NEVER Leaving nor Forsaking God!

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will NEVER leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” – Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

We should keep reminding ourselves that the Lord will NEVER leave nor forsake us, and be not afraid of the world even when trials or terrible situations are happening to us; even though it is hard (Deuteronomy 31:6), for we [TRUE followers of Jesus Christ] are bound to be in the kingdom of heaven at the end of the age, where there is NO more tears, death, crying, morning, and pain (Revelation 21:4). In other words, we should be prepared for everything that could happen to our lives and be filled with hope, for “we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” (2 Corinthians 5:1)

Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (Philippians 3:20-21, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Like 2 Corinthians 4:18 states: “we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal,” we should keep seeking things that are above, not on earthly things; and keep doing righteous deeds before the Lord, even though it is hard:

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven… (Matthew 5:10-12)

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)

For this reason, we should overcome the world, for “we know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19)

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:1-5)

Overall, if we are TRUE followers of Jesus Christ, we should be filled with a living hope and inexpressible joy, for we are bound to be in the kingdom of heaven at the end of the age, where there is NO more tears, death, crying, morning, and pain (Revelation 21:4)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can NEVER perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:3-9)