Wow, what a comforting verse we have in our midst today. What humanity doesn't understand or fully acknowledge is that our GOD is a HOLY GOD! In Him, there is no blemish, darkness nor imperfection. He is eternally perfect, radiant, pure, righteous and unchanging. He is also all-knowing (Omniscient) which means He knows each of His creation's ending from their beginning before He even created them. Genesis 1:26 tells us, "Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." We may get caught up in the second part of this verse where God gave gave us "rulership" but miss the first part which speaks about us, being created after God's image and likeness. Prior to the Fall of Man, we have no imperfections---we are righteous before His sight! We are in complete and total communion with Him. He gave us the earth to rule like He would rule the heavens. Though He knew mankind would sin (rebel) against His love and goodness, He still created us. Yet He would not allow mankind to live forever in that condition for He already came up with the Perfect Solution to bring mankind back to Himself. JESUS CHRIST, the perfect embodiment of His love came in the flesh, gave up His life (untainted and holy) as payment for all of our sin (past present and future). His blood shed on the Cross destroyed the yoke of Satan (his Sin Nature---the source of all "acts of sin." and Death) for everyone that will receive Him. Since mankind's fall, every human that is born to this world, were tainted by Adam's rebellion. We are eternally hopeless to attain God's righteousness (right standing with God). But JESUS made a way for everyone who would acknowledge their SIN and place their FAITH (trust, believe, rely, cling, adhere) in what He accomplished at the Cross. By having a personal relationship Him, we are transformed from the kingdom of darkness (ruled by Satan) to the Kingdom of God's One and Only Son! If you are looking for a tangible evidence of this transformation, you will fail. Hebrews 11:6 clearly says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Faith is our only connection to God and this same faith causes us to see the transformation that took place in the spiritual to manifest in the physical realm as we continue to depend upon His finished work at the Cross. Apart from this, there is no other way man can be saved. Only the blood of Jesus shed at the Cross can wash us white as snow. For we were born with the Sin Nature and will die with the same unless we surrender it all to the Cross of Jesus Christ before we leave this world. No amount of good works, acts of kindness or religion will change humanity's fate. Everyone is destined for Hell (temporary prison) and the Lake of Fire (eternal prison) unless we allow the finished work of Jesus Christ at the Cross to change our destiny.
If Jesus had to die for mankind's Sin, then we can conclude that Almighty God does not take Sin lightly. Don't believe the deception that seeks to destroy everyone making us believe that since God is so loving, He will overlook our transgressions. That is a twisted and an utter lie from Satan that seeks to devour mankind. From beginning to end, the Bible reveals God's dealing with mankind's Sin. Everyone that mocks God's Word and denies or perverts/twist God's instructions to suit their lifestyle is set for a rude awakening. Once they face the reality of death (physical), they will realize the abominable life they lived and thus the words of the Lord becomes a reality to them in Luke 13:28, “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers! “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out." As much as He is a God of Love, He is also a Just God. Sin calls for punishment and that is why there is Hell and a Lake of Fire. Jesus paid all of mankind's Sin and those that accepted what He has done have become beneficiaries of this gift by way of faith (alone). Their Sin (with all its by-products ) had been washed clean like it never existed. Our good works (own effort) didn't make that possible, it solely by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. It's like this: For everyone that believes, We are made clean by the blood and are in Christ! He is holy, righteous and victorious and being one with Him (in Him), so are we! When God Almighty looks at us, He sees in us His Son, Jesus Christ! He sees victory and holiness like no other. When I'm Born- again (John 3:3), I am righteous in the eyes of the Lord irregardless of my situation (circumstances) and condition (emotionally). Jesus is in me and I in Him. I need to live my life in that reality no matter what situation/condition I face daily. I should never ever depart from the power of the Cross at any given moment. That is the blessing! That is the power of every believer! I would like to share with you the promises of God to every believer that received Him...
If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:15-21)
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)
"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)
For this Card, I used an image from Magnolia called "On the Road Tilda" that I colored using my Prismacolor/Touch Five markers. All the flowers are from WPlus9 "Doodle Buds" Clear Stamps and I inked them with Distress Inks. The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5 x 5.5 inches card. After all the decorating, it end up 6 x 7 inches. The DP's are from Heidi Grace and DCWV, the glitters from Stickles (Crystal) and the the white dots from Liquid Pearls. I didn't use any die-cut to cut the box and I altered the measurements that I saw on YouTube videos to the card I have in mind. It's a lot of work but so happy with the result.
HE THAT BLOTTETH OUT POP-UP BOX CARD
HE THAT BLOTTETH OUT POP-UP BOX CARD TOP VIEW
HE THAT BLOTTETH OUT POP-UP BOX CARD WHEN FLATTENED
HE THAT BLOTTETH OUT POP-UP BOX CARD MESSAGE SPACE
HE THAT BLOTTETH OUT POP-UP BOX CARD WITH ENVELOPE BOX
This Card is entered into the following Challenges:
Crafty Creations---ATG
Mod Squad---Layered Florals
Crafty Addicts---ATG/Something Humorous
Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
A Bit More Time to Craft---ATG
A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Create with TLC---ATG
Card Mania---Summer Fun
Classic DT---ATG
Crafty Awesomeness---ATG
Crafty Girls Creations---ATG
Crafty Girlz---ATG
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Crea Chicky---ATG
Create and Inspire---ATG
Creative Ladybirds---ATG
Daisy Chain---Floral
Hope you join the fun at our WAW Challenge. There's wonderful prize awaiting our blessed winner from our awesome sponsor this Challenge, Simon Says Stamp ($25 GC). You can choose to incorporate the free Word Art (sentiment) you see in my card for projects you wish to make and link with us though it's not mandatory. You can submit up to 5 projects (Anything Goes) each week as long as it's family friendly, inspirational or uplifting. Can't wait to see what you come up with. Have a blessed week and always remember to share unto others the hope you have in Christ. Hugs!