From Gary... A Christmas test

If you attended school, you probably have had a quite a few tests, maybe even thousands of tests. If so, then you realize that they are not all the same. A test might query your reasoning power, deductive power, memory recall, writing ability. It may be fair or unfair (remember tests with those tricky questions?). And over the years, you may have even had a few of these "gift" tests. However, it has been my experience that these are very rare indeed. After all, Christmas comes but once a year!!! The following are 10 tests found in the Scriptures....

Commitment test

Exodus, Chapter 16 (WEB)

 1 They took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.  2 The whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness;  3 and the children of Israel said to them, “We wish that we had died by the hand of Yahweh in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots, when we ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” 

4  Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from the sky for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law, or not.

What is the root of complaining? Is it not a lack of trust? And if all you are given all you really need, will you still complain? This is a test...

Rebellion test

Exodus, Chapter 17 (WEB)

 1 All the congregation of the children of Israel traveled from the wilderness of Sin, by their journeys, according to Yahweh’s commandment, and encamped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” 

Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?” 

  3  The people were thirsty for water there; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?” 

  4  Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, “What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 

  5  Yahweh said to Moses, “Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you, and take the rod in your hand with which you struck the Nile, and go.  6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.  7 He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested Yahweh, saying, “Is Yahweh among us, or not?”

If someone continues to complain, even after your request of God is met; ask yourself- who or what is really your GOD? 

Re-test

Judges, Chapter 7 (WEB)

 1 Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people who were with him, rose up early, and encamped beside the spring of Harod: and the camp of Midian was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 2 Yahweh said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’  3 Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’” Twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.   

4  Yahweh said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. It shall be, that of whom I tell you, ‘This shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and of whoever I tell you, ‘This shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.”  

Pride is an insidious sin. There was a second test of the people in order that there would be no doubt as to who would be victorious, man or God. And I wonder... what did the people who were chosen think???

Refinement test

Zechariah, Chapter 13 (WEB)

 8 It shall happen that in all the land,” says Yahweh,
“two parts in it will be cut off and die;
but the third will be left in it.

 9 I will bring the third part into the fire,

and will refine them as silver is refined,

and will test them like gold is tested.

They will call on my name, and I will hear them.

I will say, ‘It is my people;’

and they will say, ‘Yahweh is my God.’”

Question- Do you really love God; or is your love a sham? Sometimes a test is given to you to really, really determine the question, once and for all.

Test of honesty

Malachi, Chapter 3 (WEB)

 8 Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tithes and offerings.  9 You are cursed with the curse; for you rob me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this,” says Yahweh of Armies, “if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough for. 

God is faithful, but am I? God wants to bless us, but will I listen?

Test of interpretation 

Matthew, Chapter 4 (WEB)

   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.’”

Both Jesus and the Devil knew the Scriptures and their proper application. But, an evil heart will misuse truth every time. Seek the truth and consider what is said, and let the Scripture speak for itself.

Test of works

1 Corinthians, Chapter 3 (WEB)

12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble;  13 each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is.  14 If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward.  15 If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire. 

What we do is a sure indicator of who we are. Consider what is built on your foundation, and for that matter, what foundation are you using? Remember the wise and the foolish men of Matthew, Chapter 7?

Test of sin

2 Corinthians, Chapter 13 (WEB)

 1 This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”  2 I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;  3 seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you.  4 For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you.  5 Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.  6 But I hope that you will know that we aren’t disqualified. 

  7  Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we are as reprobate.  8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.  9 For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting.  10 For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down. 

Once your sin has been revealed to you; what do you do with that knowledge? Do you ignore it or eradicate it? Test yourself and know?

Test of trials

1 Peter, Chapter 4 (WEB)

12  Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you.  13 But because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.  14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.

If you are a Christian; you will experience opposition;perhaps strong opposition or even persecution. Remember who you are- Christ's!!!

Test of teaching

1 John, Chapter 4 (WEB)

 1 Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,  3 and every spirit who doesn’t confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already.

Sound doctrine is not necessarily an easy thing to obtain, but it is worth it.  In this case, some were teaching that Jesus was not really a man (in the flesh) but a spirit and this is wrong.  Examine what you are taught and judge it by what the Bible plainly teaches. Do not let people trick you!!!

God sometimes works in mysterious ways, so the above is absolutely NOT comprehensive, but enough to at least see how HE tests.  If you wish to pass God's scrutiny, look to The Bible for directions and follow the example of Jesus. And remember God's grace and mercy have a huge impact on whether you enter heaven or not.  The test in the picture was a Christmas gift and so was Jesus!!! 

From Gary... Bible Reading January 19

Bible Reading  

January 19

The World English Bible

Jan. 19

Genesis 19

Gen 19:1 The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with his face to the earth,

Gen 19:2 and he said, "See now, my lords, please turn aside into your servant's house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you will rise up early, and go on your way." They said, "No, but we will stay in the street all night."

