Is Anything Wrong???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #450

The subtitle of this post could be: A Yardstick, Biblically Speaking!  I would like to share some food for thought, as we look at our own lives, and the culture around us, especially in light of what God’s Word has to say!  God’s Word which should be the lodestar for the born again—for the church—for Chrisitan faith and practice; but it seems to seldom be what’s held up as right!  You decide, but please base your decision on what God has said, rather than what our culture is broadcasting as “truth”.

Let’s consider first today, what Jesus declared as truth.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,           

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”   Matthew 7:13-15

Jesus declared plainly that HE is the only right way to God.

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

Jesus also made it clear that Satan is a liar and much of what we hear today, is straight out of hell!  As I often say, “Saying so doesn’t make it so!”  Only Jesus can make it so when we belong to Him, having been truly born again of The Holy Spirit of God—it ought to show it as we order our lives according to God’s Word not the world!  What’s your plumbline? (See John 1:10-13)

“Jesus said unto them,

If God were your Father,

ye would love me:

for I proceeded forth and came from God;

neither came I of myself,

but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech?

even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil,

and the lusts of your father ye will do.

He was a murderer from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar,

and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

ye believe me not.”  John 8:42-45

And what I believe to be one of Jesus’ most concise descriptions of truth also comes from the Gospel of Matthew.  Please consider it carefully—and yes, I go to this passage often for good cause; Jesus said it, and we need to hear it!  May we heed its truth; which gate are you choosing?

“Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit

is hewn down,

and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits

ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will of my Father

which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7 :19-23

When will we realize that we are called to live like the redeemed; after all it was Jesus’ blood which purchased our forgiveness and pardon of our sin.  Will you trample His blood, or will you withstand in this evil day holding to His Word as God grants us grace and wisdom to follow Him!

“To the praise of the glory of his grace,

wherein he hath made us accepted

in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches of his grace;

8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us

in all wisdom and prudence;” Ephesians 1:6-8

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints in light:

‘13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”  Colossians 1:12-14

Are you ready to stand before Him?

“And when he had taken the book,

the four beasts and four and twenty elders

fell down before the Lamb,

having every one of them harps, and golden vials

full of odours,

which are the prayers of saints.

9 And they sung a new song, saying,

Thou art worthy to take the book,

and to open the seals thereof:

for thou wast slain,

and hast redeemed us to God

by thy blood

out of every kindred,

and tongue,

and people,

and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God

kings and priests:

and we shall reign

on the earth.”  Revelation5:8-10

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,

Now is come salvation,

and strength,

and the kingdom of our God,

and the power of his Christ:

for the accuser of our brethren is cast down,

which accused them before our God

day and night.

11 And they overcame him

by the blood of the Lamb,

and by the word of their testimony;

and they loved not their lives

unto the death.” Revelation 12:10-11

What are we loving more than Jesus and His Word?  Peter calls us to live holy lives!  Would that describe you and I today?  Right now?

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought

unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.

17 And if ye call on the Father,

who without respect of persons

judgeth according to every man’s work,

pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know

that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:” 1 Peter 1:13-19

And I’d like to close this article with some hard scriptures that we don’t like to talk about today; mainly, I think, because we have chosen to abandon the truth which they contain—for ourselves, for our children and those closest to us.  We would rather condone bad and sinful behavior than take a stand for righteousness and be ridiculed and/or rejected by those we love and admire.  Give it some thought.

“Marriage is honourable in all,

and the bed undefiled:

but whoremongers and adulterers

God will judge.

5 Let your conversation

be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”  Hebrews 13:4-6

Whom or what are you afraid of in this world?

“Know ye not that

the unrighteous

shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

Be not deceived:

neither fornicators,

nor idolaters,

nor adulterers,

nor effeminate,

nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves,

nor covetous,

nor drunkards,

nor revilers,

nor extortioners,

shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you:

but ye are washed,

but ye are sanctified,

 but ye are justified

in the name of the Lord Jesus,

and by the Spirit of our God…

…. 19 What? know ye not

that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost

which is in you,

which ye have of God,

and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price:

therefore glorify God in your body,

and in your spirit,

which are God’s.” Portions of 1 Corinthians 6:9-20

My heart is heavy, and I pray that you will hear the voice of Jesus as He speaks His truth to your heart and mine.  May we be found faithful servants and not those imitators who will hear, “depart from me, I never knew you…”! (Don’t miss the “such were some of you, but…”!  When Jesus saves and redeems us, we are never the same!  Who’s your Father?

Remember, “…ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.”  Numbers 32;23

Amen and Amen!!!