9-26-20 One Way Out

One Way Out :: By Holly Spate Published on: September 22, 2020 by RRadmin7 Category:General Articles, Holly Spate Friends, there’s only one way out. This world is imploding. Sin, insanity and depravity are rampant in America and running wild across the world. So many are in rage mode and have been given over to a reprobate mind. There is chaos in the streets. All seems to have been turned upside down. As many have stated, I don’t believe we’re in the tribulation, but the times we’re living in are sure setting the stage for what’s to come and are providing us a preview of that horrible time in the future shared in Revelation. Another thorn that’s wreaked havoc on society and has negatively affected everyone in some way is Covid. It has taken lives, separated loved ones, stolen from livelihoods, disrupted the economy and shaken all that’s normal. The lockdowns and various measures have disconnected us from friends, family, events, special occasions, etc. As if Covid wasn’t enough, many mayors and governors in various states have shown their true colors with their unrelenting, unchecked, unconstitutional demands on “We the People.” Instead of serving and helping their citizens, they are punishing, silencing and hurting good, innocent, law-abiding people while working to defund the police, release prisoners, and praise all chaos in the streets. It is truly a great display of one’s love waxing cold and sin on steroids. I realize for anyone paying even a small amount of attention, all of what’s been said here is not new news. Everyone is aware and has been impacted to various degrees regarding many of these things. It is hard to watch people destroy everything good while those who can help put an end to it are instead cheering it on and finding ways to erase the 2nd Amendment and defund the people’s point of protection: the police. Every day while perusing the headlines, I often find myself asking, “How much longer, God?” “When will the rapture take place?” “When can we get out of this mess?” If I’m not careful, I begin to get discouraged. If I let my guard down, I begin to feel fearful at all I see in the headlines… all that’s happening around us. I often think of the verse in the Bible which talks about Noah’s day and wonder how much worse could it have been in Noah’s day compared to now, especially given the fact that we have so many new technologies and knowledge has increased, etc.? Matthew 24:36-41 states about Noah’s day: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” Clearly, the signs Jesus spoke of concerning the time before His return are happening at record pace right before our eyes. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 states: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” As I look around and see all the signs converging, I am reminded to look up and know with certainty that Jesus’ return is near and one day all who have placed their trust in Him will forever be with Him. Friends, there’s only one way out. JESUS. John 14:5-6 makes it clear: “Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” In such uncertain, perilous times, we can have a peace which passes all understanding… because of Jesus. Our hearts can find joy and rest regardless of our circumstances… because of Jesus. We can have confidence, security, and calm… because of Jesus. We can experience hope, mercy, grace, and unconditional love… because of Jesus. We can have assurance in knowing God will never leave us or forsake us… because of Jesus. We can have an eternity free of pain, sorrow, evil and sin… because of Jesus. We can have a bright, eternal future ahead… because of Jesus. JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY OUT! No one else can save. No one else can claim to do what He alone did. There are not many paths to heaven; there is only ONE way to heaven… Jesus. Being a good person does not get one into heaven. Simply doing good works does not get one into heaven. Warming a church pew does not get one into heaven. Believing in Jesus and accepting Jesus Christ into one’s heart as their personal Lord and Savior is the only way to be saved and to spend eternity in heaven. The Bible is clear that Jesus’ salvation is a free gift. It is not something we work to get; it’s given because of His mercy toward us. He willingly suffered and died, taking the sins of the world so that we could be forgiven of our sins and have a bridge back to God. He died to save us and cleanse us from our sins… something we could never do. If Jesus had not gone to the cross, we would have no hope, no future, no peace, no eternity with Him. But, because He did, we can be freed of sin, forgiven and have a future forever with our Heavenly Father. For those who have accepted His free gift of salvation, that’s something to rejoice about every. single. day! The following verses should bring encouragement: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8-10). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24). “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). “But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:8-9). “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:1-5). “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). We can never repay what Jesus did for us. His limitless love sent Him to the cross. And on the cross, He bore the weight of every sin in the world. The perfect sacrifice to take away the sins of the whole world. Three days later he rose from the grave! He did it because of love. He did it because of mercy. Because of His sacrifice, anyone who sincerely calls on the name of Jesus and believes in Him can be saved. His sacrifice covers all – past, present and future. He has paid our debt in full and has given access and a relationship to all who ask Him into their heart. There is only ONE way out… it’s through accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you have never put your trust in Jesus, please do it today. No one is promised tomorrow, and God’s desire is that all of His creation come with a broken heart, repenting of sin and trusting in what His Son Jesus did on the cross. Every day we’re one step closer to eternity. When we each take our last breath on this earth, we will never have the chance to make the choice again to ask Jesus into our heart. Our eternity will be set… forever. For those who do not place their trust in Jesus, they will forever be separated and will spend eternity in horrible torment and apart from God. For those who place their trust in Jesus, they will forever be with the Lord in heaven for all eternity… a place of peace, joy, and no more sorrow. Jesus himself said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:1-4). Ask Jesus into your heart today. He is your only hope. He is the Only way. spate.holly@gmail.com