Gen 19:3 He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

Gen 19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter.

Gen 19:5 They called to Lot, and said to him, "Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may have sex with them."

Gen 19:6 Lot went out to them to the door, and shut the door after him.

Gen 19:7 He said, "Please, my brothers, don't act so wickedly.

Gen 19:8 See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them what seems good to you. Only don't do anything to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof."

Gen 19:9 They said, "Stand back!" Then they said, "This one fellow came in to live as a foreigner, and he appoints himself a judge. Now will we deal worse with you, than with them!" They pressed hard on the man Lot, and drew near to break the door.

Gen 19:10 But the men put forth their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut the door.

Gen 19:11 They struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

Gen 19:12 The men said to Lot, "Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whoever you have in the city, bring them out of the place:

Gen 19:13 for we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before Yahweh that Yahweh has sent us to destroy it."

Gen 19:14 Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, "Get up! Get out of this place, for Yahweh will destroy the city." But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking.

Gen 19:15 When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, "Get up! Take your wife, and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city."

Gen 19:16 But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife's hand, and his two daughters' hands, Yahweh being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city.

Gen 19:17 It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, "Escape for your life! Don't look behind you, and don't stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!"

Gen 19:18 Lot said to them, "Oh, not so, my lord.

Gen 19:19 See now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown to me in saving my life. I can't escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die.

Gen 19:20 See now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape there (isn't it a little one?), and my soul will live."

Gen 19:21 He said to him, "Behold, I have granted your request concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken.

Gen 19:22 Hurry, escape there, for I can't do anything until you get there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

Gen 19:23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar.

Gen 19:24 Then Yahweh rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from Yahweh out of the sky.

Gen 19:25 He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew on the ground.

Gen 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Gen 19:27 Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before Yahweh.

Gen 19:28 He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and looked, and saw that the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace.

Gen 19:29 It happened, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.

Gen 19:30 Lot went up out of Zoar, and lived in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he was afraid to live in Zoar. He lived in a cave with his two daughters.

Gen 19:31 The firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth.

Gen 19:32 Come, let's make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve our father's seed."

Gen 19:33 They made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father. He didn't know when she lay down, nor when she arose.

Gen 19:34 It came to pass on the next day, that the firstborn said to the younger, "Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine again, tonight. You go in, and lie with him, that we may preserve our father's seed."

Gen 19:35 They made their father drink wine that night also. The younger went and lay with him. He didn't know when she lay down, nor when she got up.

Gen 19:36 Thus both of Lot's daughters were with child by their father.

Gen 19:37 The firstborn bore a son, and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day.

Gen 19:38 The younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben Ammi. He is the father of the children of Ammon to this day.

 Jan. 19, 20

Matthew 10

Mat 10:1 He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.

Mat 10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee; John, his brother;

Mat 10:3 Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

Mat 10:4 Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Mat 10:5 Jesus sent these twelve out, and commanded them, saying, "Don't go among the Gentiles, and don't enter into any city of the Samaritans.

Mat 10:6 Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Mat 10:7 As you go, preach, saying, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!'

Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.

Mat 10:9 Don't take any gold, nor silver, nor brass in your money belts.

Mat 10:10 Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.

Mat 10:11 Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy; and stay there until you go on.

Mat 10:12 As you enter into the household, greet it.

Mat 10:13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn't worthy, let your peace return to you.

Mat 10:14 Whoever doesn't receive you, nor hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet.

Mat 10:15 Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

Mat 10:16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.

Mat 10:18 Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.

Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, don't be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.

Mat 10:20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

Mat 10:21 "Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.

Mat 10:22 You will be hated by all men for my name's sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.

Mat 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man has come.

Mat 10:24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.

Mat 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!

Mat 10:26 Therefore don't be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known.

Mat 10:27 What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.

Mat 10:28 Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

Mat 10:29 "Aren't two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father's will,

Mat 10:30 but the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Mat 10:31 Therefore don't be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.

Mat 10:32 Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven.

Mat 10:33 But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Mat 10:34 "Don't think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn't come to send peace, but a sword.

Mat 10:35 For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

Mat 10:36 A man's foes will be those of his own household.

Mat 10:37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of me.

Mat 10:38 He who doesn't take his cross and follow after me, isn't worthy of me.

Mat 10:39 He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.

Mat 10:40 He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.

Mat 10:41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward.

Mat 10:42 Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you he will in no way lose his reward."

From Roy Davison... God loves righteousness and justice

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/045-GodLovesRight.html

God loves righteousness and justice

“For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD” (Psalm 33:4, 5).
Righteousness is the trait of being upright and consistently doing what is good. Job, for example, “was blameless and upright, one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1).
Justice is the enforcement of moral and legal standards and the administration of appropriate discipline or retribution for violations. Discipline strives to improve behavior. Retribution satisfies the just requirement for a fair and adequate penalty.
“The LORD loves justice” (Psalm 37:28).

