January 21
Gen 42:18-43:34 | PS 18:16-36 | Prov 4:7-10 | Matt 13:47-14:12
We all live in a lost world, though many talk as though all around them are not lost at all. We read in Romans 3:10: “As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous - not even one”. That is straightforward and cannot be misinterpreted, no one means no one. We also know that only the righteous can enter heaven. This means that the most beautiful, giving, humble, person on this earth is still not righteous enough to enter heaven on their own. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.“ Again, notice the words, “No one”. To understand the process, we read in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” So, first, we must all ask ourselves, have we indeed repented and accepted the only sacrifice available to pay for our sins thus deeming us righteous. Second, if we truly love others, are we sharing this message with them. We can’t state we love our family, friends, co-workers, etc. and remain silent knowing all along that one day they will die and enter a domain too horrible to even contemplate. Again, it is not about being “nice”, but about being righteous. To know this and remain silent is the opposite of love. It doesn’t matter if you are uncomfortable, feel awkward, etc., we are talking about the eternal destination of souls.
We read in Matthew 13:47-50, “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Jesus concludes this parable by asking the disciples in 13:51, “Do you understand all these things?” We better ask ourselves, “Do we understand all these things?”
In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) we are told to move forward anywhere and everywhere and to make disciples, training them to know and obey Jesus. Do we? This was not a pleasant suggestion but a commission for all. This was not a mention to see if you have or don’t have the gift of evangelism, this means if you have the Holy Spirit within you, move forward in boldness in your respective, God appointed mission fields. Realize we are simply tasked with warning. None of us can make anyone accept. We read this in Ezekiel 33:6 and 9, “But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths.’”, and “But if you warn them to repent and they don’t repent, they will die in their sins, but you will have saved yourself.” This is not a game or a club to join. These are souls and we need to truly love others enough to introduce them to their only hope.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: