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Let us be self-aware or self-examining regarding the goodness and ALLNESS of God's love and power to reconcile. For instance, in the story of the Prodigal Son, the elder brother becomes upset when his younger brother returns to the Father's House and is immediately celebrated and treated like royalty.
Remember, Jesus said of the Pharisees (those who believed they had to earn salvation through works) that they stand at the door...they will not enter and will not allow others to enter. Those who harbor the mentality of "keeping others out" never realize that they themselves have not entered. Many believers become upset with the ideas of Ultimate Reconciliation because they feel they are laboring in vain or that somehow someone else will receive the same reward as they for doing less work.
If you find yourself having these feelings, remember these three points. 1) In the Kingdom, the last will be first and the greatest will be as a servant. Also, those who come in at the "eleventh hour" receive the same reward as those who labored all day. 2) Try to realize that those of us who have been laboring faithfully in the field for the Father have avoided the present-hell that is a consequence of disobedience, and that we have bypassed many of the painful "hog-pens of life." Most importantly, realize that we have been privileged to enjoy the Father's Presence and experience abundant life and the Kingdom of God here and now in this earthly lifetime. 3) Many believers adopt an exclusive mindset because they are ignorant of what the Father has already given to them. Consider the words of the Father to the elder brother:
"My son," the father said, "You are always with me
andEverything I have is yours." -Luke 15:31
There is no cause to be jealous or angry. Everything is already ours. Our mentality should be a Kingdom Mentality...that if we will seek first the Kingdom of God...all of our needs will be met...and we will be given the Kingdom in this lifetime...now!
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