Full submission or no admission

A disciple of Christ has understood that they must live a life completely and utterly sold out for Jesus Christ. All through out the bible and including Jesus says that a disciple of Jesus must forsake all. Yet, sad to say, you don't see that very much in the church today. Some may say that I am being judgmental and that I should not call out people on their sin, but if I don't, who will? Jesus won the war on the cross, so as the victor He gets to decide what the conditions of surrender we must accept. There is no negotiating, no adding or taking away from the conditions of surrender which He has laid out. You either take them or leave them. To accept these condition means to obey these conditions and to refuse them means to be in rebellion and you are an enemy to His kingdom. There is no gray area where you can profess Christ and still live as a worldly person. There isn't much else I can say to try to prove this point. So I will let the word of God speak for itself. What I will say is that we are living in a time where time is something we do not have a lot of. The end is drawing nigh and we all must chose whom we will serve. We must fully submit to Jesus Christ or there will be no admission into His kingdom. 

Matthew 10:38 - And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Luke 9:23 - And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 14:28-33 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it - lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Matthew 16:25-26 - For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Philippians 3:7-9 - What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.

"The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:14), rather, "the carnal mind is enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). But even though "we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:3), "…you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight" (Colossians 1:21-22). Thus, having been "reconciled to God through the death of His Son" (Romans 5:10), you have received "exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:4). Therefore, "do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16). "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (James 4:4). "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor" (John 12:25-26).

Almost famous..how long does famous last?

I am not as "hip" with music as I use to when I was younger and after being born again, I don't listen to secular music so much anymore. The song 'Almost Famous" by G-Eazy I heard it on the way back home from a men's retreat this past March 2016. I was passenger and the guy who gave me a ride there was playing this song on the radio. I was listening to the lyrics and it posses a good question. "How long does famous last?" People, in some way, shape or form, are looking for approval, 15 minutes of fame or a way to immortalize themselves in history. There is a saying that goes "To be known is to be loved; to be loved is to be known." But know that the desire, craving, yearning for fame from this world is nothing in comparison to being known by God. In fact it is so important, it can be the difference between eternal life or eternal damnation. In Matthew 7:23 Jesus said this about the Great White Throne judgement scene "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." 

Being famous, no matter how long it is, is not a long time. Even if a person was born into fame, for example Prince William or Prince Harry of the UK, it will be short lived. Lets say they live to be 70 years old. Well how does 70 years compare to eternity? Its nothing! Its like a drop in the ocean. Even people who have lived long ago and are still mentioned in our history books, their fame will only be as long as this world will last. From the looks of if, that will come to an end soon. The only things that last for eternity are things that are done for God and in His name. I would like it if my blog would become more famous and well known. I mean, who doesn't desire a little lime light? But over time the Lord has shown me that I should seek Him and live a life that He approves. So whenever it will be when it is my turn to pass away and go home to be with the Lord even if my blog is still not well known here on earth, since it has been done in the name of Jesus and I know that I am known by God, my blog and all the other things I have done to serve God will have eternal weight. God knows about my blog! That is amazing when I think about. God knows about the things you have done to bring Him glory and that is all that should matter. Look up the song called "He Knows My Name" by Francesca Batistelli. This song puts things into perspective. 

The dictionary defines the word fame 'as the condition of being known or talked about by many people, especially on account of notable achievements'. Fame within itself is not bad but the intentions of fame is what is bad. Is someone intending to just make themselves famous or are they trying to make Jesus famous? There are many stories where men of God became famous but God is the one who made them famous and known throughout the land because they made God known. Today I was reading the 3 men in the furnace in the book of Daniel. Because of their faith, not only were they delivered from certain death, the king promoted them and decreed in all the land that if anyone talked bad about their God, they would be cut into pieces and their house would become a dung hole. Some examples people are famous for their talents, for their position in society and some for some not so good things are the likes of Michael Jordan, who is known to be the greatest basket ball player ever. President George Washington was known for being a general in the revolutionary war and also being the first president of the United States. Kim Kardashian is famous for a sex tape she made.  Once the money runs out, you cant perform your talent like you use to, and folks have got tired of your outlandish life, or you die, then what? In Psalm 49:17 the Bible says "For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him." So all your victories, your trophies, fame, fortune, power and money you cant even take that with you into the after life. 

