The judgment of God is according to truth...
Romans
{2:1} Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
How is it that we are quick to judge others for their faults but so slow to recognize the faults in ourselves? We can point out easily another's selfishness, but to call ourselves selfish we find hard to do, citing to ourselves how generous we are in so many ways. It's so easy to see in others but so hard to see in ourselves. If you want to know, really know what your faults are try to find someone who knows you well and who isn't afraid of offending you and sit them down. Ask that person what they perceive your faults to be. Tell them you really desire honestly to know. If they try to tell you that you have none, you know they're afraid of offending you and won't tell you the truth. We all have faults, all of us. Children can often see them in parents but parents refuse to listen to children because, well, they're children. Husbands and wives see them in each other but they don't want to offend each other, what smart spouse would want to point out the faults, they might get their own faults pointed out. Parents will often tell their children what's wrong with them, but lots of times they do so in a way that breaks the spirit of a child. A good friend might, just might be honest about it all, but there again being a friend means overlooking faults doesn't it? Overlooking faults and loving just the same. Maybe you can't find anyone to tell you what your faults are. Maybe you have to figure it all out yourself. A way to possibly do that is to look at those you're judging. Look at others and recognize their faults, it's easy to do, we see them all the time, right? Then turn around and ask yourself honestly ask yourself if that same fault lies within you. Remember- how we judge is how we'll be judged. How we condemn others for their faults- their lack of understanding, their impatience, their un-kindnesses, their inability to comprehend where they're wrong, their cold-heartedness, their stubbornness, oh yes, we can see faults in others. We need to see them in ourselves. We need to know that how we treat others we'll be treated. There won't be any explaining to God. Oh, hey God, I only said that about that person because well, it was obvious and everyone knows they're a nasty. I'm not a nasty, I'm...not, I only...I... The very acts of condemning, condemn us.
Romans
{2:1} Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
{2:2} But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
**
God knows the truth of our hearts. God knows the truth. The truth.
Romans
{2:3} And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
**
No one escapes the judgment of God. No one.
Romans
{2:4} Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
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The riches of goodness.
The riches of forbearance.
The riches of longsuffering.
We laugh at those who we perceive as good- those who seem easily taken for fools.
We can't comprehend how some people put up with others and their abuses, and still love. (And no I'm not condoning an abused wife or husband to stay with their abusers.) We can't comprehend how people can be longsuffering towards those that revile them. How can someone who is abused still be so nice? Still walk with a smile? Still have a kind word for their abusers. Do you know any of those people? They are few and far between but they do exist.
The goodness of God is found in forbearance, in longsuffering. It is that goodness that leads us to repentance. Leads us to realize our own faults, lets us see our own faults, it takes off the blinders and we can then see ourselves and others in a new light.
And yet, so many despise the goodness, the forbearance, the longsuffering, so many don't want to be brought to repentance.
Romans
{2:5} But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
{2:6} Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
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In the end it will be our choices that define us. Will we be brought to repentance, to the place we can find Jesus, the grace and mercy of our Savior? Or will we harden our hearts. Either way the judgment of God will come. Each one of us will be judged according to our deeds. Our choices.
Romans
{2:7} To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
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Those who seek glory in immortality promised through Jesus, those who see honor in eternal life, not the life here. Those who recognize that any glory and honor given by man to us means little in comparison to the honor and glory of God, those will find eternal life.
Romans
{2:8} But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
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Indignation and wrath, not obeying the truth, obeying unrighteousness- the indignation and wrath are for those.
The truth... Jesus, His love, His sacrifice, His grace and mercy for us.
The lies... That there is no need of Jesus and His sacrifice, salvation is found in ourselves.
Our choices, our deeds, reveal ourselves to God. If we think that our choices and our lives don't matter, think again.
May God help us seek truth. To look at ourselves and our own faults before pointing at and condemning others. May the choice we make be for Jesus now and always.
By the Grace of God.
Amen.
***
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Fearful
Unbelieving
Abominable
Murderers
Whoremongers
Sorcerers
Idolaters
Liars
FEARFUL
1. Causing or capable of causing fear; frightening: a fearful howling.
2. Experiencing fear; frightened. See synonyms at afraid.
3. Feeling or inclined to feel anxiety or apprehension; timid; nervous.
4. Indicating anxiety, fear, or terror: a fearful, nervous glance.
5. Feeling reverence, dread, or awe.
6. Extreme, as in degree or extent; dreadful: a fearful blunder; fearful poverty.
UNBELIEVING
Not believing; doubting: The incident occurred right before our unbelieving eyes.
