Ezek 18:1-19:14 | PS 106:32-48 | Prov 27:10 | Heb 9:1-10
It sounds so sweet and sentimental when people refer to their mother or father looking down from heaven upon them and helping them along. Sweet and sentimental, but no basis in truth. We have a time on earth to enjoy our loved ones which ends upon the death of that loved one. Hopefully, if both believers, and that is a big "if" there will be a reunion one day in heaven. We are judged for our own actions, and our loved ones cannot help with this. We read in 1 Timothy 2:5, "For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus." We come to Him in a spirit of repentance, we accept His free offer of salvation, and the only Mediator that we need, makes the payment. This is superior to the former system, that we read about in Hebrews 9:8-10, "By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use. This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established." When Jesus died on the cross, the veil separating the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was torn in two and direct access to the father was rendered available through the perfect blood of Jesus.
We often mistakenly believe that we will be judged by our denomination, by our upbringing, by our rituals that we participated in that were done to us by our parents, yet, we read in Ezekiel 18:1-4, "Then another message came to me from the Lord: “Why do you quote this proverb concerning the land of Israel: ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste’? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel. For all people are mine to judge—both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die." Good parents might help lead us down the correct path, but ultimately it is up to each of us to choose our path. In a similar fashion, bad parents might appear to block the correct path, but ultimately it will be up to each of us to reject that path.
We need the entirety of Scripture to get us away from sappy theology, those types of statements that puts a smile on everyone's face but has absolutely no root in reality from a Scriptural basis. God is so clear, please take the time to read and meditate upon His Word. One day we will all come before Him and ignorance will never be an excuse. Realize most despise or take God lightly. They don't hate Him, they just don't really consider Him on a day-to-day, moment-to-moment basis. If we choose to meditate upon Him and His Word we will see clearly, as we read in Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (NKJV)"
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: