“You Don’t have to be serious believer? Just take it easy?” By Showers of Blessing

JESUS IS COMING SOON
Troublesome times are here, filling men’s hearts with fear,
Freedom we all hold dear now is at stake;
But, humbling your hearts to God saves from the chast’ning rod,
Seek the way pilgrims trod, Christians awake!
Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon,
Many will meet their doom, trumpets will sound;
All of the dead shall rise, righteous meet in the sky,
Going where no one dies, heavenward bound!
Heavenward bound!
Troubles will soon be o’er, happy forevermore,
When we meet on that shore free from all care;
Rising up in the sky, telling this world goodbye,
Homeward we then shall fly, glory to share!
Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon,
Many will meet their doom, trumpets will sound;
All of the dead shall rise, righteous meet in the sky,
Going where no one dies, heavenward bound!
Heavenward bound!
Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon,
Many will meet their doom, trumpets will sound;
All of the dead shall rise, righteous meet in the sky,
Going where no one dies, heavenward bound!
Heavenward bound!
Heavenward bound!
I’m heavenward bound!

Let me tell you a joke. I heard it when I was a kid, and have not forgotten it. There was an old gentleman in a private school, who was an old scholar who read a lot of books, but did not want to understand. He thought that life was like a dream, so why be bothered to be serious with anything. It was fine to take situations lightly without being strict. One day his wife asked him to buy brown sugar as a medicinal use. However, he bought white sugar. His wife was angry and questioned him. He told her, “Is white sugar and brown sugar all sugar? It’s pretty much the same, so why make a fuss.”Another day a few guests came over, their house was missing one rice bowl and he was asked to borrow one from the neighbors. He returned with a porcelain basin, which caused everyone to laugh. He said, “What’s so ridiculous? Both bowls and basins are used for serving rice. I’ll use the basin. Isn’t it pretty much the same? I can still eat a full meal.”One day, he got a sudden illness in the middle of the night. At that time, there was a shortage of doctors and medicines in the countryside. His family went to ask for the only local doctor. The doctor was in an emergency and asked him to wait an hour before coming back. He yelled that he couldn’t wait any longer, so he asked the veterinarian to come and said: “Aren’t both regular doctors and veterinarians doctors? They all know pharmacology, please invite him. “ The veterinarian came and saw that he was fat like a pig, so he prescribed a prescription for pigs. The name of the medicine was correct, but the dosage was more than four times that of ordinary people. He died as a result. Mr. Sloppy ended his careless life. It was sad!
Of course these were just fables, not facts. However, they can make us think that, in fact, some of the situations we encounter every day should be taken seriously, and some can be taken more lightly. There is a Chinese motto: “Strictly discipline yourself, and be lenient to others” this is aimed at people being lenient with themselves and being strict with others. Once, Peter praised himself to the Lord and said: Master, my brother has sinned against me. I forgive him seven times. Is it okay? Jesus answered him, “Not seven times, but seventy time seven times.” This means to completely forgive. It suggests that we should not put a high demand on others, we do not need to be too serious when putting demands on others. But the Lord requires us that we must love our neighbor as ourselves. In response to the command from the Lord, we must be strict with ourselves and must love others as ourselves. There is no room for bargaining.
In the church, some people strictly abide by the Lord’s words, read or memorize the scriptures every day, and strive to keep the Lord’s words in their hearts and do their best to implement them. He often asks himself to think what the Lord thinks and do what the Lord does. But there are also people who are lax with themselves and refuse to read the Lord’s words, saying: “I don’t want to put pressure on myself in my life”, which means that he is unwilling to follow the Lord’s words in everything. Don’t you see, there are people who have believed in the Lord for many years and are long time Christians. They may even be workers and have served the Lord for many years. Some are in their 70s or 80s, but the Bible has not been read yet. I remember that in a Sunday meeting, there was a church accountant for many years. The host asked him to read the sixth chapter of Hosea. He turned the Bible over and over, and finally raised his head and wiped his sweat and said, “I read the New Testament. I can’t find it, what should I do? “ Someone in the audience said that the book of Hosea was in the Old Testament, a book just after the book of Daniel. He even laughed and said, “No wonder I can’t find it”. To the Lord, isn’t this sloppy and neglectful? Would you be embarrassed to see the Lord then? If the Lord asks you, why do you ignore my words, do not like to read my words, and do not pay attention to my words, do you really love me? ? ?
Thank the Lord for saving us from the pit of sin. His purpose is not limited to just saving us, otherwise we are still too pitiful. He hopes that after we are free from the burden of sin, we will continue to walk the road of righteousness. He wants us to walk along the narrow road every day towards the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, He requires us to continue to cleanse ourselves, remove all the sins that entangle us, become holy, and enter God’s kingdom. Such are worthy to be called His holy children. Such can be with the Lord forever, receive and enjoy eternal life.Yet,
it is not easy for us to reach the point of complete sanctification. It is not something that can be accomplished overnight. It is something that requires constant effort and hard work. The Lord reminded the disciples: 【The kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people are raiding it. 】(Matthew 11:12) The Chinese translation is not accurate enough. The English translation says it is taken by “violence”. It is not a normal effort, but a violent effort, which requires desperate effort to enter. The so-so thinking is incompatible with the Lord’s reminder. I respectfully advise those who do not want to put pressure on themselves, sober up!
Jesus was asked by the teacher of the law about the most important commandment. He condensed thousands of commandments into one, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. “This is the first commandment, and it is the most important. The second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. These two contain all the doctrines of the law and the prophets. [Matt 22:37-40) It seems that these two commandments must not be ignored. Yes, if we say that we love God but we are not willing to do our best to follow His words, please think about it, can we enter the kingdom of heaven? If we cannot love our neighbors as ourselves, can we be welcomed at the gate of heaven? Can we still enter heaven and be with the Lord for eternity?
Carelessness is the enemy of obtaining God’s full salvation. Carelessness is the tool Satan is most willing to use. If we are careless about the Lord’s words, easily refuse to put pressure on ourselves, don’t work hard to read the Lord’s words, don’t obey the Lord’s words seriously, don’t check ourselves carefully, and keep holy…Well, aren’t we just like the five virgins who want to be able to enter the kingdom of heaven, but having no oil in their lamps, yet desperately knocking on heaven’s door? What is the Lord’s answer to them? “I don’t know you!”. Please think about it, what is the relationship with the Lord for people whom the Lord does not know? What will?
The Lord said: “I will come soon! “To those who are so careless about the Lord’s words, wake up! (April 21)