ABOMINABLE
1. Unequivocally detestable; loathsome: abominable treatment of prisoners.
2. Thoroughly unpleasant or disagreeable: abominable weather.
MURDERERS
1. The unlawful killing of one human being by another, especially with premeditated malice.
2. Slang. Something that is very uncomfortable, difficult, or hazardous: The rush hour traffic is murder.
WHOREMONGERS
1. A man who associates with or pays for sexual relations with prostitutes or a prostitute.
2. A pimp.
SORCERERS
One who practices sorcery; a wizard.
IDOLATERS
1. One who worships idols.
2. One who blindly or excessively admires or adores another.
LIARS
One that tells lies.
Fearful - scared
Unbelieving - doubting
Abominable - loathsome
Murderers - unlawful murder
Whoremongers - pimping others
Sorcerers - wizard
Idolaters - worshipping idols
Liars - telling lies
'Shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.'
This is plain enough isn't it? All those that stand for things other than what God stands for will die. They'll be as if they never were. If you grasp fear you lack trust. If you doubt you have no faith. If you're abominable you are far from embracing Christ who was the pure manifestation of love. If you kill another you take what isn't yours to take- life. If you abuse others for your own gain such vileness cannot be rewarde. If you seek spirits to give you powers for your own selfish desires, you aren't seeking God. Worshipping any thing other than God is placing your trust in things created and not the created. Lying is embracing the life of the devil who is the father of all lies and those who lie are children of the devil spawn that continue his work and have nothing to do with Christ Jesus our Savior.
We don't want to have our part be in the lake of fire which brings about our permanant end. We want to be with Christ, alive and living in Him forever in all that is good and right, just and true, holy and righteous through Him, in Him forever.
May God bless us and lead us towards the end that will keep us in Him forever! Protect us Lord Jesus, keep us, we need Your righteousness, Your truth. Bless us! Forgive us! Keep us! Know us! By Your grace and mercy.
Amen.
11/2/10
11/2/11
Psa 104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
Psa 104:31 The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
Yes, I'm still stuck on this business of creation and dying, it's a subject that is forever pertinent.
When God hides his face it is troublesome isn't it? Seriously, when we feel as if God is choosing not to let us see Him (of course in a spiritual sense) it's something that upset us. We like to believe God is close to us. So many say He's just a prayer away, and they're not wrong, it's just that people believe they can constantly rebel against God and He'll forever strive with them- this isn't true!
Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years
Sin separates us from God. True, genuine repentance and desire for forgiveness heals that separation. God knows the difference between genuine and false- we can't hide from Him. As long as we keep alive the desire to sin, as long as we stop fighting sin and just allow it to be part of our lives, we cannot hope to have God close to us. Yes, we are saved by grace through Jesus Christ our Lord and nothing else but His righteousness, His forgiveness of our sins, can save us. Yet, this does NOT give us a free pass allowing us to continue on in presumptuous sin without thoughts of the consequences.
Some believe that God hides His face from them when they are overwhelmed with life's all to numerous tragedies, but we know that isn't true. We know that God will never hide His face from those who truly love Him- even if they are called to suffer unimaginably. We cannot hope to have a better path than our Savior had.
Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake
We cannot gauge our eternal life on whether or not we are living a pain free life, a life free of troubles and heartaches. God isn't hiding His face from those who love Him when those loved ones are suffering. God will hide His face from those who are not his because sin will separate them from God.
Psa 104:29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
We talked about our breath being taken away yesterday and here is yet another verse on that very subject.
When God takes the breath away- we die- we return to dust.
Psa 104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
Psa 104:31 The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
When God sends forth His Spirit- we are created. Remember how we discussed how we will receive new flesh bodies one day? God who created the earth and all the things therein, God who created the sun, the moon, the stars. God who can create something from nothing will be able to do this miraculous thing for all of those who love Him.
It is so true that the glory of the LORD will endure forever.
The LORD can rejoice in His works, they are amazing.
By the word of the Lord creation exists so how can we even begin to question His ability to call all the dead in Him to new life? We have way too many horror movies out there that love to portray the dead returning to life and they very seldom do so in any sort of good way. Is it any wonder we tend to question the hows and whys of things when we are overwhelmed with 'man's' version of how things are? Satan has corrupted so much and he'll never stop filling the minds of those who don't want to hear truth -with deception. We live in a world today where our government has actually implemented plans for a world filled with the living dead- people who have died and yet are reanimated through some sort of virus or some such. Could it happen? Who am I to say it could not? Yet, my Bible tells me that no matter what sort of evil the devil is able to work with his ability to perform miracles, that Christ is my Savior and I will have everlasting life in Him and NO other!
Psa 104:29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
Psa 104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
Psa 104:31 The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
God our Creator, God our Redeemer will forever exist- He's from everlasting to everlasting and I, by His grace will be found in Him and His everlasting.
Amen.