God is not distant PIC: universe. On pixa
How close are you to the Kingdom of God? Really! Think about it:
Are you set to go? Or are you far from?
Every unbeliever is only one prayer away from the Holy Kingdom of God.
A most remarkable statement
In Mark 12:28-33 a Jewish scribe heard Jesus talking (in verses 28-31), and totally agreed with Jesus. He actually commended Jesus, saying, “Well said, Teacher“.
So then, Jesus turned to him, and Jesus offered-up one of the most remarkable statements ever about salvation:
“You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
– Mark 12:34
How could Jesus declare that? What a most haughty, blasphemous thing to think… if He were not the Messiah, the Godman Himself. As most believe, only God can forgive sins. (And that was His point!) He is God and He knew this man’s inner-most self — and saw one thing missing. The man was close, “not far”, but… not there yet.
The scribe had just congratulated Jesus:
“Well said, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no other besides Him; 33 and to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” – Verses 32-33 of Mark 12.
Thinking thoughtfully and intelligently
After listening to the scribe agree with Him, the response of Jesus was so very astounding. This is one of Jesus’ most startling statements He made in His three years of ministry:
“34 When Jesus saw that he answered thoughtfully and intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one would dare to ask Him any more questions. – Mark 12:34
Jesus knew the man’s heart. And what Nicodemus said is key to coming into God’s Kingdom. Jesus saw that, with his attitude, Nicodemus was right on the edge of trusting Him forever! He just needed to repent of sin and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. (But Nico did not repent on the spot with Jesus. He went away sad.)
Can Jesus say this about you also? “You are not far from….” What about you? Are you on the verge as Nicodemus was?
Jesus – He’s got the power
Jesus has the power over life and death, and eternity. He alone is the Savior who can promise us eternal life — and keep His Word! He stated “I give them eternal life”. THAT, is the most astounding statement ever!
Another “on the verge” story
Later, while dying on the cross, Jesus made another of His most astounding statements. He spoke to the thief on the cross next to Him and said, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:39-43). Who can say that?!
Do you know the rest of that story? Read here.
When it comes to being ready for Heaven, we must be firmly persuaded in our heart that Jesus is God, and we must get right with Him, just as honestly as the thief on the cross.
Another “on the verge” story: There is the account of King Agrippa who spoke to Paul the Apostle, saying,
“Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
– Acts 26:28 KJV
The King never got a grip on repentance. He rejected Jesus.
Our personal journey
As children of God (born again) our personal journey takes us from mortal to immortal (1 Corinthians 15:42-57). We each must get past “almost persuaded” — and say “Yes” to Jesus. Yielded yet?
“You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
– Mark 12:34 NASB
I would say the same thing to you (reader) – as Paul replied to King Agrippa:
“I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.” – Acts 26:28-29 KJV
Be in that Kingdom
You will be inside that Kingdom within one minute, IF you pray a one-minute prayer of repentance, confession, and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior. That’s all the time it takes. I think the thief on the cross took less than a minute!
Move out of a bad attitude (of rejecting Jesus) and move into an attitude of gratitude for what He has done for you.
I’m sure Jesus would agree that those who reject His offer of eternal life – are sure as Hell neither thoughtful nor intelligent (inferring this from Mark 12:34).
Have you “come to Mount Zion and to The City of the living God”?
FOR MORE:
How far away are you – from the Holy Kingdom of God? It’s not far, actually. God is not distant. Just one minute… and you can be there.
_______________
“Almost
thou persuadest me
to be a Christian.”
– Acts 26:28 KJV
Now is the acceptable time
Excerpt: Now is the acceptable time to turn to Jesus. (Psalm 69:13, 2 Corinthians 6:2)
The one-off offer Jesus makes to everyone
Jews and anyone else who rejects Jesus
The tragic error many live in all their life
The Kingdom of God is very exclusive, very luxurious, very special
Have you “come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God”?
Excerpt: When you, in prayer, accept Jesus as your personal Savior, and/or when any true follower of Jesus prays — you have come to an awesome, almighty place of wonder and love. Oh how marvelous! Through prayer to Jesus:
— “you have come to Mount Zion
and to the city of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem,
and to myriads of angels [in festive gathering]….”
– Verse 22 of Hebrews 12:18-24.
“Jesus,
the Mediator of a new covenant
[uniting God and man]”
– Verse 24
God forgives all wrongdoings of all repentant sinners, no exception
Psalm 51 type repentance and salvation
Sin is not the issue in salvation
Will you be turned away by Jesus?
Don’t be like Hophni and Phinehas… worthless unrepentant sinners
The rest of the story of the thief on the cross
Oh haunting fear of death – be gone
God’s Fantastic Home – for those who follow Him
What we will be like – in God’s Home Heaven
God is outside …not far away
Speaking of “time”… here are some more articles dealing with time:
We are inside the timeframe Jesus gave for the Rapture |by Chad Thomas | The Key That UNLOCKED The Final Countdown | By Chad Thomas –
The Absolutely Scintillating Resurrection-Rapture Moment
Until the rapture door is shut
Half a day without the Holy Spirit
The first things – “Our time now” of Revelation 2:14
The last days dangerous times…have come
Read Matthew 24 with attention to “time”. The time of the end of the age, and what happens after “the first things have passed away”. The disciples asked Jesus: “Tell us, when will this [destruction of the temple] take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end (completion, consummation) of the age?”
“and He
will wipe away
every tear from their eyes;
and there will no longer be
any death;
there will no longer be
any mourning, or crying, or pain;
the first things have passed away.”
– Revelation 21:4
Time as it really is …my theory on “time”
Farther along we’ll understand why
About Time… a series looking into “time”
Chronology of Mankind: 6,000 Years of History Pt 1
– By Randy Nettles; from RaptureReady.com
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