should make the effort to go and sin no more.

Be willing to be open and honest about who you have been, trust in who you are and look forward to who you will become, in Christ.

“John answered and said, ‘A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.’” John 3:27 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS 

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: A JOB TO DO

From Pastor John Collins:

“And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.’ And He said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’” Luke 2:42-49 (NKJV).

As a Christian you must be able to look at the life of Jesus and to see the focus and devotion that He had to doing the will of God and to make the effort to emulate it. Jesus knew that His life on earth was temporary and that He had a job to do while He was here and although the life of the Christian may not have the importance that the life of Jesus had, each life of a Christian comes with a job to do. Each person that is a believer in Christ has an obligation to the kingdom of heaven to glorify God and to follow Christ. That is the most important job that you can ever have and it is the only job that will see that you are permitted entry into the kingdom.

Whether you are busy being a parent, an employee, a student, a child, an athlete or a bum, you still have a responsibility to God. There is not any activity or obligation that you have that takes precedence over being a man or a woman of faith and living a life that shines for Jesus. There is not any excuse that you can give that will justify you ignoring God and choosing to not follow Jesus. We all have a job to do and either you do that job and receive the reward or you don’t do that job and you deal with the consequences. God is merciful and has much compassion but He is also righteous and His wrath will fall upon the wicked and the self-serving.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are too busy for God because He is not too busy for you.

“And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” Luke 4:12 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: RISK

From Pastor John Collins:

“Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.” Psalm 39:4-5 (NKJV).

People take undue risks with their lives every day. Some people drive crazy, some take drugs and drink too much alcohol and drive, some have chosen to be in gangs, to deal drugs, to steal and break in to places and some just like to fight. People take risks with their lives in the activities that they choose to do and some have risky jobs that require bold courage.

I don’t believe that people value life as they should and I don’t believe that the youth of this world values life as they should. Each person that is born is given a certain amount of time to get it right so that they can get to heaven and too many risk that life that has been given and don’t claim salvation prior to losing that life.

Life is precious and nobody should take it for granted. There is not any job that is too important to risk your safety on the road. There is not any fight that needs to be fought so that your life is taken in a bar or in an alleyway at night.

Don’t take the amount of time that you are given here on earth for granted. You never know what tomorrow will bring and you never know when it will all be over and judgment must come. Don’t risk your life for foolish reasons and don’t delay calling on Jesus. Time goes by so quickly and there is not any reason to rush off to join the dead by risking your life.

Take your faith seriously and take your life seriously because every Christian needs as much time as possible to get right with God and to bear fruit in the name of Jesus.

“The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.” Psalm 33:13-17 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: CHOICES

From Pastor John Collins:

“A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV).

“The way of life winds upward for the wise, That he may turn away from hell below.” Proverbs 15:24 (NKJV).

There is a process to growing up, claiming adulthood and proceeding to live your life. There are choices that you make and each one of those choices determines who you are and who you will become. Those that are aware of their eternal soul and want to go to heaven learn to make those choices by determining the good will of the Lord and choosing to do His will.

You may not think that it is any big deal to tell a lie, omit the truth or to be selfish in this one small matter. You may think nothing of passing up an opportunity to be kind and compassionate just this once. You may think that work is more important than that baseball game or that home cooked meal. You may think that you can make it up to them at another time. You may think that you deserve to let loose and finally have some fun so who will it hurt if you have that fling, you deserve it. You may think that there is plenty of time in the future for you to settle down and be boring and do what the Lord expects of you but He knows your motives and intentions and all of those things will be taken into account.

Each day you will make choices that will lead you toward righteousness or toward wickedness. Each day will determine your character and where your eternal resting place will be. Each little choice that you make adds up to the totality of your life. Choose Jesus and choose to live.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: CHANGE IS POSSIBLE

From Pastor John Collins:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV).

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.” Psalm 51:12-13 (NKJV).

The gang-banger, the drug dealer, the thief, the liar, the cheater, the adulterer and every other sinner out there is a soul in need of Christ. We live in a world of despair and fear of our fellow man. We have so many horrible truths that fill our streets that we are cautious and wary. There are bad people in this world and many of them do not want to change. I believe that there are also so very many people that have not been given the chance to change. Their environments have created a need to survive and there seems to be so few ways to get out.

There are many outreach programs that are trying to help. I believe that more can be done. It is not only in the inner cities and slums that these lost souls reside. The address of a soul in need is not of importance. Remember the 1 lost sheep and know that our responsibility to each other is greater than we have owned up to. We are all God’s children and we should all be willing to enable change in another. Sometimes it is just believing that change is possible. Sometimes it is faith in helping another create the desire to change within themselves. Change is possible.

The true hope of the gospel is this change. This is what getting to heaven involves. We cannot claim to believe and then not change our lives and ourselves. It is the hope of Christ that allows us forgiveness and with that forgiveness comes change. We are new creatures and we are no longer the same person that we were. Sometimes we must bear with the doubt and judgment of others. 

