Soon I Must Go ...

An approaching journey lies before me. I have to pass from time, to eternity; from this world, to the next. And the time of my departure, although to me uncertain, cannot be very far distant. A few years perhaps a few days, will close my stay on earth!

It is an unavoidable journey. I must go. There is no choice. Willing or unwilling, when God's summons for me arrives, I shall have to set off.

It is an unknown journey, I have never taken it before. I have no practical acquaintance with the road, the mode of transit, the dangers or the discomforts which await me. And there is no one who can clearly explain them to me. Those of my friends who have traveled that way have never come back to relate their experience.

It is a solitary journey. I must accomplish it alone. The most beloved of my present companions cannot accompany me. They may think of me, feel for me, pray for me but they cannot be with me. We must separate; they to remain behind, and I go forward.

It is a momentous journey. For at its termination, I enter upon my everlasting destiny! It will convey me either to the mansions of happiness or to the abodes of misery! The narrow boundary between the present and the future state once crossed there will be no possibility of change. "He who is unjust let him be unjust still; and he who is righteous let him be righteous still." (Revelation 22:11)

It is a final journey. "Soon I must go down that road from which I will never return." My pilgrimage will be forever ended. It will be my last journey. And if I am a Christian, how welcome is this fact! I shall be done forever with sin and sorrow. Eternal felicity will be mine, perfect holiness, and perfect happiness. This journey leads me to my beloved Savior,  to my Father's house, to my everlasting rest!

Then I will not shrink from its approach, nor complain of its accompaniments. It may be linked with much that is painful and unpleasant but it is my way HOME! Therefore, although life has many ties and many joys, I feel an earnest desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better than being here. "For this is not my resting place, because it is polluted, it is ruined beyond all remedy!" (Micah 2:10) 

Death is a solemn journey but it is a safe journey to Christ's people. He will not only receive and welcome them at its close but He will be with them as they are passing through it. Oh, it will not be lonely with Him! And He is a guide who is well acquainted with the way, for He has trodden it Himself. He went for the purpose of smoothing its difficulties, clearing its dangers, dispersing its terrors and He fully accomplished His purpose. Therefore when I walk through the dark valley, I will fear no evil; for you, O Jesus, will be with me, and Your rod and Your staff shall comfort me!

[Anonymous]

Job 16:22 … When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

Back in Eden

Through the death of Christ on the cross making atonement for sin, we get a perfect standing before God. That is justification, and it puts us, in God's sight, back in Eden before sin entered. God looks upon us and treats us as if we had never sinned.

[A. C. Dixon]

Romans 5:9-10 ... Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Hebrews 8:12 ... For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Titus 3:7 ... That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.❤

Learn to Pray

Luke tells us that as Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” This disciple had heard Jesus preach, but did not feel like saying, “Lord, teach us to preach.” He could learn to preach by studying the methods of the Master. But there was something about the praying of Jesus that made the disciple feel that he did not know how to pray; that he had never prayed, and that he could not learn by listening even to the Master as He prayed. There is a profound something about prayer which never lies upon the surface. To learn it, one must go to the depths of the soul, and climb to the heights of God.

 

[A. C. Dixon]

 

 

  ✞✞✞

 

 

 

 

 

Luke 11:1 ... And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

 

 

 

Psalm 25:5 ... Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

 

 

 

Romans 8:26 ... Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.❤

The Revival We Need

A true revival is a quickening according to God’s Word, not according to some man’s magnetism or eccentricity. A talented evangelist may swoop down upon a community and make a stir by sharp, striking sayings, draw large crowds and quicken a kind of interest; but such a quickening may be according to the evangelist, not according to the Word of God.

Now, what we need is an increase of spiritual life which is in line with scriptural teaching. A revival means a giving of more life. David had life; what he wished for was life more abundant. We have love for God and men; what we need is more of the same quality; but be sure that it is love according to the Word of God. ‘This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.’ Obedience, not sentimentalism or unctuous joy, is love.

Such obedience to God will be linked with unselfish ministry to man. A missionary by the name of Crossett died years ago in China. He was greatly loved by the Chinese people. He chose a life of poverty, because he did not have time to make money. He spent his days and nights with the sick, the poor, the anxious. He led many of them to Christ. He thought not of himself, but of others. He loved men, not because of the ties of kinship or nationality, but because they were men with immortal souls precious in the sight of God. Such love we need in abundance: a love producing a zeal that consumes us. A love that burdens us for the salvation of men.

 

[A. C. Dixon]

 

 

  ✞✞✞

 

 

 

Psalm 119:25 ...   My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

 

 

Psalm 119:107 ... I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word.

 

 

Psalm 119:154 ... Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.❤

The Meaning

What is meant by the Cross of Christ? There are several phrases which mean about the same thing. “The death of Christ,” “the blood of Christ,” “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world,” “Christ and Him crucified “... each has in the heart of it a definition of what the Cross of Christ means.

 

Then, if you will put together some of the great words which occur in the writings of the Apostle Paul, you find an unfolding of this heart meaning. The word “propitiation,” which suggests the justice and holiness of God; His love making propitiation to His justice: not His demanding of another that propitiation shall be made to Him, but love furnishing what justice and holiness demand.

 

“Reconciliation,” which is the manward side of it.  Be ye reconciled to God comes through the Cross of Christ. “Redemption,” Redeemed not with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. “Justification,” which has in it the accounting of a man as innocent.  He began before the Fall in a state of innocence, and justification is away beyond anything that a human court of justice ever realizes. It is putting the sinner in the condition before God as if he had never sinned at all. It is giving him a standing in the merit of Jesus Christ of absolute innocence before God.

It is all summed up in the word used over eighty times in the Old Testament, and just once in the English version of the New, “ATONEMENT.” At-one-ment really defines the fruitage of it. It brings us into harmony with God, makes us one with Him.

[A. C. Dixon]

 

  ✞ ✞ ✞

 

 

Philippians 2:5-8 ... Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

 

 

 

Hebrews 13:12-13 ... Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

 

 

Romans 5:11 ... And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.❤

Children of God

When we have accepted Jesus Christ, we have become akin to the Father; having become real children of God, we then have the spirit of sonship by which we can come into His presence and make known our wants in a familiar way.

[A.C. Dixon]

1 Peter 3:18 ... For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Galatians 3:26 ... For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.


Romans 8:15 ...  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Hebrews 4:16 ...  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  ❤

The Cross

In Jesus Christ on the Cross there is refuge; there is safety; there is shelter; and all the power of sin upon our track cannot reach us when we have taken shelter under the Cross that atones for our sins.

[A.C. Dixon]

Colossians 2:14 ... Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

1 Corinthians 1:18 ... For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Romans 5:10-11 ... For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.❤ 

Depend on Prayer

When we depend upon organizations, we get what organizations can do; when we depend upon education, we get what education can do; when we depend upon man, we get what man can do; but when we depend upon prayer, we get what God can do.

[A.C. Dixon]

Matthew 21:22 ... And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

John 14:13-14 ... And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

James 1:5 ... If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. ❤