04/12/2016 - CITIZEN OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

• 
• 
• 
• 

For I say unto you, among those that are born of women, there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist, but he that is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.  Luke 7: 28

Due to his importance, John the Baptist cannot be equaled by any other citizen of the world, even if he be a president of a great nation.  The son of Zacharias and Isabel was the greatest prophet of our Lord.  But he who accepts Jesus as Savior, becoming therefore a member of the Kingdom of God has the opportunity to perform more than the voice from the desert. (John 1:23)

John was the forerunner of the Savior and for this received unimaginable clothing.  Because of this anointment, he attracted people from all parts of Judea to hear him in the desert, and subsequently would baptize them in the Jordan River.  However they would only pass through the waters if they first confessed their sins publicly.  If the authority over him were not great this would never have happened.

In the field of sports, of faith, of the arts and all other areas of human knowledge, many people stand out, serving as role models for us.  However among all that do us some good, no one could equal John.  But besides this importance, he who keeps the commandments, being guided by the Omniscient, can do much greater than he.

We should observe what Christ said about those who accept Him as Savior and about John the Baptist.  The Master declared that the least in the Kingdom of the Lord is greater than the one who came to prepare the way for Him (Matthew 11:11) This statement should  be taken as a warning, because, without a doubt, we must not squander the power to do good which has been entrusted to us.

Whoever loses salvation, not only suffers eternally, but will suffer a great loss because they cannot imagine even by far what is in store for them by the Lord’s side for all eternity. Even the ones who are most enlightened in the scriptures do not understand what we will do in Heaven, but certainly it will be something glorious.  Joshua didn’t know what he would get by following Moses but he was chosen as leader of Israel.

To help understand the loss that those who do not believe in the Bible will suffer, consider a tiny ant that is destined to be a perfect and beautiful human being and to lead the greatest nation in the world at the end of its transformation.  However, on being confronted with the conditions for this, the ant refuses to accept, preferring to live with her peers.

This declaration from Jesus is an incentive to carry out the will of God, and refuse all types of temptation. Among all mortals, no one is greater than us.  It is worth taking up your position in Christ, is it not?

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares.