Have You [Seriously] Confessed the Name of the Lord?

“Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” -2 Tim 2:19 (NASB)

There are some that say just believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is enough to get you saved and into heaven. I say not quite. You see even the demons believe but they are not saved – James 2:19. Salvation is not about works but about your faith in Christ received through His grace – Eph 2:89. Additionally, Rom 10:9 says – “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;” and also to repent of your sin – change your attitude and life – Acts 3:19.
So with these things said, can you say before the Living God that you really know Him? Do you think He knows you? Friends, these are stunning questions that drive a stake in the ground of just where you are at with the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must ensure we read all Scripture to know the truth.

Confessing His name means that you name Him as your Savior and King (which BTW, many say they do in our Christian churches today) then … look what it says – for those the Lord knows – they MUST turn away from wickedness (other versions describe it as unrighteousness). Did you get that? Turn away from anything that the Lord says in His word that is not pleasing to Him. For anything that goes against His written word is sin; yes, even your (my) lack of faith – Rom 14:23.

So you like TV, well, what do you watch? What things on TV attract your attention; that you grant authorized access in through your eyes and then into your soul? Think about this… If you watch things that are anti-Biblical, vile, corrupt, evil, filthy, or even R or X-rated stuff, if you watch these things more than once, face it, you most likely enjoy them.

And … your senses – thinking, words, actions – will start to take the shape of the things you let into your heart, mind and being – the “gates” of your soul.

This is not called righteousness [living] watching. You are enjoying and focusing on worldly things and not on the things the Lord says to focus on. Yes, this is a startling picture of just what His word is saying. Now move that into what you read, etc. And how about your speech: still filled with pompous, dirty, swear words – i.e. you do not bridle your tongue. Read what God says about this and your religion in James 1:26.

Do you trust in the Lord? Do you confess Him as your Savior? If so, what occupies your time, your thoughts, your motivations?

Based on just what I’ve presented so far, do you think the Lord knows you – John 10:14? Are you one of His flock? Do you take refuge in Him? Is He your Rock upon which you will not be moved?

The flip side of this is – do you call yourself a Christian, do the church thing, sing the songs and talk the talk but when it comes down to it, your mind and direction is in and of the world. Folks, it’s time to rethink and re-chart your course back to the Lord. 

Try this verse as a wake-up call to your soul…

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.;” -1 John 2:15 (KJV)

This is a strong verse that points you toward the Lord or away from Him. Read it several times, look in the mirror and decide what side of the fence you are on. And there are only two sides – with Him or against Him. (Bet you never hear these things in the church you attend … wonder why?).

One final thought – how often you you pull out your Bible and read it? Daily, weekly, once a month, rarely? Answer truthfully and then consider if it’s not daily then there’s a problem. This of course applies to those who have ready access to Bibles like here in America. What excuses do you come up with as to why you don’t read God’s word? Too busy, too tired, not enough time, can’t understand it, there’s no priest to interpret it for me. These are all lame answers and hold zero water. If you maintain one or more of these excuses are you in fact finding the word of God contemptible? Come on … answer truthfully. Listen to what the Lord says about people like this. 

“To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.” -Jer 6:10 (NASB)

Are your ears closed to God’s word in your personal life (outside of church) so you cannot hear? Do you find no pleasure in reading His words written to us over the centuries? Words to help us daily – to trust in Him, to find strength in Him, to love Him, to know Him, to help bolster our faith in Him. Yes, these are very passionate words to a generation of Christians that have lost their first love, rationalized their  ways to please themselves and in reality do not know the Lord and by the worldly love, actions and choices they make. So, does He – the Lord God Almighty – know you? Consider His words seriously, today. Where are you at?

Bottom-line: If you have “dismissed” the Lord in your life by lack of faith, trust, reading your Bible, clinging to the world, turn around, make a “uey” (u-turn) and seek Him now this very day. Ask forgiveness for your sins, confess Him as your only Lord and Savior, then repent of your worldly lifestyle – thoughts, actions and words and turn back to Him. Do this today! Amen.

Remember, there is only one way to enter heaven and that is through belief in the Lord as your Savior, professing Him as your Lord, that God raised Him from the dead. Then repent of your sin.

Keep in the forefront of your mind these Biblical facts:  you will not enter heaven just because you lived a “good” life, focusing on knowledge, experiences and good intentions. Or practiced salvation by works as some religions teach and do. This is not scriptural and your final destination will be one separated from God … forever!

 

-BPWatcher, Internet Preacher and Bible Prophecy Watchman

THE KING OF GLORY IS COMING — WILL YOU BE FOUND WORTHY AND READY?

Keep your lamps filled and ready for His arrival!!