Month: January 2026

Acts 17:16-34; Romans 1:18-25; Colossians 2:6-10; 1John 5:7.

The God-head is one doctrine in the Holy Bible that has proved quite difficult to explain or teach, and that not necessarily because it is actually a difficult subject to understand, but it is so because there have been conflicting views on this subject among Theologians and preachers.
Some of these conflicting views were deliberately tailored to fit into and defend denominational doctrines, or to support a popular view considered as infallible among a particular section of Christendom. However, a careful look at what the Bible says about the God-head would leave no one in doubt as to what God, through His word, wants us to believe, provided we do not bring our personal biases or denominational prejudices into it. If we must successfully and faithfully deal with any matter of faith in God and His Word, we must first come into agreement that the Holy Bible is the final authority for our adjudication: we must agree that any other view that contradicts it must be jettison with as false and unacceptable to God and man. In lending support to this truth, Apostle Peter wrote, as we can seen below:

2Pet.1.20 ” Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.
2Pet.1.21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit”. (NIV)
So with much assurance from the truth written above, we can be rest assured that the Holy Bible holds the truth to the doctrine of the God-head.
In explaining the God-head, though, it would be proper to first explain the concept of the parent word, ‘God’, or its derivative,“God-hood”. The word ‘God’, in its basic form, is not a personal name but a generic title, which means that it can be ascribed, in context, to almost anything or anyone commanding influence. See an example in Exod.3.13 when God first sent Moses to the Israelites:
” But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they won't believe me. They will ask,Which god are you talking about? What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” NLT

It can be noticed clearly from the text above that Moses thought that he needed more than a generic title ( of god) from the LORD in order to convince the Israelites that his message was truly from a higher being who was more influential and powerful than the numerous gods of the heathen nation around them. He needed a unique name, not a title which was common among the people of that time, to convince his kinsmen that their God, who is unique to them and their ancestors, had come to help them. The querry, ‘which god are you talking about? What is his name?’ presupposed that there were different gods known to the Israelites at that time, and that those identities used for them were titles, not personal names. This further strengthens the argument that the word, God, is not a name but a title.
For instance, the ant might have what it considers as a god in its habitat, and that’d be quite different from what an antelope would consider to be a god in the grassland; each would ascribe that title to what it dreads. An ant wouldn’t fear meeting with a Lion just as an antelope wouldn’t dread coming across an Anteater. If we can disabuse our minds and come to terms with this fact, then almost half of the problem with the doctrine of the God-head would have been solved.
The word, whether spelled as God, god or gods, is a generic title associated with anyone or anything that is worshiped for their super natural influence or dominating power over their subordinates or devotees. The word does not represent a personal name unique to anyone but, as a title, it can be ascribed to anyone held in reverence and awe, chiefly among mankind. See the following scriptural accounts for some examples of god-hood:
1.Moses And Pharaoh:
Exodus 4:14-17; 7:1-2; 11:3
When Almighty God sent Moses to liberate the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians, it was necessary to empower him over Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who himself was also considered to be a god ( son of Rah, the sun god) by his subjects.
Exod.7.1 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet”. (NIV)

The point of interest here is that Almighty God Himself conferred on a mortal man, Moses, the powers of god-hood, thus supporting the line of thought that it is a title, and not a personal name, as often mistaken by some Theologians and Preachers.
To what intent did God place Moses as god over Pharoah? The Holy Bible answers this in Exod.6.1 – “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh,” the LORD told Moses. “When he feels my powerful hand upon him, he will let the people go. In fact, he will be so anxious to get rid of them that he will force them to leave his land!” NLT
It was all about power; a god was supposed to wield superhuman powers, and Moses, as a god to Pahraoh, was supposed to unleash a torrent of punishing plagues on Egypt, sparing no one but only the Israelites. That way, Pharoah was supposed to be afflicted into submission to release the people of Israel from forced labour and slavery. With time this came to be achieved as we can see in the scripture below:
Exod.11.3 – “(Now the LORD had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel, and Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt. He was respected by Pharaoh’s officials and the Egyptian people alike.) NLT

That was the essence of god-hood in ancient times; whoever or whatever wielded considerable power was reverred as a god.

2.The Rich and The Poor.
Psalms 82:1-8; Acts 12:20-22

If you observe the world today you’ll see that the considerable wealth amassed by just a few percentage of its population is used in controlling the global commercial and political narratives; as gods over the masses, the rich call the shots and dictate the pace of global economy. King Herod of Israel ( Acts 12) once wielded such economic influence over some poorer nations of his time, who looked up to him, as to a god, for their sustenance.
Speaking about the people who wielded influence in the earth, the Holy Bible says in Ps.82.6 – “I say, `You are gods and children of the Most High”. However, God’s word is quick to also point out that their god-hood is temporal when it further says in Ps.82.7 – “But in death you are mere men. You will fall as any prince, for all must die.'” NLT

3.Satan And His Loyalists
2Corinthians 4:1-4;John 14:30.
2Cor.4.3 – “If the Good News we preach is veiled from anyone, it is a sign that they are perishing .
2Cor.4.4 – Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them. They don’t understand the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God” . NLT
Here also we see Satan portrayed as a god over the unsaved sinners in the world. That’s a title he holds over as many souls as are still under his influence and control. Many people are!

4.The Apostles And The Gentiles.
Acts 14:8-18; Acts 28:1-6; Acts 10:25,26 .
There are instances in the scriptures where the gentiles attempted to worship the apostles of Christ due to the miracles they performed, esteeming them to be gods. This happened to Paul and Barnabas at Lystra when they healed a crippled man.
Acts.14.10 – “So Paul called to him in a loud voice, “Stand up!” And the man jumped to his feet and started walking.
Acts.14.11 – When the listening crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human bodies!” NLT
It also happened when Paul survived a scary bite from a venomous snake at Malta Island.

Acts.28.5 – “But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed.
Acts.28.6 – The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and decided he was a god”. NLT

In Acts.10.25, 26 , Cornelius the gentile Soldier saw Apostle Peter as a god whom he must worship: “As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell to the floor before him in worship. But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being like you!” NLT

5.Demons (Devils) And Their Worshippers
Deuteronomy 32:15-18; 2Chronicles 11:14,15; 33:1-6; Jeremiah 44:15-19 ; 1Corinthians 10:19-21.

When the ancient nation of Israel settled in Canaan, overtime they backslidded, abandoned the worship of the true God, Jehovah, and embraced the worship of other gods, just like the surrounding nations were doing, among whom they lived.
Deut.32.16 – “They stirred up his jealousy by worshiping foreign gods; they provoked his fury with detestable acts.
Deut.32.17 – They offered sacrifices to demons, non-gods, to gods they had not known before, to gods only recently arrived, to gods their ancestors had never feared”. NLT

In all the instances that have been cited so far, certain persons or things were either revered or
worshipped as gods, based on the influence or power they wielded over their subjects or devotees. We saw how people chose whom or what to accord honour to as gods, with a view to achieving an end, which for most of them was about power, protection, wealth, riches ,guidance, favour, success in life’s endeavours, or the hope of eternal life after death.

