“From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:17-21
“…‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now[a]send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’” Acts 26:15-18
““…Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him [John the Baptist] and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,”” Mt. 3:5-8 bold and bracketed words added
When you read the scriptures above, notice anything in common? Can you sum it up in one word? Know what should result from this word? This isn’t a game. It’s anything but. It’s a matter of life, death, and of where you will spend eternity. What word sums up the message in these verses?
TURNING. A change of direction. In plain English, you will spend forever in heaven if you TURN to God and His ways, devoting your life to Him through faith in Christ as Lord if you believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins and was raised from the dead and commit your life to the Lord. If you do not, you will spend forever in torment in hell and the lake of fire eternally apart from God.
What should result from this TURNING? If you have really TURNED and placed your faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, your life will bear FRUIT of this TURNING.
Your heart, attitude, decisions, and actions will show in an obvious, visible, tangible way that you have given your life to Christ. Have you TURNED? Are you BEARING FRUIT of a life devoted to Christ? The Lord knows the truth.