GOD’S WORD FOR MAY 9
GOD’S WORD FOR MAY 9 ~ ~ 1 John 5:11 ~ ~ “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”
In addition to all the wonderful attributes of God, we absolutely can’t leave out His Justice. He created justice. He lives by it. In fact, society’s sense and system of justice came from Him.
He is the only being who is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT AND JUST.
He cannot sin, He cannot tempt anyone to sin. James tells us this:
“….for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.”
There are, however, tests in our lives. In order to build muscles, we must use them and stress them. In order to keep bones strong, they need to be stressed. It’s the same with our spirits and our faith. That’s why God allows trials in our lives to build our faith and trust in Him.
If Jesus had not become man and come to this filthy place to suffer and die, there wouldn’t even be a test. There wouldn’t be a choice. There wouldn’t be a chance. The future for every person who ever lived on earth would be eternal punishment in hell. Period….. No chance of parole.
Churches today have forgotten the Word of God. They have softened His commands because they might “offend” someone.
I’m here to tell you the Truth. If it offends you, then take that complaint to God because I’m telling you what HE said.
“Everybody does it.” is something you won’t let your teenagers use for an excuse. At least I hope you don’t. But it is what most adults live by. Using God’s name in vain, (OMG) saying the “F” word, and other vulgar language, is very serious in God’s eyes. In the Old Testament days, people were stoned to death for these things. God hasn’t changed His opinion about sin. He doesn’t mold with society. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, and that includes His JUSTICE.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.”
Here is what He thinks of this, and His justice in it. He uses very strong language:
Ephesians 5:3-7
“But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them;”
We are all guilty. We don’t have to be “bad” by society’s terms to be separated from God by sin.
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.” Note:You don’t have to be a criminal— “wicked” simply means not living to please God, but living to please yourself.
“But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” All of us have done this, or thought it. This, too, is worthy of hell fire!
“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.”
One reason that every sin is a horrible sin is that sin itself comes from our fallen nature that we inherited from Adam. There is no place for that sin nature in God’s domain, heaven. No natural man can go to heaven because his spirit that connects him with God was killed by the fall of mankind, and needs to be brought to life and eventually replace the sin nature at our resurrection.
That’s why we must be born again—–recreated—-have our spirits brought alive again through Jesus Christ. Our sin nature will still cause us to sin occasionally, because of habits learned from before, and temptations. But now we have Jesus and the Holy Spirit in us to give us strength to live for Him. Once we’re saved, we immediately confess each sin, and ask Him to help us not to. All our sins are forgiven when we’re saved, but we have to be living for Him.
We also have His Word to give us strength and guidance.
The sad part is, for those who have not asked Jesus into their hearts and lives, and repented of their sins, determining to live for Him from now on,………sadly, hell STILL is their only future.
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
For those who say “God’s too good to send anyone to hell”: You send yourself to hell when you continue on the path that Adam took. Jesus said, in Mt 12:30
“The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters.”
If you haven’t made the choice to live for Jesus, you will continue to follow satan, as Adam did, and everyone after him. We’re either FOR Jesus or AGAINST Him.
It’s not God’s choice. It was man’s choice. Adam chose to go his own way. He wanted to be more than he was, and he believed the devil’s lie that God was holding back on him….that God was lying to him.
Haven’t we heard this today? Sure. Because the devil is still whispering it to all that will listen. He knows he’s going to the lake of fire forever, and he’ll take as many with him as possible. Misery loves company, and there’s no creature more miserable than satan.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
Not only does misery and guilt like company, it also doesn’t like to change. Living for our own enjoyment, even without a deeply sinful life, or actually living in sin and rejection of God, both become a comfortable place after a while. We don’t have to be “bad” to merit punishment. If we’re not as perfect as God, we deserve it. None of us is perfect, so we are all headed for hell without knowing Jesus personally.
And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
“They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; Thereis none who does good, No, not one.”
Fear of punishment many times is what is the root cause of people continuing to live in their miserable condition, but that’s a false fear put there by satan’s ugly evil minions. It’s that age-old twisting of the truth. The truth is that staying in sin or selfishness will CAUSE PUNISHMENT, BUT turning to Jesus will FREE YOU from punishment.
Luke 12:4-5
“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (God)
When you turn to Him, He will receive you with His open arms of forgiveness, and love you forever and ever, because His Justice will be satisfied, as you acknowledge your debt having been paid by Jesus!!!
Acts 17:30-31
“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
“For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
And we are in it, but it is very short now. The devil is powerful now in his deception because he knows his time is short. Without notice, Christ will return, as promised, and it will most likely be in your lifetime, although no one knows but the Father.
This is NOT an appointment you want to be late for!
Anyone not saved when He returns will be judged for every tiny thing they did wrong in their entire life. And compared with perfection, we all did, thought, and said millions of things that would send us to hell!!! You will not have a chance to plead your case. He knows every action and thought from your entire life. It’s not a matter of balancing good actions vs bad ones. It’s only our disconnection from God. We’re either living for Him or against Him.
Don’t be caught in your sin when He returns, or when you die. It would be an eternal mistake!!!!
ETERNAL, with no chance to change.
Tell Him now that you want Him!!!
“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My trust is in You.”
Live in the Light of Our Lord 