Having said all that has been said so far, I must now make a distinction between the Supreme Being whom the Jews and Christians equally refer to as God, and the lesser gods that I have extensively spoken about. There are ample evidence, both scriptural and historical, that this Supreme Being is above all other gods and their worshippers. He is the One that created all things, and by whom all creatures have their being. He is the source of all life forms, both in the seen and the unseen worlds. All creatures are answerable to Him. The Holy Bible aptly captures the essence of His influence over all creatures in Acts17:28 , where it says: “For in him we live and move and exist… ‘We are his offspring.’ NLT

This Supreme Being, although commonly addressed with the title, ‘God’, actually has a personal name, which is unique to Himself alone. Exodus 6:2-3: “And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:
And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.”
Unlike His other title names, like God, God Almighty, The Lord e.t.c, Jehovah is his personal name; it is not a title. This name, wherever it is mentioned, uniquely directs attention to only one Being, whom the Holy Bible describes with the glowing words below:

Deut.10.14 – “The highest heavens and the earth and everything in it all belong to the LORD your God.
Deut.10.17 – “The LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and takes no bribes”. NLT

Jehovah is the maker and/or creator of all living and none-living things. He is the supreme ruler of both the known and yet to be known spheres of existence. He is superior to all other gods.

The supremacy of Almighty God over all other gods is clearly stated in the following scriptures of the Holy Bible: Deuteronomy 10:17; 1Kings 8:59,60; 1 Samuel 2:2;
2 Samuel 7:22; Isaiah 43:10-13; 46:9,10; 1Corinthians 8:5,6.

By acknowledging the worship of other lesser gods among heathen nations, the Holy Scripture is not in any way admitting that those objects of worship are really deserving of the ‘god’ title conferred on them by their devotees; neither is it endorsing their worship by any particular person, nation, tribe or religion. Much on the contrary God’s Word condemns the worship of any other god besides the true God whose name alone is Jehovah; and their mention in the Holy Scripture is strictly for historical purposes, which is aimed at letting us know the extent of man’s foolishness and depravity in rejecting the true God, Jehovah, and embracing the worship of His creatures.

Jer.2.11 – “Has any nation ever exchanged its gods for another god, even though its gods are nothing? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!
Jer.2.12 – The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay, says the LORD.
Jer.2.13 – For my people have done two evil things: They have forsaken me–the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!” NLT

The Holy Bible emphatically teaches that there’s only one true God. His name is Jehovah.
1Cor.8.5 “For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”),
1Cor.8.6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” (NIV)

The Three Persons Of The God-Head
Genesis 1:26,27; 11:1-9; Matthew 3:13-17; 1 John 5:7.
The opening narrative of this study was on the concept of god-hood, and it ended by affirming and recognizing the existence of only one true God whose personal name is Jehovah, to whom all other beings (whether worshipped by people or not) are subject because He created them all.
Rev.4.11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being] and were created” . (AMP)
In this part of the study, we shall explore the existence and nature, or attributes, of our God. But before we embark on this exploration of the Holy Bible we should lay to rest, once and for all, this concept of god-hood.
The god-hood (or the concept of god) is man’s own way of identifying and associating with the source of life and nature. According to the records of the Holy Bible, our first parents actually knew and had fellowship with God. But after their wilful rebellion and sin against God, in the matter of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, He sent them away from His presence until He should perfect His plan for their redemption.
Gen.3.23 – “So the LORD God banished Adam and his wife from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made”. NLT

However, mankind, over time, has attempted to fill in that empty void, which the absence of God had left in their soul, by seeking ways to reconnect with Him.
Gen.4.26 “And then Seth had a son whom he named Enosh. That’s when men and women began praying and worshiping in the name of GOD”. (MSB)

Some of mankind were successful in their quest for the true God while others were further led away from Him by deceiving spirits, who presented themselves to man as gods.
Gal.4.8 “But at that previous time, when you had not come to be acquainted with and understand and know the true God, you [Gentiles] were in bondage to gods who by their very nature could not be gods at all [gods that really did not exist] “. (AMP)
However, now that the knowledge of the true God, and His salvation through Jesus Christ, is universally acknowledged and accepted, the error of worshipping of false gods by some people is no more as a result of their ignorance, but of personal choices.

Let us now focus attention on the main subject at hand which is The Three Persons Of The God-Head, with particular emphasis on their existence and nature.
Their Existence:
When we talk of The God-head, we are actually referring to Jehovah and the two other divine Beings who share His attributes, and with whom the Holy Scriptures clearly shows that He confers with in the matters of His Kingdom.
From the records of the Holy Bible we know that the God-head has always existed from times immemorial to man, and is made up of three different and distinct personalities who manifest the unique nature and attributes of the true God, Jehovah.
In this God-head there is the person of the Father who is expressly called Jehovah. Then there is another divine personality whom Jehovah calls His Word or His Son, who in subsequent times came to be called Jesus Christ. Lastly, there is the third divine personality whom Jehovah calls His Holy Spirit. Even though these three Divine Persons of the God-head are distinguishable, one from the other, yet there is a theological misconception that the God-head is one Person manifesting Himself as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; however, this claim can be easily debunked by a careful consideration
of the Holy Scriptures where it shades light on the hierarchy and function of each of the Persons of the God-head, thus showing that they cannot be one and the same Person, but three different and distinct Persons united in one God-hood. In a layman’s language, we can say that as all humans share a common characteristic of their specie, but are each of them individually unique and different in many ways, so also is the God-head. See the following scnptures. Matthew 3:13-17; Genesis 1:26,27; 1John 5:7; John 3:16; 10: 17-18;14:28; 16:5-15; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,5; 1Corinthians 15:24-28.

The scriptures above do not only give ample evidence of the existence of the three Persons of the God-head, but they also define their hierarchical powers.( For ease of reference, the ‘Father ‘ refers to Jehovah, the ‘Word’ refers to His Son Jesus Christ while the Counsellor refers to the Holy Spirit).
Concerning their existence, 1John.5.7 says:“So there are three witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One; “ (AMP)

Concerning the delineation of their hierarchical power, the following scriptures give proof:
In John.14.28, Jesus Christ said to His followers: “You heard Me tell you, I am going away and I am coming [back] to you. If you [really] loved Me, you would have been glad, because I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater and mightier than I am”. AMP ( Note that Jesus Christ says that the Father is greater than Him).

In further speaking to them about the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ said in John.16.7 – “But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Counselor won’t come. If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you”. NLT ( Note that Jesus Christ sends the Holy Spirit).

In the scriptures above, the hierarchical powers of the three Persons of the God-head is clearly delineated, with Jehovah sitting at the top while His Son and His Holy Spirit occupy the second and third places of power. This is enough proof that we are not dealing with one Divinity manifesting as three different Persons.

Their Nature:
There is, however, a unique aspect of the lives of the three Persons of the God-head which makes it seem as though they’re all of them one Person. So in this concluding part of the study we are going to carefully look at the two things that make them unique and mysterious.

The first is their collective attributes. The word attribute means quality or characteristics associated with and serving to identify someone or something.
When we talk about the collective attributes of the three persons of the God-head, therefore, we are making reference to that unique character which they all share as though they are one person while, in actual fact, they are three different and distinct Persons.
1John.5.7 “So there are three witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One;” (AMP)

The scripture above is often misunderstood as meaning that the three Divine Characters named therein are one Person. However, the discourse in this chapter of the Holy Bible is about the God-head’s joint witness (or record ) of the divinity of Jesus Christ and His mission to earth in order to save mankind from their sins. This particular verse, therefore, is saying that both the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have a common (or are one in this) witness or record of the divine mission of redemption to earth.
Apart from bearing the same record or witness about the plan of salvation for mankind, the three Persons of the God-head are also one in nature or attribute (as we shall soon see) and purpose. Whatever Jesus came to do and to fulfill on earth was commanded by God the Father and was executed through the power of the Holy Spirit. See the following scriptures: John 5:17-38; 8:18, 26-29; Luke 4:1,14, 18,19; Mathew 12:28; Isaiah 11:1-2; Act 10:38.
This unity of mind and purpose as seen in those scriptures above is made possible because the three persons of the God-head have the same nature, which is to say that it would have been impossible for them to have acted each after their own will. Jesus Christ said to His disciples in John.5.30:
” I am able to do nothing from Myself [independently, of My own accord – but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders]. Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision], and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me” . (AMP)

Below are some of the collective attributes which the three persons of the God-head share as though they’re one Person:

1. God-Hood:
   They are, each of them, God because they rule and exercise dominion over all created things and the whole of nature in general.
   Father : 1Corinthians 8:6;1Chronicles 29:10.
   Son : Isaiah 9:6,7; John 20: 28;
   Titus 2:13.
   Holy Spirit: Acts 5:3,4.
2. Inherent Holiness:
   They are each holy by their nature and cannot be stained with sin.
   Father: Isaiah 6:1-3; Psalms 93:5; Leviticus 11:45; 1John 1;5.(
   Son: Luke 1:30-35; Hebrews 7:26,27; Acts 4:29,30.
   Holy Spirit: 1Thessalonians 4:8.
3. Eternal Existence/Immortality:
   They each possess eternal life. They cannot die or live under any form of duress.
   Father : 1Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalms 90:1,2.
   Son: 1John 5;20; 1Timothy 1:15-17.
   Holy Spirit: Hebrews 9:14.

4.OMNIPOTENCE:
The three Persons of the God-head have power over nature and all created things, both visible and invisible.
Father: Revelation 19:6; Psalms 62:11;66:3.
Son: 1Peter 3:22; 1Corinthians 15:24-28; Matthew 28:18.
Holy Spirit: Romans 15:13,19; 1Corinthians 2:4,5

5.OMNIPRESENCE:
The three members of the God-head cannot be confined within space, limited by time or constrained by distance; they are everywhere at all times, except where they do not wish to be.
Father: Jeremiah 23:24; 2Chronicles 16:9; Hebrews 4:13.
Son: John 1:43-50; Matthew 18:20.
Holy Spirit: Psalms 139:7-10.

6.OMNISCIENCE:
The God-head is all knowing; there’s nothing, both in time and in etenity, that is not within the grasp of their knowledge, except what they do not wish to retain in their knowledge.
Father: Psalms 139:1-6; 1Kings 8:38,39; Acts 15:18.
Son: John 2:23-25; Revelation 2:1-29; 3:1-22
Holy Spirit: 1Corinthians 2:10,11.

The attributes outlined above are unique only to the three persons of the God-head, and in exclusion of all other creature, whether mankind or spirits.
Each of the three persons of the God-head is God because they are inherently Holy, eternal in existence, omnipotent in power, omniscient in knowledge and omnipresent in all sphere of existence, except where they choose not to be.
On the other hand, all other created beings are finite in existence, in power, in knowledge, in presence and in moral qualities, except where God grants them to be otherwise.This is why they are unlike the God-head.

The Distinction Among The Three Persons Of The God-head.
I have previously established from the holy scriptures that there is a clear delineation of hierarchical powers among the three Persons of the God-head, but I wish to throw more light on that aspect of the study.
A careful study of the Holy Bible will reveal that although the three persons of the God-head share some common attributes, which unite them in a unique oneness, there is, nevertheless, a clear distinction in authority among them. Let us look at each of them through the lens of the Holy Scriptures and see what is revealed about them.
God The Father:
Romans 11:33-36; 1Corinthian 8:6; John 10:29; Revelation 4:1-11; Daniel 7:9-14; John 13:16; 20:19-21.

God the Father is the ultimate point of reference for all creation and life forms, whether of Celestial beings (fallen or loyal to Him) or of earthly beings (redeemed or lost). They are all His servants.See Psalm 119;89-91; 24:1; Revelation 10:5,6.

Although we understand from John 1:1-3 that all things were made by Jesus Christ (The Word), nevertheless God takes the credit as the Creator of heaven and earth,
and all that fills them, because He commanded their creation. See Psalm 148:1-13; 104:1-31.
Ps.148.5 “Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created”. (NIV)

God the Father is exalted above the other two Persons of the Godhead because they receive instructions from Him.
John.20.21 “Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you! [Just] as the Father has sent Me forth, so I am sending you”. (AMP)

John.14.26 – “But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative–and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit–he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you”. NLT

God The Son
John 1:1-14; Acts10:36-43; Luke4:14-19; Mathew 28:16-20; Philippians 2:5-11; Revelation 5:1-14; John 5:22-24; 1Corinthians 15:24-28; Colossians 1:15;
Acts 13:33, Hebrews1:5;5:5 Romans 8:29.
Rev.3.14 “And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the trusty and faithful and true Witness, the Origin and Beginning and Author of God ‘s creation: “ (AMP)

John.3.35 “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands” . (NIV)

God the Son, who was manifested to us in human form as Jesus Christ, has been appointed by God the Father to bear rule over all of creation, both in the celestial and the earthly realms, with the exception of God the Father.
1Cor.15.27 “For He [the Father] has put all things in subjection under His [Christ ‘s] feet. But when it says, All things are put in subjection [under Him], it is evident that He [Himself] is excepted Who does the subjecting of all things to Him”. (AMP)

The implication of the scripture above is that the third person of the God-head ( God the Holy
Spirit) is subject to and receives instruction from God the Son, Jesus Christ, as it is also evident by the Gospel of John 16:7-15.
Although He is subject to God the Father, Jesus Christ, nevertheless, executes all His power and authority so much that every prayer request, worship or praises offered to God must be channelled through Him because He represents the very Person of Jehovah, God the Father.
John.14.6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. (NIV)

God The Holy Spirit
John 14:15-17; 16:7-15; Acts 2:1-4; 13:1-4; 16:6-10; 20:28; 1Corinthians 12:1-11.

As Jesus is the perfect image and likeness of the invisible God, so also the Holy Spirit is
the power of the invisible God. He answers both to God the Father and God the Son much in the
same way. The Holy Scriptures say that God has not placed a limit to the Holy Spirit’s function in the life of Jesus Christ His Son.
John.3.33 – “Those who believe him discover that God is true .
John.3.34 – For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God’s Spirit is upon him without measure or limit.” NLT (Compare with Revelation 4:1-5; 5:1-6).

The Holy Spirit is inseparable from the first two persons of the God-head. He is always
with them because He is the power that gives effect to their word or will. See Isaiah 59:19; Luke 4:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
The same fact is also true of the union between the Holy Spirit and the Church; He leads
the church according to the will of Jesus Christ. Below are some of His functions in the Church today:
1.He expounds the teachings of Jesus Christ clearly to us. John 16:13
2.He gives Believers gifts for the work of the ministry of the Gospel. 1Corinthians 12:1-11 .
3.He gives direction to Believers and instructs them in the course of their work for the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Acts 13:1-14; 16:6-10.
4.He appoints leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ. Acts 20:28.
5.He reveals the future to Believers Acts 20:22-23
6.He executes the judgment of Believers against satan and his agents. Acts 13:9-12.

The Holy Spirit is the identity of the true believer.
Rom.8.9 – “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.)” NLT

His absence, either in the Church or in a Believer’s life, is a sign of spiritual decay and harbinger of ultimate rejection, unless repentance and reconciliation are earnestly sought after, fervently pursued and
convincingly won by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. This is necessary because the Holy Spirit is our seal of the final redemption; the indispensible companion of the true Believer.
Eph.4.30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God ‘s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin)”. (AMP)

Acts.20.24 “But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus–the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love”. (NLT)

The dictionary definition of the word commitment means “dedication to a cause, activity”, etc. It also means “a promise”, or “an obligation” to do (or not to do)a thing.

