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In the last book of the Old Testament, God commented:
“For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6
In light of today’s preaching and gospel presentations, God should have said, “I am the Lord, but I am going to change and not consume anybody” or “I am the Lord, but I have had a change of heart and everyone is my friend.”
It seems that many of the current religionists have Jesus the Son almost apologizing for God the Father. After all, the God of the Old Testament destroyed all but eight people on earth by drowning them and ignoring their screams for help. Immediately afterward, the God of the Old Testament introduced capital punishment (Genesis 9:5-6.) Not too many chapters afterward, God rains fire and brimstone on two cities because of boastful indulgence in sodomy. He destroyed all but three people (Genesis 19:24.) While our present culture is promoting and protecting all kinds of perversion, God punished it in a hurry. God called such actions “abomination” (Leviticus 20:13) and remember He said, “I change not.”
The same God drowned the entire Egyptian army after having tormented them with all kinds of plagues, climaxing with God killing their firstborn!
Sadists that they were, the Hebrews sang and danced unto the Lord, as they saw the bodies lying dead on the shore (Exodus 14:30.) In that jubilant song, they called God a “man of war” (Exodus 15:3.) Did God’s actions there remind you of a God of love? The answer to that question will depend on which side you are on. The other side says that God hates:
“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19
We keep forgetting that there are two sides.
“A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:8
“Hate the evil, and love the good…” Amos 5:15
The Hebrews certainly saw Him as a God of love because He had delivered them from slavery and oppression. The Egyptians would certainly take another slant on that opinion because He drowned their husbands, fathers and brothers. At the Red Sea appeared love and hate, both in the same package. That is exactly what happened at Calvary. Sin always brings forth death (James 1:15.) Christ did not come to destroy what the Father had established; He came to fulfill it:
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” Matthew 5:17
God demanded a payment of blood; that is why Christ shed His own blood (Hebrews 9:22.) Our salvation cannot happen without the shedding of God’s blood! You can lead an effort to stamp out poverty, cure AIDS, provide more employment, raise the standard of living, share in the wealth, build more hospitals, provide health care for the masses and it won’t get you one inch closer to heaven.
You can also legalize abortion, same sex marriage, ignore God and continue rewording the Bible and it won’t get you closer to hell. All anyone does to get to hell is to ignore Christ and His blood; all anyone does to get to heaven is to believe in Christ and His blood. Just as God did with the Hebrews and Egyptians:
“…when I see the blood, I will pass over you…” Exodus 12:13
No one was forced to apply the blood to the doorposts on the night of the Passover (Exodus 12.) As far as we know there was not a town hall meeting or a solicitation program about applying the blood. God’s orders were simply apply the blood on the top and sides of the door and your firstborn will live, if you do not, he will die.
Jesus Christ said simply:
“…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
You may water down that statement any way you prefer, but it won’t change it. Not only did God the Father say that He would not change, but it is said of His begotten Son:
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8
Christ did not say that He was one of the ways, or a good way, or the best way; He said “I am the way….” If, listen carefully, if there is any other way to heaven, Jesus Christ lied! This is simple fact…it doesn’t take a GED to get it! What is my point? Anytime anyone will accept or preach any other way to heaven than Jesus Christ, they are in very essence, saying that Jesus Christ lied. There are no two ways about it.
It makes no difference what the “any other way” may be. Christ commented:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.” John 10:1
This is where the religionists arguments start. This leaves no room for Mohammed, Buddha, Mary, Joseph Smith, Taze Russell or anyone else.
It makes no difference how reasonable “the other way” may seem; neither does it make any difference if you try to add extra conditions from the Bible Itself, it doesn’t change Christ’s clear statement. You can read all that junk about how we should not fear God, we are just to stand “in awe” of Him. That’s not quite what Jesus said:
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
If you are of the opinion that all people, saved and lost, will eventually end up in heaven, you may want to reread the Bible.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7
If you are one of those people who think you may live any way you want, you should read:
“Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” Colossians 3:24-25
Keep Looking Up!
Leland Maples