2 Peter3:8 But, my loved ones, keep in mind this one thing, that with the Lord one day is the same as a thousand years, and a thousand years are no more than one day.
3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his word, as he seems to some, but he is waiting in mercy for you, not desiring the destruction of any, but that all may be turned from their evil ways.
3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; and in that day the heavens will be rolled up with a great noise, and the substance of the earth will be changed by violent heat, and the world and everything in it will be burned up.
3:11 Seeing then that all these things are coming to such an end, what sort of persons is it right for you to be, in all holy behaviour and righteousness,
3:12 Looking for and truly desiring the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will come to an end through fire, and the substance of the earth will be changed by the great heat?
3:13 But having faith in his word, we are looking for a new heaven and a new earth, which will be the resting-place of righteousness.
3:14 For this reason, my loved ones, as you are looking for these things, take great care that when he comes you may be in peace before him, free from sin and every evil thing.
3:15 And be certain that the long waiting of the Lord is for salvation; even as our brother Paul has said in his letters to you, from the wisdom which was given to him;
3:16 And as he said in all his letters, which had to do with these things; in which are some hard sayings, so that, like the rest of the holy Writings, they are twisted by those who are uncertain and without knowledge, to the destruction of their souls.
3:17 For this reason, my loved ones, having knowledge of these things before they take place, take care that you are not turned away by the error of the uncontrolled, so falling from your true faith.
3:18 But be increased in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May he have glory now and for ever. So be it.