The Christian’s life, from the new birth experience all through to the time of their admittance into heaven (whether by the rapture or at death) must be one of dedication to God’s Kingdom, of promise to faithfully defend the truth of His holy Word, and of obligation to share this truth with as many people as they can.
We shall consider each of those italicized words separately and see how we can use them as an encouragement to build a life of true commitment to God.

1. Dedication To Jesus Christ: Rom.12.1 – “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice–the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?
   Rom.12.2 – Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is”. (NLT)

Upon the Christian’s new birth experience, God expects them to demonstrate a strong sense of dedication, for their whole life, to the services of His Kingdom. Failing here may adversely affect their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ because He does not expect anything less, and will not have what we did not give with the whole of our heart. But how can we achieve this? Well, God Himself makes it possible by filling us with a burst of spiritual energy, by the Holy Spirit, the moment we accept His Son Jesus Christ, and He comes into our heart. With this experience comes the silent, solemn realization that we have a duty towards our new relationship with the Lord.
Mark.5.19 – “But Jesus said, “No, go home to your friends, and tell them what wonderful things the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.”
Mark.5.20 – So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to tell everyone about the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.” — NLT

There’s no soul whom Jesus Christ sets free from sin and bondage to Satan who does not feel a debt of gratitude to share their experience with others, and their dedication to continue doing this is what gives them more grace for spiritual strength to keep walking with Jesus Christ.

We can see another example of this, below, in the life of Saul (who was later called Paul) when he was newly converted.

Acts.9.17 – “So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you may get your sight back and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts.9.18 – Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.
Acts.9.19 – Afterward he ate some food and was strengthened. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days .
Acts.9.20 – And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” — (NLT)

When God fills you with the Holy Spirit, you will find it hard containing yourself from speaking to others about your new birth experience. I’m tempted to say that you simply cannot resist sharing the gospel when the Holy Spirit of God comes upon you, but the sad truth is that some people resist Him! If you’re that kind of a person, you will never grow spiritually; you might even backslide when the Holy Spirit becomes grieved with your uncooperative attitude and leave you.
Eph.4.30 – “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.” NLT
God has given us His Holy Spirit to work with us but, until you dedicate your life to knowing and obeying Him, you cannot achieve much in your relationship with God. A conscious, positive and deliberate approach towards God’s command to spread the good news of His saving grace to others is what fuels our dedication to serve Him.

I remember, as a young Christian, how restless I always was unless I witnessed Christ to someone. On one of such occasions, while I was working late into the evening with the Boss overseeing the branch office of the government Department I worked with at the time, the Holy Spirit suddenly urged me to go into his office and share the gospel with him. I was hesitant for two reasons: first, he was a muslim, and here in my country they don’t take it kindly when you do that. Secondly, he was just newly posted to head the branch office, so he was not well known to me. There seemed to be nothing to connect with and use as an excuse to enter into his office and begin a conversation about Jesus Christ. But the Lord had said to go in and preach to him! I became restless, but then I found the courage to do it anyway. So I entered his office and asked to have a talk with him. To say the least, he was very receptive of my sermon as though he had been needing someone to talk to him about Jesus Christ. He listened to me with rapt attention and engaged me on some issues whenever he needed to, which further emboldened me to speak more. In the end, my mission of sharing the gospel with him was successful, and I went on to have a cordial relationship with him thereafter. Praise God!
If you must be a dedicated follower and servant of Jesus Christ, you must first of all put all your fears away, and understand that He owns you; whatever you lose or gain for His sake should be considered a worthy sacrifice.

1Cor.6.19 – “Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,
1Cor.6.20 – for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body”. — NLT

If things had gone differently, and my boss had querried me or recommended to our head office that I should be sanctioned for preaching the gospel to him, I’d have been okay with that because I considered my dedication to God’s work to be of utmost priority to me than my job. The words of Apostle Paul below captures the essence of true dedication to Jesus Christ, which we should also do well to emulate.

Phil.3.7 – “I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.
Phil.3.8 – Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ. “

2. Promise To Remain Faithful. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ..for I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities , nor powers, nor things present, nor
   things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Romans 8;35,38,39 . KJV

When we make a promise to anyone, we do it with the hope that God will help us to remember our duties or obligations to them, and to be able to fulfill it. The Christian’s commitment to Jesus Christ must also be sustained by a personal promise that they would not withdraw their loyalty to Him come rain, come sunshine; come sword, come peace; come whatever may!
Consider apostle Paul’s experience below, and see how he resolved to continue in his duties to the churches of Christ even when it was evident that trouble awaited him in the way.

Acts.21.10 – “During our stay of several days, a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea.
Acts.21.11 – When he visited us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Romans.'”
Acts.21.12 – When we heard this, we who were traveling with him, as well as the local believers, begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem .
Acts.21.13 – But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! For I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but also to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.”
Acts.21.14 – When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The will of the Lord be done.” NLT

Apostle Paul knew what God had commissioned him to accomplish for His Kingdom, and he was committed to that call. His promise to continue his journey to Jerusalem, notwithstanding Prophet Agabus’ prophecy, was a proof of his commitment to God’s work.
We may have had our own fears to deal with in the course of our duties to God, and sometimes what pulls us through is our resolve; the promise to not give up on our commitment to Him.
Many years ago my Christian friend was exiled from his village for his faith in Jesus Christ. His father disowned him. The villagers escorted him away to the border of the village. He could return if he was willing to deny Christ, but he resolved not to. It was already evening, and the next village he wanted to travel to was too far to arrive in before night. In West Africa travelling in the bush paths at night is extremely dangerous due to malevolent spirits.
As the journey wore into the night, he could clearly see the white flames of spirit beings igniting at different places in the surrounding bushes, and then going off as suddenly as they came. At a point in his journey, a grotesque, dark image emerged from the bush into his path, and stood some distance ahead. At first he was alarmed, but he resolved to not turn back towards his village. He moved on towards that beast with courage and faith, and declared: “…it is written that at the mention of the name of Jesus Christ every knee must bow; I command you to bow in the name of Jesus!”
He said that immediately he made that declaration, that grotesque image stopped and bowed what appeared to be its head, and he just passed by its side and went on his way. Halleluyah!
More than a century ago, John Ernest Bode (1839-1925) wrote the great hymn below, which many Christian faithfuls have sang over the years as a pledge of loyalty to God and His Kingdom:
” O Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from Thy pathway
If Thou wilt be my Guide.”

Our promise to remain faithful to Jesus Christ and our heavenly Father, let come what may, is a sign of the unshakeable commitment we bear to Him, bound within our heart.

