“But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: Malachi 3:2
A fire goes out once the fuel is burnt up. The fuel for the refine’rs fire is our own sin and impurities. Once they are burned up, then there is no need for the fire that refines. I suppose that won’t happen until we get to heaven, but at least, the fire should dwindle in our life as we conform more to Christ.
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
If you don’t preach that there is a hell, you cannot preach that there is a heaven. Both places are found in the teachings of the Bible. We must believe the whole book. We cannot pick and choose the things we like or dislike in the Bible. Many today only want to preach and accept that there is a heaven. Well sir, where did you learn about heaven from? The same book that tells us about hell. Denying there is a hell, will never help those who are going there, to be delivered from it. Hell is real, hell has enlarged its mouth to receive all who reject Christ. Let the people know they can be delivered from hell.
“Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” Ps. 119:89
No one in heaven questions the word. One of the main reason Christians live half-hearted lives is because they have not settled it in their heart that the word is absolutely true. You will find it a lot easier to obey when you are convinced it is true. If you question the word or follow up with a “but,” then the word is not settled in your heart as it is settled in heaven. Don’t question or dismiss any of the word, let it be settled in your heart.
“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Mt. 22:11-13
Heaven is only for those who put on Christ.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Mt. 7:21
One of the reasons some who say Lord, Lord will not make it into heaven is because they have believed a lie that is embraced by a large portion of the Christian church that teaches that you don’t have to obey the Lord and you can still go to heaven.
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Pro. 3:5-6
Why would anyone lean on their own understanding, when there is an Almighty God who made the heavens and the earth, calling us to trust Him? “Trust in the Lord,” and “own understanding,” are in conflict with each other.
“And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?” Lk. 24;41
Did you ever have a hard time believing something to be true because the joy it would bring would be beyond something you have ever experienced? Your mind might think such things as, I don’t deserve that much joy, or it isn’t possible in this miserable world to experience such joy or God don’t give people great joy because He wants us to suffer. Well saints, start believing for an overload of joy. You will be preparing for heaven.
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” I Jn. 5:7
The word of God can often be logical, but sometimes it isn’t. Sometimes you can strengthen a doctrine by adding logic and sometimes you can’t. There was a man I got to know over 30 years ago who belonged to a church that denied the triune God. Their doctrine is usually referred to as Jesus only or the oneness doctrine. Their church affiliation is usually labeled as apostolic or United Pentecostal. Anyway, this man tried to use logic on me to try to convince me that Jesus and the Father are one. So he asked me if I am a son, and of course I confirmed that I was. Then he asked me if I was a father, and since I had three sons, I confirmed that as well. So he said the same thing with the Father and the Son, they are just one person. Well, being young in the Lord I was still not persuaded by this argument. Let’s use his point of logic for a minute. I am a son, because I have a father. I am a father because I have a son. It takes three people for this to happen, my dad, me and my first born son. This man’s logic actually supports the trinity more than it does oneness. Yes, there are three that bear witness in heaven.
Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.” Gen. 41:14
Joseph woke up one morning in prison and went to bed in a palace. Kind of like the day a person becomes born again. They woke up a lost sinner going to hell and go to bed a redeemed saint, going to heaven.
