DO WE BELIEVE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS?
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I have been reading in 1 John this week and thought back to
a few months ago. I had a friend named
Pat who had attended the Bible Study I taught several years ago
faithfully. She enjoyed the classes,
even had the group meet in her home for a while. She had lived a troubled life, but was a pleasant
person to be with. She lived alone and
had gone out to eat with me several times and I had taken her and her sisters
to several services at camp meeting. In
spite of all of this, she had never really been able to be settled in her
spiritual life.
Several months ago her sister called me one evening and said
that Pat had been admitted to the hospital with pancreatic cancer. She said that the doctor said that she had 6
months to one year to live. She was in a
lot of pain. We went the next morning to
the hospital to visit her. Her sister
and some of her family were with her.
After we had visited a while her family asked to be excused to get
something to eat. Her sister stayed with
us.
While they were gone we were discussing her spiritual
condition with her. Pat said that she
had confessed all the sins that she knew of and still didn't think she was
saved. My husband mentioned 1 John 1:9 and quoted it to her. We knew that the devil was trying to rob her
of the victory. When we asked if she
wanted us to pray for her, she said yes.
After I prayed, she said that she had a warm feeling come
over her. I told her to write down the
date and time we prayed on a piece of paper and every time the devil came
accusing her again that she should point to that paper and tell him he was a
liar.
She came home from the hospital and within about a week she
died. Her sister said that they found
that piece of paper with her after she died.
The devil does not want us to claim salvation even though
Jesus said that all we need to do is repent and believe on Him. The devil is a liar and will do whatever he
can to keep us out of heaven. I am quite
sure that the Lord led us to tell her to put the date and time on a piece of
paper to show the devil every time he tried to steal the joy of her salvation.
I firmly believe that Pat is in heaven now praising God
because she was able to believe what the Bible said in 1 John 1:9.
That scripture was not only for Pat, it is for everyone who
is willing to confess their sins to God, repent (which means to be sorry for
the sins of the past and change our actions) and then believe that God is
faithful to forgive us of our sins.
God is faithful to every promise He has given. It is our job to believe that!
My card for the week using the Word Art Wednesday verse is:
Have a blessed week and remember "Fear not tomorrow...God is already there."
Hi, Mehril! What a beautiful blog post sharing the simple and loving plan of salvation. It's just so sad that people everywhere will reject it, and find out too late that Jesus really IS the way, the truth, and the life. The one thing I try to tell people who resist the Gospel is this...."Eternity is an awfully long time to be wrong!" - Thanks for sharing this, and I will pray that someone who reads it for the first time will accept Jesus as their way, truth and life for all eternity. Bless you for sharing your beautiful art in our challenge this week, and I really hope you will come back by again soon to share your lovely art with us again soon.
ReplyDeleteKaren
Word Art Wednesday
I like your comment that "Eternity is an awfully long time to be wrong!". How can you get people to understand how awful it will be if they reject Christ and that it is forever. Thanks for your comments. I appreciate them.
DeleteWonderful post Marilyn isn't this such a precious marvellous truth... we can be saved with simple childlike faith.. and that salvation is forever and cannot be lost.. what preciousness. Love the card God bless you.... Shaz in Oz xxx
ReplyDeleteHow precious that the blood Jesus shed is sufficient for all our sins. I thank Him everyday for what He has done for me. Thanks for your sweet responses.
DeleteThis was quite touching, Mehrll.
ReplyDeletePraise the Lord, your friend was able to meet her Jesus with peace in her heart.
I have worked with Hospice and home care, and many people on their death bed are so uncertain of their destiny and have fears. We have the Truth, and we must share it.
I really enjoyed my visit here today, thank you.
Blessings! Debbie
It is so simple and people make it so difficult. Of course that is the way the devil works so that people won't believe. Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting.
ReplyDeleteOh, your card is amazing. I am delighted that you were able to use the Word Art in yor project. God led me to read what you have to share (I don't often do that because I don't got much time but I am sure God stopped me...LOL) and I was so blessed by what you shared. I am glad that you were given the opportunity to minister to Pat in her final days and to tell her of her salvation through the finished work of Jesus Christ. Many people still believe that good works alone will save them thus the devil uses their ignorance of the scripture to stop them from ever fulfilling their purpose. Continue to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in your life and I know you and your husband will be blessed for your obedience. Yes, I am confident that Pat is in the arms of the Lord too! Anyway, thanks for blessing us with your project for our Challenge at Word Art Wednesday...Please join us again in a new Challenge starting today. Leaving you with God's Word in Isaiah 40:8, "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever." Hugs and blessings!
ReplyDeleteJO ANN
http://jatterburycreations.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for your comments. They are such an encouragement. God bless you.
DeleteWonderful post Marilyn and I love the card too!! I don't see a join button for your blog. as soon as you add it I will join! Hugs,
ReplyDeleteGinny