Thru the Bible - Minute with McGee on Oneplace.com Dr. J. Vernon McGee

God is tenderhearted, like the Lord Jesus. And how tenderhearted He was, not willing that any should perish. But listen to Him speaking to these cities that rejected Him: Woe unto you, Capernaum you’ll be cast down to hell! Say, that’s strong language coming from the gentle Jesus. We get just a warped view of Him when we run around, saying, God is love! God is love! That’s true. But God is holy, God is righteous, and God will judge. You’re not rushing into heaven, my friend, on the little love boat today. You’re only going to come there because Christ shed His blood, gave His life, that you might have eternal life and be covered with the righteousness of Christ, standing complete and acceptable in Him.

As you trusted Christ, the Holy Spirit did several wonderful things for you. He made you a child of God. Now you want to live for God. He also indwells you. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he’s none of His. So, if you don’t have the Holy Spirit, then you’re not a Christian yet. You become a Christian by trusting Christ, and then you’re indwelt by the Holy Spirit. You don’t have to ask Him in, because He’s there to take the things of Christ and show them unto you. Then, you’re baptized by the Holy Spirit. That means that you have now been put in the body of believers, the church, and you’re in Christ.

Love is not affection, it seeks the welfare of another here. And the end was, love was not an end in itself, that they might develop a character of holiness. And here’s a statement I’ve given you before. If you were tried in court for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Because we’re going to appear before Him, and He’s going to judge our works. Let me mention something else. May terrify you, but let’s mention it. He’s also going to judge our character as believers. Now this is to see whether we receive a reward or not. My Christian friend, what kind of life are you living today? That’s important.

Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: For now we live, if we stand fast in the Lord. We live here means that as believers we enjoy life. And even in trouble, you can enjoy it. That’s not easy to do, my friend, but Peter made that statement: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trials that shall try you as though some strange thing happened unto you, but rejoice. Friend, you can’t lose being a Christian, even if you have trouble. It’s going to work out for your good. You can always be sure of that.

Now, may I say this to you: As a child of God, is the sky clear for you? There are no clouds? There’s not a ripple on the sea of life for you today? Everything is smooth, and everything is just nice for you? May I say if it is like that, then you might question your salvation. But if you are experiencing trouble down here and the pressures and tensions of life are on you, I have news for youthat’s one of the signs that you’re God’s child. I notice that God’s children suffer a great deal, and one of the most wonderful things is it’s going to be temporary. You’re going to come through it.

In the world, ye shall have trouble but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Be of good cheer in trouble? Yes. My friend, many of God’s children are learning and knowing what trouble is. He didn’t say that we would miss the storms. Fact of the matter is He said we would go through the storms, all the storms of life. The thing He did say very definitely and dogmatically, He said we were going to make the harbor. Because any little boat that He’s onboard isn’t going to the bottom of the Sea of Galilee, it’s going to the other side. And we’re in the process of going to the other side.