In the Christian faith, we are taught that each person will one day stand before God and have a discussion of how they lived. A few will argue, make excuses, try to justify, and attempt to present their case before the infinite judge and authority of all things. Many scoff and doubt that they are not responsible for their lifestyle, but for the most part the majority agrees that a day of reckoning is coming. You would think that almost everyone hears about being held accountable that it would generate more interest in knowing God and what He requires. Unfortunately, that seems to be making people run away even more.
When the scriptures speak of recognizing words and deeds, the association between good and bad trees, and the evidence of fruit, most people are offended at the thought of being judged. They also become easily offended when presented with the consideration that kind and sympathetic people are not necessarily sheep in God’s fold. Spiritual discernment is real and one of the reasons the Holy Spirit is to give us insight deeper than our emotions about situations, certain individuals, and especially ourselves. We shouldn’t ignore what’s going on around us, but at the same time, there’s no way to know what’s in another person’s heart.
I was asked the other day what I believe to be the difference between someone who always thinks and talks about the Lord and someone who never mentions Him. It’s true, we have religious laws, doctrines and interpretations of the Bible that are explained by those who are considered experts on what it means to be a follower of Christ, but can Christianity be condensed into one specific lifestyle formula that is identified and measured? according to a certain standard? If we are Christians, will everyone know it? I think so. Christians carry burdens and a common soul weight is to plead for those in need of God. We pray because we love.
When a person is in love with God, he overflows with joy, faith and excitement. A person is attracted and repents when he is convinced by the gospel, surrenders his will, and becomes spiritually born again. They are redeemed through the blood covenant atonement and become a new creation ruled by the Lordship of Christ who fills and controls their lives. We agree that the infinite light and life of God within these individuals illuminates and strengthens the presence of his mercy, compassion and love. So, would it be possible for an individual who has surrendered all he has and is to God, never to say a word about his knowledge? Could someone who took up their cross feel embarrassed or ashamed to talk about the Bible, pray for someone in need, or share what Christ accomplished at Calvary? Indeed no! Jesus was not a secret agent and neither are we.
The world is convinced that paradise is everyone’s default destination, except for a few hideous individuals here and there. This philosophy is without spiritual discipline to understand God’s command that we submit our will to Him. It’s a comfortable worldview that doesn’t want to be told what to do and has the song “I Did It My Way” at the top of the playlist. This rebellious attitude is perfectly content to float on the river and hope that everything works out in the end. It won’t be. God does not sleep.
I’ve said many times that either everyone goes to heaven or hardly anyone goes. What do I mean? If being a nice and decent person is the only requirement, then we have nothing to worry about. Since the Bible is true, we must embrace the reverential fear of God. in fact, this default idea is the reverse. Hell has always been the default since man fell in the garden and that is why Christ is the only hope for those who believe. The confusion is not believing that He means what He says. If we had the desire to search carefully within ourselves, we would find that there are certain lines we refuse to cross when we offer our hearts to God. We rarely consider these hidden reservations because we are afraid to face our guilt and fears associated with our need to change. Denial becomes more manageable over time, and the longer we wait to work things out, the deeper we fall into deception.
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