I will admit with the rising cost of living...gas, stamps, food, utilities etc. we all need more money to meet these basic needs. But whatever we strive for over and above this is pure carnal and sheer greed. It's just sad when you can receive over 100 emails in the course of one day and all but 2 or 3 are personal. It's just another way for the enemy to attack. People are led into false hope that money makes "their" world go round, even at the cost of lying, cheating and hurting others to get it! This is wrong, it's out of control!

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in)." Matt. 6:24 (Amplified)

If money and possessions are all people are striving to achieve, they are being deceived, I pray you aren't one of them. It's an addiction. The more you get, the more you will want and the less satisfied you will be. This is the way Satan devised his sneaky attack on people who aren't aware of the truth. He did it to Adam and Eve.

As Easter, otherwise known as Resurrection Sunday is approaching, I have been pondering all the events that led up to the crucifixion and all the things that He said while hanging on the cross. He was the One Who was chosen as a ransom to pay our sin debt. Even to the end, He never cried out to be spared. Why? Because He knew this was His purpose according to His Father's will. It had to come full circle, ending up on the cross to complete God's plan for our salvation! It isn't God's wish that anyone should perish because of being deceived by get rich schemes on the internet or any other way for that matter. So why does the world go on ignoring this? I can't help but wonder what these people expect when their life is over? If they want the best now, doesn't having the very best for eternity matter to them? Does anyone care about heaven or hell? Once someone takes their final breath there will not be a second chance for reconciliation. An unsaved soul will spend eternity in a place they would rather not be, but by then it will be a done deal. No more bargaining with God. Some people may even take this lightly and say they don't believe it. It is fact though, that they will find out that God doesn't lie. Oh by the way, if they say they don't believe in God, they will find out this truth also. Don't take my word for it, God said it.

"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani-that is, My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me (leaving Me helpless, forsaking and failing Me in My need)? Matt. 27:46 (Amplified)

These last words of Christ have always haunted me. Did His own Father really leave Him and why? I have finally understood this. The answer is that God had to turn away at that time. God poured out ALL His wrath on His pure, spotless Lamb Who knew NO sin and become sin for us. It's not that God hates the sinner (you and me) but He abhors the sin! He can't look upon it, and Jesus was no exception. Can you get this picture? It's hard to imagine how God could have devised up such a plan in order to save us! And then how we treat Him in return when we deny Christ in our own lives. How unfortunate for those who don't heed the call.

Can you picture in your mind how Christ must've looked, all beaten to a pulp, struck with the cat of nine tails that tore His flesh away from His body, and badly bruised...all for our own transgressions, not His! But His unselfish act of pure, agape love the most perfect love ever, kept Him hanging on that cross! This was His destiny to fulfill because Adam fell away from God in his spirit through disobedience and sin. So, what Adam should've accomplished and didn't, Christ came to fulfill to perfection. That's why He is called the "Second Adam".

"And the Lord God said, Behold, the man has become like one of Us (the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit), to know (how to distinguish between) good and evil and blessing and calamity; and now, lest he put forth his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever..." Gen. 3:22 (Amplified)

God couldn't even finish this sentence. God was so grieved by Adam's mistake to fall away in sin because it would now separate all men from Himself because of sin. His perfect plan had to be redirected through a greater plan...Jesus Christ. If you think Satan has no control over you, think again. Unless you have received Christ, Satan is in complete control of you through sin.

Since God can't look upon sin and Christ took all of it upon His own shoulders, He was separated in spirit from His heavenly Father. He felt abandoned, God is true to Himself and can't deny Himself, not even for His One and Only begotten Son. But, God knew it wasn't the end, rather the beginning of a better plan, a new covenant for everyone who receives it. I still can't imagine the pain and grief God felt when He did have to turn away from His beloved Son. God's love for us was all He had in mind.

It's not God's will that anyone man or woman should perish. But there will be those who refuse to accept this free gift of salvation. If a person is unwilling to be drawn to God through faith by His grace, will never realize just what an unselfish act of love this really was. To the unregenerated man, it will forever be known as Easter, a time to celebrate the Easter Bunny, hunt for Easter eggs and look forward to a basket full of chocolate. Perhaps it could even mean getting dressed up and going to church and feel like they've done God a huge favor.

So for anyone who doesn't know the true sacrifice of the cross in their own life please think again. Don't choose to opt out on the best, the only way to ever get rich is through Christ. The things in this life are merely temporary. Anything that promises you wealth in this life time is a lie. The internet like so many other distracting things are meant to keep your eyes off the Lord Who only wants the very best for you. If you want a piece of His inheritance, He owns everything anyway, all you need do is ask Him to come into your heart and confess His Son, Who died to take your sins upon Himself. To inherit all that God has for you, all you have to do is repent and believe! God promises to meet your every "need"...not your every "want". These things will only hurt you. If you rely on, trust in and lean upon Him for everything, He will be your only need!

Take time to slow down, back away from the impossible things that the world offers and take hold of the possible things through Jesus Christ. Take this time to really think about what He did for you. I pray His act of compassion will move you toward repentance and acceptance of Christ. Today is the day to unsubscribe from the worldy things and get on God's mailing list!

Jesus gave His ALL for you, are you willing to give your ALL to Him?

Vivian Gordon writes articles pertaining to God's instructions and the examples He has given us in order to grow on this Christian walk with Him. She hopes that they can inspire the Christian to grow spiritualy and maturely in their lives.