Category: Fear Of God

Whatever you desire

“Therefore whatever you desire
for men to do to you,
you shall also do to them;
for this is the law and the prophets.
Enter in by the narrow gate;
for wide is the gate and broad is the way
that leads to destruction,
and many are those who enter in by it.
How narrow is the gate,
and restricted is the way
that leads to life!
Few are those who find it.”
— Jesus, Matthew 7:12-14, WEB

O may we endeavor, by God’s grace, to walk away from the path of destruction, and walk in the way of divine life and love and peace! Loving others as if they are God Himself!

Then is Athanasius against the whole world!

From the book “God’s Pursiut of Man” by A. W. Tozer:

“The way it [the reversal of our nature] works in experience is something like this:  The believing man is overwhelmed suddenly by a powerful feeling that only God matters; soon this works itself out into his mental life and conditions all his judgements and all his values.  Now he finds himself free from slavery to man’s opinions.  Soon he learns to love above all else the assurance that he is well pleasing to the Father in heaven.

It is this complete switch in their pleasure source that has made believing men invincible.  So could saints and martyrs stand alone, deserted by every earthly friend, and die for Christ under the universal displeasure of mankind.  When, to intimidate him, Athanasius’ judges warned him that the whole world was against him, he dared to reply, ‘Then is Athanasius against the whole world!’  That cry has come down the years and today may remind us that the gospel has power to deliver men from the tyranny of social approval and make them free to do the will of God.”

—

“At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
— 2 Timothy 4:16-18

“Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.”
–Ephesians 6:13

“let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, ‘That you might be justified in your words, And might prevail when you come into judgment.'”
–Romans 3:4

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.  From infancy, you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. Every writing inspired by God{literally, God-breathed} is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12-17

“But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof. Turn away from these, also.”
–2 Timothy 3:1, 2-5

Escape for your life!

We know that it is God’s loving desire that “none should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  (2 Peter 3:9)

Yet the sad reality is that many in this dying world will reject the hope and salvation held out to them by God, through Jesus, and will perish in their sins. It is a fearful thing to contemplate that sin and hardness of heart toward God can eventually alienate one from God and result in eternal separation from God (i.e. hell).

“Students of the Scriptures are aware that the Old Testament prophets and the writing apostles of New Testament times foresaw and proclaimed God’s coming day of judgment — the consummate settling of accounts between the Sovereign God and his rebellious and sinful creation. How desperately we would like to believe that in the face of coming judgment, that all lost men and women will cry out to God, but such will not be the case: ‘The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent.’ (Revelation 9:20).” — A. W. Tozer

When the angels came to rescue Lot from the destruction of that wicked city Sodom, Lot hesitated and deliberated. He wasn’t sure if he should really flee. Lot told his family about the warning, that the city was about to be destroyed. But the attitude of Lot’s two sons-in-law was, “Our city will be destroyed? You have got to be joking!!!” They were incredulous and thought it was a practical joke. Lot’s wife may have also been unwilling to leave, because she later looked back with dire consequences.

So there they were, in the city that was their home, being told to leave immediately because the city was going to be destroyed in a matter of hours. Really? Are you kidding me? This is all so sudden.  They could not bring themselves to believe it; they were stuck and could not move. In the end, Lot never left the doomed city by his own volition, but rather the two angels took hold of Lot and Lot’s wife and two daughters and forcibly removed them from city. Note that the sons-in-law never made it out.

When the angels managed to get Lot and his family beyond the city walls, their message was clear and direct and delivered in no uncertain terms:

“Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, or stop anywhere in the whole valley; escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed.” Genesis 19.16,17

If not for a clear, sustained and even forceful intervention, Lot and his family would have perished in the flaming destruction of that wicked valley along with all the sinful and wicked people who lived there in open rebellion against God and God’s ways.

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. “(Hebrews 10.31)

“For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12.29)

“Knowing therefore the fear/terror/dread of the Lord, we persuade men.” (2 Corinthians 5.11)

Even if we never talk about it. Even if we are not sure we really believe in it. Even if it sounds like a bad joke or the bizarre tale of a science fiction writer. The Truth is that hell is very real before God. Hell is the inevitable eternal fate of all those who choose to embrace rebellion against God and unashamedly practice sin.