3. Obligation To Others

Our relationship with the Lord cannot be complete if we do not bring others into it. Jesus Christ
brought us to His Father; that is how we got accepted as His sons and daughters. He wants us to bring some other persons to Him, too, so He can also present them to His Father.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me”.
John 14:6. KJV

While we await our departure to heaven, we must keep ourselves occupied in soul winning through evangelism. See Acts 20:17-21; John 1:35-45; Proverbs 11:30; Daniel 12:3.
We must understand that we are obligated to God to preach the gospel to others for whom Jesus Christ also died a sacrificial death in order to save them. You must remember that evangelism is not a choice, but a duty, and a solemn one for that matter! We have to constantly remind ourselves of the need to create an opportunity to share the gospel with others.
Personally, I think that with the advent of the cell phone and social media, preaching the gospel has never been easier. In the years before we have them here in Africa, I did street evangelism, painstakingly trying to reach one person at a time. I still do street evangelism occassionally, though, but not as quite often as before, because with my smart phone, I can reach a few thousands of people with the gospel, through various social media platforms. If this does not give encouragement for the body of Christ to evangelize the world more earnestly, then, I wonder what else would.
2Tim.4.1 – “And so I solemnly urge you before God and before Christ Jesus–who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom:
2Tim.4.2 – Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching”. NLT

Have you been reaching out to the unsaved world with the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Some people are so fearful and mindful of what their family and/or friends would think of them if they try to preach the gospel to them. Well, I wonder why people’s opinion would mean anything to a Christian who wants to please God! He is not asking you to preach; He commands you to do it! It is an obligation. It is a duty. You may choose to dispense with your conscience, and look the other way while souls die every day without knowing of the salvation that has already been made available for them in Christ, but that will in no way relieve you of your obligation to them; it is a debt that you owe to the lost!
Prov.24.11 “Rescue the perishing; don’t hesitate to step in and help .
Prov.24.12 If you say, “Hey, that’s none of my business,” will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know–Someone not impressed with weak excuses”. (MSB)

Building a life of commitment to God can be very challenging, but it can also be much more interesting if you really love Him more than yourself.
Faith in God is a love thing, but I have seen people treat their relationship with God as though it were a contractual thing: they serve Him and expect that He pays the bills. And if it doesn’t get paid fast, they quit! There’s some fundamental flaw with that kind of Christianity because no one is doing God a favour by serving Him; the favour is to us and other lost souls who must perish forever unless we’re saved from our sins through Jesus Christ. So must we seek for a blessing or a reward in order to help rescue the lost from a bleak eternity in hell fire? Only the unwise will think so!

Dan.12.3 “Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever. “ (MSB)

Heb.11.13 – “All these faithful ones died without receiving what God had promised them, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God. They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on earth.
Heb.11.14 – And obviously people who talk like that are looking forward to a country they can call their own.
Heb.11.15 – If they had meant the country they came from, they would have found a way to go back.
Heb.11.16 – But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them” . (NLT)

Heaven is real. To doubt the existence of it is akin to doubting the existence of Almighty God because that is His dwelling place. See 2 Chronicles 6:29-30; Ecclesiastes 5:2; Isaiah 66:1-2; 63:15.
The Holy Bible teaches that God made all things, and this means all living and none living things in their original forms, in all spheres of existence. This includes the human race, so anyone who doubts God’s existence is also doubting our very existence.But, since no one in their right minds would doubt their own existence or the existence of the natural world in which we live, we
must, therefore, accept the existence of God and of heaven His dwelling place, not only on the basis of faith, but also as a matter of fact that cannot be denied.To be otherwise persuaded would be unwise.
Ps.14.1 – “Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; no one does good! “ ( NLT).

This message is not a treatise intended to convince unbelievers of the existence of God; rather it is a literature written to encourage and help believers to live each day for God and to serve Him with heaven in mind, and I have formulated three points to help the Christian achieve this.

1. Why Seek Heaven?
   Genesis 3:14-19;6:1-6; Ecclesiastes 7:10; Matthew 6:33; 2 Peter 3:7-18; 1John 2:15-17.

Why seek heaven at all? The answer is as simple as it is compelling: God
commands us to.
Matt.6.31 – “So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing.
Matt.6.32 – Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs,
Matt.6.33 – and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern” . ( NLT)

This present world is a failed state awaiting the set day for its ultimate destruction in order to pave the way for another new world, which is free of all the present societal ills.
The result of the fall of man in Genesis 3:1-24 has given rise, not only to the observable evils in our world today, but also to the unseen spiritual wickedness in realms behind the reach of the human eyes. The whole world, both physical and spiritual, is corrupt such that there’s nothing worth redeeming from it other than the soul of mankind because it was made in the image
and likeness of God.
Gen.6.5 – “Now the LORD observed the extent of the people’s wickedness, and he saw that all their thoughts were consistently and totally evil.
Gen.6.6 – So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them. It broke his heart.
Gen.6.7 – And the LORD said, “I will completely wipe out this human race that I have created. Yes, and I will destroy all the animals and birds, too. I am sorry I ever made them.”

This earth has already been cursed by God, and it must soon be
destroyed (Genesis 3:14-19).
As a result of this curse, there has been a progressive decline and/or deterioration of the earth, and this is observable not only in the natural habitat, but also in the religious, social and economic order of the lives of its inhabitants.
Knowledge has increased tremendously since creation, and we have seen some extraordinary achievements, by man, in the fields of arts, science and technology, yet that has not reversed the curse of God. The earth is dying! Even with the astounding architectural master pieces gracing its landscape, it is still obvious to those who have eyes to see that its original and natural beauty is fast eroding. The morals of its inhabitants, once godly and full of love, have become corrupt and devoid of both sympathy and empathy. Ecclesiastes 7:10 captures this essence when it says:
” Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not wise to ask such questions’ “. (NIV)

The consummation of this downward spiral would be as 2Peter 3:10 puts it:
“But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment”. (NLT)

With such a disaster looming in the horizon of time, it makes sense why God commands us to seek repose in heavenly Kingdom.

2Pet.3.13: “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness”. (NIV)

All of the above reasons give a compelling evidence why we
must seek heaven now because to be otherwise minded would be tying our fate to this cursed
world which must pass away soon!

1John.2.15: “Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. (AMP)
1John.2.16: For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one ‘s own resources or in the stability of earthly things] – these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]. (AMP)
1John.2.17: And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.” (AMP)

2. Who Does God Admit Into Heaven?
   JOHN 3:1-3; HEBREWS 12:14-15; 1PETER 1:13-17; PHILIPPIANS 3:7-14: 2TIMOTHY 2:3-4; 4:1-2; ACTS 6:4.
   The first step in preparing for heaven is to be enlisted as a disciple of Jesus because those are the people whom He personally asked God to allow to live with Him in heaven.
   John.17.24: “Father, I want those you gave me To be with me, right where I am, So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me, Having loved me Long before there ever was a world”. (MSB)

The process of enlisting into God’s heavenly Kingdom is as real, as engaging and as deliberate as the normal process of enlisting or gaining admission into an institution of learning. The only difference in this case is that the enlistment is done in heaven by God Himself for those who, by faith, approach Him through Jesus Christ His Son to qualify them for the exercise.

Heb.12.22: “But rather, you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering, (AMP)
Heb.12.23: And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect, (AMP)
Heb.12.24: And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance] “. (AMP)

The process must involve the rebirth of the beneficiary’s sin-marred soul, which has to be restored to its original purity, image and likeness of
God. But since this is beyond the ability of anyone to achieve, they must have to expressly ask God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to do this for them.They must have to believe and acknowledge that Jesus Christ died a sacrificial death on their behalf for this process to be made possible in their life, and they must also accept this sacrifice as the basis for the forgiveness of all their sins.

1Cor.15.1 – “Now let me remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then and still do now, for your faith is built on this wonderful message.
1Cor.15.2 – And it is this Good News that saves you if you firmly believe it–unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.
1Cor.15.3 – I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me–that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.
1Cor.15.4 – He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said”. ( NLT)

For those who believe this proclamation of the gospel, accept it unconditionally and confess their sins to God, it is at this point that their journey to heaven actually begin in eamest. See John 3:3; 2Corinthians 5:17.
After haven been forgiven and freed from their sins, it becomes the Christian’s responsibility to desire to live a holy and righteous life; to be transformed into God’s image and likeness, and to strive to maintain this new life with all the zeal and earnestness that God’s grace can affords. See Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 12:4-15; Peter 1:13-17.
Success here would not only be as a result of God’s grace alone, but
also by our readiness to resist the devil and anyone who tries to corrupt our new life in Christ. See James 4:4,7; Philippians 3:7-14; 2Timothy 2:3-4.
Our calling in Christ Jesus does not end with this experience of new life, but we are also commanded by Him to share this experience with others and to give them God’s message of love and forgiveness. We are to warn them of the consequences of living in sin, of unbelief and of rejecting the love of God revealed to mankind through His Son Jesus Christ.
We are to teach those who accept this message the basic principles of the Christian life and ministry. See 2Timothy 4:1-2; Acts 6:4; 2Corinthians 5:11; 6:1-2; Matthew
28:18-20 .
Doing this daily not only helps us make people to choose to become the disciples of Jesus Christ, just like us, but it actually prepares us for heaven, God’s beautiful city.

