The Penalty and the Prize
Last
week, as I told you, I believed that the Father wanted me to discuss the remedy
to cure the separation between God and His people, when such a separation
exists. I say when such a separation exists because as we have been taught in
scripture, not all people are separated from God. Saints do walk among us and
there are those who are in a right relationship with God. Jesus said this, “I
came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” This clearly lets
us know that, by His own words, righteous men and women do exist. Further, we understand
that all who choose to follow Jesus should purify ourselves and aspire to be
saints of God, for scripture tells us this, “Beloved, now are we the sons of
God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every
man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
And,
“For
God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the
saints.”
“All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God
may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
Jesus
would not compel His followers to walk as He did if it were not possible. He
would not compel his followers to be holy and perfect if it were not possible
and desired by God. When you read the New Testament scriptures you will find
many instances, especially in the epistles of Paul, where he refers to some
people within the new churches, as saints.
Unfortunately, today many teach that sinlessness is impossible and they keep people in a state of sin cycles never really encouraging them in the gospel truths that should lead the people of God to unity with him. And yes, we know that the bible teaches us this,
1John
1:8-10
8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
us.
9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Have we sinned? As mankind, do we sin? The answer to both of these questions is yes, for if we say no then we deceive ourselves and are liars, which in and of itself is sinful. However, this is not supposed to be a permanent condition. This is the condition we find ourselves in before we are born again, before we become a friend and brother or sister to Yeshua Jesus. Before we are baptized in the spirit and before we make the choice to purify ourselves and choose daily to serve God only, in purity and righteousness.
In,
1John 3:4-24 we read
4
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the
transgression of the law.
5
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him,
neither known him.
7
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is
righteous, even as he is righteous.
8
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the
beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might
destroy the works of the devil.
9
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him:
and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil:
whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his
brother.
11
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love
one another.
12
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore
slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.
He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath
eternal life abiding in him.
16
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and
we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth
up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and
in truth.
19
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before
him.
20
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all
things.
21
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and
do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son
Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Contrary
to popular belief, even the rich man can enter the kingdom of heaven. Regarding
this subject so many speak this,
Matthew 19:23-26
23
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man
shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a
needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
And
usually that is as far as the preaching goes or the extent of the idea Jesus
was trying to share when there is so much more to what He is trying to convey.
It is not about being rich in and of itself, it’s about being so attached to
wealth and riches that that is where your hope, faith and trust reside. The
scriptures go on to say,
25
When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can
be saved?
26
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but
with God all things are possible.
With
God, all things are possible. Even sainthood, in fact, with God, it is
expected. It is by a devilish spirit or lack of faith and belief, or all of
these reasons for that matter, that makes a preacher preach anything but
striving for perfection and holiness by a right relationship with God. Though
there are many who preach compromise and resignation to human nature covered by
grace, we know different. With God all things are possible. With sin there is
no safety in numbers. With sin death are the wages. We choose life, and life
more abundant, now and ever after. There
is and ever after. This is a promise from our Savior. Will we spend it with Him
in everlasting reward, or elsewhere, in everlasting penalty?
In
a day and age of lack of accountability, when few are taught consequences for
actions, the word penalty can seem harsh to most. It should. Today the
disobedient and lawless complain about feeling fearful. They complain about
being labeled with descriptive words designed to categorize their unacceptable
behaviors. Why shouldn’t the lawless be in fear? Today people actually condemn
law enforcement for making people live in fear of being caught, convicted and
made to answer for their crimes. We are truly living in a time where good is
being called evil and evil good. This even happens in churches and with pastors
who do not want to be made a subject of conviction and accountability. So many
fail to teach the truth of the existence of the Holy Spirit for this reason.
Penalty
is a descriptive word that describes an accounting due to some sort of
violation or mis behavior. Our father in Heaven is not a fan of penalizing. He
would rather all come into the knowledge of who He is and what He offers.
Penalizing the unrighteous is far less about a desire to punish workers of evil
with the everlasting lake of fire, but much more about protecting the sanctity,
peace and everlasting life of love and joy in the kingdom of heaven. There is a
heaven and there is a hell. The time to decide on a destination is now. Jesus
wanted His disciples to preach the full gospel of repentance for the remission
or cessation of sin, to all creatures. This to lead to salvation and reward.
Not penalty and suffering. But realize, scripture is quite clear there are
penalties found by living a life in unrepented sin and doing evil. Here are but
a few examples of what scripture teaches us.
Matthew
3:11-12
11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is
mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with
the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his
wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Matthew13:38-43
38
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the
tares are the children of the wicked one;
39
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world;
and the reapers are the angels.
40
As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in
the end of this world.
41
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his
kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing
of teeth.
43
Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
John
3:3-5
3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man
be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter
the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
1Corinthians
6:7-10
7
Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with
another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer
yourselves to be defrauded?
8
Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
9
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not
deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate,
nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall
inherit the kingdom of God.
Revelations
20:12-15
12
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were
opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead
were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to
their works.
13
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up
the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their
works.
14
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake
of fire.
Revelations
21:8
8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death.
Malachi
4:1
1
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud,
yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall
burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root
nor branch.
Ephesians
5:2-7
1
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us
an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named
among you, as becometh saints;
4
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient:
but rather giving of thanks.
5
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man,
who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the
wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7
Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Matthew
25:41-46
41
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed,
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no
drink:
43
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick,
and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or
athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister
unto thee?
45
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it
not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into
life eternal.
1John 3:8-10
8
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the
beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might
destroy the works of the devil.
9
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him:
and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil:
whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his
brother.
Keep
your eye on the prize. Do not be deceived. Many will try to tell you that you
can be a sinner and a saint at the same time. This is not true. This is a
deception that attempts to completely disrupt your path as well as water down
and destroy the importance of becoming a true child of God. Let no one rob you
of your everlasting future with our Father in heaven because they can’t find
the faith and vision for it themselves. Many believe but few obey. The devils
believe and they tremble. Satan has his disciples too. They know, but do not
follow. There is a prize, there are rewards for following and obeying God.
Scripture is clear and here are a few examples.
Matthew
25:31-40
31
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him,
then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one
from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink:
I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and
ye came unto me.
37
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred,
and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as
ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it
unto me.
Matthew
7:13-14
13
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and
few there be that find it.
Revelation
22:13-15
13
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree
of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and
idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Romans
6:19-23
19
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as
ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto
iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto
holiness.
20
For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21
What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end
of those things is death.
22
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your
fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Revelation
3:19-22
19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
1Corinthians
9:24-25
24
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?
So run, that ye may obtain.
25
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now
they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Psalm
16:5-11
5
The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my
lot.
6
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7
I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in
the night seasons.
8
I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall
not be moved.
9
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in
hope.
10
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy
One to see corruption.
11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy
right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Matthew
5:10-12
10
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven.
11
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all
manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so
persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
James
1:12
12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall
receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Psalm
1:1-3
1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth
in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day
and night.
3
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth
his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he
doeth shall prosper.
Jerimiah
17:7-8
7
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
8
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her
roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be
green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease
from yielding fruit.
John
14:1-3
1
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you
unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
We know that Gods ways are higher and His thoughts are not our thoughts. What He has planned is beyond our thoughts, beyond our imagination. He tells us this, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
After
a time, walking with the Lord, seeking His counsel in all things while
sincerely working to be a doer of the word of God, I have come to find that the
more I learn the more I desire to learn more, and the more I experience, the
more I long to increase experiences. I am sold out, on fire and know by my own
testimony that God is real. Anyone who chooses, can have experiences with the
heavenlies that can only lead to a belief in Him and His word and His Holy
Spirit. After a while one begins to accumulate experiential testimonies that certify
the existence of the Kingdom of heaven.
In
2009 I was in a town in east Africa called Sumbawanga. Sumbawanga means throw
out the witches. While in this town I was playing soccer with some street
children in a small dirt parking lot next to my hotel. In the middle of our
game some of the children stopped as a messenger entered our field and spoke a
word to one of the players. After the message was conveyed the small boy came
to me and asked, in extremely broken English, if I would go to the House of a
woman named Ester. You see, this wasn’t my first trip to Sumbawanga. I had met Ester
on my first trip. Ester was a woman who was suffering from HIV.
On
my first trip, some months before, I was introduced to Ester and we prayed over
her for healing. Now on this second trip, Ester heard that I was in the town
and asked one of the children to find me and ask if I would visit her again. So,
me and about a dozen children left the soccer lot and walked to Ester’s house.
She welcomed us in with gladness. We all entered and the children sat along the
walls of the living room. This is when an amazing thing began to happen. I
spoke virtually no Swahili and they, no English. However, I found myself
talking to the children about Ester, her illness, and the importance of prayer
and faith in God for miracles of healing. It was in the middle of the talk when
I realized that this house full of people who spoke no English and I who spoke
no Swahili were understanding each other. Our conversations were being
translated. It seemed as if I spoke in English and they heard in Swahili. They
spoke in Swahili and I heard in English. I had instructed the children in what
scripture said about the laying on of hands and praying believing with your
whole heart. It was amazing. We were in a special atmosphere. When I said that
we were going to lay hands on and pray for Ester she came to the center of the
room and knelt down. I stood behind her and encouraged the children to lay
hands on her and pray. They gathered in and all placed a hand on her or me or
both. As soon as my hands rested on Ester, I felt a strong electrical energy
come up through my feet through my body then into my shoulders down my arms and
into her. In that moment all of the children were verbally speaking prayers. We
were all speaking proclamations over Ester. In a moment it seemed as if all of
us lifted up off of the floor and began floating around in an energy that was
breath taking. I literally couldn’t breathe for the lump in my throat but at
the same time, didn’t need to. We were
floating in a sea of electric liquid thrill, my body humming with an
indescribable energy. I was completely lost in the moment. It seemed like we
were going to keep floating and being electrified and made speechless when I
felt the intense power slowly soften and recede. I found myself being able to
speak and began to say no, no, I didn’t want it to end. But it did. It seemed
to leave just as it came. I knew that in that moment I felt what it was like in
the kingdom of heaven. Electric joy. Overwhelming thrill. I got to taste
heaven. I hope to go back into that realm one day. As soon as it ended the
children and Ester all ran out of the house laughing and began to play soccer.
While Ester, in her dress, started to dribble and tap the ball in the air like
a pro.
I
remember immediately calling my fiancé, now wife, in America, to tell her the
news of what had just happened. We rejoiced together and my wife Tomika wanted
me to be sure to let Ester Know that she had been healed. I looked for her to
convey the firm belief of her healing, but she was nowhere to be found.
I
returned to Sumbawanga nearly eight years later with my wife and a friend. I
took them to see the neighborhood where many miracles occurred during my last
visits. The neighborhood had changed. Most people moved away, some died and
Ester was nowhere to be found. I remember being so desirous to see her and of having
my wife meet the person and witness the result of the miracle God had performed
all those years before, first hand. The new residents did not know her or where
she may have gone. Ester was not to be found.
About
four years after this, we were in the local soccer stadium in Sumbawanga
praying over the ground for an upcoming worship event. In my spirit I believed
that I heard the lord say. “Go now and find Ester”. This was so out of the
blue, so random, So powerfully God. I was with five other companions at this
time. I explained what I believe I had heard. Some tried to convince me that
because night was falling, we should attempt to find her in the morning. To
this I exclaimed no, God said go now. Some remained at the field, while me and
three others jumped into the car and set out to find her. “Where are we going?”
Asked our faithful Tanzanian driver. To which I said, “I don’t know, just
drive, the Lord will lead us.” And He did.
Our
driver picked a seemingly random road that took us up a hill side overlooking
the town. Sumbawanga is not a small town. There more than three hundred
residents that live there. At the top of the hill was an intersection. At the
intersection was a large group of boda drivers (motor cycle taxies). Our driver
got out and asked the group if they knew of a woman named Ester and tried to
describe what she might look like, her approximate age, and where she might
have come from. But nothing struck a chord with them. This he was doing as I
was looking for a picture, I thought I had archived on my phone. I eventually
found it. I gave the picture to Manny, our driver. He showed them the picture
but it yielded no fruit. We got into the car and began driving down a different
road that connected to the intersection. As we got about fifty yards down the
road Manny stopped the car and began to turn it around. When asked why
he was turning around he explained that he saw in his rear view mirror another
motorcycle join the group and felt he should go back and ask him.
We
approached the group again and when Manny showed the new arrival Ester’s
picture, he immediately recognized her. It turns out he knew her son but did
not know where she lived. The young man began to make phone calls and got ahold
of who he thought was Ester’s son. After this young man explained the situation
to Ester’s son a plan was formed. The young man would get in our van and lead
us to Ester’s by the directions given to him over the phone, however before he
did, the boda driver requested that we promise to pay for his time and for his
phone airtime. After some brief negotiations we settled on a price structure
and set off to find Ester’s house. By this time, it had become dark and the way
was not easy to find as much of this area was overgrown and all of the streets
were narrow bumpy dirt roads.
Eventually,
we arrived at a house that was inside a small compound fenced in by brick walls
that were overgrown with trees shrubs and vines. We left the car and were
escorted into the court yard of the little compound. There on the dimly lit
patio stood Ester. She looked well and healthy, just a little older. I could
tell that she did not recognize me at first but after reminding her about the
events that occurred nearly twelve years earlier, I could see recognition now
enter her eyes as she smiled. She became much less reserved about these
strangers who came to visit her in the night and increasingly excited to
welcome us to her little compound. And, as all those years ago, she gladly
welcomed me and my companions into her home. In her living room stood Ester,
me, her son, the boda driver, my friend Shilingi, our friend and driver Manny
and my brother-in-law, Rusty.
As
we stood there, I just felt led to tell the story of the miracle that had
transpired just as I have conveyed above. I told Ester that we had tried to
find her to see how she was doing but she had moved and no one knew where. I
explained that the Lord directed us there that night to find her. And in so
doing obviously wanted to bless us all in the process. At this time, we all
joined hands and began to pray and thank God for revealing himself to us. We
began to pray over Ester and her home. As we did the atmosphere in the house
became thick, we could feel the Spirit of God wash over us. Soon, there we
stood together, six grown men and Ester all weeping in the presence of the
Lord. It was unmistakable.
The
Lord had said “Go now”, we went not knowing where to go but He led us. His
timing was right, if we had waited until the next day, we would have missed the
boda driver arriving on the street corner, who knew Ester’s son. God revealed
himself in a powerful way that evening and we all rejoiced knowing we were
blessed beyond measure. For some faith was found, for others faith was
reignited. For me, faith grew. I was so encouraged and am still. The scriptures
compel us to stir up our faith. My faith continues to grow and is stirred up
even now as I write this testimony to you. What a glorious life our Father in
heaven has for us, now and in the ever after, on earth as it is in heaven.
Feeling His presence, hearing His voice and doing His word will reveal His
existence to you in a manner that is inarguably authentic. There is nothing
that this world has to offer you that can compare to His manifest presence
guiding and enshrouding you. This is the relationship. This is the prize.
We
left Ester’s house and drove back to the intersection where the boda drivers
congregated. On arrival I noticed that our guide, who was previously talkative
and commanding in nature seemed now to be reserved and demure. He was visibly
moved and still in a solemn state due to the experience. As he stepped out of the car, we thanked him
and I asked him what the price was for his services. His response was, “how can
I charge you? I cannot charge you”. We thanked him again and began driving back
to our hotel. The atmosphere in the car was electrifying. We each knew we had
experienced something very special and for me, additionally, after nearly
twelve years I was able to proclaim to Ester, “In the name of Jesus, you are
healed.”
I
believe I have been able to personally experience a taste of the atmosphere of
heaven. Believe me, in that atmosphere, the world and earthly things will
quickly lose their lure and importance.
Nothing
can compare to that reward. It is the prize. Keep your eye on the prize. The
prize is eternal. An eternal immersion in love and joy with breath taking
electric thrill, almost too much to bear.
