He who is Athirst    This is for those, who reading this, depend on the teaching of their denomination, namely "All you need to do is to believe."  Yes this is correct, but only partly so because at that moment of faith when you believe that Jesus died on the cross to save you from your sins you are saved from the wrath that is to come upon unbelievers, and are empowered to perceive all that this entails, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, when you are athirst for the Truth. However, and here is the stumbling block, you are now like the Children of Israel, set apart by God, you are part of a favoured entity, bearing the name of your Saviour, but like the Israelites who didn't believe enough to want to learn about what their God required of them, who spent forty years wandering and dying in a desert that they could have crossed in a few weeks, you can also die  in disobedience on that day caused by negligence.  For example, I know a lady who is a professing Christian, but even though she knows it's wrong, puts her nose in other peoples' business, not to help them but to report on their doings to her cronies.    We are not concerned here with some "will of the wisp" idea, but the most important decision that you will have to make while on this earth.  How thirsty are you?   Everyone reading this has a conscience, knowing right from wrong. God placed this facility in us at the moment we were created - in His image, both physical and spiritual.  For example, if you were the parent of twin five year old girls and gave one a dolly but not the other, you would hear the complaint "that's not fair". Where did they receive this knowledge? Certainly not from you.    All tribes of the earth have a God-given knowledge of a higher plane, of a spiritual power and of the possibility of attaining a place therein, and as a result worship some god or another - to a greater or lesser degree.  Due to worldly circumstances and our sinful natures we each choose to follow our consciences or not, and on this way of living we shall one day each be tried.  You see, it's tough being a servant of the Most High in the here and now and this is because most of us do not believe unto righteousness, in that we do not seek the terms of the Contract1 of blood that Jesus our Saviour made with God on our behalf on the cross.    There are many passages of Scripture that confirm this Spiritual Truth. Here are but three:  He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.  (Luke 19:12-27) I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.  (John 15:1-11) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.  (Revelation 21:5-8)   He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.  (Revelation 22:11-15)    Why don't you spend time every day in God's company, through His Word; and meet Him?    1 See the teaching "The Blood Covenant" on this web site: www.hosanna.org.za.