Six Compelling Reasons

When the facts are considered, it only makes sense to be a faithful child of God. Let me suggest six compelling reasons why a person should be a faithful child of God.

Every person should be a faithful child of God because God is so gracious.

In Ephesians 2.1 we are reminded of our desperate situation outside of Christ.
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”
Outside of Christ we are dead!

In verses four and five we have the supreme contrast:
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”
When we were absolutely hopeless, God extended His love toward us. Ephesians 1.7 says:
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."
God is a gracious God!

Every person should be a fauthful child of God because no one knows when he or she will leave this earth.

James tells us that we should have a sober, realistic view toward life. He writes:
"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away" James 4.13-14
Life is short! Eternity is immeasurable! Take care of what is important.

Every person should be a fauthful child of God because no one knows when Jesus will return.

I don't know when the Lord is coming but I do know that He IS coming. The Lord said:
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is" Mark 13.32-33.
Peter concurs by saying that
"...the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up" II Peter 3.10
The Lord is coming back, we can count on it!

Every person should be a faithful child of God because every person will stand before Christ in judgment.

One day all the infidels will be filled with regret because
"...we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.' So that each of us shall give account of himself to God" Romans 14.10b-12
The hall of infamy will bow before God, filled with the bitter realization that "God was right, I was wrong!"

Every person should be a faithful child of God because there is a heaven.

Oh how I long for heaven! Revelation 21 discusses heaven as the land of no more. No more death! No more sorrow! No more pain! Nothing that defiles! Though the text does not explicitly state it, we know that there will be no more sad phone calls in the middle of the night! No more cancer! Won't it be wonderful to hear the master say,
"Well done, good and faithful servant, you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord" Matthew 25.21

Finally, every person should be a faithful child of God because there is a hell.

Jesus described hell as a place where the fire is not quenched, Mark 9.43-48. In Revelation, hell is described as a lake that burns with fire and brimstone, Revelation 21.8. And Paul tells us that one day the Lord will return,
"in flaming fire taking vengance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power..." II Thessalonians 1.8-9.

Shouldn't you be a faithful child of God?

Bill Haywood
Minister of the Word
Abingdon, Virginia