In This Issue:
There Can be A Way of Escape
What a Christian Can Miss
Whose Side Are You On?
Volume: 853 April 4, 2022
Theme: Missing Consequences
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There Can be A Way of Escape
Bill Brinkworth
The blessings of God often are poured out on the godly and the ungodly. As Matthew 5:45 reminds us, the sun rises and sets whoever you are. The God-sent rain also refreshes the crops of His children and those of the heathen.
“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:45
Perhaps God’s blessings are to keep all alive as long as possible so that they have an opportunity to be saved from the Lake of Fire’s eternal torment. America has often reaped God’s goodness from all the countless efforts and sacrifices of its missionaries and other godly servants.
However, there have been and will be times that God will separate the godly from the ungodly while he deals with the ungodly’s disobedience to Him.
The ungodly of Noah’s day enjoyed “normal” living for a while when the godly man built the Ark. However, when it was finished, there came a time when the Ark’s door of escape was closed to them (Genesis 7:16). All who were not inside perished in the worldwide flood. God dealt with the ungodly; however, Noah and his family were spared.
Although both Egyptians and God’s people experienced some of the ten plagues God unleashed on their lands, there was a time God only brought some upon Pharoah and his people.
“And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. 23 And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.” Exodus 8:22-23
Egyptians experienced the scourge of flies, but God’s people, Israel, did not (Ex.8:23). Israel was also spared from the plague of the loss of cattle (Ex. 9:6), some believe the plague of boils (Ex. 9:11), damaging hail (Ex. 9:26), thick darkness (Ex. 10:23), and the death of firstborns (Ex. 12:30).
There is also a future judgment that God promised will come one day. Although many believe they can do whatever they want, there will be a time when God will end unrestrained iniquity.
As God spared the righteous in Noah’s and Moses’ day, he will spare His own from that coming judgment. Before the Almighty unleashes seven years of a terrible, destroying tribulation on Earth’s inhabitants, He will call His own Home to Him during the “Rapture.”
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” I Thessalonians 4:16
After the godly are removed from Earth and out of harm’s way, the horrible seven-year Tribulation will begin. God’s judgments will plague all that remain. Earth’s inhabitants will face His wrath as it has never been experienced before.
When God halts the terrifying events, Jesus will return to rule and reign on this Earth for 1,000 years. After that time and other prophecies are fulfilled, this world’s final judgment will occur.
Christ-rejectors will be cast into the Lake of Fire at that judgment, where they will spend eternity! Horrifying! Again, the righteous will not experience that terrible event. As God has spared His own from many terrible judgments in the past, they will not be judged at the frightening White Throne judgment.
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:14-15
There is a time to receive blessings; sometimes, they are the rewards of others’ obedience to God’s commandments. However, God’s patience in sin has often ended as He has judged many for their iniquities. Eventually, a final judgment for sin and rejection of Him will be pronounced on many.
The final judgment day is getting closer! When God’s wrath is poured out on all humanity, will you be there, or will you be spared His anger? The righteous of Noah’s, Pharoah’s, and other periods of wantonness escaped God’s punishment, you can too. Trust Christ’s payment for your sins today without delay.
“You may juggle human laws, you may fool with human courts, but there is a judgment to come, and from it there is no appeal.” — Gifford
What a Christian Can Miss
Bill Brinkworth
Many are convinced that if they become a Christian and live a life as prescribed by the Word of God, they will miss a lot in their life. They are right!
If one lives a life centered on the Bible and abides, to the best of one’s ability, by its teachings and commandments, one will miss a lot that the unsaved will have happen in their lives.
A God-fearing, God-obeying Christian will most likely miss:
- Cirrhosis and other liver diseases from drinking alcohol, as one will avoid the activity that causes much of it.
- Lung cancer from smoking. When a person is saved, the Holy Spirit impresses a person to take care of their temple (their body). Smoking is often one of the habits to go.
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” I Corinthians 6:19 - A broken marriage. If the husband and wife obey God in all areas, the chances of having a successful marriage are great.
- Begging for money. An obedient Christian should be a hard-working employee and has a God that will help him provide for his family and himself.
“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Psalm 37:25 - Having a drug addiction. A God-obeying Christian will want to avoid any substance that takes control of one’s life and, therefore, should want to be far away from taking drugs.
- Deciding to have an abortion. Because of not having sex until married, one will never need to consider killing an unborn child.
- Having to worry about venereal diseases. Because a God-obeying spouse will be faithful to their spouse, most likely, venereal disease will not be experienced.
- … hundreds of other heartaches.
Being a Christian does not guarantee anyone will not have hardships in this life. Sin hurts all. Sometimes innocent God-fearing and God-obeying Christians suffer from others’ involvement in iniquity. However, if one obeys God’s commandments, much of what happens to those that do not follow God’s guidance will be avoided.
Sometimes a now-obedient Christian suffers from the side effects of unrighteousness they were involved in before they were saved or when they were not so obedient. Getting right with God does not mean the scars of sin will go away. That is why God wants us never to get involved with iniquity.
An obedient Christian will want to do what God tells him to do from God’s Word. Most of God’s commandments are to avoid sin. If a Christian stays far from iniquity, his chances of getting hurt from evil-doing are less.
It is wonderful being a Christian. Avoiding some of sin’s side effects is one benefit of being a child of God.
“No sin is small. It is against an infinite God and may have consequences immeasurable.” — J. Taylor
Whose Side Are You On?
Bill Brinkworth
“A Song or Psalm of David. O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.” Psalm 108:1
Psalm 108 starts with a declaration to which all Christians should strive to commit themselves. Christians should make up their minds about whose side they are on. Are they on the Lord’s side or the losing world’s side? They should purpose in their heart to be “fixed” as was David’s and live, serve, and obey what God requires and commands of them.
A large percentage of Christians have not made that commitment. They often vacillate between both sides. They want to be saved, but still do what they did when lost.
Christians are born again (John 3:3) into the winning side. They have a promise of a future with the Lord and can have a relationship with God, who will guide and protect them through this life. Somehow, that does not seem good enough for so many.
Being saved is the most important decision one can make. It will free one from what could ruin one’s life here on Earth and give them a bright, eternal future. Why would anyone not want to be a proud, vibrant Christian?
Too many get confused by the attractiveness of the shiny things available on Earth. They get swallowed up by desiring and striving to get wealth, ease, popularity, and all that they see about them on this planet. However, those “things” cannot follow them into the next life. Getting them may even cost them happiness, freedom, and peace that they could also have in this life.
Christian, you are on the winning side. Read the Bible, especially the last chapters in Revelation. All you see here is temporary. You cannot take it with you into the next life, and besides, God has better plans for you in the future.
Life here is an opportunity to live for the Lord, have Him bless this short life, and receive wealth for your time with Him in eternity. Purpose not to have the same goals as the unsaved that have no joyful eternal future. You are on the winning side; act like it and appreciate the new life God wants you to have here.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Mat. 6:19-21