Are we living up to God's reason for choosing us?

God chose us for a reason. Eph 1:4 tells us that the reason is for us to be holy and blameless in His sight. Are we living up to that? I know I don't live up to it as much as I want to. In 2 Cor 13:5 He tells us that we're to examine ourselves regularly to see if we're in the faith, and to test ourselves. Do you examine yourself and test yourself?

On those few occasions when I get out of the house, I see people that I know are Christians, and see them speaking, acting, singing, playing, and working, just like the world of unbelievers do. And yes, I know that at times I do so myself. But what I don't see in them, is any remorse or repentance. Nor do I see any changes a month or a year later, and this just breaks my heart. It breaks my heart because I know it breaks my Father's heart, and I know that if they realized what they were doing, it would break their hearts too....only apparently no one tells them. I guess I would prefer to think that it's because no one has warned them, rather then believe that they have been told and chose to ignore the warning.

I see the world falling apart around me, and my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, who should be standing with me, warning others of what's to come, are often instead going along with the world! Even if they don't believe the rapture is going to happen soon, surely they know that at death there are no more chances. Unbelievers will go to hell, period and believers will also be judged on what they have done since they were saved. That judgment doesn't affect their salvation, but it does affect their eternity as to whether or not they'll receive a rich welcome or if they'll be ashamed of themselves; as to what rewards they will or won't get and how much treasure they'll have stored up for themselves for eternity, among other things. So both believers and unbelievers have something to be very concerned about. I would think that concern would take precedence over everything else, especially since no one knows if they're going to be alive tomorrow or even later today! For those of us who know that the world is quickly headed for the Tribulation and that the rapture could happen at any moment, we have yet another reason for that concern to take precedence over everything else.

I want to ask others the same questions I ask myself: Is what you're thinking, saying, doing, looking at, watching, singing, playing, working at, something that you would be proud to have the Lord hear and see? Because He does hear you, and He does see you. And He tells us that we will all have to account for even every careless word that comes out of our mouths! (Matthew 12:36)

If you know your bible, then you know too that God has always been more concerned about what's in our hearts then what we do, because what's in our hearts - our thoughts - is what determines our feelings and actions. That's why every careless word will be accounted for, because the Lord says that those words come out of our mouths because of what our thoughts and beliefs are. It may confuse some, but in the bible, the word that's translated "heart" means what we call our minds, the seat of our thoughts, will, beliefs, etc. The word also includes our feelings in that the bible teaches that our thoughts determine our feelings as well as our words and actions. So in Matthew 6, when Jesus says that our hearts will be where our treasure is, He means that's what we will dwell on in our thoughts, our minds.

Please, join me and pray that the Lord will reveal anything offensive to Him that's in us and help us apply His Word to our life so that others will be able to tell that we belong to Him. Nor should we leave it at praying and wishing. We are also told to work at it (Phil 2:12). Obviously, we can't do any of this if we don't know His Word, and His Word tells us that we're to keep ourselves in His Word as it's what will nurture us and change us to be like Him; it's our daily food and drink - more then that, we're told it's actually our life! (Deut 32:47) My words mean nothing, but His Word does! His Word is powerful! It's living, not dead like my words. It's active and works within us. It's sharper then a two edged sword, and penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. My words can't do that, but His can and do! Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Heb 4:12–13) And that day is fast approaching! So please, read the scriptures at the end of this post. Don't skip them because if you do, then this will have been for nothing, because my words won't help you. Only God can.

Are you really ready???? Could you stand before Him right now, unashamed, knowing that you've done all you could to know Him and His Word, to know His Will for you and to live a life worthy of His calling? When others see you or hear you or read something you've written, do they see Jesus or do they see more of the world? Are your children ready? Once we are saved, we are told to bring our children up in the love and knowledge of the Lord.

Ephesians 1:4 —For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. *

Ephesians 1:11–13 —In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, *in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. *And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, *

Ephesians 2:10 —For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. *

John 15:16 —You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. *

Romans 8:29 —For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. *

Titus 2:14 —who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. *

Romans 7:4 —So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. *

1 Peter 2:5 —you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. *

Philippians 1:27 —Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. *

Philippians 2:12 —Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, *

Colossians 3:1–17 —Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. *Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. *For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. *When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. *Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. *Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. *You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. *But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. *Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices *and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. *Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. *Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. *Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. *And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. *Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. *Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. *And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. *

Luke 21:34–36 —“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. *For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. *Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” *

1 John 2:28 —And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. *

For how we are to live, read: Ephesians 4:17-5:21