Sometimes we must overcome the doubt within ourselves. I don’t care what your past was because whatever that past was it is now your testimony once you have come to Jesus and become His disciple.

This is what we should look for and hope for in others. We should be encouraging the drug addict, the alcoholic, the cheater, the gang-banger and the abuser. All these would be terrible sinners are the souls of the lost until they find the truth in Christ. Each one of us will find in our lives opportunities to encourage faith in others and we should be willing to take the chance to do so. Remember Jesus did not come to heal the healthy but the sick. Do not look down on someone that is a prisoner of Satan’s, look up to God and pray that the lost be touched by the Lord and drawn to Him. Do not doubt the transformation that comes with the Cross. That is the beauty and hope of our faith.

“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Romans 8:13 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: CHERRY PICKING THE BIBLE

From Pastor John Collins: 

“Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Luke 3:7-9 (NKJV).

John the Baptist did not hesitate to speak boldly and proclaim the truth. He saw right through the hypocrisy of the people. There were many Jews who would like to claim Abraham as their father which would place them in the approved lot except they did not do anything to claim righteousness for themselves. Many Christians today will do the same thing by saying that Jesus is their Lord and Savior and all that they have to do is believe in order to claim heaven because they will not be judged on anything else but that belief. Wrong!!

You cannot cherry pick the bible and you cannot force God to change who He is. God is righteous and true and our behavior, whatever that may be in its entirety, will have an effect on the outcome of the judgement of our souls. Our eternal well-being is in our own hands and we must bear the responsibility for our souls.

The Baptist said to those who came to be baptized to bring fruits worthy of repentance. Each of us must carefully examine our hearts so that we acknowledge what motivates us and what holds us back. The fruits that we must bear should fulfill the law of God to love our neighbor as ourselves; humility, forgiveness, kindness, charity, encouragement, acceptance, and submission to the will of God. We are responsible to act on what we know and not just assume that entitled position belongs to us.

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” John 13:14-17 (NKJV).

 LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: BAD DAY

From John Collins Ministries: 

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’” Lamentations 3:22-24 (NKJV).

Have you ever had a bad day that just went on and on into the next and then the next? Have you ever enabled your own sin by saying to yourself that you have already sinned so what does it matter? You do not have to allow one bad day to just stretch into an undetermined amount of time while you wallow in your own filth and excuses.   

God is amazing and His mercy and compassion is fresh and new each day so if you messed up yesterday and regret it there is no reason to continue today. You have to stop your own self-sabotage at some time and just get on with it. There is no excuse for any of us and we are prone to justify our mistakes. God does not want justifications, He wants us to accept responsibility and to make the effort to change our ways.

God does not expect perfection but He does expect you to care enough to make the effort. He knows when you are slacking in your faith, making excuses and just refusing to change your ways. If today was a bad day for you, find your remorse and then with a prayer seeking forgiveness you can move on and hope again in a new day, a new opportunity to get it right and a new chance to bear good fruit.

You have to decide that you are worth it and that you matter enough to desire heaven because God has already done that for you by sending Jesus and He died on that cross for you which proves His love and His belief that you are worth it. With our Lord validating your self-worth you need to do the same and choose to obey the gospel of Christ. Let each day be a day that you praise God and thank Jesus.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: LOVE, WRATH, COMPLETE GOD

From John Collins Ministries:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV).

It is time for a serious reality check for every single person living on earth at this time: You are going to die an earthly death and will have to face the righteous judgment of God. You may think you know what that means, you may not care but let me fill in the blanks for so many….whether you choose to believe in God or not, whether you find God fair or not, whether you agree with God or not, whether you end up dismissing God or not, whether you reject God or not and whether you end up getting as angry at God as you want and as defiant toward God as you want and you can ignore Him, disobey Him and reject His Son but in the end, ALL will come before the judgment seat of Christ and ALL will face the righteous judgment of God, whether you want to or not and whether you believe it or not.

Heaven is NOT a given. Heaven is NOT guaranteed. Heaven is a reward of the salvation that you claim when you choose Jesus and obedience over your worldly life and yourself. People are so selfish and self-involved and so full of self-importance that they just can’t seem to work out their salvation with fear and trembling because they have lost their capacity for reverence and most have never bothered to develop it for God in the first place but have transferred that delight and wonder and awe for the material things of this world and for the prestige that can come with it.

Everyone wants to talk about how God is love and just ignore the truth that God is wrath as well. Remember that God is complete, God is divine and God is the Creator of all and is without flaws. Judgment happens in a moment and is irreversible and it is forever. Why take any chances with your eternal soul when today allows you call on Jesus and to obey the Lord. Do not be lazy in your faith. Get right with God.

“For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:11-12 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS