Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

While this statement is true, it is insufficient to gain salvation. There are some who will argue that believing in God is sufficient to be rewarded with eternal life, the bible disagrees. Man’s willingness to concede to the existence of intelligent design does not make them subject to their creator.

That is like saying I need oxygen to live and then neglecting to eat, drink and exercise. Life isn’t the result of just one thing and neither is eternal life. The acknowledgement of our creator is merely a diving board used to launch us into the depths of who the Godhead is in relation to His creation.

Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord? If you answer yes, have you made Him the Lord of your life? All too many have declared Christ to be Lord and said that is sufficient, but it is not. That is like one who comes into America illegally, works for a wage and never becomes a citizen. Eternal life is the reward for becoming a citizen of the kingdom by making Jesus the Lord of your life.

Think, believe, surrender, the first two steps are insufficient.

Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Try as hard as I can to “stay in the moment”, it is difficult knowing the scriptures as I do.

Matthew 24:32-33 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

We are to know the season of His coming because we shall see the signs and remember this parable of the fig tree. Even so, all that He told us in Matthew 24 is hard to read. We look to current events and ask ourselves with earnest desire, “Is this one of the signs which our Lord spoke to us about in scriptures?”

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Looking forward is meant to encourage us to live Godly lives, to be at this moment all that He has meant for us to be. So often that glimmer of hope we seek appears to be on the other side of woes. It is difficult to see that future and ignore the tribulations that lay between now and then.

2 Corinthians 4:7-11 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

To life in the now is to die to self so that Christ might live, that the lost might see the treasure in this earthen vessel.

Treasure chests are not full of woe.