Yesterday during my devotional Yehoshua spoke and told me to speak more on Eternity.
Why is this necessary? Well, as believers we should know that this life we have is not forever. We live here one moment at the time. At any given moment our life can be taken away from the very One who has given it to us.
Eternity is our goal. The dilemma for many is that they fear Eternity. Yes, this is a fact. They fear to die. How can this be? When we go to Heaven we have our own house or mansion that will fulfill all our desires. We will be with our Creator, our Father Yehovah, and Yehoshua. We will be with our family who served Yehovah while in this planed, and some of our friends. Why not wanting to go there? I presume, they love this world more than Yehoshua. They are not ready to let go for they do not know about the blessing awaiting us the true believers in our Creator and Savior.
I capitalize Eternity for a special reason. I want the attention of the reader.
What does Eternity mean to you? Have you ever considered the fact that there are two ways you can go when the Creator calls you out of the body. One is to go back to Him, to His Home in Heaven, the other one is where no one desires to go, but is going because has chosen to disobey his Heavenly Father in Heaven. That person chose to do what pleased him most down here on earth, but it was not pleasing to Yehovah. Yehovah will not allow him in His Kingdom.
My question is: “Where do you suppose you are going?” You can decide where you want to spend Eternity now while you live on this planet.
OK, now let us think about rewards. You may know that Yehoshua came in to this world to buy us back from the power of the enemy, or Satan, the rebellious angel who caused one third of the angels to fall with him. Satan has the place already prepared for him with those angels. Their place is the Lake of Fire.
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.- Chazon/Revelation 20:10
Today we will not talk about this, but about the gifts. Yes, the gifts. Do you know that Yehoshua gave gifts to us after His death and resurrection, and before He returned to His Home in Heaven?
But to to each of us grace was given according to the measure of Mashiach’s gift. Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” (Now this “He ascended” -what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) -Eph’siyim/Ephesians 4:7-9
I want to briefly mention that yes, He has bought us back to the Father with a not easy death. He was despised, He was oppressed, He suffered 39 lashes that ripped his body open, He was crucified between two thieves. He did all this to pay the price necessary, which was death, in order that we can receive eternal life in Heaven in His abode: Heaven.
For your were bought with a price; therefore glorify Elohim in your body and in your spirit, which are Elohim’s. - Qorin’tiyim 1/1Corinthians 6:20
Yehoshua owns us. And because of this He has given us gifts to use to enlarge His kingdom on the earth. The gifts are not all of the same value, but according to our abilities. For instance, I do not have to gift of be a quarter back, for I am a woman and small. I would be destroyed if I tried. I am not a great swimmer, although I can swim. But I could not compete in a tournament. You will not receive more rewards if you preach the gospel, unless you have been obedient. If you have sin in your life, and still preach the gospel, you will not preach about hell because you may be going there, if you do not repent.
You may be a house wife and you have been given much compassion, and you are a blessing to all that you come into contact with; you will be receiving great rewards.
I hope you got the idea. He gave us gifts according to our abilities, but He expects us to use them. He is our Boss, so to speak. He paid a hard price to rescue us from the hand of Satan, now we need to be busy in what is His kingdom business. Listen to the following few verses.
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of Elohim. If anyone speak, let him speak as the oracles of Elohim. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which Elohim supplies, that in all things Elohim may be glorified through Yehoshua HaMashiach, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.- Kepha 1/Peter 4:10-11
Let us remember that we will face Him, who gave us the gifts one day when we will need to give Him an account on how we used the gifts He has given us.
By why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall stand before the judgment seat of Mashiach. For it is written: “As I live, says Yehovah, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to Elohim.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to Elohim.”
-Romiyim/Romans 14:10-12
We will give an account of what He has invested in our lives. Laziness will not be rewarded. In fact we read in the Gospel the following words of Yehoshua to the servant who hid the gift, instead of using it for the glory of Yehovah.
“You ought to have deposited the money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So that the talent from him, and give it him who has ten talents. Fro to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”- Mattithyahu/Matthew chapter 25:26-30
It does not mean a person will loose their salvation. They make it to heaven, but they will not have the same degree of glory. In fact such person will not have rewards at all. He will not be too happy for a while there.
He may have given you something little to do to test you. Your assignments may be small but as you use the gifts, He will increase.
I have experienced this phenomena. I began my ministry with prayer, then bus ministry. Then preaching and on and on. And I am thankful. I would have never thought in my heart in the beginning of my walk with Him, that I would be writing books, or this message today. But He has given me more, and continues to teach me. As long as I try to do it, He is pleased and gives me more.
I do not want to appear at His judgment Seat in Heaven empty handed, after He has given me certain abilities to bless His Kingdom and myself.
It is up to us how much rewards we will receive. If you, beloved reader, are born again, you will go to Heaven as long as you continue in the walk of faith, but if you refuse to use the gift He has given you you will be very much disappointed. Chose today what you will do.
I was inspired to do this message after I heard a preacher speaking on the gifts. He compared Yehoshua to a business man. You may want to read the whole chapter in Mattithyahu/Matthew 25: 14-30
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