From Gary... Right, wrong and obedience

I imagine some may take offense at this picture. Others might possibly react harshly and respond by name calling or threats or worse. Face it, most people just do not like to even think there is a possibility they could be wrong about something, let alone be put in direct contradiction with the Word of GOD. Now, lets begin with the devil and proceed from there...

Matthew, Chapter 4 (WEB)

  1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  2 When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.  3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 

  4  But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” 

  5  Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple,  6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you.’ and, 

‘On their hands they will bear you up,

so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”

  7  Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’” 

  8  Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.  9 He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.” 

  10  Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’” 

Matthew, Chapter 7 (WEB)

 24  “Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock.   25  The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock.   26  Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand.   27  The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” 

 28  When Jesus had finished saying these things, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching,  29 for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes. 

Matthew, Chapter 28 (WEB)

 16  But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.  17 When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted.  18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.   19  Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,   20  teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. 

Satan twisted God's words for his own purposes- I am glad people don't do that today, aren't you??? Jesus countered by correctly answering with God's words. But, some will not listen to either the written Word or God's own in-the-flesh son; the result- disaster. Now, the parable of Matthew 7 is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. So, its example applies to both the here and now and the later and forever. This parable was not just a cute story, it was intended to make people think about obedience to Jesus or the consequences of rejection . However, we must think on this, for consider- If Matthew 28:18 is true (and we know it is true, for believing otherwise would make Jesus a LIAR), then we do not have any authority in matters of religion. Therefore, the statement of the picture is true, like it or not. And the implications of these things are a matter of life and death!!!  Question: which are you- a wise or a foolish man?