John.14.2: – “There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly.
John.14.3: – “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am”. (NLT)

3. Who Will God Deny Entrance Into The City Of Heaven?
   EZEKIEL 33:9; PROVERBS 1;24-32; REVELATION 21:8.

To reject God’s love and redemption from the slavery of sin and Satan would be to reject the chance of living with Him in heaven for ever because only the redeemed have access to His heavenly Kingdom.

Rev.22.14 – “Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life .
Rev.22.15 – Outside the city are the dogs–the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.” (NLT)

Why would anyone reject this offer of eternal life in God’s heavenly city? It’s hard, if not impossible, to find anyone who would not want to go to heaven when they die, unless they do not really understand what’s at stake for those who miss heaven. However, for those who do, we must understand that our desire alone for heaven is not just enough to get us there unless we translate that desire into a consistent walk with God. We must put Him first above all others in our life and be willing elevate His will above ours. Anyone who chooses to be otherwise minded would have willingly chosen to lose heaven, their desire and passion for it notwithstanding.
Matt.7.21: “Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven .
Matt.7.22 – On judgment day many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’
Matt.7.23 – But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized. ‘ (NLT)
No one has to be shut out of heaven; there’s room enough for everyone! But, and that sadly, some unfortunate folk would still lose out in their bid to enter heaven, not necessarily because that’s what they have always wanted, but because they were not careful to continue in their walk with God, through His Son Jesus Christ. His who foresaw this have the warning through His Son Jesus Christ in the following scriptures, which we will do well to commit to memory, and to earnestly watch and pray that this scriptures do not get fulfilled in us.

Luke.13.23 “Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
Luke.13.24 He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” (NLT)

Matt.7.13 – “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way.
Matt.7.14 – But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it . — ( NLT)

1Tim.5.15 – “For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan.” (NLT)

The choice between Jesus Christ and satan, heaven and hell is a personal one. We can either love God, serve Him faithfully and be destined for a glorious future in heaven or, on the other hand, follow after Satan and easy life of this present world and be lost in hell fire forever; the choice still remains our own to make. But God will rather have us all in heaven because He has made ready for us all a place to live with Him for ever.
Choose heaven!

Rev.21.3 – “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.
Rev.21.4 – He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.” (NLT)

2Pet.3.10 – “But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment.
2Pet.3.11 – Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives you should be living! “
(NLT)

There is a general indiscretion and an apparent lack of wisdom currently sweeping across the entire world, holding most of its inhabitants captive. Prophet Isaiah prophesied a long time ago what the majority of people alive today are unconsciously fulfilling, by having eyes that do not really see, ears that are dull of hearing and hearts that have become spiritually lazy, and indulgent with Wordly pleasures. They have become so bereft of heavenly Wisdom that they view with shame the very means by which they could enjoy God’s gift of eternal life.
What was Prophet Isaiah’s message to his people at that particular time? It was not a message of hope but of doom! The people had forsaken the right way against all good judgment, so God had to let them have their way, but He sent them a strong delusion that will keep them perpetually in their error!
Isaiah 6:9-10 : “And He said, ‘Go, and tell this people: Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed’.” (NKJV).

Today’s world seems to be courting the same disaster that befell the nation of Israel in the days of Prophet Isaiah: we invest so much of our time, money, energy, and intellect in a dying world, which is rapidly heading towards its inevitable end, but would hardly lift a finger in support of God’s Kingdom work on the earth; at least not in the way that is acceptable to Him!
Isa.24.1 – “Look! The LORD is about to destroy the earth and make it a vast wasteland. See how he is scattering the people over the face of the earth.
Isa.24.5 – The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted the instructions of God, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant.
Isa.24.6 – Therefore, a curse consumes the earth and its people. They are left desolate, destroyed by fire. Few will be left alive.” (NLT)

The rich and the poor; the wise and the foolish; the educated and the illiterate; the strong and the
weak: as many people as have treated God as unworthy of their time and attention, just for the sake of the fleeting benefits of this world – they are all confederate in one colossal act of foolishness by investing their lives in a dying world!
In Hosea 8:7, God’s word paints a picture which depicts the bleak life that anyone is doomed to have, who works hard at winning the laurels of this world, but without God’s blessings: “They have planted the wind and will harvest the whirlwind. The stalks of wheat wither, producing no grain. And if there is any grain, foreigners will eat it.”

The riches and fame of this world, with their attendant glitz and glamour, do not guarantee a happy and secure life after death, so seeking them as though they do, while at the same time ignoring the true means to achieving them, is not only a grave mistake, but also a foolish one. Luke.12.21 says: “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

The important question to ask ourselves is: how can we balance the scale between the legitimate pursuit of success in the world and achieving spiritual harmony with God, without tipping it?
Below are two scripture based answers that work.

1. Learn From The Wisdom Of The Early Church.
   Rom.12.11: “Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord. “ (AMP)

The founding fathers of the Christian faith, and pillars of the early Church, followed the teachings of Jesus Christ and the principles enunciated in them word by word, and did not wrest the Holy Scriptures ( as some people do today) to support or debunk an opinion to suit their own desire. They had no other interests in their ministry to the lost other than that they should be accounted as faithful servants by both the church and the world at large. See 1Corinthians 4:1-2; 2Timothy 4:1-8; Philippians 3:1-3, 7-11.
Their challenge to the laity was, “Be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ”. 1 Corinthians 11:1.

The secret of the early church’s victory over the world was that they looked at it through heaven’s eyes; what God’s word allowed, that they allowed, and what He did not, that they would not either.They lived for God and served His kingdom as those who would be required to give an account of their stewardship at any moment. They were loyal to God and His Kingdom, and for His sake were willing to give up any ambition or desire which contradicted the truth of His Word. See 1Corinthians 9:13-27; Acts14:21-22; Acts 4:32-37; Acts 20:17-27.
They preached with one purpose, which was to make Christ known to the whole world. They lived with
one hope, which was to be found worthy of God’s kingdom, whether in life or in death.

Gal.6.14 “As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also long dead. (NLT)

Their services to God was with up-rightness of character. They, like any other ordinary person, went through the rigours of each day to carter for their daily needs, without any sinful compromises.
In the labour field their principle was straightforward, as seen in 2Thess.3.10 , which says – “Even while we were with you, we gave you this rule: “Whoever does not work should not eat.”
2Thess.3.12 – In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we appeal to such people — no, we command them: Settle down and get to work. Earn your own living. “

Also, in the matter of integrity their principle was deeply entrenched in the words of Titus.2.7 – “And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good deeds of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. “

With such dispositions to work and ministry, their lives were constantly focused on what’s acceptable to God and the secular authorities, leaving no chances for sinful meddling or compromises with the world.
Today, as Christians with hearts set on heaven, this is the model to follow. This is what worked for our predecessors. We must uphold it for the future generation of Christians, too.

