Prodigal’s choice
July 16, 2011
Nothing could change the fact that the prodigal son had been born into his father’s family. But the son chose to leave home and go waste his life in a far country.
The son never quit being a son; the father never quit being his father. Happily, the son eventually chose to come home and be restored to his father’s love and grace.
But he could have chosen to stay in the far country. And die there.
Also headed to hell …
February 14, 2010
Those who do not know God are not the only ones headed to everlasting destruction.
2 Thessalonians 1:7b-9
“… the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” (NASB)
If I read this correctly, there are some who do know God but do not obey the Lord. Reminiscent of Jesus’ saying there are some who call him Lord but will not enter heaven because they do not do the will of the Father. (Matthew 7:21-23) The Matthew passage only says the “lawless” ones will be told to “depart” from the Lord, but this passage is clear that their destiny is hell.
What percentage of our church members — even among regular attenders — falls into the category of knowing God but not obeying Jesus’ commands?
No one else to blame
December 12, 2009
Rebellion and disobedience bear serious consequences for the believer. On that there is no disagreement.
In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul reminded the believers that the Hebrews in the wilderness had miracle upon miracle to encourage them and they drank from the same spiritual rock that quenched the Christians’ thirst: Christ himself. (vv.1-4) “Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.” (v.5)
Paul didn’t mention the severe consequences for no reason. “These things happened as a warning to us ….” (v.6) “They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.” (v.11) And more to the point: “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” (v.12)
Paul goes on to say that the temptations we face are no different from what others experience. But God is faithful and gives us a choice. We don’t have to make the same mistakes others make because the Lord sets a limit to the temptation so it will not be more than we can stand. On top of that, when we are tempted, he shows us a way out so we can endure.
That way, when we insist on choosing rebellion and disobedience, we have no one to blame but ourselves for the consequences we suffer.
