“Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. 17Her ways are highways of pleasantness and favor, And all her paths are peace. 18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy [blessed, considered fortunate, to be admired] is everyone who holds her tightly.”

Proverbs 3:16-18 AMP

Who today doesn’t desire a long-life and riches and honor? The Scripture gives us the formular to reach that goal. Surprisingly it isn’t based upon on your bottom line, although, in a sense it is! We are not talking about your financial position but rather where you plan to spend eternity. The bottom line is “Are you going to heaven or hell?” Jesus is clear when He tells us that there is a real enemy that is trying to destroy your life.

“I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security). 10The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” John 10:9-10 AMP

The word wisdom in the Hebrew is the word meaning “having the capacity to understand and thereby deploying the skill of living, implying adherence to an unchangeable standard.” The wise man evaluates the situation and then acts in accordance with God’s unchangeable standards. It all begins with a simple question from the Lord.

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD. “[a]Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool. 19“If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the best of the land; 20But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Isaiah 1:18-20 AMP

The argument is simple, we are sinners in need of a Savior. God offers forgiveness and new life through Jesus Christ. The options? Accept God generous offer and receive the blessings contained within or reject His offer and receive the rewards of rejection. The choice is yours! To me, there is only one choice here, but man will still refuse to accept the reality of his own condition. Not only is there long-life, riches, and honor, the Word promises that peace would rule in our hearts if we embrace God’s ways. 

“Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.”

John 14:27 AMP

Amen! What could more beneficial in our lives than peace? The world is falling all over itself in a pursuit of peace. They think that it can be found in the gratification of the flesh. We see it every day as the world goes further and further into the abys of sin and sensuality. Now they are peddling their lies to our children attempting to make themselves feel good about their sin! Yes, life is hard, and at times, the storms seem to rage endlessly. The good news is that Jesus told us,

““So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, will be like a wise man [a far-sighted, practical, and sensible man] who built his house on the rock. 25And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock”

Matthew 7:24-25 AMP

Have you received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?  The Scripture is clear, 

“But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”–that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach– 9because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous–being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation”

Romans 10:8-10

No better gift to receive at this time of the year than the forgiveness of your sin and a new life of honor and peace! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken