Okay, so all men are going to die. We get it and accept it. Rom 5:12. What we don?t get or accept is, what happens afterwards?
Some say, ?nothing happens? Okay, my question is; ?how do they know?? Evidence please. Others say, they have no idea what happens. And that is sure better then saying, ?nothing happens,? because it just a person who plainly is without a clue; nothing more or nothing less. But the bible teaches the soul of men continue and the next action will be Judgment. Luke 16:22-23. Heb 9:27. Eccl 12:14. Heb 4:13. Rev 20:12. 2 Cor 5:10. Luke 12:4-5. Ready or not, God is coming and He will meet with you. Or you ready to answer His questions about your life and if it matches up with what the bible teaches? The "late" colonel Sanders, (Founder of KFC) said he use to curse regularly. All kinds of profane words would come out of his mouth and he didn't have to be angry to speak in such a manner. But change came when he read in the bible that man was going to take responsibility for every careless word on Judgment Day. Matt 12:36-38. 2 Cor 5:10. Heb 4:13. Eccl 12:14. The colonel did the right thing and repented, saving himself from answering for the use of his own tongue. Jas 3:1-10.
But what about you? How many profane words have you used today? Are you a "F" bomb user? Do you say the "S" word when something doesn't go your way? What about the awful, despicable. "mother"??? And lest we forget, the blasphemous "God"? People fail to realize that God is watching and recording everything done on earth and will replay for all to see at the Judgment. 1 Cor 3:13. It is time for everyone to take a look at themselves because one day, we will answer to God and our answer is going to be unless. Matt 25:41. Many cannot listen to the word of the Lord when preached in its purity. The reason is; man doesn’t like being corrected on how he might be living. Man thinks the message of the scripture is supposed to please him. But that isn’t going to be the case; because God doesn’t think as man. God thoughts are higher than heaven above the earth. Isa 55:8-9. The scriptures teach what God wants, not what man wants.
It is amazing that people will walk out of a church complaining about what was said in the sermon. Let me ask this. Did the preacher teach what was in the bible? Can you open your bible at home and see what he said? Do you think that the word of the Lord isn’t to step on toes? Are you perfect? If you are, then you are God. Will you admit to being God? If not, you must submit to bible admonishment. The word of the Lord is correction, not a praise of men speech. The word of the Lord are the words which convict men of sin and causes them to change so they can be saved. Heb 4:12. Jer 23:29. Jer 5:14. 2 Tim 4:1-4. It doesn’t take much to ruin a life. Look at the police officer in Dallas that shot the man in what she thought was her apartment. Look at the mess Bill Cosby is in. Look at the problem going on to confirm the supreme court judge. Look at the little boy that died in the septa train situation. There is but a step to falling off the cliff for anyone. 1 Cor 10:12. With that being the case, we must get hold of discretion and never let it go. Pro 2:11. Pro 3:21-26.
I don’t know about other churches, but here, we teach that a person cannot be a fake. A person must be 100% genuine, because God will repay. 2 Cor 5:10-11. We teach that one must be doing what he is supposed to be doing all the time. It makes no difference if no one is around; a person is supposed to be where he is entitled to be and not somewhere else. Let us ask ourselves. Would others approve of what I’m doing? Could I recommend that everyone else do it? Would I be doing it in the presence of family, spouse, children, friends, etc. Am I ashamed for others to know what I’m doing? If so, you aren’t using discretion and you are about to fall off the cliff. Pro 16:18 There is a Heaven and Hell and you need to consider which will be yours for eternality. Acts 2:40. Mk 8:36-37. Jas 1:21. Jas 5:20. Heb 5:39. Oh yes, you do have a soul! The soul is the real you and your body is only a shell or housing for the soul. Gen 2:7. Mat 10:28. At death the body goes back to the dust from where it was taken and the soul (or spirit) goes back to God who gave it. Gen 3:19:23. Psa 103:13-16. Eccl 3:19-23. Eccl 12:7. After death the soul awaits the judgment in Hades (the unseen place) where evil and good are separated by a great gulf. Lk 16:19-31. Jesus affirmed on the day of his death that He was going to take a remorseful thief with Him to the paradise side of Hades. Lk 23:43. Acts 2:29-32.
