hat ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24.
Conversion is a work that most do not appreciate. It is not a small matter to transform an earthly, sin-loving mind and bring it to understand the unspeakable love of Christ, the charms of His grace, and the excellency of God, so that the soul shall be imbued with divine love and captivated with the heavenly mysteries. When he understands these things, his former life appears disgusting and hateful. He hates sin, and, breaking his heart before God, he embraces Christ as the life and joy of the soul. He renounces his former pleasures. He has a new mind, new affections, new interest, new will; his sorrows, and desires, and love are all new…. Heaven, which once possessed no charms, is now viewed in its riches and glory; and he contemplates it as his future home, where he shall see, love, and praise the One who hath redeemed him by His precious blood. The works of holiness, which appeared wearisome, are now his delight. The Word of God, which was dull and uninteresting, is now chosen as his study, the man of his counsel. It is as a letter written to him from God, bearing the inscription of the Eternal. His thoughts, his words, and his deeds are brought to this rule and tested. He trembles at the commands and threatenings which it contains, while he firmly grasps its promises and strengthens his soul by appropriating them to himself.
When the transforming grace of Christ is upon the heart, a righteous indignation will take possession of the soul because the sinner has so long neglected the great salvation that God has provided for him. He will then surrender himself, body, soul, and spirit, to God and will withdraw from companionship with Satan, through the grace given him of God.
All need to understand the process of conversion. The fruit is seen in the changed life.
The Faith I Live By p. 139
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Preston who is having major brain surgery today. Cynthia
—-Pray that God will intervene and bring the desperately needed peace in Myanmar. Ruth
—-Please, requesting prayers for my son-in-law’s grandmother who’s been ill in Germany. Prayers also for traveling mercies for my youngest daughter and her husband as they travel overseas to visit his grandparents whom he has not seen in years. May God watch over them, guide them, protect them and keep them safe to and from their visit and throughout their stay. Aleyda
—-The e-coli kidney infection is back and am on yet another antibiotic. The news says it’s very dangerous. Please pray. Fran
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Dear Friends,
When we lived in the Northwest, we often took long drives into the mountains. One day on one such drive, we decided to walk on a certain nature trail. It was a dark and thickly wooded area and very beautiful. We were the only ones on the trail which made us feel like explorers entering upon territory. As we looked around at all the beauty, it seemed the scenery could not get better.
Just then, the narrow path widened a little and there before us was a lake sparkling in the sunshine. The leaves of the trees were so thick above us that where we were standing was dark; but there on the water, it was so bright and sunny that it made us squint our eyes. We sat on some logs in the coolness of the shade and gazed out over the water. Ron and I talked for a few minutes while the children waded in the water. It seemed like all the cares of life had evaporated and all was happiness and peace. We wanted to stay there forever.
Later as we started our walk back to the realities of life, we smelled the distinctive smell that a mountain lion makes when marking his territory. That smell had not been there when we had passed that spot not long before. While we had been sitting by the water, blissfully enjoying the beauty of the place, the large beast had probably been watching us and thinking what a great meal our youngest child would make. How thankful we were that our Great Creator had kept him from pouncing upon us.
Someday, we will be able to pet a mountain lion. Someday, even the most ferocious of all the beasts will be tame. God’s Holy Word gives us a glimpse of this place where all is joy and peace, a place where there is nothing to make us afraid, no sickness, no sorrow, no crying, no death. We read, “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. Rev 21:2-4
What a glorious time that will be! Sin and sinners will be no more. All will be the greatest happiness and joy. We will have no fear of any creature for we are told, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.” “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat.” Isa 11:6-8; 65:17-25
Moreover, Isaiah tells us that we “shall see the King in his beauty!” Isa 33:17 We shall behold Him face to face. Think of it! We will be able to sit down with the Great King of the Universe and ask Him why certain things have happened the way they did in our life. We will marvel as He explains the reasons behind every event in our life. Suddenly, our questions and perplexities will vanish away. We will praise Him for His goodness! With hearts overflowing with love, we will worship Him for His guiding hand, for His great love and care!
Paul exclaims, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Cor 2:9 How we are comforted as we meditate upon the Heavenly Kingdom. How our heart longs for our Dear Saviour’s Glorious Home as we imagine the most wonderful blessings, knowing that it will be even grander, even more glorious than our highest thoughts can reach!
Jesus assures us, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3 Jesus is coming very soon! Soon He will take us to that beautiful land where we will dwell with Him forevermore! Praise God!
May we soon dwell in safety in God’s Heavenly Kingdom where we will have nothing to fear. May we all soon be in that Glorious Land where “the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped, [where] the lame man [shall] leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.” Isa 35:5,6 May we, someday soon, feel our Great Redeemer’s Loving Arm encircle us and with His Mighty Hand gently and lovingly wipe away all our tears.
Rose
A New Life Altogether