As I was reading 2 Timothy 4:18 this morning which says: "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen," this thought went through my head: I may be dead, but I'm not lost.
BarbTalk:
Paul wrote this when he knew his time was short on this planet. He had been beaten many times, shipwrecked, thrown in jail, had nothing, yet his viewpoint never changed. He was sure of the One who held his life. His words are recorded in 2 Timothy 1:12: "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day."
As I have been reading the scriptures daily, I am more and more aware that the time is short. Then I read this news article this morning: "Muslim Mob Attacks Christians, Parades Naked Elderly Woman." I understand from the article, that several homes were torched, and this woman was beaten and stripped and paraded around the area, because her Christian son had an affair with a Muslim woman. I do understand the furor, and the humiliation, and I do understand that some believe so strongly in what is right and wrong that they feel their actions are justified. I don't have an opinion about that. It just reminds me that times are short, and that we can't expect to sit around our dinner tables and not have this kind of opposition face us here in our country as well.
In whom does our faith lie, and how does our mind respond when we read this? Could this happen to me? Could this be the punishment that people deserve for such activity?
In God's eyes, sin is that bad. Adultery is that bad. And people are that bad. God knows all and sees all, does He just look the other way when we do things against His law? No, He can't, and He doesn't. He sent His Son Jesus to take the penalty for our wrongdoing. Yes, it's that bad. Yes, our behavior deserves death.
Maybe we think that this is primitive thinking. Maybe we think that no one should suffer that kind of wrong when they do wrong things. We need our minds renewed about that. When we offend God, He pronounces a death sentence, just as these people did in the article mentioned above. The only way we can have our record expunged, is to ask for Mercy from God and to agree with God that Jesus has taken our punishment. Then, and only then, are we free from condemnation.
I know that it is not my job to give punishment when people sin against God. I think that it is His work, not mine or anyone else's. That does not, however, remove the penalty. Something has to be done. I am sure there is horrible outcry about what the people did in the article. But no one will condemn the son and the woman for the affair. We just don't think it's that wrong.
I know that explaining this viewpoint could bring persecution to me. We think we are so advanced. I'm not. I still believe sin is sin is sin. I still believe in a God who has provided a way to give us freedom and to be rescued from the power of sin. In the end, I know my life is in God's hands. Things may happen to me, BUT, I have been found in Him, my life is hidden in Him, and no one can remove me.
I may be dead, but I'm not lost.
BarbTalk:
Paul wrote this when he knew his time was short on this planet. He had been beaten many times, shipwrecked, thrown in jail, had nothing, yet his viewpoint never changed. He was sure of the One who held his life. His words are recorded in 2 Timothy 1:12: "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day."
As I have been reading the scriptures daily, I am more and more aware that the time is short. Then I read this news article this morning: "Muslim Mob Attacks Christians, Parades Naked Elderly Woman." I understand from the article, that several homes were torched, and this woman was beaten and stripped and paraded around the area, because her Christian son had an affair with a Muslim woman. I do understand the furor, and the humiliation, and I do understand that some believe so strongly in what is right and wrong that they feel their actions are justified. I don't have an opinion about that. It just reminds me that times are short, and that we can't expect to sit around our dinner tables and not have this kind of opposition face us here in our country as well.
In whom does our faith lie, and how does our mind respond when we read this? Could this happen to me? Could this be the punishment that people deserve for such activity?
In God's eyes, sin is that bad. Adultery is that bad. And people are that bad. God knows all and sees all, does He just look the other way when we do things against His law? No, He can't, and He doesn't. He sent His Son Jesus to take the penalty for our wrongdoing. Yes, it's that bad. Yes, our behavior deserves death.
Maybe we think that this is primitive thinking. Maybe we think that no one should suffer that kind of wrong when they do wrong things. We need our minds renewed about that. When we offend God, He pronounces a death sentence, just as these people did in the article mentioned above. The only way we can have our record expunged, is to ask for Mercy from God and to agree with God that Jesus has taken our punishment. Then, and only then, are we free from condemnation.
I know that it is not my job to give punishment when people sin against God. I think that it is His work, not mine or anyone else's. That does not, however, remove the penalty. Something has to be done. I am sure there is horrible outcry about what the people did in the article. But no one will condemn the son and the woman for the affair. We just don't think it's that wrong.
I know that explaining this viewpoint could bring persecution to me. We think we are so advanced. I'm not. I still believe sin is sin is sin. I still believe in a God who has provided a way to give us freedom and to be rescued from the power of sin. In the end, I know my life is in God's hands. Things may happen to me, BUT, I have been found in Him, my life is hidden in Him, and no one can remove me.
I may be dead, but I'm not lost.
RSS Feed
