Timeless Truths ................................................................Pages

Have you been called by God? One way to define a true Christian is to realize that such a person must be called by God. Jesus stated that, "For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). God invites many out of spiritual darkness and deceit and into His wondrous truth that fills us with an understanding of that precious truth. Revelation 17:14 tells us that we must be "... called, chosen, and faithful." If we remain faithful, we have the promise of eternal life.

Who does God call? Those who are more apt to see their inadequacies and know they need forgiveness of their sins. Those who are humble and recognize their human weaknesses and mistakes are more likely to acknowledge that they need God's help more so than the powerful and self-sufficient, who fail to see a need for God in their lives.

Not everyone answers that call. The Christian life is a narrow and difficult path and "there are few who find it (Matthew 7:14). However, God's Word reveals that, through

Is God calling you?

studying His plan of salvation, He is letting most people live the heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew

human experience under Satan's way. but eventually they will want to go His way. It is then they will realize that the only real truth is God's absolute truth, as set out in the Bible, and that only God can define what is right and wrong, holy and unholy, good and bad. From the beginning, we have always tried to determine what is truth and, as a result, we have rejected God's revelation. Because of that, "... whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Galatians 6:7).

Wrong choices and decisions that we make can affect the way we worship God. Jesus Himself says, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of 7:21). Jesus warns of those who practice their own doctrines wrongly and expect God to honor such worship. If we choose to worship Him our own way, instead of how God tells us to worship Him, our prayers are useless and in vain. Matthew 15:79 says, "Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." A true Christian worships God according to His instructions as laid out in His holy Word (Deuteronomy 12:32). We are told to strive daily to live "... by every word of God" (Luke 4:4). Some people do not realize that satan continues to deceive the majority of mankind (1 John 5:19; Revelation 12:9). They do not understand that satan, '... the god of this age' (2 Corinthians 4:4), extends his lying ways even into teaching and practices embraced by mainstream Christianity (2 Corinthians 11:1315). Once God opens one's mind to His truth though, we are responsible to act on it. If we choose to not live by what we have learned, God will not add anything more to our understanding. We need to truly repent for our wrongdoings, recognizing that it was for us that Jesus was crucified.

What does it mean to repent? It means to change, to turn around, to stop going the way we are going. It means to be truly sorry for our sins, as well as to have sorrow for our inclinations and desires to do the wrong things. Repentance is a process; it is a process of change, or surrendering yourself and turning your life over to God. It starts with having a repentant attitude and turning in the

right direction. God reveals His truth through His Word so that we can understand exactly what sin is to help us know the way of life we are called to live. We learn, through the teachings of the Holy Spirit, how to pass from a sinful way of life to a completely new one where righteousness prevails.

With time, we learn to leave our old self behind; we die in the flesh and begin to live in the Spirit. Romans 8:9 tells us, "But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." The Holy Spirit helps a Christian build godly character and shows evidence of God at work in his or her life. The Spirit also provides power, love and a sound, godly mind (2 Timothy 1:6-7).

True Christians are willing to give their lives to God and to always put God first. God becomes the head of that household and He helps them to work through any uncertainties that they may be faced with. They learn to walk in faith, to trust in

Is God calling you?

Him, becoming totally dependent on Him.

The rewards are enormous for those who choose to serve God and become true followers of Christ!

If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, you have the promise of eternal life! Hebrews 9:15 says, "And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance."

You are a child of

God! John 1:12-13 says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

You have access to God and peace with

God! Romans 5:1-2 says, " Therefore, having being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. "

You have been adopted into God's family and can call God your Father!

Romans 8:15 says, "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, Abba, Father."

You are loved by God!

John 15:9-10 says, "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love."

You have been chosen

by God! John 15:16 says, "You did not chose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask in the Father in My name He may give you."

He created and fashioned you and gave you a purpose to fulfill. You are not an

accident! Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

You are accepted!

Ephesians 1:6 says, "... to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved."

He cares for you when you are weak!

Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

You are forgiven!

Romans 8:33-34 says, "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us."

You are free from

condemnation! Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."

You are a new creature in Christ. You have been transformed! 2 Corinthians 5:17 says,

"Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things are become new."

God will strengthen you to do all you need

to do! Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

God will not leave or

forsake you! Hebrews 13:5-6 says, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'

You are a heir with God and a joint-heir

with Christ! Romans 8:17 says, "And if children, then heirs- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."

You have an inheritance in heaven! John 14:2-3 says, "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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come

Is God calling you?

again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

You are able to

overcome! 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you; for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.'"

God's righteousness has been inputed to you!

Romans 4:23-25 says, "Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offences, and was raised because of our justification."

You have an advocate!

1 John 2:1-2 says, "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world."

God is working in

you! Philippians 1:6 says, "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

God has given you

a lively hope! 1 Peter 1:3-5 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

He will protect you to

the end! John 10:27-29 says, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and noone is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand."

You can have full assurance of faith!

Luke 12:32 says, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

You are complete in Christ! Colossians 2:10 says, "And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."

Nothing can separate you from God's love!

Romans 8:35-39 says, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

WOOD Ministries Written by: Donna Wood Photo by: Heidi Power