God created all things
for His own pleasure. The scripture says: ‘‘Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive
glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy
pleasure they are and were created.’’-Revelation 4:11. The crucial issue is
whether our lifestyles bring pleasure to God on a daily basis or not. In all
honesty, would you say that God is happy with you regarding the way you are
living your life here on earth now?
A vivid
account was given in the scriptures about how the Almighty God was unhappy with
human beings viz: ‘‘And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the
earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
''And the Lord said, I will
destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and
beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me
that I have made them.’’-Genesis 6:6-7
In a sharp contrast to the
foregoing account, a number of heart-cheering stories abound in the scriptures
regarding the people that God Almighty was happy with. A classical example was
Enoch, the scripture states that: ‘‘By faith Enoch was
translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had
translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he
pleased God.’’-Hebrews 11:5. Another example was the Lord Jesus Christ,
God declares that ''...This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’’-Matthew
3:17. The Almighty God derived pleasure from the life that exemplified
complete-obedience to Him (God); as demonstrated by the Lord Jesus Christ.
The
Lord Jesus Christ says: ‘‘Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command
you.’’-John 15:14. In the same vein, the scripture says: “Jesus answered and
said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love
him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”-John 14:23.
It
is written in the scriptures that: ‘‘God judgeth the righteous, and God is
angry with the wicked every day.’’-Psalm 7:11. Again, the scripture states
that: ‘‘But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your
sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.’’-Isaiah 59:2.
Precisely, the Almighty God asserts in the scriptures as follows: ''Say unto
them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of
the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye
from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?’’-Ezekiel 33:11
God
loves humanity, but He hates the sins committed by human beings. The scripture
says: ‘‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’’-John
3:16
If anyone
wishes to live a life that will make God happy, then that person must follow
the perfect example of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ
says: ‘‘...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.’’-John 14:6. Today, every sinner can be reconciled to God
through the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. According to the scriptures: ‘‘And
all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ...’’-2
Corinthians 5:18; Again, the Lord Jesus Christ states that: ‘‘Except a man be born again,
he cannot see the Kingdom of God.’’-John 3:3. Essentially, the following
steps can be taken by anyone willing to be saved:
Four Basic Steps to
Salvation.
*Acknowledge that you are a sinner; ''For all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God.’’-Roman 3:23
*Repent today and forsake your sins. ''He who covers his sins
will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will
have mercy.’’-Proverbs 28:13
*Believe in your heart that God loves you and Christ died for
you. ''But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.’’-Romans 5:8
*Ask the Lord Jesus to come into your life through a prayer
of faith, accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. “Behold, I stand at the
door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to
him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”-Revelation 3:20
The journey to God’s Kingdom
begins with the salvation-experience when a sinner is born again, and can only
be sustained through complete obedience to the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ
and the word of God.
Finally,
the scriptures confirm that the only way a sinner can start living a life that
will make God happy is to repent, believe the gospel and be saved. The Lord
Jesus says: ''...that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that
repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no
repentance''-Luke 15:7 Jesus loves YOU!
