Eternal Life!

For Friday, August 2, 2024:

2 Peter 2:12 NLT: “False teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed.”

False teachers speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption. They will receive the wages of unrighteousness. Let me explain:

Whereas God is spirit from the heavenly kingdom, false teachers are only of this world. Souls belonging to God’s kingdom are eternal, but those carousing through this world (sinning) will die when the Lord brings us the New Heaven and the New Earth!

Judgment Day is something to be feared if you’re not on the “Jesus team!” God has no time for sin. I don’t think it’s impatience on God’s part, so much as the fact that there’s only one possible outcome, so we might as well git ‘er done!

Remember that those who have placed their faith, hope and trust in Jesus have “Assurance of Salvation,” a promise of life-after-this-life in the presence of the Father. So lock in your relationship with the risen Jesus. Follow him and you too will rise!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Bright Shining Light!

For Saturday, April 27, 2024:

Philippians 2:15b NLT: “Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”

In case you haven’t noticed, the world is a mess. There are wars, fighting, and innocent people dying internationally. Locally, each day’s headlines tell of more shootings and more deaths. Two or three every day; sometimes more. There’s also an abundance of crimes that don’t involve killing, but still affect our quality of life.

Lest we become discouraged, let’s all turn to the back of the book to find out (or to remember) who wins. It’s really no contest! Our triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the creator of everything. Let me state that another way: No one else ever created anything! No one! The creator who initiated the world holds all the cards for how it all will end. What happens in our life-after-this-life is determined solely by the creator of it all.

Those who repent and return, who acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, will find their names in the Book of Life. That’s Jesus’ free gift to those who believe. And out of gratitude for that gift of understanding the Good News, we become God’s bright lights shining into an otherwise corrupt world. God want’s Christians to be the bright light that others want to get close to. When people look at Christians, they should like what they see and want to become a part of the action! Christianity grows through attraction.

So shine your light into the dark world. As time marches on, there will be fewer of us on the winning team, but don’t give up. Jesus has your reward waiting for you on the other side!

Blessings as you go about the Lord’s work today!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Transfigured!

For Wednesday, April 26, 2023:

Matthew 17:2-3 NLT: “As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.”

The brothers John and James along with Peter accompanied Jesus up a high hill to be alone. And when you travel with Jesus, you oftentimes get to witness the unexpected! This time it was the transfiguration, Jesus emitting the light of purity and holiness. His face shone like the sun! They were joined by Elijah and Moses.

Jesus himself was transformed. It was still his face, but it now emitted light so bright that it would have been difficult to look at him. The Greek verb ‘metamorphoo’ implies a transformation, a change in form. We use this word to describe a caterpillar becoming a beautiful butterfly. There’s still only one living thing, but now it’s way different! Transfigured! Some would say, ‘way better!’

Spurgeon writes about this: “Saints long departed still alive; live in their personality; are known by their names; and enjoy near access to Christ.”

Proving once again that a good life-after-this-life awaits us!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Rapture!

November 21, 2022 Monday Message:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NLT: “The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.”

Paul is reassuring the Thessalonians that Jesus will be returning for all the believers, including those who have already died. In fact, those who have died will first rise from their graves as perfectly restored bodies to be reunited with their souls. Then believers still living will be raptured, with everyone joining Jesus in the sky.

Most religions promise a life-after-this-life, but Jesus is the only one who actually did it. His death on the cross was certified by Roman Centurions. His body was then placed in a tomb. But three days later he was up and out, walking around where everyone could see him. Close to 600 people were documented eyewitnesses!

God’s desire is that no one would be lost, which is why Jesus took the sins of the world to the place of the dead, and clothed the believers in garments of white signifying purity. Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, believers can join Jesus in God’s heavenly Kingdom and eventually on the New Earth. Jesus promised us this. Everything else Jesus predicted was true, so we have every expectation that this blessing will be delivered to the believers, the new Children of God.

Keep a keen eye out for a white horse in the sky!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship