2Pet 3:10,13: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. …

2Pet 3:13: "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Read our article about

Harder and harder tests

https://givealltheheart.substack.com/p/harder-and-harder-tests-two-main

Jam 1:12: "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

The first Christians meant business

This was also how the first Christians lived.

We see that on the day of Pentecost “there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41)

Around three thousand persons gave their hearts to Jesus.

What did this mean?

Was it just a simple modern style “light-weight commitment”?

No, not at all.

Contrary, we read that; “all that believed kept themselves together, and had all things common. And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and broke bread in every house, and ate their meat together with gladness, and singleness of heart, praising God” (Acts 2:44-47)

What we see here is a 100% commitment – it was not a vague thing.

It was a full commitment to Jesus.

And when Peter and John were arrested we read;

“As they spoke unto the people, the priests and the ruler of the temple, and the sadducees came upon them, taking grievously that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from death.

And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold until the next day.” (Acts 4:1-3)

These were the leaders of the country.

They had just killed Jesus so it would be easy to conclude that they might easily decide to kill them as well.

“And they called them, and commanded them that in no wise they should speak or teach in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 4:18)

However Peter and John answered them, knowing very well that this might cost them their lives;

“whether it be right in the sight of God to obey you more than God, judge you.

For we cannot but speak that which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20)

They were released, but instead of quitting in order to save their lives they gathered and prayed;

“And now Lord behold their threatenings, and grant unto Your servants with all confidence to speak Your word. So that You stretch forth Your hand that healing, and signs, and wonders be done by the name of Your Holy Child Jesus.

And as soon as they had prayed, the place moved where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit,

and they spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:29-31)

This is 100% commitment.

They know very well that the leaders are really unhappy and in their hearts want to kill them - and have commanded them to stop.

But instead of stopping, they obey Jesus – even if they might be killed for it.

A little later the apostles were arrested and now, when “they heard that, they clave asunder, and sought means to slay them.” (Acts 5:33)

Now they definitely want to kill them.

However an older well regarded member of their council asks them to hold off from it, so this time they decide against it, so they “called the apostles,

and beat them, and commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

And they departed from the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for His name.” (Acts 5:40-41)

Now the threat of death if continuing is really serious.

Did this get them to stop?

No, contrary, “daily in the temple, and in every house they ceased not, teaching and preaching Jesus Christ.” (Acts 5:42)

“And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly. And a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7)

And sure enough, soon the first Christian was killed when; “they stoned Stephen calling on and saying; Lord Jesus receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59)

And then the first apostle was killed when Herod the king “killed James the brother of John with the sword.” (Acts 12:2)

It was a heavy price to pay to be a Christian, and we clearly see that they had a 100% commitment to follow Jesus, and have Him as Lord, and at the end every apostle except John, died for their belief in Jesus.

This is what it is to “Give All the Heart” to Jesus.

When you commit to Jesus, He is your Lord and you obey Him even if you will be murdered for your belief in Jesus.

The Lamb of God
Jesus grows up and at 30 years of age He starts His work on earth.

Before He starts He comes to John the Baptist who exclaims;

“Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.”
(John 1:29)

Not only that Jesus is the Messiah – He is also the Lamb of God.

1. Many lambs had been offered over the years since our great, great, great grandparents first sinned, to cover sins, but these offers could never remove our sins and make us righteous, as we read in Hebrews 10 where it is written, that the law;

“can never with the sacrifices which they offer year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”
(Hebrews 10:1)

1. And God points out that “it is impossible that the blood of oxen and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4)

But now the Lamb of God Himself had finally come.

1. God Himself would be the sacrifice, that would not cover our sins – but take them away as it is written;

“By the which will we are sanctified, by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
(Hebrews 10:10)

1. And as it is written of the other sacrifices that they; “*can never take away sins.

But this Man after He had offered one sacrifice for sins, sat Him down for ever on the right hand of God and from henceforth waiting till His foes be made His footstool.

For with one offering has He made perfect for ever them that are sanctified.*”
(Hebrews 10:11-14)

(Continuation from the book, here comes point 105-109 of 317. See above for point 1-104)
---------------
? Don't want to wait but read the whole book now? You can -  here it is as a pdf: https://www.givealltheheart.org/Articles/Download/GiveAlltheHeart.pdf

Why I follow Jesus

Part 1....

Since childhood I had heard stories about Jesus, about heaven, and hell.

The one thing that scared me more than anything was the thought of going to hell.

That was a place I really, really did not want to end up.

So every night before falling asleep, I folded my hands and prayed to God.
I confessed all sins I knew I had done that day, and all I did not know too.

I thought if I asked God to forgive me all the sins, then I would go to heaven when I died.
It was an endless confessing, because every day new sins were committed.
I thought if I had any unconfessed sins when I died, then I would go to hell.

So I came up with a "smart" plan.

My plan was to say quickly the seconds before dying: "Forgive me all my sins God."

And I thought that would sort it, and I would then go to heaven and not hell.

No one (That I was aware of) had told me what I really needed to do.

Then some few years later, a person said:
"Do you have certainty of salvation?"

A what, I thought?
Is that really possible?
Cause I sure didn't have that.

But I knew I really wanted it.
I wanted to have peace with God and to have the salvation experience.

I joined some friends, and we sat on the floor and prayed for a while.
When I raised myself up from the floor, and walked back to my seat, something wonderful had happened!

I just knew that I knew, that I knew, I was saved!

What a feeling!

This moment I'll never forget.

I had made my decision to follow Jesus and He knew I meant business.

You see..
God exists and know how to save us and make us His child.
He also knows our hearts.. Those who mean it, and those who just say it.

No one can fool God, cause
He knows every thought we think☺️

Without understanding what had happened to me I had become what the Bible calls to be "born again"

See what Jesus said:

John 3:3: "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

John 3:7: "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."

1Pet 1:23: "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever."

To be continued.....