2.Avoid The Folly OF Today’s Errant Church
James 4:4; 2 Peter 3:10-14

The church today is too indulgent with the world, much unlike its early counterpart which was focused on the mission of redemption. It suffers from a misplaced priority primarily because it does not seem to look at this world through heaven’s eyes: instead it tends to look at heaven through the eyes of the world. It cherishes what it can gain from the world more than what it can give to it. Just like the proverbial two daughters of the horseleech, ( see Proverbs 30:15) who are never tired of asking for more, we have a new generation of preachers who like to talk more and more on prosperity than on the much needed redemption of the soul, which we can not dispense with if we must go to heaven at the end of our earthly tenure.
They have lost their focus on what’s of utmost importance to God’s heavenly Kingdom! For, whereas God sees the world as a defiled and corrupt entity, waiting to be judged at the appointed time, unless they turn to Him in genuine repentance, the proponents of the prosperity gospel make it seem as if God is mistaken in His views, or that His word, the Holy Bible, is a lie.
There is no way that these two divergent views can ever be reconciled; and there can never be
because, for the true Christian, our anthem is found in Philippians.3.20, which says: “.. we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.”(NLT)

But on the other hand, the constant prevalent mood among those who have found comfort and solace in this present world is aptly captured in Isaiah 22:13: ” But what do you do? You throw a party! Eating and drinking and dancing in the streets! You barbecue bulls and sheep, and throw a huge feast–slabs of meat, kegs of beer. “Seize the day! Eat and drink! Tomorrow we die!” (MSB)
Moreover, their shepherds are those, according to 2Pet.2.1819 , “who brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With lustful desire as their bait, they lure back into sin those who have just escaped from such wicked living.
They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves to sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.”

We must disabuse our minds and free ourselves from the wrong orientation of today’s modern-day preachers so that we can go back to the ancient path of the early Church.
There’s no denying the fact that we are on the precipice of eternity: one turn of event in heaven can signal the coming of the day of the Lord, and only those who are truly seeing this present world through heaven’s eyes would have been made ready for what’s coming on everyone!
Will that include you?
I pray that it would.

Hebrews 12:1-2.

As the clock ticks away the hours, and the days of our lives fly past by, timeless eternity draws near and with it comes the burden of where we shall spend eternity.
Many have trod this path of life in which we now walk and many more will walk it after us for as long as this world continues. How they ended their life’s journey and how we would also end ours on the other side of life should be the most important personal issue that rests in the consciousness of every Christian who’s serious about the afterlife.
The Holy Bible teaches that there are two ways in life’s journey which lead to two different destinies in the afterlife. Jesus Christ spoke about this in Matthew 25:34,41,46 where He said: “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…”
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels…”
” And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (NKJV)

The dead who have gone before us to eternity have had their chances, and those who will follow after us will also have their own, too. But for now we the living are having our own chances to make the journey to heaven, each person in the best way they believe would grant them a place in God’s heavenly Kingdom.
But as far as God’s heavenly Kingdom is concerned, though, there’s only one way by which all who follow faithfully are bound to end up in heaven’s delightful city. This Way is Jesus Christ.

John.14.6 : ” Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. “ (NKJV)

This is not a new revelation, anyway, as Jesus Christ has been widely preached and declared to the world, by His faithful witnesses, since more than two millenias ago, as Lord and Saviour of the repentant sinner. But what’s disturbing is how reluctant the world is to follow this Way to a happy ending in heaven, even when they know that they need Jesus Christ to save them from their sin and misery. If this has struck a chord in your heart, then, this message is meant to help you identify and deal with the common hindrances to a faithful and fruitful walk with Jesus Christ.
The common mistake some people often make is to assume that as soon as they have acknowledged and repented of their sins, and have accepted and confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, then their salvation is secured. While this may sound good and assuring to the penitent sinner it, nevertheless, is not what most of them experience long after they have said the sinner’s prayer; most of them soon realise that life still feels the same and their struggle to be right with God is still much intact, thus diminishing their hopes of getting to heaven at the end of their life’s journey. The preacher may blame this on a lack of faith, but there’s more to it than that as the following practical steps, meant to provide guidance, will prove. So, if you want to have and sustain the hope of going to heaven, the scriptural guide below will go a long way in helping you to achieve that.

1. Show Sufficient Interest In Knowing And Walking With Jesus Christ.
   John 1:35-39; 11:7-16; Luke 9:57-62; 22:31-33.
   In most cases where Christians have lost their relationship with God, or have failed to establish a successful one, the cause is not that they have not genuinely repented of their sins or that they lacked faith in Jesus Christ’s finished work of redemption for the lost; the pertinent question to ask is whether over time they have shown sufficient interest in knowing, pursuing and actively practicing the principles of God’s Word.
   The same level of interest, time and perseverance that a person is willing to invest in making a true love relationship work is not different from the one required to start off a good relationship with Jesus Christ either. If you let some other interests to get in the way, then it’s obvious you’re not yet in love with Jesus Christ. Love is what works in this case, and the gospel of Jesus Christ is a love letter, the constant reading and practicing of which endear the heart to Him. Any excuses for not having the time to walk with Jesus Christ through the Word is actually a sign of a dwindling interest in Him, and it should be quickly dealt with.
   Consider the scriptural example below: Luke.9.59 – He said to another person, “Come, be my disciple.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”
   Luke.9.61 – Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” (NLT).

The two persons in the account above each had an excuse which they might have considered tenable for not immediately following along with Jesus Christ. But let’s see one of Jesus’ response to it in Luke.9.62: “But Jesus told him, ‘Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God’ “. (NLT)
The point here is that God demands prompt obedience, irrespective of what lies ahead of anyone, once He has called them to follow Him.
It would be rational to say that, as possessing God’s attribute of omniscience, Jesus Christ knew beforehand what lay ahead of those two persons before He extended the call to discipleship to them; perhaps it was a test to prove their worthiness. And they failed. People still fail in much the same way today when Jesus calls.
By contrast, however, let us see how some other people responded to the same invitation from Jesus Christ and, thus, established a lasting relationship with Him their whole lives, as the Holy Scriptures do also prove:
Matt.4.18 – “One day as Jesus was walking along the shore beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers–Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew–fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen .
Matt.4.19 – “Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!’ .
Matt.4.20 – And they left their nets at once and went with him.
Matt.4.21 – A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their nets. And he called them to come, too.
Matt.4.22 – They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.” (NLT).

The prompt responses of those busy fishermen must be commended! I can only imagine what responses Jesus Christ would have gotten if he had done that in our time with some busy sales clerk or an ambitious chief executive officer: they’d have told him that they were busy at work. Some may have even walk Him out of their office.
In case you are thinking that Peter and the two sons of Zebedee were some simple folks who could simply dispense with their jobs and follow a man that they had hardly known, I want to invite you to consider the next account also.
Matt.9.9 – “As Jesus was going down the road, he saw Matthew sitting at his tax-collection booth. “Come, be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. “
We see the same response above with Matthew who’s obviously an educated busy civil servant. So, what’s the catch here? What made the difference between those who responded favourably and those who did not? Priority!
What worked for Peter, James and John is what still works today for anyone who puts God’s interest above their own, and what didn’t work for those other two persons is still what doesnt work today for anyone with excuses.
There’s hardly any acceptable excuses for refusing God’s invitation to walk with Him, no matter how well thought out they may seem. Matthew 22:1-5; 19:16-22; Proverbs 1:20-33.
If our interest in ensuring that we daily walk with Jesus Christ matches our desire to make it to heaven at last, we would definitely experience a meaningful progress in our relationship with Him.I

