IF one goes to a popular search engine and types in “relationships are…,” the results which come back are not very encouraging to those who value relationships.
Among the Top Ten autocomplete answers given by the search engine were:
1- Relationships are HARD.
2- Relationships are HARD WORK.
3- Relationships are OVERRATED.
4- Relationships are LIKE A ROPE.
[Okay, we had to check this one out.
One answer had “When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it.” – ?
Another give “Relationships are like ropes and a rope is made up of several threads. Each thread has it’s own uniqueness and importance in maintaining the strength of the relationship.”
A third offered “Relationship is like a rope if you cut it and tie it back together it brings both ends of the rope closer to each other.“]
5- Relationships are A TWO-WAY STREET.
6- Relationships are NOT EASY.
7- Relationships are NOT PERFECT.
As stated, not real encouraging, overall.
About 25 years ago around these parts, there was a saying–whether it was true or not has not been determined.
“When someone mentions that they have a “relationship,” it means that things aren’t going too well. When things are great between two people, they NEVER call it a “relationship.”
One of the most important relationships a person can have is with God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
(This is NOT the relationship spoken of by the tares who claim, “Jesus is not a person, he’s a relationship.”)
There are TWO kinds of relationships man may have with God OR Jesus Christ.
One relationship centers around the man being a SINNER.
The other relationship is about the man being ETERNALLY SAVED BY GOD’S GRACE (mercy).
These relationships are VERY different because God treats each kind so differently.
1- God hears and answers the prayers of the BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER.
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
–1JOHN 5:14-15
God does NOT hear the prayers of the SINNER.
“Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”
–John 9:31
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me”
–Psalm 66:18
It is EXTREMELY hard to have a relationship with someone who does not hear you.
2- God’s mercy affects how a person will react to sin.
The SINNER treats sin as an escape; as FUN; as something exciting.
The BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER realizes that sin is a FAILURE on his part to keep God’s Word.
The BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER will stumble and sometimes, he will fall.
BUT, the BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER KNOWS that God treats him with mercy.
3- God’s mercy affects how sin is charged to each person.
“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”
–Romans 4:6-8
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”
–Psalm 32:1-2
There are other differences which–God willing–we will cover soon.
But the relationship between God and man depends on the individual.
And God–unlike man–can read the hearts and minds of each and every man.
So there is NO fooling God.
What does the reader believe about relationships?
Does the reader believe a relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ is a very special one?
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: July 28, 2021.]
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
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- God is in Control
- The Nature of Spiritual Deception
- Tender Mercies of the Lord: Will Not Always Be Available
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
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