The Ultimate Benefits Package

It's almost that time of year for to start selecting your health benefits for 2018.  The topic of this post is about some other kind of 'benefits. "I'm blessed and highly favored!" is a common saying among self proclaimed Christians today. When they say this statement, it tends to be related to material/earthly things like, blessed with a house, car, husband/wife, job, kids, money, etc. Yes, these are good things that God knows we need, but these things are temporary. Houses can and do get destroyed, cars breakdown and get old needing replaced, husband/wife/kids-any number of problems could interfere with these relationships, and money comes and goes (for many it mostly goes or is already gone).  So, if one was to believe that blessings from God are about earthly things, then it would not take much to place God in a place of being a temporary, 'sometimey' God.  God gives and takes away. Many have left the faith because they had this kind of view of God, believing that God is neither good or loving because they have suffered some tragedy.

What are the true benefits of being a believer in Jesus Christ? That is what this post is going to hope to address, The Ultimate Benefits of Being a Citizen of Heaven: (these benefits are active and ready to used TODAY!)

1. Peace. "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27.   Peace, something that is so missing in many lives today. Many turn to drugs/alcohol, prescription pills, mindless TV shows, people, anything in this world to try to find some peace, but He can't be found. Jesus Christ is The Prince of Peace.  True peace can be found in no other.

2.Guaranteed Success. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." John 15:7.  The favor of God is something that is sung and talked about, alot, but this favor is conditional. Jesus says IF you will abide in Him you will get what you ask. The bible tells us why we don't often get what we ask, it is because we ask for things for selfish reasons, we ask for things from God with the wrong motivation. Abiding in Christ is total surrender to God's will, daily denying and dying to selfish motivations for living. "Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it." Psalm 127:1.  Whatever we do, if we are doing it  in the will of God, nothing can get in our way.

3. 24-hour Protection. "No weapon formed against you shall prosper." Isaiah 54:17.  This is another common verse sang/quoted, alot, but again this benefit is conditional. The proceeding verse clarifies who this promise applies to- THE RIGHTEOUS! It so ridiculous to think you can live a life of sin and then believe that nothing bad will happen to you.  God will not be mocked, a person who continues to live a life of sin, those weapons of the enemy will most definitely prosper. And, the protection God gives to us is over our souls. "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28.  God does not promise to protect Christians from bodily harm, we are subject to all the consequences of the curse just like everyone else. The benefit of 24-hour protection is knowing and trusting that God has your back NO MATTER the situation is the best protection that will never leave you, nor forsake you.

4.  Personal Helper. " But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. " John 14:26. Some people pay thousands of dollars for a personal assistant. Christians get the best personal assistant for free, and He is WAY better than any human assistant. The Holy Spirit is always with us, He teaches us, guides us, confirms our standing with God.  Flat out, plain and simple, everyone needs the Holy Spirit in order to live the way God require. Point blank, end of story.

5.  Guaranteed Retirement. Many people worry today about their retirement. They worry about where they will live, they worry about money, they worry about future relationships. Thousands of dollars are spent on retirement planning but nothing of this world is guaranteed. But a Christian does not have to worry about their retirement. A Christian does not have to worry about where they will live, about money, or future relationships because in heaven, Jesus has a mansion already built so no need to worry about where one will live, there will be no need for money because everything will be free; there will no relationship quarrels or fights because there will be no evil there. "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me."

Jesus has prepared a place for His true believers, In His Father's house are many mansions. Jesus promises that those who will abide and believe in Him, Jesus will come and take them home to with Him in heaven for all eternity. 

This is just the first part of the Ultimate Benefits Package. There are so many more to be discussed on future posts.

There is going to be a Day of Judgment, and God will judge everyone who has ever lived, His wrath is going to poured out on all the wicked and ungodly. The eyes of the unrepentant wicked need to be opened and the ears unplugged so they can see and hear the truth.  The Good News  is Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, born of a virgin; Jesus lived and was brutely tortured and shed His blood and died but He rose from Dead, and now offers anyone who will believe in Him Salvation.  Salvation is a free gift from God, anyone who will believes will know and have a real relationship with the true God.  You can't work for it or buy because the price has already been paid with the Blood of Jesus Christ and  Believing in Jesus gets us into the Kingdom of God and saves us from the righteous wrath of God. But that is not all, He gives us a new heart and mind NOW, and we receive some of His blessing from heaven NOW and are equipped to be able to live a life that is holy and acceptable to Him NOW.

1. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is real,  He lived and died and rose from the grave. 

2. Believe that you are a sinner, repent-turn from your sins and realize and accept you need Jesus.

3. Believe in the blood that was shed for you and the forgiveness of your sins, and Confess that Jesus is your Lord and God.

4. Find a local Bible preaching church that does obey the commandment for water baptism for the remission of your sins and to identify yourself with Christ.

This is just the first step to a lifelong journey of growing in truth and love with the God who created this earth and everything in it, including every human being that has ever lived.

Bible verses related to this post:   John 14:27; John 15:7; Psalm 127:1; Psalm 128:1; John 14: 18; John 14:26; Isaiah 54:17; Matthew 10:28; John 14:1-4; 

References: Alan Wright's Daily Good News: The Daughters of Zelophehad Part 2