All of us have had times in our lives that we wished we could go back to, to recapture that once in a lifetime opportunity. But today, we stand at the preface of a "Window of Opportunity," a once in a lifetime you cannot miss. Are you ready?

Have you counted the cost, and are you ready to inherit the promises of eternity?

We are told that in Luke 12:48, "for unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." The comment is in the middle of a longer teaching by Christ that covers many areas of our lives.

One of the primary points of Jesus' discourse is the importance of our calling. I can think of nothing that could be greater than the opportunity of being given a chance to have eternity, and not just eternity, but an eternity of never sinning again. A lifetime of being with our heavenly Father, and the creator of the universe, our elder brother Jesus Christ.

Another point in that discourse is that Jesus ties that opportunity to a responsibility that is put squarely on our shoulders, both individually and collectively as a church.

With all that being said, there is nothing greater that can be given than that which is being offered. It is a "Once in a Lifetime Opportunity." Given that, we must go on to conclude that there would be much required of us. "To whom much is given much is required."

Notice Paul's letter to the Corinthians (I Corinthians 1:26-30) "For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:"? But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; "And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: "That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

Imagine that! God has chosen us as pitiful as we are, to change us, to give us a "Window of Opportunity," to be as He is. We cannot, in our physical bodies with our human minds, truly comprehend all that opportunity entails. The apostle John tells us in I John 3:1-3 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as he is." And every man that hath this hope in Him purifies himself, even as he is pure."

The Bible is filled with our purpose, our calling, and the "Once in a lifetime Opportunity." We need to be ever diligent to see that calling and to grasp it with all the fiber that is in us. And what we lack we need to go to God and ask Him to fill the lack. In Mark 9:17-24 we find a father of a child that had a dumb spirit, that would throw him into fires and was foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father a question about faith and healing. The father said, yes, he believed, and went on to ask, 'please help my unbelief.'

In the not-so-distant future our faith is going to be challenged beyond what we can imagine at this moment. I would presume that at some point even doubts will enter our mind. It is then that we must be on God's wavelength to help us overcome our unbelief.

Israelites Out of Egypt

The Israelites were challenged like that. Time and time again God granted them opportunity to face the obstacles that could have been overcome so that they would have the same opportunity we are being offered today. But unfortunately, the carnality overtook their faith. Rather than going to God for the guidance and the help during those critical moments, they rebelled and refused to believe God, and all but two, Joshua and Caleb, perished in the wilderness. God says they had a different spirit in them. What about us, do we have that different spirit?

Our challenges and trials are at our doorsteps; no different than the Israelites as God prepared them to leave Egypt. Just like the Israelites, we are watching the world being torn apart day after day; just as they watched Egypt being destroyed by one plague after another.

Their journey began immediately following the blood of the lamb, as God passed over their homes.

Exodus 12:13 says: "And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt."

Their journey did not begin out of Egypt until after they accepted the blood of the lamb. Think about that, it is no different for us today. We cannot come out of the world until after we have accepted the blood of Christ's sacrifice. Only then can our journey to eternity begin. It is a "Once in a Lifetime Opportunity." You will never get another opportunity. Don't let it pass! Seize it with all the hope that God puts inside you. I was preparing this newsletter and something occurred to me that I had not seen before. It is that the Israelites were told in advance each time a plague would come. It was the final plague that God put the responsibility to survive upon the Israelites themselves.

Today, the world is being given the same opportunity to know in advance what is going to be taken place through the understanding of the seals. Look at Revelation 9:20-21, "And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: ' Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts."

Only those who will take the blood of the Lamb will be saved and begin their journey into the kingdom of God. In Revelation 7, we see that those who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb will make it into the kingdom and be a part of the first fruits and in the first resurrection.

Use this opportunity to renew your calling. Reach deep inside and recommit to Jesus through repentance. He has granted us, and given to us that "Window of Opportunity." Let Him know the love you have for Him, and for those who are of the household of faith. If you can do that, He will grant you His love, unwavering, boundless mercy and give you the zeal you need to carry you into the Promised Land (the Kingdom of God).

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