“Eternal Comfort and a Wonderful Hope “

“Eternal Comfort and a Wonderful Hope”

 

With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, STAND FIRM and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His Grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.                   2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

 

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the BELIEVERS in Thessalonica, concerning the time after the RAPTURE takes place and before the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. This time is known as the time of tribulation, where the WRATH of the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS GOD comes upon this WICKED, LAWLESS, and PERVERTED world.  Paul knew they needed some ENCOURAGEMENT, so he told them to STAND FIRM and KEEP A STRONG GRIP on the teaching that he, and Silas, and Timothy had brought to them, either in person or by letter.  

 

Being a TRUE BELIEVER, and LIVING the CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE is NOT an EASY task.  The Christian life is based on LONG-TERM PERSEVERANCE.  Christians, throughout the ages, have SUFFERED in MANY DIVERSE WAYS, but they have REMAINED STRONG and STEADFAST, being OBEDIENT to the HOLY WORD of the LIVING GOD.  They have REVERED, PROTECTED, and DEFENDED this HOLY MASTERPIECE.  Some have EVEN DIED to PROTECT its WELL BEING. 

 

We are living in very UNCERTAIN TIMES.  And it can be UN-NERVING when we THINK about LIVING in the LAST DAYS.  However, the Apostle Paul gives us SOME VERY ENCOURAGING WORDS in verses 16 & 17: “Now may our LORD JESUS CHRIST, Himself and GOD our HEAVENLY FATHER, who LOVED us and by His GRACE, He has given us ETERNAL COMFORT and a WONDERFUL HOPE to be ABLE to HANG ON TO, with a STRONG GRIP, and to STAND FIRM on the TEACHINGS that we have already had.  We are to FOLLOW GOD’S Word and to LIVE IT with ALL our MIGHT.  

 

Now, if you have NOT GIVEN your HEART and LIFE to GOD, then You MUST BEGIN with ADMITTING that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS, the ONLY Son of the LIVING God.  And you MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART, that JESUS SUFFERED, BLED, DIED, and was BROUGHT BACK to LIFE, or RESURRECTED, to bring US ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL ITS BLESSINGS, and to be ABLE to ESCAPE HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY TO ESCAPE, once you are there.  Then YOU MUST CONFESS your SINS to God and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM YOUR SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and EXPERIENCE ETERNAL COMFORT and a WONDERFUL HOPE.  Do this NOW, while you still can.   He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!