Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

3 August 2024

Reading From Nahum 1-3

“The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
    the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance on his foes
    and vents his wrath against his enemies.
The Lord is slow to anger but great in power;
    the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.
His way is in the whirlwind and the storm,
    and clouds are the dust of his feet.”

“The Lord is good,
    a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him”

–Nahum 1:2-3, 7

     As the Supreme Being, there is no one whose love is greater and there is also no one whose wrath exceeds His.  His promises for protection are extended to those who trust in Him and take Him at His Word.  It always astonishes me when those who don’t even believe in God expect so much of Him.  They are so frustrated that they don’t enjoy the spiritual prosperity that comes with surrender to His will, but at the same time they are unwilling to do so as it would mean relinquishing control.

     God is our strong tower when the storms of life rage around us.[1]  When we are worried, upset or grieving, we can turn to His Word the Bible and find comfort in the love letters we find there.  We are spared the wrath of God because through our faith, repentance and acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  Only in Him, the great ark of salvation, are we able to find redemption and freedom.[2] 

     For those who choose not to be welcomed into His loving embrace, the future will be infinitely more horrific than their fleeting frustrations they experience in our present reality.  Rejection of the Good News of Jesus Christ will lead to eternal separation from the Presence of God in outer darkness.[3]  Hell was prepared for Satan and his demons, not for humanity.[4]  “If you go to hell, you go of your own accord.”[5] 

     It is appointed for men once to die and after that the judgment.[6]  This means that if you are alive today, it isn’t too late to turn to Jesus Christ for salvation He freely offers.[7]  With God there is peace,[8] protection[9] and provision.[10]  We are assured that if we truly believe that Jesus is God,[11] that He died for our sins and rose from the dead[12] and we turn from our wicked ways,[13] we are saved[14] and adopted into the eternal family of God.[15]  The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the truths found in His Word the Bible and we discover who we are, we find our deepest sense of belonging, and hope for the future as more and more of our eternal destiny in Him.[16]

“Lord, Your plan of salvation seems to obvious to those of us who have experienced the light of Your love, grace and mercy.  I pray that You would give us the perspective and wisdom we need to minister to the needs of those who have not yet chosen Your path.  Salvation is found in no one else but You and we can add nothing to the perfect sacrifice You gave on the cross.  Thank You for choosing the Father’s will.  I pray that Your sons and daughters follow Your righteous example.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.”

By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells

–II Peter 3:7-13

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[1]Proverbs 18:10

[2] John 14:6

[3] Matthew 22:13, John 3:18

[4] Matthew 25:41

[5] Aimee Semple McPherson

[6] Hebrews 9:27

[7] II Corinthians 6:2

[8] Ephesians 2:14

[9] Isaiah 54:17

[10] Philippians 4:19

[11] Acts 20:28, II Peter 1:1

[12] Romans 10:9

[13] Mark 1:15

[14] Romans 10:10-11

[15] Romans 8:14-17, Galatians 4:4-5, Ephesians 1:5

[16] John 16:13