Reservation in Heaven
This morning I was reading 1 Timothy and the Holy Spirit hit me with a message for someone who had been struggling or convicted by their sins.
Paul’s Gratitude for God’s Mercy
12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, 13even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 14Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.
15This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.
How beautiful.
If you know anything about Paul, you know how great our God is. Christ turned someone who had no faith into someone who wrote 13 books in the Bible.
I love what verse 15 ended with, "and I am the worst of them all." Then the verse right after that says, "...Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners."
Come on!
God can still use you... even with all that baggage. Once you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you leave that baggage at the door! Sin was not meant to disassemble you. Sin was meant to stimulate your faith. God has a reservation for YOU in heaven.
Philippians 3: 13-14
Paul states, "...but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,14I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."
Being convicted by sin is a good thing. That shows that the Holy Spirit is working in you. Praise God for allowing you to see what is not honoring to Him and seek repentance on your sins. The love God has for you goes far beyond what you can imagine. God hates sin but that is the reason he died for us sinners. He gives us a chance each time we wake up in the morning to be an obedient servant.
xx,
D