In the story of Lot, the scripture says that God was being “merciful” to Lot when the angels took him by the hand and dragged him out of the doomed city…

“When the morning arose, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, ‘Arise, take your wife, and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city.’  But while he (Lot) lingered (instead of immediately fleeing), the men (the two angels) seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, for the LORD was merciful to him (Lot); and they (the two angels) brought him forth and set him outside the city and left him there. And when they (the angels) had brought them forth, they said, Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, or stop anywhere in the whole valley; escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!” — Genesis 19.15,16,17

Today we are afraid of hurting someone’s sensibilities by suggesting that God wants to save them from eternal destruction. Even if we believe it, we keep quiet and try to maintain superficial peace, in hopes that perhaps someone else will come along who can say it without giving offense. But the truth is that God offends people. If we understand what the word “God” means, then we know that what He desires supersedes everything that we desire. He is God, and He has the last say in all matters. If He desires that people everywhere escape desruction by coming to repentance for their hard hearts and sin, placing their faith in His Son Jesus, then there is no resisting the eternal purposes and plans of God. That is His reality and there is no alternative; if we want to be saved from destruction, we will be saved only by believing and embracing His reality. His loving and merciful reality.

Oh how I hope and pray that every jeopardized soul would find a loving friend who will take them by the hand and drag them out of hell’s trajectory, and into the everlasting love and mercy of God though the Gift of His Son Jesus.

The reality that “God alone will decide our eternal fate” is real. Hell is real. Eternal lostness for those who resist God and His ways is real. Hell does not go away just because we are not thinking about it, or because we do not “personally” believe in it. Who does not know that some things are greater than and beyond the control of our “personal” beliefs?  It does not matter what we beleive…if our personal beliefs are not God’s Truth.  The personal beliefs of millions are on a direct collision course with God’s reality.

Oh that we would take the time to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom (Psalm 90.12). Oh that we would respond to the merciful and loving voice of God Who is calling us by name, offering us a way of escape from eternal destruction. Oh come Lord Jesus and soften our hearts that we may hear Your voice and embrace You before it is too late.  Condition us for heaven before we become irrevocably unfit to live with You there!

“…when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, giving vengeance to those who don’t know God, and to those who don’t obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus, who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of His might, when He comes to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all those who have believed (because our testimony to you was believed) in that day. To this end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire of goodness and work of faith, with power; that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” –2 Thessalonians 1:7,12

“The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” –2 Peter 3:9

“I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear Him, who after He has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna/Hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him [God].” –Luke 12:4,5

“Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it.” –Matthew 7:13

“Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the Name of the Lord.” –Acts 22:16

“Whoever will call on the Name of the Lord will be saved.” –Romans 10:13

“Jesus answered and said to him, Verily, verily, I say to you, If any one may not be born from above, he is not able to see the kingdom/reign of God.” — John 3.3

“For God so loved the world, that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. –John 3:16,17

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” –Matthew 7:21

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things which I say?” –Luke 6:46

Perverse generation

“For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputes, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world.”
—Philippians 2:13-15

“But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
—2 Corinthians 4:2

“He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”
—Luke 16:15

“Won’t God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them? I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?””
—Luke 18:7,8

“A perverse heart will be far from me. I will have nothing to do with evil.”
—Psalm 101:4

“For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, But his friendship is with the upright.”
—Proverbs 3:32

“But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked: You have grown fat, you are grown thick, you are become sleek; Then he forsook God who made him, Lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. They moved Him to jealousy with strange [gods]; With abominations provoked they him to anger. They sacrificed to demons, [which were] no God, To gods that they didn’t know, To new [gods] that came up of late, Which your fathers didn’t dread. Of the Rock that became your father, you are unmindful, Have forgotten God who gave you birth. Yahweh saw [it], and abhorred [them], Because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters. He said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: For they are a very perverse generation, Children in whom is no faithfulness. They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; They have provoked me to anger with their vanities: I will move them to jealousy with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. For a fire is kindled in my anger, Burns to the lowest Sheol, Devours the earth with its increase, Sets on fire the foundations of the mountains. I will heap evils on them; I will spend my arrows on them: [They shall be] wasted with hunger, and devoured with burning heat Bitter destruction; The teeth of animals will I send on them, With the poison of crawling things of the dust.”
—Deuteronomy 32:15-24

“For their rock is not as our Rock, Even our enemies themselves being judges. For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, Of the fields of Gomorrah: Their grapes are grapes of gall, Their clusters are bitter: Their wine is the poison of serpents, The cruel venom of asps. Isn’t this laid up in store with me, Sealed up among my treasures? Vengeance is mine, and recompense, At the time when their foot shall slide: For the day of their calamity is at hand, The things that are to come on them shall make haste.”
—Deuteronomy 32:31-35

“See now that I, even I, am He, There is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; There is none who can deliver out of my hand.”
—Deuteronomy 32:39

“The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.”
—Proverbs 1:7

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
—Hebrews 10:31

“He said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.” “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David; the Bright and Morning Star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely. I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book. If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.”
—Revelation 22:10-21

“Tell them, As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn you, turn you from your evil ways; for why will you die, house of Israel?”
—Ezekiel 33:11

Ezekiel 33:11 Scripture Song:
http://www.scripturesongs.net/mp3/ss5/11Ezekiel33_11.mp3