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| | | Where do You fit in? It has been said: There are four classes of people, the Down and Out's; the Down and In's; the Up's and Out's; and the Up's and In's. Do you know where you fit?  The Down and Out's
The down and out's are those who are born poor, remain poor throughout their life and never seek to be anything but poor. Some of their own volition, some due to life circumstances beyond their control and others like the untouchables of the Hindu caste system who are brought up to believe they are worthless and that not even one of their hundreds of thousands of God's love them. Most refuse to believe in God and if they do, even blame Him for their condition. The world is an unbearable place and they usually try to find an escape through drugs, alcohol or worldly pleasures that are attainable to them. They are easy targets for the lies of Satan without a concerted effort by God's children to save them, which we are commanded to do.
Deuteronomy 15:11 KJV For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. Jeremiah 5:3-4 KJV 3O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. 4Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.  The down and out's - down and on their way to hell unless you and I show the love of Christ, unless you and I are willing to do what is necessary to win them to the kingdom. We are told, when accepting Christ, that we receive the seal of the Holy Spirit whose task it is to mold and shape us into the likeness of Christ. Did He not sacrifice ALL for us? Should we not be willing to sacrifice also to become like Him if like Him is what you truly want to become? We wonder why crime is rampant and evil is so prevalent in our world today. We shake our heads when we hear of the horrendous things people are doing to each other, never stopping to think if someone had taken the time to love the person that committed the crime maybe just maybe they would have stopped and thought twice about committing the crime. We are in a war of good versus evil that has been going on for thousands of years. It's you, the child of God, who is called to stem the tide of evil and it's you who will stand before the throne and give account for your time on this earth.
The Down and In's
The down and in's are the poor who searched their hearts and found a place that only God could fill, the ones who gained the understanding that all were born into sin and there is only one way to please God.
Hebrew 11:6 KJV but without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Romans 3:23 KJV For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  1 John 5:5 KJV who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? The Down and In's - those who have overcome by their faith, had their sins forgiven and will be rewarded by eternal life with Christ in heaven. These are the ones who are now charged with the duty of spreading the gospel and love of Christ to the lost of this world. They are no longer concerned with their condition in this world but filled with the joy of knowing they have become co-heirs with Christ in all the riches of heaven. They have learned that their suffering during this short time we spend on this earth is more than worthwhile for the joy of what lies ahead for eternity.
The Up's and Out's
 The Up's and Out's - those born to privilege, born into families of wealth and power, those who have never or will never lack for anything and have no need or desire to find the Saviour for they don't need one. Yes they are Up and headed straight to Hell unless something catastrophic happens to bring them to their knees and realize their need for Jesus and His saving grace. Of course there are always those of us who have been called by Christ to share with them His love. We can show them by how we live our lives that there is something more to life than the pursuit of more riches and more power. That life is more than striving for what we can get in the few years we are on this planet. We bring nothing into the world with us and will take nothing with us when we leave it but what we do while we are here makes a great deal of difference for eternity. This life is our training ground for becoming sons and daughters of God, not a time to abuse the things God has provided for us during our stay here.
The Up's and In's
The Up's and In's are those who have been blessed by God and use their wealth, power and talents to bring glory to God with their lives. They bless others with all they have been given, realizing that without God "All is Vanity" Ecclesiastes 1:2 KJV. They have learned to think with an eternal perspective knowing that all real treasure and happiness is encompassed and surrounded by the grace and mercy of our creator. Unfortunately there are few who fit this category.
1 Timothy 6:6-10 KJV 6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  I would like to add a fifth category to the four above. The deceived and out's - Since before time as we know it, Satan has been deceiving anyone who would listen to him. First a third of the angels in heaven, and ever since the thousands of false religions he has started, all with the lie that man can become as God.
Isaiah 43:10 KJV Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.  God put a place in man's heart only He could fill and made Himself known throughout all creation so man would be without excuse. As long as man in his free will rejects his creator and His truth in favor of Satan's lies, Hell's doors will stand wide open for all who desire to enter.
Sometimes understanding truth can be difficult and hard to swallow but when it's your eternal soul that is at stake, where you will spend eternity is certainly no small matter and you should take God's word seriously.
Each of us was created by God to be loved and spend eternity in heaven with Him. He loved you enough to give you the free will to choose for yourself. If Christians are wrong and the bible just a book of fairy tales then we have lost nothing but if it is in truth God's word to His creation then by rejecting Him, you will have lost everything!
I urge you to search your heart today and see where you fit in God's plan. There's a better day coming when Jesus will come back to rid the world of evil. Prepare His place in your heart; you owe it to Him and yourself to find out what wonders He has prepared for you.
My sincere thanks to a dear and beloved daughter of God, Ms. Shirley G., for the inspiration she gave me for this devotion. We serve a truly Awesome God who talks to us in many ways. Thank you Ms. Shirley for listening.
Bob Goulding © | | |
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It has been said: There are four classes of people, the Down and Out's; the Down and In's; the Up's and Out's; and the Up's and In's. Do you know where you fit?
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