In James 4:14 it says "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." Our life here on earth may seem like a long time but it really isn't. Our life is like a vapor. Here one second, gone tomorrow. We are not guaranteed the next heart beat, our next breathe, the next minute, the next day, etc. Then why do people live life only for now, this short time? We should have eternity stamped on our eyes. Have you given it a thought lately where will you spend eternity? Because eternity is a long time to be wrong. I pray to the Lord and I tell Him that I have to get this right because hell is not a place for me. Death comes to us all, the young and the old. The only way out of here is death or rapture. So while we have a chance, lets live this life for Christ. Luke 12:16-20 "And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" God is sovereign over our lives. He knows the exact time our soul will be required of us. Lets be ready for that time always. 

Exert from "Almost Famous" 

Young with too much cash, watch how I came up fast
They say I'm next to get it
They bring your name up last
And while I made it splash
Rappers came and passed
But still I ask myself
How long does famous last?
(I ain't worried 'bout it tonight) How long does famous last?
(Blow all this cash, I might) How long does famous last?
(Tell her welcome to the good life) How long does famous last?
(Ooh) How long does famous last?

So many verses come to my recollection when I hear/read the chorus of this song. Here are just a few that come to mind:

* Matthew 16:26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

* 1 Peter 5:6-Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

* Romans 12:And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

* Galatians 5:19-21Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

* 1 John 2:15-16Love 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.For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

* Proverbs 19:1Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

* 1 Peter 1:24-25For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Brothers and sisters, there is no inheritance in sin.  All I am saying here to you is to be about the business of our Father. Don't love the things of the world and be transformed by  the renewing of your mind. I am not judging G Eazy. Its obvious he is not saved or born again, I just used his song because it inspired me to write about the love of the world and the things of the world. It also reminded me of the sad condition this world is in. People use money, sex, drugs, alcohol, work, friends, music, and fame to numb the pain and fill the emptiness in their life by filling it with these things. The only thing that will fill the void is Jesus Christ. The longing of all man kind is Jesus, its just that not everyone knows that. That is what we, disciples of Jesus, have been commissioned to do. To go into the world, proclaim the Gospel, tell others about the things that God has done and to warn them about sin and the impending wrath of God. We are not suppose to keep the Gospel to ourselves and we are not suppose to hide out in our church buildings. No. We are to go where the lost are and preach to them or share our testimony to them. I know that not everyone is called to be an evangelist but that shouldn't stop anyone because we can all evangelize. Some say that we need only live out our Christian lives in front of nonbelievers and that should be enough. I don't agree with that because it is not found in the Bible. Jesus didn't commission us to be good boy and girls in front of the naughty folks so that they can be saved. No! He said to go out and preach and teach. Read Matthew 28 if you don't believe me because those words are spoken by our savior Himself. Many of the problems we have in our country and in this world are because believers are too scared or have limited themselves to the church grounds, or just to live out their lives without ever telling a soul about the good news of Jesus. If this makes you mad, good. I want to provoke your faith and provoke you to get up and do something about it. Go tell your friend, family member, neighbor, the person at the store about Jesus. Is really easier than you think. 

Anyways...I got off track. Where I was concluding this blog entry with was, there would probably be less songs about the love of this world if the body of Christ would go and tell them about the love of God shown through the life, death and resurrection of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Also telling them that they are sin but that there is hope. Hope is found in Christ alone and in no one else. So how long does famous last? Not long at all. In comparison to eternity, its nothing and in my opinion. Earthly fame is just not worth it. Everything of this world will pass away but the words of God will never pass away. Anything done in the name of Jesus will have eternal weight and reward.