April 27, 2008

Dear Friend,

Now that we have started our journey towards the Last Great Day and what is symbolizes, it is time to think about our calling. We have a great God who is far above anything we can visualize. He is a loving and forgiving God and truly wants us to be with Him in the world to come. We are called to be His full-fledged children. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Please dwell on that in the upcoming days. Take a few minutes and meditate on what that means to you personally. You will be a God in the God family. You are to become the children of God and brothers or sisters to Jesus Christ for all eternity––to have a life that far transcends anything that we can experience today in this world.

How does God perform such a spectacular miracle? He does it by giving us the Holy Spirit. That Spirit is what guarantees us eternal life with Him and His Son forever. Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. In many of the churches of this age, they believe that they have a spirit that saves them so that they will be in heaven for all eternity. But as members of the Body of Christ, we know better. We have a reward so much greater. We are and should be preparing for service to all mankind.

That should excite us, but I am afraid as I look around that what has happened to many of the brethren is, instead of being excited, they may have become complacent. That is something we cannot afford to do as we approach the end. I do not want to be someone who is always saying that the sky is falling, but just look around. It seems like many of the signs of the end-time are being fulfilled as you read this. Famine is now believed to be worldwide. Earthquakes are happening in many different places. Diseases are rampant. Certainly, the one major sign is the deception that has taken place with many believing every wind of doctrine. Ephesians 4:14-15 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head––Christ—.

Only though the Holy Spirit can we overcome in our struggle to the end. With Pentecost just weeks away, we need to be ever mindful of the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish what we can’t. It is the power and the love of God deep within us to strengthen us to the end. Study your Bible to see the miracles of God and what He will do for us as this age comes to a close. Hebrews 2:1-3 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 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,

In the service of Christ,

Ronald W. Laughland

Pastor

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