By the Numbers

Monday, November 16, 2015

Christian! Are You Ready for Test Day?

                    Christians! Are You Ready for Test Day?

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he promised his disciples, "When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am" (John 14:3). Paul later explained when Jesus comes for his church they would be caught up to meet him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). Then great tribulation would occur on earth, (Dan. 9:26; Matt. 24:21).Christians will be taken up to be with Jesus to have their earthly works and service evaluated for it's quality of reward. Paul compares the life in Christ as a building with foundations. 
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"Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have--Jesus Christ.
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Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials--gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. If the work survives that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames" (1 Cor.  3:10-15 NLT).
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As believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, our every thought, word, and deed will be tested like gold, silver, jewels that to various degrees glorify God, or like wood, hay, straw that reveal we did it for selfish reasons/motives and we lose what could have been rewarded. Now let's see some review questions that may be asked us on the test when we stand before Jesus.
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Do you treat other believers who differ somewhat from you with respect and kindness? Heb. 6:10; Matt. 10:41-42. Our individual interests, teachers, experiences influence our beliefs and behavior. We don't believe every detail exactly alike and should be gracious. Gentle loving persuasion, not force or threats are in order.
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Do you use your talents and abilities to help others or just to promote yourself? Matt. 25:14:29; 1 Cor. 12:4; 1 Pet. 4:10. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. We make a better world to follow the Golden Rule.
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Do we you use your money to help others without blowing your trumpet?  Matt. 6:1-4; 1 Tim. 6:17-19. They we will be helped and we will please and be rewarded by God. We should care more about being God-pleasures than men-pleasures.
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Do you humbly accept mistreatment and injustice? Mark 10:29-30; Rom. 18:18. It shows true faith and follows the example of Jesus. The world that doesn't love Jesus won't love His followers either.
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Do we patiently accept sufferings and trials? James 1:12; Rev. 2:10. It shows strong faith and is the means to growth. They will come as Jesus warned but patiently endured prove our faith and bring us great reward.
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Do you use your time in positive, disciplined and holy activities? Psalm 90:9-12; Ephesians 5:16; Col. 4:5. Time is fleeting and shouldn't be wasted. We're to be disciplined like athletes keeping our mind on the goal.
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Do you control your fleshly appetites? 1 Cor. 9:25-27  Out of control desires lead to destruction, shame on our testimony for Christ.
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Do you speak up for principles of our faith and are not ashamed of Jesus? Prov. 11:30; Dan. 12:3; 1 Thess. 2:19-20. If we be ashamed of Jesus and things eternal, he will be ashamed of us when we see Him.
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Do you speak carefully and respectfully of other people? Matt.12:36; James 3:1-12 The tongue is a fire for evil or it can be a tool of encouragement.
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Do you study and mediate on God's Word or just read it quickly and soon forget its instructions? Acts 20:26-28; 2 Tim. 4:1-2; Heb. 13:17. God's Word is the means He uses to guide us in knowing how to live for Him and be shinning lights in this dark sinful world.
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Do you seek to win others to the Savior? Matt. 28:19-20: Acts 1:8. We are the King's ambassadors which is a high honor. Soul winners who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars in space. Modern technology enables us to do today what people before could only dream of doing. We can reach the world with the good news from any place on the globe. Pray for God's Holy Spirit to use you sending these computer articles WWW. That's the best thing we can do for people in life now and for their eternal life in Heaven. Lord, use my brother/sister in faithful and fruitful ministry.
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