Things Will Get Better
When things aren’t going well for you
And times aren’t what they should be
Just focus on the positive
And think about what could be.
Acknowledge what has happened –
Don’t lose sight of lessons pass –
But don’t allow the negative
Distracting thoughts to last.
Take what you have learned and start from there;
Draw strength from your frustration,
And let this added sense of purpose
Be your new foundation.
It is hard to follow any plan
Precisely to the letter.
Though Life right now is difficult,
Things will in time get better.
- Bruce B. Wilmer
The Holy Bible says that the Lord God offers His love to the whole world, as we read in one of the most quoted verses in the Holy Bible. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
The Holy Bible says: “The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but He loves him that follows righteousness.” (Proverbs 15:9)
“For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” (Psalm 1:6)
By God’s standard of righteousness even the most moral person is looked upon by God as a desperate sinner on his way to hell. The Holy Bible teaches that no one is good enough in himself to go to Heaven. On the contrary, we are all sinners, and we are all guilty before God.
“As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.” (Romans 3:10-11)
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
The Holy Bible teaches that at the end of the world all the wicked will come under eternal punishment in a place called Hell and the Lake of Fire.
“For fire is kindled in My anger and shall burn to the lowest hell; and it shall consume the earth with her increase and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. I will heap disasters on them; I will spend My arrows upon them. They shall be wasted with hunger, and devoured with pestilence, and bitter destruction.” (Deuteronomy 32:22-24)
Indeed, Hell or the Lake of Fire is very real, and things are that bad for the individual who does not know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. The Holy Bible makes many references to Hell and the Lake of Fire, indicating it is both eternal and consists of perpetual suffering.
“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 30:15)
“So, it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, and separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:49-50)
“…the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” (II Thessalonians 1:7-9)
Hell, and the Lake of Fire is terrible, and it exists because God created humankind to be accountable to God for His actions. God’s perfect justice demands payment for sin.
“For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.” (II Corinthians 5:10)
“But I say to you, for every idle word man may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36)
At the end of the world everyone will be brought to life again to be judged and then be sent to Hell or the Lake of Fire. Unless we can find someone to be our substitute in bearing the punishment of eternal damnation of our sins. That someone is God Himself, who came to earth as Jesus Christ to bear the wrath of God for all who believe and have faith in Him.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” (I Corinthians 15:3-4)
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (II Corinthians 5:21)
Therefore, if we trust in Christ as our substitute, who was already punished for our sins, then we will not have to go to Hell or the Lake of Fire anymore. And, if we believe in Christ as our Savior, then it is as if we have already stood before the judgment Throne of God. Jesus Christ our Lord is our substitute has already paid for our sins.
“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)
Believing on Christ means a whole lot more than agreeing in our minds with truths of the Holy Bible. It means that we must turn away from our sins and serve Christ our LORD.
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
“Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me.’” (John 14:6)
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteous.” (1 John 1:9)
We must all remember that God is the only one who can help us (humankind). We must place ourselves on the mercies of God for we are all hopeless sinners who must cry out to God to save us through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!” (Luke 18:13)
“And he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? So, they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’” (Acts 16:30-31)
God wants us to come to Him in total humility, acknowledging our sinfulness and our helplessness, trusting totally in Him for forgiveness of our sins.
“On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.” (Isaiah 66:2b)
Because we are all sinners, we must begin to pray to God and repent of our sins, and if we are sincere about wanting to change and desire salvation, you will begin to turn from sin as God strengthens you through the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Bible says the end of the earth will come when our Lord Jesus Christ has saved all He will save from sin.
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)
At the end of the world those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior will be transformed into their glorious eternal bodies and will be with Christ forevermore.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (raptured) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
(I Thessalonians 4:16-17, 18)
God will destroy the entire universe by fire at the end of the millennium and create new heavens and a new earth where Christ will reign with His believers forevermore.
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (II Peter 3:10,13)
The LORD God gives us information in the Holy Bible regarding the end times of history of the world and He tells us that “no one knows the day or the hour and that He will come as a thief.” (Matthew 24:36 and 1 Thessalonians 5:2) He will come as a thief for the unsaved and not as a thief for the born again of the water and the spirit believers. There is much evidence in the Holy Bible that the end times and the return of Christ is very near even at the doors! (Matthew 24:33)
“For when they shall say, ‘peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.” (I Thessalonians 5:34)
“Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)
God warned ancient Nineveh that He was going to destroy that great city and He gave them forty days warning. The Holy Bible also warns us that the end is very near.
“And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’” (Jonah 3:4)
From the king on down they humbled themselves before God, repented of their sins, and cried to God for mercy. The king said: “But let man and beast covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God, yes, let every one turn from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn away His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?” (Jonah 3:8-9)
God heard their prayers and saved many people in Nineveh. Today, we can still cry to God for mercy so that we will not come into His judgment as in the days of Nineveh. There is still time to become saved though that time is becoming very short.
“How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.” (Hebrews 2:3)
Prayer of Salvation
Lord Jesus, I am sorry for my sins, and I ask You to forgive me. I open the door of my heart and receive You as my Lord and Savior. Take control of my life and begin making me that person You want me to be. Thank You, Lord Jesus for saving me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall mediate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)
“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)
Your daily walk with the Lord should include reading your Holy Bible every day; talking to God in prayer daily and finding a church where the Holy Bible is taught as the Word of God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your plan for my life on earth. Holy Father, please provide your daily guidance and wisdom to do Your work here on earth. I am committed to fulfilling the purpose You have given me. “I press toward the goal to win the prize for which You have called me through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) Almighty God, I trust You to lead me on Life’s journey. I am open and ready for Your guidance and wisdom. Holy Father, help me take the necessary steps to make Your plans you have given me a reality and guide me to make each day be for Your praise, glory, and honor. Like Jonah, I know You will always bring me out of danger and that You will never forsake me. Grant me the courage to change my expectations and wants if that is Your will for me. Loving Father, thank You for guiding me and my family through these uncertain times. Lord God, please help me to rest quietly in Your presence where no words are necessary. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible.
By Constance A. Burns, NAAV Volunteer Contributor for Moments of Meditation, Scripture Readings, and Spiritual Wellness, email: info@naavets.org.