IS MY NAME WRITTEN THERE?

                               By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

    Time is a precious commodity and never stands still in its long march across the world. Men live and die, nations are born and then fade away, making room for generations still unborn to take their place. Life goes on; governments, customs and laws change. 

    And people change, some for the better but more often for the worse. The world is hurtling towards its destination to the final day of reckoning called 'The White Throne Judgment', which St. John wrote about in the last book of the Bible, 'The Revelation of Jesus Christ.' 

   The only question that will matter then will be: "Is my name written down in the Lamb's Book of Life?"  The Bible states: "And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire." (Rev. 20: 11, 15)

                  CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES!

   CHANGES always  bring new challenges and new opportunities. With these new pressures of life we have Peace because we have the Prince of Peace abiding within us and the presence of the Holy Spirit all around us. Jesus said: "My peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14: 27)

   The Bible says: "For God hath not given a SPIRIT of FEAR; but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Tim. 1:7). 
  St. Paul was writing to Timothy, who had been given great responsibility and who was very aware of the evil power of the Roman Empire which was ready to do great damage to the fledgling Church.

   The spirit of fear is an evil power that sneaks its way into people's lives and reduces their trust in God and His Word. It seeks to dominate a victim's entire life and leave it in ruin. 

  God, however, gives the Believer His POWER over the devil and his dark forces. We do not need to cower under his influence but rather force them to flee from us; never to return! God's power is so much greater than the enemy's power, so by the Word of God in JESUS' matchless Name, fear is obliterated!

                GOD HATH GIVEN US LOVE!

    St. John stated: "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is Love. In this was manifested the LOVE of God toward us, because that God sent His Only Begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

   "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation (Death of Christ satisfied God) for our sins.  

    "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another. No man hath seen God (the Father) at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his LOVE is perfected in us. Hereby KNOW we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit.

     "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whoso shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in Him, and He in God. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.

  "There is NO Fear in Love; but perfect Love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We Love Him because He first Loved us." (1 John 4:7-19). 

   Believers in Christ are safe in the arms of Jesus, both now and forevermore. Now is the time to choose for Christ and Heaven.

    Jesus Christ calls unto us all: "Behold, I stand at the door (your heart's door), and knock: if any man will hear My voice and open the door, I will come in unto him, and will sup (fellowship) with him and he with Me." (Rev. 3:20). 

   Do it NOW, my friend!