We are always asking God for things. Weʼre always hoping God will do this or that for us. We are always wanting something from God, BUT what about God?
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.†2 Peter 3:9
We have a full wish list, but Godʼs wish list has only TWO items on it!
1. God is NOT WILLING (that is, He is not desirous, not hoping, not wishing) that any man perish.
2. God is WILLING (that is, desirous, hopeful and wishing) that all (mankind) should come to repentance.
God is wanting all persons to have a change of mind . . . about Him, about their habits, and about their feelings toward and about God.
People have to be able to set aside their traditions, customs, and even their cultures and re-think their opinions and ideas about God. This is what “repentance†means: to have a “change of mind.†But, this only possible by hearing a word about Jesus Christ, or how else can one change his idea or opinion?
cf. Amp. Rom 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ, the Messiah [Himself].â€
So, to repent means to have a change of mind of oneʼs own opinions, feelings, and ideas about Jesus Christ. Our ideas and opinions about Jesus Christ are basically shaped by the traditions and culture in which we have been raised.
Repentance begins to happen only after one has heard the Word of God about Jesus Christ from a preacher, a friend, a grandmother, husband, wife, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, radio program, or even a gospel song. This list includes verbal avenues which God has ordained to use in order to inform those without God of the Word about His Son, Jesus Christ. And, the devil will do everything he can to distort the Word so that people will not be able to hear it.
If you are a true believer in Jesus Christ as your very own personal Savior and Lord of your heart, then by all means, be thankful to God for the person(s) whom God chose to tell you about His Son! Yes, someone prayed for you, someone cared enough about you to get close enough to you and share the Word of Life.
Now, letʼs go back to the first thing on Godʼs Wish List and take a look at something astounding.
1. God is NOT WILLING (that is, He is not desirous, not hoping, not wishing) that any man perish.
God does not wish you to perish. He does not wish you to be destroyed. Or in simple, easy-to-understand language, He does not want you to come to destruction, or be lost.
This explanation of the Chinese character for “perish†explains:
So, in essence, in the ancient days, “destroy†was depicted in this calligraphic expression as entering the village or town with weapons of
Water is the life of a village, town, city, or metropolis. Without it, death lurks (or waits in ambush) to steal, kill and destroy the people.
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.†John 10:10
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.†John 3:16-17
“Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.†John 7:37-38
The devil is NOT interested in your body, or even your soul (emotions). More than anything else, he wants to steal in, kill and destroy the eternal part of you, that is your SPIRIT-man.
Yes, there is a part of us that will live eternally! Whether eternally in heaven, or hell, we each must decide that destination while living our lives here on earth.
When God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness . . .â€, man was made to live eternally just like God is eternal. The problem was the serpent (who by the way is none other than the devil, the thief about whom Jesus spoke, “ . . . the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy . . .†) who sneaked in and deceived Adam into disobeying Godʼs command to not eat the fruit. The devil lied outright to Adam and said, “ . . . surely you will not die . . .†if you eat this fruit. When Adam ate, it was then that his “spirit-man†died, and was destroyed. His physical body died some 900 years later, but the moment he ate of that fruit, his “spirit-man†died. The eternal life-source was sucked right out of him. He was separated from his Creator. BUT, “ . . . God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.â€
Manʼs eternal spirit-being is resurrected from the sentence of eternal torment and death in hell when he chooses to “believe†(trust, cling to and rely on) Jesus as his personal Lord, Guide, Protector, Savior, Friend, and Counselor.
Yes, Jesus is every manʼs “life saver.â€Â
In conclusion, always remember that the devil is NOT interested in your body or soul, but only in your “water-source†(spirit-man). He will do everything he can to sneak in to the center of your life and try to steal and destroy your “water source.†He does this by attacking you in your body and soul (emotions). He wants to destroy your well.
We must always stay close to our well , because Jesus will always be there at the periods of high noon in our lives to give us a drink of the living water.
“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.†John 4:14
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.†Isaiah 12:2-6″
―Nils Olson (July 3, 2011)
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