Francine Sykes

We live in a world where we are told if it feels good do it. So how dare anyone judge what we do. We are told that we don't have to be accountable for our actions. I can reconcile a final judgement with God's love because God is love and since He is our creator who else should judge us but Him. He allowed His only son to be judged for our sins. With accepting the gift of salvation, we judged ourselves and realized that we were sinful and worthy of judgement. The Gospels show us how to live our lives and how to judge it through God's eyes. I see the final judgement as a way of God showing His total omnipotence to those creatures who never believed in His omnipotence.

Holiness is being separated from the world's use for God's. I've been separated from the world's use through the gift of salvation. Just reminding myself that I'm supposed to be holy as He is holy is a challenge since I know I can't do it on my own. But with the help of the Holy Spirit and since I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, I can live a holy life.

The fact that I will see Him, who died for me, in all His glory gets my attention and brings me hope. What inspires me to live soberly is that my life will be judged. Not having hope in Christ's return can lead people in living more for themselves and less for Him. We can become less diligent in living lives worthy of the Lord. We may even become involved in sin and acting and thinking the world's way.

It's based on knowing that Jesus is real, that He does exist and that we will see Him soon face-to-face. God has given us human emotions to fully feel and to express this joy. Joy is based more on who Jesus is and what He has done for us. The pursuit of happiness is wrapped up in things going the way we planned or in material possessions. Genuine joy is based on Jesus (who never changes), so we can have joy no matter what our circumstances may be.

I'm going through circumstances right now that I feel God is using to refine my faith. He is making it clear that He is my source, my provider and not a job. My reaction to things are different now from what they would have been even last year. I think that tested faith brings glory to Jesus when people see you go through something but your reaction is not what they would have expected. More importantly, that they understand that it's only because of Jesus that you are making it through difficulties (and not wallowing in them) and that you have the kind of attitude that would honor God during the process.

God's part is to protect us and keep us safe from he evil one as Jesus prayed and to finish the good work He started in us until Jesus comes back for us. Our part is to believe that He will do so by faith no matter what is happening around us.

This is the way the Father planned it. He is molding us to become more and more like Jesus who walked in total forgiveness and obedience. If you accept His forgiveness but refuse to obey His word, you really can't say you love Him. He has given us the ability to obey His commands through the Holy Spirit. It takes faith in God and His grace to believe we are saved and that there is nothing that we can do with our hands that can do this. Our works, no matter how good, can not save us. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

I would describe these Christians as people who forget who they are and whose they are. They begin to act and think like the world does. A good example is what the media calls the flu and cold season. How many Christians forget that by Jesus' stripes we are healed. So just because the media says this is what's supposed to happen, we don't have to participate in it. I tend to find myself identifying with the world when I watch too much news. I find my thoughts are more focused on the terrible things that are happening in my city, never mind around the world. That's when I realize that I haven't been spending enough time praying and focusing on God's word.