I am sure by now you realize how much things in this world cost. With the inflated price of a car somewhere near $40,000, then gas, insurance, standard and emergency maintenance; this once happy dream has now cost you more than double it's price by the time you're done with it. That dream house you want has black mold, or mice and rats in the attic, the water heater is blown and the roof needs redone.
We work to pay for it, we work because it's broke, and we work because it might break. We work to eat and we eat so we can work, food will give us very little time until we need more and so we work again for more food.
Matthew 6:27 - "Do not labor for the food which perishes but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you because God the Father has set His seal on Him." (The rest of Matthew 6 is Jesus explaining the free and eternal gift He is giving us by his sacrifice - the bread of life.)
Now, imagine not having to work anymore, not having to care about the things of this world or prepare for inevitable degradation and failure. Not having to think about the price of gas, an oil change, mowing the lawn, finding and keeping employment, thieves and murderers, old age, and health concerns. Think calmly about everything God has given you and everything promised to you and how much you have had to pay into it. We were baptized and praise God our Father in Heaven we were but let not any of us dare consider that a price to be paid. For by it we have received the Holy Spirit and will be raised in the likeness of his resurrection. (Romans 6:3-4)
We have: free access to God through prayer, we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Jesus as our mediator and our high priest, the Holy Spirit who helps us when we pray, helps us to be far beyond anything we could ever imagine by our fruits, Angels watching over those of us who will inherit salvation, and in the end of it all; we will be found spotless and blameless, covered in the blood of the ultimate sacrifice paid once and for all by Jesus the Christ to live eternally in Heaven above. Now ask yourself, "how much did this cost me?"
I am sure by now you realize how much things in this world cost. With the inflated price of a car somewhere near $40,000, then gas, insurance, standard and emergency maintenance; this once happy dream has now cost you more than double it's price by the time you're done with it. That dream house you want has black mold, or mice and rats in the attic, the water heater is blown and the roof needs redone.
We work to pay for it, we work because it's broke, and we work because it might break. We work to eat and we eat so we can work, food will give us very little time until we need more and so we work again for more food.
Matthew 6:27 - "So not labor for the food which perishes but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you because God the Father has set His seal on Him." (The rest of Matthew 6 is Jesus explaining the free and eternal gift He is giving them.)
Now, imagine not having to work anymore, not having to care about the things of this world; the price of gas, an oil change, mowing the lawn, finding and keeping employment, thieves and murderers, old age, and health concerns. Think calmly about everything God has given you and everything promised to you and how much you have had to pay into it. We were baptized and praise God our Father in Heaven we were but let not any of us dare consider that a price to be paid.
We have: free access to God through prayer, we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Jesus as our mediator and our high priest, the Holy Spirit helps us when we pray, helps us to be far beyond anything we could ever imagine by our fruits, Angels are watching over those of us who will inherit salvation, and in the end of it all; we will be found spotless and blameless, covered in the blood of the ultimate sacrifice paid once and for all by Jesus the Christ. Now ask yourself, "how much did this cost me?"