Ecclesiastes 3:14 "I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him."
Challenge: Follow this sketch to a "T" - not adding anything to it, or taking anything away from it. (you may however use various shapes in place of the ones given, as long as there is something representing each item in this sketch)
The last part of this verse says, “God does it, that men should fear before Him.” I looked up various Bible translations for the word fear and found these:
…stand in awe of Him.
…be in awe of Him.
…to make people respect Him.
…so that He will be revered.
and my favorite, “…so we'll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear.”
So many times we ask God “WHY?” when we really need to just realize that God’s plan is bigger than we can wrap our brains around… better than we can conjure up for ourselves, and unlike our own plans, HIS never change! We can know His plan because He’s revealed it to us in His Word!
Psalm 100:5 says, "The Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations." What a wonderful thing to know we don't have to worry about the future and our eternal security!! What made a Christian 2000 years ago, is what makes one today.
In 1981, in California, there was a single car theft that grabbed news-paper headlines and radio stations all over the country. Car thefts happen all the time, but what made this one grab headlines? Because on the front passenger seat was a box of crackers laced with poison! You see, the owner was on his way to his cabin where he had a rat problem, so he put rat poison in the box of crackers, but before he drove off, he went back inside the house to get something and that’s when the thief stole his car. The police put out an APB (all points bulletin) to find the thief as quickly as possible, not to punish him or recover the car, but to SAVE his life!!
And just like this story, God pursues US because He knows just how poisonous sin is and He wants to SAVE US…because He loves us!
Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ Int'l shares that in his experience in counseling, he's convinced that tens of thousands of good, faithful church-goers who have received Christ in prayer are not sure of their salvation! Do you have that security in knowing that if you were to die today that you'll go to Heaven? The Bible doesn't use vague words regarding our salvation, like might or hope-to-be, or maybe; it uses words such as will and shall and is!! God's Word is very clear about salvation, so you just need to read it, believe it, claim it and proclaim it! Here are just a handful of Promises that God has given to us...
Those of us who “believe and have received”… we are as secure as secure can be! Nothing can separate us from the love of God; no one can snatch us from His hand; and nothing can alter His plan.
- John 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."
- "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
- Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
- I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
- " Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12
CARD DEETS:
For my card, I used the newly released digi set, Noah’s Ark, from Doodle Pantry. This sentiment fits the Scripture this week too! I colored the image with Copics, and cut the outter sun (rays) with my Create-a-Critter cartridge and Cricut.