November 23 Need to Know

Revelation 21:8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars –  their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
 
WHO wants to read of the immoral,  burning sulfur and second death after reading the previous scripture of God’s triumphant, eternal victory? Isn’t it good to keep our eyes and mind focused on God’s life promises?
    Yes it is. The Lord promises eternal life to all who believe unto the very moment he descends from heaven to reclaim all creation. This is the sure life hope Jesus taught us: Mark 16:16a “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”  
    But then we must see Jesus’ complete teaching: Mark 16:16b “But whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Also, three times the gospels record Jesus’ warning and affirmation: Matthew 24:13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.  
    It seems in many ways, Jesus’ church across the globe has forgotten about sin. Trying to please the world, too many preachers reject the Word. Eternal torment, a lake of fire and the second death – the eternal death in hell – are seen as preaching “fire and brimstone”. And “we’re not that kind of church”, preachers say. And who wants to hear that in church? Isn’t church a place to feel good?
    But it’s true, isn’t it? If we do not see and grieve the sin in our lives, we will not repent. If we do not see sin in our lives, we will have no use for a Savior. The cross becomes meaningless. We replace God’s sovereignty with our own pleasure. After all, God loves. He will let us choose our own way to heaven, won’t he?
    Such thinking is idolatry. Yes, God is love. And God also is holy. He is the Alpha and Omega. We are not. We are sinners born as enemies of God. Dead in our sins, we have no means to eternal life until God resurrects our souls into the kingdom of God. When we hear his voice to spiritually, “Come up here!” (Rev 4:1) and, “(Your name) come out ( of the grave)!” (John 11:43) we must celebrate and rejoice the Savior has spoken! For it is his way alone that will keep us from the eternal lake of fire. You can thank God he has taught us these true words:
    John 3:5-10 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
    Preaching the full gospel is not a preacher’s “fire and brimstone” judgment. Preaching the gospel is a preacher’s love to awaken the world to sin’s reality, sin’s penalty and sin’s salvation in Jesus Christ.  
    Why would anyone refuse to speak such good news?
 
Prayer: Teach us Lord to speak the entire truth of your gospel. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:14) Amen.