Love has attendant hate.
“Hate evil, love good” (Amos 5:15). “You who love the LORD, hate evil!” (Psalm 97:10).
Of the Messiah it is said: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions” (Psalm 45:6, 7). [Compare with Hebrews 1:9.]

God hates all workers of iniquity.
“For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man” (Psalm 5:4-6).

Evil must be punished.
“The LORD tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain coals; fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup. For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness” (Psalm 11:5-7).
Because God loves righteousness, His soul hates the wicked. Because He loves justice, He will rain fire on evildoers.
Of course the wicked think this punishment is excessive. In their wickedness, they think evil is not that bad. But evil causes immeasurable harm. Because of this harm, a loving God is obligated to punish evil.

Vengeance and recompense belong to God.
God says, “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense” (Deuteronomy 32:35).
Because God created man with the ability to choose evil or good, evil must be tolerated temporarily. But God will set all things right on judgment day, and there is partial punishment of evil now, both by direct intervention and by governmental justice.
At Christ's return, the wicked will be punished, “Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9).
Governments administer God's wrath, “For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (Romans 13:4).
Christians leave vengeance to God: “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head'” (Romans 12:19, 20).
Because Christians are citizens of a heavenly kingdom (John 18:36; Philippians 3:20) they do not fight or avenge themselves, but defer to the wrath of God. They are ministers, not of wrath, but of reconciliation, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

The wrath of God arises from His love.
God's wrath results from His love for righteousness, for justice and for His children.
Parents understand this. What would your reaction be to someone who molested your child? Absolute indignation, and rightly so.
God's wrath is always earned.

God has destroyed exceedingly wicked people.
Because of His love for righteousness, God limits evil on earth.
God has used catastrophes, such as the flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, to administer justice.
First, however, we must discuss a question that applies to all catastrophes. What about the innocent children who died in the flood? God loved them and they will be with Him in heaven, just like the innocent children who died in the tsunami of 2004. Of little children Jesus said, “In heaven their angels always see the face of My Father” (Matthew 18:10) and “Of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). Also safe in the arms of God will be the millions of babies murdered by their mothers through abortion.
The history of the world shows that God is extremely patient with sinners, but the antediluvians were intolerably wicked! “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).
There were exceptions. Enoch “walked with God” (Genesis 5:22) and warned of God's judgment: “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him” (Jude 14, 15).
In Noah's time he and his family were the only ones on earth who served the Lord! God “did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly” (2 Peter 2:5).
Those who perished were evildoers by choice. God also gave them a final chance to repent. By the Spirit, Christ preached to those who were disobedient “when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared” (1 Peter 3:18-20).
During the 100 years it took to build the ark, the wicked had a chance to repent. When a man spent 100 years building a huge boat on dry land people certainly heard about it and also about his reason for doing so. But they refused to repent.
When God warned the Ninevites that their city would be destroyed, they repented “and He did not do it” (Jonah 3:10).

God uses governments to keep evil in check.
“If you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (Romans 13:4).
Under the Old Testament, God's people had a government that was ordained and led by God (a theocracy). God was the King of Israel (Isaiah 44:6).
God's use of the armies of Israel to wipe out evil nations involved direct commands that were to be obeyed precisely. They were simply instruments of God's wrath. This provides no precedent, because no nations are now directly led by God.
Through the ages, God has used rulers and armies providentially to accomplish His purposes. He used Nebuchadnezzar to punish Israel calling him 'My servant' (Jeremiah 25:8, 9).
God is patient, wanting the wicked to repent: “'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live'” (Ezekiel 33:11). “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
God would not have destroyed Sodom if there were ten righteous people in the city (Genesis 18:32).
But evil can become so extreme that God's love for righteousness and justice mandates immediate intervention.
God promised Abraham that He would give the land of Canaan to his descendents but only after the wickedness of those who lived there was complete. “But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete” (Genesis 15:16).
Moses explained to the people, “It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God drives them out from before you” (Deuteronomy 9:5).
Sins of these nations included adultery, homosexual practices, sexual intercourse with animals and the sacrifice of infants to Molech (Leviticus 18:20-30; 2 Kings 16:3).
Sacrifices to Molech varied from place to place and over time but descriptions by ancient historians [Cleitarchus (300 BC), Diodorus Siculus (90-30 BC) and Plutarch (100 AD)] can be summarized as follows: the hollow image had a human-like torso with a bull's head. A fire was built in a cavity at the belly. Outstretched arms which became red hot were flat and sloped back so a baby thrown into the arms would roll into the fiery stomach. Sometimes the baby was killed first, sometimes thrown alive into the arms of Molech. In that case drums were beaten and flutes played to cover the screams of the infant. Mothers were not allowed to show any sign of grief.
Such extremely evil practices have at times been punished by God with retribution on earth, but what about eternal retribution?