2. Be Consistent Even When Others Are Not.
   John 6:66-69; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Matthew 24:10-13; 2 Peter 2:1-2; Romans 8:35-39.
   ” John.12.26 – “All those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And if they follow me, the Father will honor them. “ (NLT)
   Some people get discouraged in their walk with Jesus Christ somewhere along the line because of the attitude of someone else. However, the real test of our love for God and commitment to continue walking with Him lies in not quitting at all, no matter whoever else does, and for whatever reason! The race to heaven is a personal one, and it must be treated as such by all true Christians. To quit serving God because some prominent Christian figure had back-slided and brought shame to the body of Christ is simply a convenient excuse which some uninterested people usually give for relapsing back into the world of sin. Interestingly, though, we do not see this same scenario playing out in the secular society! Where have we seen anyone quitting a lucrative job because of the inefficiency of a colleague? Where have we seen corporate organizations folding up because of the incompetence of their competitors? Of course they do not, for the simple reason that they have their own interests to protect, just as any Christian should not quit walking with Jesus Christ because they have their soul’s interest to protect.
   If we can’t sacrifice a temporal vocation over the misdeeds of another person, shouldn’t we hold tight to the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus, even when others around us have betrayed the Christian faith, thus proving themselves unworthy of eternal life? Yes, we should!
   If the fall of any corporate entity becomes a rallying call for other competing entities to safeguard against the same fate, why shouldn’t we translate this common sense into a spiritual reality? By default this should be the saved soul’s trajectory, unless they have lost interest in continuing their daily walk with Jesus Christ. John.6.66 – “At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.
   John.6.67 – Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you going to leave, too?”
   John.6.68 – Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life.” (NLT) As faith is validated by the works it produces, so does consistency in our walk with Jesus Christ validates our love for Him. The true test of our relationship with God lies in our consistent walk with Him, come what may. This is the point of separation between the Christian who knows what they want, who know whom to believe in and who know where they’re headed for, as against the one who’s just observing a religious obligation because they want to belong with the crowd. John.8.31 – “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings’ “. (NLT)

Consistency is the watch word for the victorious Christian.

3. Let God’s Love Be Your Motivation For Walking With Jesus Christ .
   John 21:15-17; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 . Rom.8.35 – “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death?” It is amazing to know the extent to which humans ( even animals, too!) could go in proving that they are in love. Actually, in the romantic love vocabulary, there is hardly any thing like convenience or discouragement unless where the embers of true love were never kindled. Song.8.7 – “Many waters cannot quench love; neither can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with everything he owned, his offer would be utterly despised.” (NLT)

It is no secret that God loves us so much, therefore His love for us should make us love Him, too.
If we could dare to fall in love with Jesus Christ just as we are naturally prone to fall in love with those with whom our hearts have bonded, we should no doubt arrive at heavens blissful city in holiness, when our time is ripe, without any worry of being rejected, because true love for God is the panacea for backsliding . Although it is clear from our human experiences that God created us with the capacity to love one another, the scriptures below prove that we could even love God more than anything or anyone else.
Matthew 10:37; 19:27-29.

Matt.19.29 – “And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will have eternal life.” (NLT)

Jesus Christ’s first disciples gave up so much for the sake of His call because their love for Him increased as they constantly walked with Him . Nothing fosters a closer relationship and an enduring love as a constant communication and fellowship. This is true in human relationship as it is in our spiritual ties with the Godhead.
We are each responsible for how our love for Jesus Christ fares because, after having loved us so much that He died for our redemption from sin and all it’s consequences, the burden of proof now lies in us to show that we can also love Him that much, too. The health of our love for God is vividly captured in the depth or shallowness of our fellowship with Him.
People in love do not often realise how much time they’d spent being in each other’s company, but, and that sadly, it is not always true of their fellowship with God. Love drives fellowship, and the quality of love is seen in the depth of fellowship. Anyone who truly loves God gives much attention and time to Him.
If Jesus Christ is not getting all the time and attention He needs with us, then something else ( or someone) must be getting it: a lover, a gadget or device, movies, job, friends, pleasure and all those stuff! We can hardly love the Lord and the world equally. One must be cherished above the other; who is it in your heart? Your priorities will prove who it is because characters don’t lie, and daily habits speak with astounding clarity!

Matt.6.24 – “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

If, however, you’re concerned about truly making Jesus Christ your companion in life’s journey each day, without any rival, then the following activities outlined below would be of much help in building that much needed trust, love and commitment to God that can make it possible.

1. A Dedicated Daily Prayer Life.
   Luke 18:1-7; 6:12; Colossians 4:2 . 1Thess.5.17 – “Keep on praying.
   1Thess.5.18 – No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
   A constant prayer life is necessary for the purpose of developing intimacy with God. Make it a habit to talk to God about everything going on in your life. Even when it is certain that He already knows about them, yet He’d prefer that you talk to Him about it so that His response will not seem to you to be a random occurrence. This will in turn help build your trust in Him.
   Ps.50.15 : “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” (NKJV)
2. A Disciplined Fast Schedule.
   Joel 1:14; 2:15-18; Jonah 3:5,10; Zachariah 8:18,19; Acts 13:1,12.
   When we talk about fasting some people can not help wondering if God wants us to go hungry before granting us audience. That’s by No means the case here! Fasting is not for His sake, but for ours. As humans who survive primarily on food and water, abstaining from them for some hours in order to honour God is considered a great sacrifice, and it lets us realise how important God is for whom we are making the sacrifice. On the other hand God sees our sacrifice and it pleases Him enough to want to bless us even more for giving up our life’s sustenance for His sake.
   The lengthier the fast, the greater the sacrifice, and so also the more solemn the cause seems to be for which we fast. And the more xconstant we fast, the more we get in tune with the Spiritual atmosphere of God’s presence.The combined effect of all this is a quiet, focused and reverent atmosphere which disconnects us from any thing sensual and, thus, allows for a deeper harmony with God in the Spirit, where we can see, hear and freely interact with Him.
3. A Continuous Study Of The Holy Bible.
   Joshua 1:8; Psalms 1:1-3; Deuteronomy 17:18,19; Psalms 119: 9-11; Acts 17:10, 11; John 5:39; 2 Timothy 2:15 .
   God places a high premium on obedience to His Word. It is necessary then that if we want to live in obedience to Him, we must know what His Word commands us to do.
   Josh.1.8: ” And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed . (MSB)

Knowing God’s will and doing it whole heartedly guarantees our continued relationship with Him.

4. A Sustained Practice Of Evangelism And Visitation.
   2 Timothy 4:1,2; Acts 8:4-8; 15:36; 2:44-47; 4:33; 20:17-24. 2Tim.4.1 – “And so I solemnly urge you before God and before Christ Jesus–who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom :
   2Tim.4.2 – Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. “

Sharing the good news of God’s Kingdom with others and inviting them to partake in God’s Grace and mercy, through Jesus Christ, for the salvation of their soul, is a great experience no true child of God should hesitate to embark on at any given opportunity.
The gospel is to be preached everywhere souls can be reached. Planned visits to hospitals, prisons and public parks, where we can share God’s word with those interested in knowing Jesus Christ, is a great opportunity to explore.
But the best place to begin our evangelism may be our home, among our family members.

In conclusion, I want to draw our attention to the one factor which can make all the four activities above possible to be carried out: it is love for God. Without the compelling love for God, we would see no reason to do any of them.

John.14.23 – “Jesus replied, “All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them.
John.14.24 – Anyone who doesn’t love me will not do what I say. And remember, my words are not my own. This message is from the Father who sent me.”

God is love and His love for us is made manifest through His patience with our failings and the offer of full and free forgiveness for the sinner who returns to Him in repentance.
There are more than enough reasons for the coldest heart to love God unless they have made up their mind to not love Him. But , what about you? Do you love Him? If you do, then walk with Him wherever He leads you.