"Then and Now!"

“Then and Now!”

 

Yes, in the past you lived the way the world lives, following the ruler of the evil powers that are above the earth.   That same spirit is now working in those who refuse to obey God.  In the past all of us lived like them, trying to please our sinful selves and doing all the things our bodies and minds wanted.  We should have suffered God’s anger because of the way we were.  We were the same as all other people.  But God’s mercy is great, and He loved us very much.  Though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God, He gave us new life with Christ.  You have been saved by God’s grace.         Ephesians 2:2-5

 

Mankind, from the encounter with Satan in the garden, until NOW, has been in a HOPELESS, UNREPENTANT condition.  The UNREPENTANT HEART follows the world, which is under the control of the prince of the air, Satan, they are the ones who hate anything that is godly.  Unbelievers generally follow the ways or lifestyle of other unbelievers, and are HEAVILY INFLUENCED by the PEER PRESSURE of this LOST and DYING WORLD.

 

In the middle of the Tribulation, Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast down to earth and will no longer have access to the throne of Almighty God, nor will he rule the world.  Now the unsaved are in Satan’s clutches and are following him in his opposition to God.  THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS GROUND.  BEWARE!!!

 

The very same spirit that is spoken of here, is controlled by Satan and is PRESENTLY at work in unbelievers.  How strongly we can observe this today, in the activities of those who live in DISOBEDIENCE to the Word of God.  

 

The Apostle Paul reminds us that we too were once DISOBEDIENT toward God and His Word.  We were the same as ALL others, who have not come to God for the SALVATION of their souls.  We ALL should have come under God’s anger, because of our sinful lifestyle.

 

BUT God in His GREAT MERCY and LOVE, had a plan to bring LIFE to our spiritually DEAD souls.  He made us ALIVE with Jesus Christ, He raised us up with Christ, and seated us with Him in Heaven.  We should be REJOICING EVERYDAY, for GOD’S ABUNDANT MERCY and AMAZING GRACE. 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you have NOTHING to REJOICE about.  You are headed for HELL, the place of UNENDING heartache, pain agony, torment, torture, and despair.  You MUST come to God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and cast off your “THEN” life-style, and LIVE for Him, “NOW”.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!