Justice will be done on judgment day.
God tolerates evil temporarily so man has an opportunity to repent, but because of His love for justice, judgment day will set all things right.
In the letter to the Romans, Paul says that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Romans 1:18). Since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) all stand condemned before God.
Through Christ, God provides an opportunity for salvation. “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9, 10). By dying on the cross Jesus paid the penalty for our sins.
Thus, even though God's love for righteousness and justice mandates retribution, His love for humanity (Titus 3:4) moved Him to provide a way of escape that would not violate the just requirement for punishment. “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:3, 4).
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).
“The LORD tests the righteous” (Psalm 11:5). How people react to Jesus shows their attitude to God. People who love God will love Jesus. “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed” (1 Corinthians 16:22). “The wrath of God abides on him” who does not believe the Son (John 3:36).
Many claim to be saved although they do not believe Jesus when He says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16) or “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). The wrath of God remains on those who claim that baptism is not necessary for salvation because they do not believe Jesus and they do not obey Jesus.
To be saved we must obey the gospel (Romans 10:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17). The gospel designates faith, repentance, confession and baptism as prerequisites for salvation (Romans 10:10; Acts 2:38).

What have we learned?
God loves righteousness and justice. God hates all workers of iniquity. Because God loves justice, evil must be punished. Vengeance and retribution belong to God. He will rain fire on the wicked.
God is patient and gives people time to repent, but when they become too wicked, His love for righteousness and justice requires immediate intervention. God uses catastrophes and governments to visit wrath on evildoers. Innocent children who die, go to heaven.
The wicked will be punished when Christ returns. Because of sin, we are all under the wrath of God. Only by faith in Christ, who paid the penalty for our sins, can we be saved. God's wrath remains on anyone who does not believe Jesus and obey the gospel. Amen.
Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.
Permission for reference use has been granted.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

From Jim McGuiggan... COME SERVE ME AND MINE

COME SERVE ME AND MINE

Isn’t it true that so many of our prayers call God to come to serve us and ours? Of course we wouldn’t order him to do it; we’d plead and beg and request, though we’re not beyond a bit of argument aimed at proving to him that he should give us what we ask for. But whatever the tone the thrust is the same. Is that not true? But it’s out of the heart that the mouth speaks its prayers. And how does a heart get to be a heart like that? Is it sheer congenital selfishness? Are we simply bent on wanting what we want and going for it? I don’t believe that! I don’t deny that we’re bent by sin so that selfishness is there in every one of us but I tend to think that we’ve been taught a lop-sided view of God. There’s so much stress on the sugary and wooing note. God is anxiously, even desperately, waiting to answer our every request. He loves each...one...individually,don’t you see, so that as soon as we speak to him he drops everything and gives us his undivided and sweet attention. Einstein must have heard us talk that way because he remarked that Christians are sometimes guilty of colossal arrogance in this area.

Anyone that denies that God loves each individual has no biblical sense. But anyone who thinks that God loves each individual as if he or she wasn’t a particular member of a human family is light years off the mark. Of Christians Paul said, “We are members one of another.” What’s true of Christians at the level of election and life “in Christ” is true of the whole human race at the creation level. We are all his offspring (Acts 17:26,29) and he is the God of every one of us (see Paul’s use of this truth in Romans 3:29-30).

This has profound implications for how we should pray and how we should expect God to answer prayer.

We need to align our hearts and purposes and desires with God’s revealed heart and purpose. It isn’t for us to call on God to make it his business to align himself with our desires. Oh, of course, it is alright to make personal requests; we read that all over the Bible but the mass of scattered references all over the Bible have to be brought into harmony with the central and overarching purpose of God for the human family!

When our prayers as Christian individuals or congregations become habitually self-centred we have forgotten Jesus’ calling us to “seek first the reign of God and his righteousness” and all the other needed things will be added. The prayers that have God’s copper-bottomed guarantee are those prayers that further his kingdom agenda in Jesus Christ.

Let me repeat; there is no wrong in making personal requests, there is no wrong in expressing our immediate heart’s desire [Jesus himself did that in Gethsemane] so we should speak to the Holy Father about such things. But the thrust of our prayers must not be: “God, come and serve me and mine.” Our prayers, shaped by hearts that are being transformed by his Spirit, will be shaped by his call to us: “Come and serve me and my overarching purpose for the human family.”

We’ll do our best not to identify our own reasonable desires with how God should express his kingdom intentions. Before we ask for bread or forgiveness or protection we will pray, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Then we’ll ask for daily bread, for forgiveness and for strength and protection in temptation.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.