Is God really going to pour out his wrath on this world? How could a nice, loving, good God be so angry with humanity that he'd destroy it? Does God require repentance?
"Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abomination. (Eze. 7:3 KJV)."
If God didn't spare Israel and Judah, what makes us thing we're privileged to be spared the judgment of an angry God? Let's take this one step farther. If there's no judgment for iniquity, why do we preach salvation in Christ?
We read over and over again of God rendering judgment on humanity throughout the Old Testament. His judgment was swift and decisive. Except for Noah, his wife, his sons, and their wives, God wiped out the entire human race because of its sin. What makes us think God won't do the same to us?
It must stand to reason if there's salvation, there must also be judgment. We read throughout the Old Testament of the mercy and longsuffering of God. We will find the first reference to God's longsuffering when Moses receives the second writing of the Ten Commandments from God.
"The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin (Ex. 34:6-7 KJV)."
This is why Jesus could say these words, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn. 3:16 KJV)."
That's why Peter wrote, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2Pe. 3:9 KJV)."
If there's no punishment for sin, there's no need for salvation. If there's no sin, there's no need for a Savior. Maybe the time has come for Christianity to face the fact sin is sin, and God requires repentance. It's eternity that hangs in the balance.
Isaiah cried for weeping, mourning, baldness, and sackcloth (Isa. 22:12). Ezekiel preached to cast away all transgressions and make a new heart (Eze. 18:31). Hosea cried out for repentance (Ho. 14:2). Joel called for fasting, weeping, and mourning (Joel 2:12).
John the Baptist preached, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mt. 3:2). Jesus said except we repent we will perish (Lu. 13:3). He repeated himself two verses later. Peter called for repentance in Acts 2:38 and Acts 3:19. Paul said God commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30)."
God is merciful. God is gracious. God is longsuffering. But one day, Christ will return. Humanity will be judged for its deeds, good or bad (Acts 17:31). I wonder, who is God waiting for? Who will be the last one to repent? God bless...
Friday, May 7, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Today: A Good Day to Praise the Lord
"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2Co. 5:1 KJV)."
Today is a good day to praise the Lord! Yes, it can be said that every day is a good day to praise the Lord. Yesterday is already past. The opportunity to praise the Lord yesterday is gone. Tomorrow hasn't happened yet. Today is the day of opportunity in which we can praise the Lord.
What does this have to do with 2Corinthians 5:1? Hebrews 9:27 tells us, "it is appointed unto me once to die." You and I will one day pass from this earthly existence. We are going to die; it's inevitable. We don't know exactly when we will die. We aren't guaranteed we will be alive tomorrow.
"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanished away (Jas. 4:14 KJV)."
2Corinthians 5:1 is my hope of tomorrow. There is an eternal home awaiting in the heavens for me the moment this flesh draws its final breath. Those who are dead to sin and alive in Christ can take hope in the knowledge we will one day put of this mortality. Therefore all we have is today.
It is said that Christ is our guarantee for tomorrow. I'm not sure how, being as we have no assurances of tomorrow based on James 4:14. My friends, Jesus Christ is our tomorrow! Therefore, "behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2Co. 6:2 KJV)."
Being as today is the only time I still have, today is a good day to praise the Lord! God bless...
Today is a good day to praise the Lord! Yes, it can be said that every day is a good day to praise the Lord. Yesterday is already past. The opportunity to praise the Lord yesterday is gone. Tomorrow hasn't happened yet. Today is the day of opportunity in which we can praise the Lord.
What does this have to do with 2Corinthians 5:1? Hebrews 9:27 tells us, "it is appointed unto me once to die." You and I will one day pass from this earthly existence. We are going to die; it's inevitable. We don't know exactly when we will die. We aren't guaranteed we will be alive tomorrow.
"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanished away (Jas. 4:14 KJV)."
2Corinthians 5:1 is my hope of tomorrow. There is an eternal home awaiting in the heavens for me the moment this flesh draws its final breath. Those who are dead to sin and alive in Christ can take hope in the knowledge we will one day put of this mortality. Therefore all we have is today.
It is said that Christ is our guarantee for tomorrow. I'm not sure how, being as we have no assurances of tomorrow based on James 4:14. My friends, Jesus Christ is our tomorrow! Therefore, "behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2Co. 6:2 KJV)."
Being as today is the only time I still have, today is a good day to praise the Lord! God bless...
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Prophecy and the Word
Does God take issue with all the noise in the land? Does God have a problem with all those who claim to be prophesying in his name? What should we do when multitudes of men and women are crying out, "Thus says the Lord?"
A Serious Indictment
"Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land (Ho. 4:1 KJV)."
I've heard many speak of the darkness covering our land. I've read articles speaking of the iniquity which so captivates the inhabitants of this land.
Hosea 4:1 speaks clearly of God having a problem with the inhabitants of Israel in his day. Does this same controversy apply to us today? Yes, it does. Look around you. Where is truth? Where is mercy? Where is the knowledge of God in this land?
Want of Truth In the Land
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD (Amos 8:11 KJV)."
Are we experiencing a famine of the Word of God in our land today? America is being flooded with prophets speaking all manner of words from judgment and damnation to incredible prosperity and wealth. They all claim, "Thus says the Lord."
How can so many prophesy with such diversity? How can so many fall prey to so many words? Could it be there's a famine of the true Word of God in this land? Could it be because so many really don't know the true Word?
Jesus said the Scriptures tell us of him (Jn. 5:39). Paul admonishes us to study the Word (2Ti. 2:15). Why? So we, you and I, can correctly divide the Word of Truth. The word divide, or dividing, means to expound correctly. Expound means explain. We are to study the Scriptures so we can explain the Word of Truth.
Who, or what, is the Word of Truth? "In the beginning was the Word (Jn. 1:1 KJV)." Jesus Christ is the Word of Truth. Period. How can we lay claim to knowing the Word of Truth when we don't know Scripture? How can we know Scripture without reading it? How can we know truth if Truth isn't in our hearts?
Try the Spirits, Believe the Spirit
The Apostle John tells us to not believe every spirit, but try them to see if they're of God or not (1Jn, 4:1). When somebody says, "Thus says the Lord," it must be in alignment with Scripture. If "thus says God" doesn't line up with the Word, the one speaking is a false prophet.
I encourage all who believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, to get into the Scriptures. Feast on them. Hide them in your heart. It is the knowledge of the Word which will allow you to discern between truth and fable. God bless...
A Serious Indictment
"Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land (Ho. 4:1 KJV)."
I've heard many speak of the darkness covering our land. I've read articles speaking of the iniquity which so captivates the inhabitants of this land.
Hosea 4:1 speaks clearly of God having a problem with the inhabitants of Israel in his day. Does this same controversy apply to us today? Yes, it does. Look around you. Where is truth? Where is mercy? Where is the knowledge of God in this land?
Want of Truth In the Land
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD (Amos 8:11 KJV)."
Are we experiencing a famine of the Word of God in our land today? America is being flooded with prophets speaking all manner of words from judgment and damnation to incredible prosperity and wealth. They all claim, "Thus says the Lord."
How can so many prophesy with such diversity? How can so many fall prey to so many words? Could it be there's a famine of the true Word of God in this land? Could it be because so many really don't know the true Word?
Jesus said the Scriptures tell us of him (Jn. 5:39). Paul admonishes us to study the Word (2Ti. 2:15). Why? So we, you and I, can correctly divide the Word of Truth. The word divide, or dividing, means to expound correctly. Expound means explain. We are to study the Scriptures so we can explain the Word of Truth.
Who, or what, is the Word of Truth? "In the beginning was the Word (Jn. 1:1 KJV)." Jesus Christ is the Word of Truth. Period. How can we lay claim to knowing the Word of Truth when we don't know Scripture? How can we know Scripture without reading it? How can we know truth if Truth isn't in our hearts?
Try the Spirits, Believe the Spirit
The Apostle John tells us to not believe every spirit, but try them to see if they're of God or not (1Jn, 4:1). When somebody says, "Thus says the Lord," it must be in alignment with Scripture. If "thus says God" doesn't line up with the Word, the one speaking is a false prophet.
I encourage all who believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, to get into the Scriptures. Feast on them. Hide them in your heart. It is the knowledge of the Word which will allow you to discern between truth and fable. God bless...
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