Friday, April 21, 2017

God's or Ours?

Romans 1:18-25 - For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Oh, sorry for the lengthy scripture. 

I look at what our society is becoming and this is so evident. So.evident.

We may not quite recognize the wrath of God in the world today. We can believe that some of the devastation on earth is a result of our choosing to push God and His views and commands out of this life. It could be. Recall that it's in time of trial that He hopes people will turn to Him and if He has to bring them on... These things might be happening and we don't know it. I know there will come a day when we know and see God's judgment. 

As an aside, I'm hearing more and more Muslims are turning away from Islam to Christianity. This is amazing...and amazingly good. I listened to a pastor or priest giving a sermon on how Muslims need to understand that their killing other Muslims because of their allegiance to Christ isn't vengeance as they would think. It is a win-win situation because these victims, being in Christ, will be with Christ. 2Corinthians 4:17 says For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory...  In light of eternity, even our life on earth, whether easy or hard, is small. What matters is the end and where we stand with God.

So man, in general, with a relatively small number not represented here, live according to their own lifestyles. They choose to believe their lifestyles and ways are better, that anything goes in this world and care not whether it is acceptable to God. It is pride. The pride of life, as the Bible states. The riches of the world. Nothing to do with God and the even better things He has to offer...even in the midst of a life of trials. 

God has shown us from day one who He is, His power and His majesty. He has shown us throughout the Old Testament what He requires. So if we don't read His Word we will never understand this. If we don't read the whole Bible we believe what we want to believe, even believing the lie that He is a tyrant, unloving, choosing to war, kill and destroy. This was all to show us our fate for not loving, trusting and following Him. And so it goes today. He does not change. What He did in the Old Testament was a form of discipline. Sounds harsh but His demands are just. He did nothing but love His people and they kept falling away. They did not glorify Him, nor were thankful for all the times He saved their sorry lives or provided for them.

So today, what does man do? Just about the same thing. Idols are made to replace God. Jobs, children, cars, homes, money, television, hobbies...anything that would replace time with God. And in another way, lifestyles...choosing to be whatever or whoever we want to be instead of what God created us to be. There will be judgment upon us all, as believers and unbelievers, for the things that have gotten between God and us. But there is still hope, no matter where we are in life or what we believe. He will forgive, if we ask Him to bring change to our hearts.

Have we exchanged the truth for lies? Have we allowed the world view or man's view of how we should live cause us separation from the God who loves us so much? He loves us with our sin but doesn't want us to stay in that place...and as I have said, as He has said, wishes none to perish. Do we look to Him or go about our own ways? ...we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. (Acts 17:29)  It's not about who we think He should be but who He says He IS

He is but a call away if we so desire. That call could mean eternal life or eternal death. God's judgment or His wrath? Your choice. He loves you....

Acts 17:24-28 - God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, "For we are also His offspring."

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