24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24
Be encouraged. Even though we are experiencing unfathomable evil in the world, God is revealing to us the sense of urgency about sharing His gift of salvation and restoration. God didn’t create the world to be full of evil but filled with good. Making choices that honor God seems to be at the heart of our conversations and discipleship.
God gives us choices so our relationship with Him is real, not robotic.
This year has been one of exciting changes. Kingdom View in Uganda is continuing to have 20-30 students weekly at movie night. During mission week the balance of our Life Application Bibles were distributed by Christopher in the Uganda Christian University chaplain’s office. Part of our continued work in Uganda is providing Life Application Bibles to people wanting to go deeper in the Word along with remotely preparing people to understand their identity in Christ. Click here to donate to Bible Resources.
Margaret continues to mentor Honors College students assigned to her each term. Mark is active with Freedom in Christ Ministry, encouraging, listening to people one on one and available for small group Bible studies. God continues to open doors to both of us as we bridge the gap between students and their sponsors from a variety of organizations.
We realize we can’t change the world ourselves but we can impact and help people one person at a time. The joy we experience from this helps us cope and focus on shining a light.
So often we forget where evil comes from and live in a state of deception. God wants us to see things from His perspective which is illustrated in the Bible. It supports a true worldview that is trustworthy, loving and just.
Recently we heard author Lee Stroebel speak and his message was direct. Do we believe in what Jesus did on the cross for us in our hearts or just our heads? Do we accept the gift of forgiveness and restoration? Have we become a child of God as an outcome of acceptance of His gift? To know in our hearts that we are going to heaven 100%, we must choose to believe, receive and become. Without all three the transaction is incomplete.
John 1:12 says,
Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.
Stroebel says essentially, then, the formula for becoming adopted into God’s family is:
Believe + Receive = Become.
Stroebel mentioned even the demons believe. If we truly love people we will share and pray that they choose to have eternal life in heaven. We need to realize we all live eternally in one place or another. The choice must be made before we die as described in the Bible
https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-life-after-death/. Randy Alcorn’s Biblically based book, Heaven is very encouraging.
My question to those who haven’t completed the three parts of the transaction, what is the down side of accepting this gift?
Let’s make it a point to share the good news of Jesus to people God puts in our path before it is too late. We have been convicted that we haven’t been more bold and courageous about this but time may be getting closer than we realize. So many signs and other things are complete. We don’t know exactly when but let’s be prepared.
Sending our love and encouragement as we stand with you in preparation.
Please contact us so we know how to pray for you and others in your families.
Mark and Margaret