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You're
on Probation
Whether You Believe
It or Not!
by Pastor John Hamel
“For we must all
appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the
things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good
or bad.” (2Corinthians 5:10)
Nobody lives on this present Earth
forever. It doesn’t take a Rocket Scientist to figure that one out. We live on this little Planet for a short
time only and then comes the Day of Judgment –
your Judgment. Until then you’re on probation – whether you believe it or
not!
“… it is appointed unto men [and
womb-men] once to die, but after this the Judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)
If you should die as a
Christ-rejecter you will go to what the Holy Bible refers to as “The Great White Throne Judgment.”
(Revelation 20:11-15)
That’s a
Judgment of Punishment for rejecting Jesus, God’s means of escape. From there you’ll be cast eternally into
the “Lake of
Fire.” (Psalm 9:17)
You don’t even have to believe this for it to be true. God doesn’t need your agreement or
permission to fulfill His Word.
If you die as a Christ-accepter, or
a Christian, you will face what the Holy Bible refers to as “The Judgment Seat of Christ.”
This is a Judgment of Rewards for the
faithful Christian. It is also a
Judgment where rewards will be taken away from the unfaithful, slothful,
selfish Christ-accepter. You can
read about all that in the verses below.
“Remember, there is only one
foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in
picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an
inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you'll be found out.
The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won't get by with a
thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn't, your part of
the building will be torn out ... But you won't be torn out; you'll
survive—but just barely.” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, Message Bible)
What could be
clearer?
If, as a Christian, you
spend your Probationary Period on Earth building with cheap or inferior
materials such as immorality, drugs, alcohol, gossip, lying, disobedience,
etc., you’re not going to pass God’s rigorous inspection. Your shoddy
workmanship is going to be ripped out.
That means payday is going to be a
sad day for you. You’ll have rewards taken away and not given to you. Oh,
you’ll make it into Heaven alright – but just barely. Sure, you’ll be walking those streets
paved with gold – behind a push broom or a buffing machine!
All kidding aside,
this will be a time of great shame, tears and sorrow as you watch your
worthless works demolished before your very eyes.
You’ll also see the superior works of the
Believers who built on God’s Word, morality, honor
and love pass the Lord’s thorough and rigorous inspection. You’ll tearfully
watch as they receive the rewards you could have had, too. Rewards of Eternal position, power and privilege!
Some Christians
wrongly believe that Almighty God has already planned their Eternal destiny
for them. They couldn’t be more wrong.
The verses of Scripture you just
read teach that we are all determining our own Eternal destiny by the
things we are doing on Earth right now.
That’s why this message is called “You’re on Probation.” What you’re doing now is determining what
you’re going to be doing then. Believe it or not!
Jesus tells all
Believers to “Go into all the world and preach the
Gospel.” (Mark 16:15-20)
This means
that everyone is either called to go or to help someone who is called to
go. You do this with your prayers and your finances.
You can also share
Jesus with the people in your world of influence. “I don’t know how to do that,” you
say.
Just open your Bible to John
14:6 and read it to them. Then turn to Romans 10 verses 9 and 10. Read that
to them, too. Ask them if they believe it.
If they do, tell them to say, “Jesus, You’re my choice” and they’ll
be saved.
This is how I started out sharing the Gospel. This
is how everyone starts out sharing the Gospel.
If folks don’t accept what
you show them, ask them to read this and tell them, “You’re in trouble, whether you believe it or not!”
Remember, as a
Christian you have two appointments just ahead of you. You will not reschedule or skip either
one.
One is with death.
The other is with the
Judgment Seat of
Christ. There you will be given rewards or have
them taken away from you.
It all
depends on what you choose to do with what the Holy Spirit is telling you
right now – “You’re on probation. Whether you believe it or not!”
Say, “Jesus, You’re
my choice” if you’re reading this as a non-Christian. That’ll get you into
the Family.
Then tell everyone you can about
Jesus, the only Savior of
all mankind.
You’re on probation, too, whether you believe it or
not!
Be Blessed ... John
and Barbara Hamel
How
to Be Born Again (Receive Christ as Your Savior)
How
to Receive The Holy Spirit & Power
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