Tuesday, January 24, 2006

God?


I was pondering a question... I once asked a guy who said he didn't believe in God, "if I didn't believe in trucks does that mean I could go stand on a highway and not get hit by one...?"

When you see a picture, you know there was a painter. When you see a building, you know there was a builder. So when you look at all of CREATION you know there was a CREATOR

CONSCIENCE... con = with, science = knowledge, so we were born with knowledge. The conscience tells us it is wrong to steal, lie, cheat, murder, commit adultery, fornicate, so when we do, we do it with knowledge that it is wrong.

So if we can agree that there is a Creator and that it is wrong to do those things I just mentioned, then we must agree that the Creator gave us that conscience to begin with, which means He finds those things disagreeable as well. So is it fair to say that punishment must be handed down for those people that have down wrong?

For example, should murderers get away with murder? Let's make it more personal, should a murderer get away with raping and murdering your mother, daughter, sister, grandmother... you get the picture? Have you ever hated someone, or gotten angry with someone out of unrighteousness? Jesus said in Matt 5:22 "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." Hate and unrighteous anger is the same as murder in the eyes of God. He looks at our thought life, not just our deeds.

Should God punish these people?

How about stealing, should thieves be left unpunished? What if it was your house that was robbed and it was your children that were helded at gunpoint while you were away at work? There was no harm that came to them, the robbers left with your belongings, you feel violated, your children are scarred for life, but you have your health. Havent we all stolen something in our lives at somepoint regardless of value, a Ream of paper from work for the kids school work. a paperclip, a piece of candy when someone wasn't looking, money from our parents wallets when we we children...?

Should God punish these people?

What about liars? You are in a courtroom fighting in a case that will cost you your dignity, your life savings, and future income, and everything is contingent on the testimony of one person and whether or not the jury believes her or you. But, the difference is YOU ARE INNOCENT! and have not been lying, and this person has been. Now we all know we have lied at one point or another in our live haven't we? We know that white lies and fibs count as lies or when we teach our children to lie when we tell them to tell the bill collectors/telemarketers we're not home because we don't have the money this month to pay them.

Should God punish these people?

What about Homosexuals? Does God love the sinner, but hate the sin? Let's look at scipture to see exactly what the Word of God says to see what happens to homosexuals on the Day of Judgment. 1Corinthians 6:19-10 says "9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." This does not single out ANY one group of people as some Christian group like to do but the scripture says ALL sin will be punished. homosexuality is a sin the same way that sex outside of mariage is a sin, and adultery is a sin. While we are on the subject let's define "adultery". Jesus said in Matt 5:27-28 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Have you ever looked at a woman or a man with lust? If you haven't do you have a beating heart in your body? How many people in this day and age have not committed fornication outside of marriage? How many of us have gone out partying and gotten drunk, or used illicit social drugs...?Just because it feels good and it's excepted by society doesn't make it right... How about abortion? Oh, we might want to make ourselves feel ok by saying life doesn't begin until a certain "week"..., but in our hearts we "know" that's not true we have knowledge, a CONSCIENCE. IT'S MURDER! God will punish it! This is what a late term abortion looks like... We're all guilty...

Should God punish us?

If God uses the standard of His Ten Commandments to judge us, and His Word says He will, How will you fair on Judgment Day? Will you be one that thinks they will be self righteous before a holy and perfect God and declare yourself to be GOOD? By who's standard? yours? Man's? Man is imperfect and fallible.

Here, try this on a civil judge. You've just been stopped for speeding through a blind childrens convention doing 55 mph when there were 10 clear warning signs that the speed limit was 15 mph. You could have killed someone. You are at court and the judge is about to pass sentence and you know you are about to be sent to prison for a very long time. you decide to show how contrite you are and throw yourself on the mercy of the court. You say "Judge and I am very sorry for what I have done, can you please forgive and let me go?" The judge knowing that you are sorry responds with "Sir/Madam, You should be sorry, what you did was extremely dangerous, you put the lives of many disabled children at risk with very little thought at the time. I have no choice but to give you time to think about that. My hands are tied, you must pay for your crime." or maybe you have heard of this judge's "goodness" and you are going to appeal to that so you respond with: "Your Honor, I am very sorry for what I have done, and I have heard that you are a fair and good judge, can you let me go and give me a break this time?" This is how the judge would respond. "Because I am a good judge I cannot be bought or bribed, I am fair and just and I must pass out sentances that the people entrust me to pass out that are consistent with the crimes that have been committed by the perpetrators. Sir/Madam you must pay for your crime."

If an earthly judge is going hold us accountable for the crimes we commit, how much more is a holy perfect judge going to make us that much more accountable on our court day with Him?

So, we're back where we started, JUDGMENT! God's justice will be equally dispensed, giving no exceptions to those who obey or disobey by reason of intent or abilty. His justice is equally applied to everyone in all it's punishments and rewards, it is all inclusive, no one can be excluded, it will be impartial, it will not be administered by emotion, decision, or conditions outside other law itself. God's judgement will be decisive and it will be understandable to ALL to whom it applies, which is EVERYONE!

Have I lost you yet?

Let's read what Jesus said about the Judgment. Rev.20:10-15 "10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 The Great White Throne Judgment Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."

But there is hope...

We all need a SAVIOR... and his name is in Acts 4:10-12 "10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Jesus said in John 3:3 "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

What does all this mean? It means we must see our sin as God sees it. As vile behavior. Unacceptable. Detestable. Just being sorry is not enough. We must turn from it. Believing in Jesus is not enough either. Satan believe in Jesus and as you've read he will burn in the Lake of Fire for all eternity with the demons and those who's names are not written in the Book of Life. You must put all of you FAITH and TRUST in Him the way you would in a parachute if you had to use it to save your life from a plane that was going to crash and you had to jump to save your life. We all know we'd cling to that parachute and believe it would save us. That is the same saving faith you need to have in Christ to save you from sure death.


But there is Good News yet...

When Jesus came to this earth and in an essence made Himself what would be like you or I making ourselves into slugs... and was trampled on, beat, whipped, scourged, laughed at, mocked, spit on, and then hung on a cross to be torchured until He died... He then did something miraculous... He DEFEATED death!!!When you die as a "born again" believer in Jesus Christ you inherit eternal life... Why? It is not only because your fine has been paid by Jesus Christ... it has!!! But God... your Father in heaven no longer sees you as a unregenerate sinner... but He sees you as He sees His only begotten Son... He sees you as "perfect", "without blemish". Please understand, we don't deserve this... there is no amount of "goodness" we could ever do to deserve God's grace. If we got what we really deserved, we would all get hell. That's what makes Jesus' Good News truly Good News, in while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Oh, I beg you please do not miss this point...

Then you need to read your Bible everyday, if you don't have one, get one. Go to church. Find a good Bible teaching church. BE CAREFUL NOT TO GO TO A CHURCH THAT IS TEACHING A MAN CENTERED GOSPEL! What is that you ask? A lot of churches are preaching things about how you can improve your life, or improve your finances, improve your mind... STAY AWAY FROM THAT GARBAGE!!! Jesus said in Matt. 16:24-26 "24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. " 25"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. " 26"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Study God's Word, let it be nourishment for your soul. I can promise you, you will not be sorry. I can also promise you if you don't heed these word...

you one day will...

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