{"id":45007,"date":"2020-10-15T23:09:51","date_gmt":"2020-10-15T20:09:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=45007"},"modified":"2025-05-09T01:30:04","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T22:30:04","slug":"im-warning-you-early","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/10\/15\/im-warning-you-early\/","title":{"rendered":"I\u2019m Warning You Early!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, be blessed.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many things that will prevent people from inheriting eternal life on that day. Many will believe they are right with God and are pleasing Him, but it will come as a shock when they realize they missed eternal life. The reason for this is simple: they lack holiness. The Bible tells us in<\/p>\n

Hebrews 12:14<\/strong>: \u201c<\/em><\/p>\n

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Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201d<\/em> Holiness is the essential mark of the believer\u2019s life and an absolute prerequisite to seeing God. Without it, no one will enter His presence. No matter how much we may do for God, it is holiness that qualifies us to inherit eternal life (see 1 Peter 1:16<\/strong>, \u201cBe holy, because I am holy.\u201d<\/em>).<\/p>\n

God\u2019s Grace and Its Deceptive Nature<\/strong><\/p>\n

God\u2019s grace is often misunderstood and can deceive many. Beloved, even if you curse God\u2019s name today, that doesn\u2019t mean He will withhold food or provision from you. Even if you are a witch, God will still allow His sun to shine on you and provide rain.<\/p>\n

Matthew 5:45<\/strong> says,<\/p>\n

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\u201cHe causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This demonstrates God’s common grace\u2014His benevolent action toward all of creation, regardless of moral status.<\/p>\n

His grace does not mean that you are guaranteed to inherit eternal life, though. In Romans 2:11<\/strong>, the Bible reminds us, \u201cFor God does not show favoritism.\u201d<\/em> His grace is not a blanket guarantee of salvation\u2014it\u2019s an invitation to repent and live a holy life. The grace of God leads to repentance, but it should never lead to complacency in sin.<\/p>\n

Signs of God’s Blessing Do Not Guarantee Salvation<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you fall ill and pray to God for healing, and He heals you, that does not mean you are right with God, nor does it guarantee your place in heaven. Similarly, if you pray for someone and they are healed or if you cast out a demon, that is not proof that you are in a right standing with God.<\/p>\n

Matthew 7:22-23<\/strong> says, \u201c<\/em><\/p>\n

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Many will say to Me on that day, \u2018Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?\u2019 Then I will tell them plainly, \u2018I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!\u2019\u201d<\/em> Even powerful<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0signs and wonders are not the ultimate measure of God’s approval. Jesus is clear that only those who do the will of the Father will inherit eternal life, regardless of their miraculous works (see Matthew 7:21<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Similarly, experiencing God\u2019s deliverance in difficult times does not indicate that He is pleased with you more than others. God\u2019s acts of mercy and deliverance are part of His common grace, extended to all people, including non-believers. Psalm 145:9<\/strong> declares, \u201cThe Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.\u201d<\/em> Even those who do not follow Christ receive His goodness in the form of provision, protection, and blessings. Luke 6:35<\/strong> teaches us that God is kind to the ungrateful and wicked, emphasizing His impartiality in showing mercy.<\/p>\n

Holiness and Repentance: The Call to Live Righteously<\/strong><\/p>\n

Therefore, we must not let God\u2019s grace deceive us into living in sin, thinking that on that day we will see God just because we have experienced His blessings. God\u2019s grace should lead us to repentance, not to complacency.<\/p>\n

Romans 2:4<\/strong> tells us, \u201c<\/em><\/p>\n

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Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God\u2019s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The grace of God is not meant to be abused or taken for granted but should stir us to pursue a life of holiness and obedience to His commands.<\/p>\n

Matthew 7:21-23<\/strong> also highlights the importance of living in accordance with God’s will, which is a call to righteousness and holiness. Simply professing the name of Christ is not enough; we must do the will of the Father.<\/p>\n

Ephesians 5:5<\/strong> affirms, \u201c<\/em><\/p>\n

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For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person\u2014such a person is an idolater\u2014has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This reiterates the truth that the moral and spiritual life of the believer is vital in determining whether or not they will inherit eternal life.<\/p>\n

The Necessity of Holiness<\/strong><\/p>\n

We must remember that salvation is not only about experiencing God\u2019s grace but also about living a holy and repentant life. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4<\/strong> teaches,<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt is God\u2019s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201d<\/em> Holiness is not an optional part of the Christian walk; it is the very essence of what it means to belong to God.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beloved, it is good to rejoice in the grace of God when we are healed, provided for, or delivered from danger. These are signs of God’s goodness toward us. However, we must not let these blessings deceive us into thinking that we are already guaranteed eternal life. We are called to live lives of holiness, repentance, and obedience, for these are the conditions for inheriting the kingdom of God. Let us heed the warnings in Galatians 5:19-21<\/strong>, where Paul writes,<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

May we pursue holiness every day, so that on that day, we may stand before our Father with confidence, knowing that we have lived according to His will.<\/p>\n

God bless you all.<\/p>\n

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