Author: Tracy Eldridge

This my witness for my Lord and Savior on the web. I pray that you find these posts useful in your search for Jesus. http://thelivingmessage.com

The parable of the workers


One day a wealthy man needed some work done in his fields, so he went to the marketplace and found many men standing around. He offered them “whatever is right”, a penny (denarius) for their day’s work. They agreed and began work at an early hour. He did this again at about the sixth and ninth hours. He even went and found others looking for work at the eleventh hour and offered them the same.

Not long after he called his servants and told them to bring the workers in so that he could pay them their wages. Many of them who were there for most of the day ventured that they would receive more than their agreed pay. He began to pay them from the last workers first. The others saw that he was paying them also with a denarius and grumbled about it. When it came time to pay the first workers they were angry about it but the owner of the field said, “Friend, did you not agree to a denarius for a day’s wages?” Take your pay and go, I will do with my money what is right because it is my choice to do so.

Granted, I paraphrased this parable a bit, but it shows the grace and mercy of God to all of us. Just as the thief on the cross was one of the first to attain salvation by his faith and belief in Jesus Christ, he received the reward of being in Heaven. The very last person on Earth who is saved prior to the rapture (catching away) of the church will also attain entry into Heaven through the blood of Jesus and His righteousness. There will be no real difference in reward save for those who worked for God’s Kingdom in their lifetimes and their rewards will be the crowns that they are given for their faith and their work for His Kingdom. The book of Revelation tells about these crowns and what they represent and that we will cast them at the feet of Jesus because He is worthy to be praised! The book of Revelation is the only book of the Bible which has a blessing in the beginning chapter for all who read it and seek the meaning of it. I pray that you will read it and seek the One Who gives its meaning and purpose to all who believe.

Amen

What can we do?


Jesus did all of the work for us to have salvation, so what can we do? We really don’t have to do anything except to believe in Him and His provision for us through that belief because with faith coupled with our belief in Him our salvation is given to us by the grace of God. After we are saved there are many things that we can do regardless of the attitude of some that Christians have all of these rules and are just very boring. Compared to what we did in our “old life” without Christ, whatever that may have been, it could be boring to your friends from that time. After your heart has been changed by the Holy Spirit you no longer need to do the things that you did before. You may not feel like hanging out with your old friends but you will have new sisters and brothers through Christ in a church near you. Join a Bible study and learn more about your risen Savior that provided you with this gift of salvation. Study your Bible each day and learn about how much you are truly loved by God, the Creator, and the Sustainer of the universe. Imagine being loved by the One Who created you to be who you are and Who knows you far better than anyone else.

The Savior and God of all keeps every part of you and the world around you together and working for your blessing and for His glory. Every part of the universe is held together by His will and for His purpose just like we are. The Bible, God’s Word, is full of all kinds of stories about loss and pain, love, anger, regret and yet He can guide you through them all if you will let Him.

God blesses us even in our trials


When you are tested, seek the Lord ask Him for strength. He will bless you and take you through your trials no matter how much it may hurt. You will come through this stronger in your faith and even more able to stand when another trial comes.

Perspective


What is your view of the world? That is your perspective, your perception of things and all of the stuff that is happening around you in the world. So, do you look around you with eyes that see a world that God made for us or do you see dirt and grass and bugs and trees that just popped up from a single cell billions of years ago?

To me, it would take far more faith to believe in a naturalistic, evolutionary worldview than it would to believe that God created it all and made it perfectly for humanity to live. But…that’s just my perspective. To give you a perspective of how small we are in the “scheme” of things, take a look at this picture below.

These trees are alive and growing and have been for a very long time. There are mountains and oceans and canyons which also set our perspective in a way that we look very tiny by comparison. The aorta of a blue whale, for example, is almost big enough for a man to stand upright inside it. There are so many different ways to look at the world to see the wonder and majesty of God’s creation.

I pray that you will seek God for your Salvation through His Son, Jesus. Learn of Him, read His Word and become an adopted son or daughter.

There is joy because of one sinner coming to Jesus Christ


I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luke 15:7 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.15.7.KJV

Be still…


God is the Creator but He is also the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, so He is our Father too when we come to know Jesus as our Savior. Seek Him today because there are surprises in store for those who refuse.

God comforts us…


God is always near us and He never leaves. He is always within a whisper of a prayer, regardless of what has happened. The best part is that He will never leave you or me out in the cold. No matter what, He is always by our side.

You are my Strength


Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord , my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 KJV (https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.19.14.KJV)

David wrote this and it was his prayer to God that He would accept David’s prayer and give him strength for this endeavors. He also recognized God as His redeemer and Savior. God has been watching over the entire world for a very long time. He loves the Jewish people but He also loves us as well. God gives us the blessings of life and the freedom to choose to follow Him and be His servant if we choose to but many people don’t choose to be a follower of Jesus. Some because they are enslaved to another religion and some simply because they don’t believe the Bible is true and they don’t believe in God.

We have a Sun that isn’t unstable so there’s a blessing right there. We aren’t too close to it so our summers aren’t too hot and our winters are bearable as well. The gravity of Earth is perfect for us so everything good about this is influenced by God’s design of it all. Even the outer planets tend “guard duty” for us against any comet or asteroid which might want to wander in at an angle which would bring it toward Earth.

Our solar system is balanced so that every part of it is doing God’s work in keeping it balanced according to God’s design. So why can’t we look at the night sky and realize that God’s handiwork has been declaring all along that His hands designed everything that we see? Because mankind doesn’t want to see God’s hand in everything. They don’t want to believe that He is in control of everything in the universe. He has control but He doesn’t force His control on us, especially in regards to our belief in Jesus. Yes, He wants us to come to know Him as our Savior but God also knows that not everyone will. The evidence is here on Earth and in the heavens. It is in His Word and in the lives of those who do believe in Him. Seek Him while He can be found because one day soon it will be much harder to come to know Him.

If you want to know Him read the book of John then read the book of Romans, both will give you a picture of Him and His love for us and the reason why all of the disciples were martyred to the last man except for John. There have been many millions killed because of their belief in Jesus over the past two thousand years which is proof that it is true because nobody would die for something that they thought was a lie.

What if?


In the story of Job, he went through some terrible hardships because God wanted to show Satan that His servant was faithful no matter what. God blessed Job with twice as much wealth and gave him a good long life after he proved his faithfulness through his trials.

My question is what if we had to endure trials like he did? Could we persevere and last with our faith through the loss of wealth and family the same way? I’m not sure how many Christians could do this. I’m not sure that I could do it. But…God doesn’t require this of us. All that we have to do is seek to be forgiven, realizing that we are sinners and are in need of a Savior. Granted we will not be given over 170 years of life like Job was just because we come to salvation through Jesus Christ but we will be entered in the Lamb’s book of Life. We will be granted a home in Heaven where all believers will be one day. This is a greater reward than anything we could have or imagine having on Earth and worth more than any amount of wealth as well.

Many Christians in America and Europe have never experienced persecution like those in Russia or China and in some Muslim controlled countries but even this will change one day. The Tribulation will soon happen. I can’t tell you when but after the church is taken to Heaven the world that most people know today will change and it won’t be in a good way. It may not be too bad for the first two or three years but not long after that things will turn much worse. Read the book of Revelation if you want to get some idea of what is coming because God’s Word is true!

I pray that whoever reads this post and searches for the Truth will seek Jesus Christ as their Savior before the events of Revelation begins. Seek to know Jesus and repent so that you can be saved from the hell on Earth that is coming.

Rejoice because your name is in the Book of Life


And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. Luke 10:17‭, ‬19‭-‬22 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.10.17-22.KJV