Are we choosing man’s enlightenment above the Lord’s report for our light?
What we believe can cost us the destiny of our eternal life: And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, Hebrews 9:27.
The Bible teaches that we are simply passing through the life we live on this planet, and then . . . our eternal destiny. This is a matter of choice on our part. The LORD God is a gentleman. He gives us choice.
However, what does the Word of God say? Do we have curiosity? What if the report of man is faulty? Are we journeying on a Dead End?
“I don’t believe Christians, they’re all hypocrites,” might be the response. But what about believing God, the Creator of every living thing in this Universe? Will we believe Him? What is His report?
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad 2 Corinthains 5:10.
The Bible proclaims this as truth.
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil John 3:19.
Is this truth?
The Prophet Isaiah asks plainly,
Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? Isaiah 53:1.
The arm of the Lord has been revealed to anyone who has ears to hear. Nine hundred twenty-two times is repeated the phrase, “He who has ears, let him hear.”
Parables were told by Jesus. A parable of the seed falling on different soils, . . . And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” Luke 8:8.
Gardeners understand good soil. Do we have ears to hear?
Hearers of the Word of God are likened to those who build their house on a solid foundation. Who would think to build their house on the sand?
Yet, are we choosing to build our eternal destiny on man’s word above the Word of God?
Jesus says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 2
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” Matthew 7:24-27.
Is this a day of deep darkness? Is there no light to see? Are we willing to open the light of God’s Word? The arm of the Lord is revealed to all who will hear:
” . . . when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him Isaiah 53: 2-3.
Jesus knows this is each of us, yet His arm is held out still.
Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted Isaiah 53: 4.
Does Jesus carry my sorrows?
Do I care for my own pleasures and desires above the holy requirements of God? Sin separates me from His holy presence . . . Does this not break my heart?
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all Isaiah 4-6.
We’ve all gone astray.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us Romans 8:5.
Jesus. Prays. For. Us.
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors Isaiah 53:14.
Do I believe the LORD’s revelation of love to me?
This is what matter most in the life of each and every living soul.
Do we turn on the light of His Word? Jesus stands at the door of our heart. Do we open up to Him today?
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me Revelation 3:20.
As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion” Hebrews 3:15.
“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast” Ephesians 2:8-9.
Thro’ death into life everlasting,
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion–
For more than conqu’rors we are!
His Word shall not fail you–He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.