Heaven is an eternal luxury beyond man’s wildest dreams. Matt 7:21. John 14:1-3. Heb 4:9-11. 2 Pt 3:13. Rev 14:13. But Hell is so bad, it is worst than anything man can imagine. Hell is eternal fire reserved for those who fail to obey God. Matt 13:37-50. Mk 9:43-50. 2 Thess 1:6-9. Matt 23:23. Matt 5:22. 2 Pt 2:4. It will make no difference if one believes or not; everyone will be brought to the realization of Heaven and Hell. Heb 9:27. Matt 25:31-46. 2 Cor 5:10 A vampire isn’t a creature that lies in a coffin during the day and arises at night to drink the blood of the living. A vampire walks around day or night and drinks no blood, but does drain the resources of the weak and innocent that depend upon others to help them. We heard so often of someone that has been put in charge of the well being of another and instead of doing their duty to use resources and other monies to help the one placed in their care; they dip into the pot and spend and take stuff for themselves.
This conduct is reprehensible! An evil person takes advantage of a vulnerable soul who must depend upon others to care for him. Anyone who does that is void of ethics, humanity and is a vampire. God will judge such sinners and there is indeed a special place in hell for any who prey on the weak. Pro 15:3. Ezk 18:12-13. Pro 30:14. Jude 14-15. If you are in charge of the well being of someone else. Deny youself! Do what is right. Devote yourself to the mission to care and provide for those entrusted to you. Be ethical! Do the right thing and don’t steal or abuse the weak. Rom 15:1. Acts 20:35. 1 Thess 5:14. Pro 31:20. Psa 72:12-14 One may not be able to do good to every person in the world, but if man can do good for just one person; much has been accomplished.
The word of God, teaches men to do good toward one another. Gal 6.10. Luke 6.35. Heb 13.16. 1 Pt 3:11. Every day, people should look for opportunity to assist in making the burdens of others much lighter. Rom 15:1-2. At the end of the day, the person whose life has been touched, should say, “I’m so glad I met that person!” It doesn’t take much, just a little concern, just a little looking around, just a little getting out of our comfort zone, just a little getting out of our self center zone and show another person that we can spread love. “Flee to the mountains,” were the words spoken by the angels as they were preparing to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, along with all the other suburbs and towns of the valley. Gen 19:17. However Lot thought himself unable to get to the mountains, so he requested permission to flee to the small city of Zoar, also called Bela. Gen 14:2. Gen 19:19-23. Lot in his explanation of Zoar said, “And it is a little one”. Gen 19:20. So, it is very clear from Lots words that this town was small and probably not as favorable as the other cities in the valley. Still, Lot didn’t let any of that stop him because even though it was small, he saw a city that could provide refuge for him while the destruction fell upon the metro area. Gen 19:24-29.
Many times in the region of a large city, there are churches spread out with some big, some medium and some very small. And many times when choosing a church, the desire to worship with the bigger church appears to be more of the choice. However, others look at the “little one” and see the need to be of encouragement. Acts 16:9. When people visit a small group for the first time, they say, “And it is a little one.” And yes it certainly is, but though small, it is still a church where Jesus is in the midst and it is a place where one can be saved. Matt 18:20. John 10:9. “And it is a little one”, in such a church, members can have a better chance of exercising skills in teaching, song leading and helping with other aspects of the work, because the workers are few and everyone has to work. There’s no taking a number and waiting for it to be called, for in a small church, everyone works every time they meet. When you are ready to get right with God, I would like you to read the following scriptures. Acts 2:36-42. Acts 8:35-39. Acts 16:29-33. Acts 9:17-19. Acts 10:47-48.
Afterwards ask yourself three questions.
We have heard it many times before, a house burns down and people suffer injury or death. But then we see a fireman saying “there were no working smoke detectors in the house”.
Those words cause us to lament the lost of life or health, because none took the time to do what was needed in order to protect themselves. Well, let me use that example in another way. The bible which is the word of God, is our smoke detector. Do you have one? And as for batteries, are you doing what His word commands you? You see, it is one thing to have a bible in your house, but a totally different thing to be doing what it teaches. Luke 6:46. John 15:14. John 8:31-32. If we can be of help to you in learning God’s will for your life, let us help you with a bible study. Acts 8:26-40. Acts 16:11-15. Acts 17:11. |