21/10/2022 - THE GOOD FRAGRANCE

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For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.  2 Corinthians 2.15

God has given man the power of decision and respects it whatever it may be, for His love leads Him not to give up on those who take wrong actions. Hosea defined the way the Lord drew us to the Gospel: I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them (Hosea 11.4). The Most High works to give us eternal happiness, and for this He must always be praised.

The Lord knows that the torment of the devil and his angels is irrevocable, and people who do not make amends by repenting and confessing their sins, in order to obtain salvation – will also go to eternal punishment. Therefore, lovingly, within the limits of His holiness, God strives to make the lost acknowledge their transgressions while they are around. However, the stubbornness of many will lead them to the place that was not prepared for man (Matthew 25.41-46). Poor sinners who don’t think!

God does not force anyone to be saved, for that would not be salvation. Unfortunately, if there are people who care little about eternal punishment, nothing more can be done on their behalf, even though He has tried hard to make them know the Truth. How can the lost remain on the path of evil, when the Lord offers a life with abundance in every way? (John 10.10). Those who take the risk will see what a foolish mistake they have made in their lives. Do the right thing now!

When a sinner listens to the Word and consciously accepts Jesus as Savior – God’s angels rejoice over that life, which has exchanged torment for the Heaven of light, where he will never know sorrow and suffering (Luke 15.7). This rejoicing for the people who join the saved is because they have escaped from Hell for ever and ever, and therefore from damnation (Luke 15.10). Try to get things right to live in the Home that will never end.

When we receive the Lord as Savior, we are justified in Him and will never be in the company of the devil, who deceived men on Earth (Revelation 20.10,15; 21.8). No one will be able to claim innocence, for God knows the way to make everyone understand the risk they run without Jesus. From the moment a man is saved, he begins to exhale the fragrance of Christ, thus, pleasing the heavenly Father.

We are also the good fragrance of Christ on those who are lost, for they had the opportunity to escape from the lake of fire and brimstone, but they chose to live with the gnashing of teeth – the wrath of the evil one and of demons. When they get there, these people will be sorry, but what they do there will never be heard or accepted. The good fragrance will accompany us forever. 

I don’t know who you are or what you think about this, but it’s good to remember: the Lord’s promises will be confirmed in the lives of those who love Him to the end. Seek to have the divine commandments and strive to keep them. This will show that you love God. Nothing can ever come out of your heart that can complicate your future. Believe and live in Christ!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares