There was a old man who thought that he was going to go to hell and party with all his friends. He bragged about all his illicit conquests as a younger person, laughing about the sin he loved.
While relaying his wicked life to my husband, my husband asked him where he thought he would go when he died, heaven or hell. The response of the old man was that he didn't care, he had friends in both places, it didn't matter.
He said that he preferred hell because that's where all the fun would be. Then the old man asked my husband where he thought the old man would go, my husbands reply was, "hell of course."
My husband had a customer and had to turn away momentarily to serve, when he turned back around to say more, the old man was walking angrily away, hobbling along on his cane as fast as he could go, while shouting profanities.
Hmmm! What made the old man angry at my husband's response? The old man said he didn't care where he went, that he had friends in both heaven and hell, but he preferred hell where he thought the party would be.
What my husband had witnessed was a man who knew that hell was not preferable or he would not have been angry at the suggestion that he was going there. Not only was the man rebellious, he was lying, he knew that hell was a terrible place, didn't want to go there, but in his rebellion he verbally denied what he knew to be true.
There is a part of every human being that knows there is a God that controls everything and they know there is a heaven and a hell.
Romans 1:20 "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse."
I do not believe in such a person as an atheist, God says, "only a fool says in his heart....no God." Psalm 14:1
The atheist is not truly believing there is no God, he is deliberately choosing to say no to Him. Fighting to resist the God He knows exists, he pretends that He has no power over him. After all, isn't this what the devil said when he rebelled, "I will be like God."
Those who claim to be atheists are as little children fighting to have dominance over God and everyone else. It is going to be an eye opener on the day they will bow their knee, whether they want to or not, to a God that will throw them into the lake of fire. Where will their control over their own destiny be then?
Romans 14:11 "For it is written, "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD."
God offers us an eternity with pure love being cared for deeply by God Who created us, or hell if we resist Him. Why would anyone resist Him, He gave His own life, will give those who love Him an eternity with nothing but the best of everything and do it forever, only a fool would reject this to have their own way in this short period of time on earth, while missing the blessings of eternity.
Are atheists fools? You betcha!!!
1 John 1:9
"9 IF we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
God will not cleanse us of our sin if we refuse to admit it. He will allow us to keep getting worse until we are at the bottom, ready to admit and confess, desiring to be cleansed by Him.
Most people will not turn from their sin when everyone in their sphere of influence accepts them without challenge. When there is companionship and friendliness no matter what they do, they become solidified in their sinfulness, the longer they are in this state the longer it takes for them to repent. Often they never repent, while their life experience is nearly impossible to get out of, they remain in misery their entire lives, and partly because no one cared to address it openly.
The apostate church is full of these people, they glory in their wickedness, proud that they can get away with it. The church that does not address the sin will be held accountable one day for their negligence toward God and toward the sinner.
1 Timothy 5:22
"Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin."
The longer they remain in their sin, the more people ignore it, refusing to address it, the harder the heart becomes for the disobedient and rebellious individual.
God never forces anyone to obey Him, but He will allow us to wallow in our sin until we get tired of it, with all its pitfalls, perhaps even becoming physically ill as a consequence. The purpose of all this misery is to help the sinner realize their need for Him, so that those in sin will want to know the cure to their sin sick soul. Those who will not point out the sin and administer discipline are helping the sinner to continue down a road that will destroy them, and perhaps eventually cause a hardened heart, this is not love.
Another reason for turning one over to the devil to be buffeted, is so that others in the body will fear the consequences of sin and avoid it. It is helpful to others to see the rejection of the one who will not turn from sin. Peer pressure has been an effective way to help others to think before they indulge in evil. The fear of rejection and the fear of consequences are wonderful deterrents to dangerous habits. God uses rejection to redirect His children, He will not hear our prayers while we remain in sin, He will not help us as long as we refuse to obey Him.
John 9:31
""We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him."
Psalm 66:18
"If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;"
1 Peter 3:7
"You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so THAT YOUR PRAYERS WILL NOT BE HINDERED."
In the 1 Corinthians passage we see that someone is sinning and Paul rebukes the whole gathering for thinking they are being kind by allowing it without challenge. This is the state of our churches today. They mistake tolerance for sin, as love for the sinner, when in fact it is not kindness at all but selfishness. Those in the body wanted to feel good about themselves, rather than realizing the long term effect of sin on the one who is in disobedience, and the long term effect on the entire body of Christ. We see from the state of our apostate churches today that the more we tolerate, turn a blind eye to and even comfort those in sin, the more sin grows. It has grown to such a degree in the apostate church that more than half the church attendees are in visible sin in one form or another and comfortable.
1 Corinthians 5:1-13
"5 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife.
2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.
3 For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?
7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.
8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;
10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?
13 But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves."
1 Timothy 5:20
"Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning."
Titus 1:13
"This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,"
2 Corinthians 7:10
"For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death."
2 Corinthians 12:21
"I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced."
There are many in the church now who are living in sin, doing it in pride completely comfortable with it and influencing others to be comfortable with it, thereby causing a firestorm of sin enveloping the church.
Those who will not point out sin have no backbone, they fear man rather than God. Their allegiance is to man rather than God, because of this there no longer remains love in the church. Whatever anyone wants to do is fine with these people because they do not love.
Acts 5:29 "But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men."
Proverbs 29:25
"The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted."
Both Greatest Commandments are being violate in these gatherings!
Matthew 22:36-40
"36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 This is the great and foremost commandment.
39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
When self is on the throne, it is not possible to help anyone in a godly way, when self is on the throne, it is impossible to love the way God told us to love.
Think about it!
There is only one sin that separates us from Christ, and that is the sin of not believing in Him.
Acts 16:31 "They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household."
Romans 10:9 "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;"
Galatians 6:14 "But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
2 Corinthians 5:21 "He hath made Him [Jesus, Who knew no sin] to be sin for us . . . that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him”
Hebrews 9:22 "And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name”
Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Do more research and you will find many more verses like this and you will find the character of God that proves His love for us, He provided for us completely, no holes no work we have to do to become born again. What amazing love!
Proverbs 15:1-5
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
15 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,
But the mouth of fools spouts folly.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline,
But he who regards reproof is sensible."
The tons of bricks that were piled on my back for many years, have been lifted, I have heard from the Lord and He is healing in wonderful ways. I am not referring to physical healing, although that it happening too, but emotional healing. For many years I had to depend entirely on the Holy Spirit, which is where God wants me to be, sometimes the battle was intense while fighting the darts of the devil. He used people who wanted to destroy me, narcissists who had only one thing in their mind and that was to control me through demeaning and disrespect.
For years I have been battered by narcissistic people, those who wanted me in their life for one reason only and that was to control me. They used manipulation, fierce language, dismissiveness and the tactic of ignoring me entirely when I could not go along with their whims.
These people judged me, not on sinful behavior but my personal beliefs. They never desired to learn why I think as I do, or discover my motives, they were concerned solely with the fact that we disagreed. In the mind of the narcissist, there is no room for any belief other than theirs. They will bludgeon anyone who stands up to them with boldness.
As believers we have to learn to go with God even when those who claim to be Christians bring in false doctrine and man made rules to mold us into their image, rather than seeking Christ to become more Christlike.
I am deeply blessed that my husband is on my side in this, realizing that for years I have been battered, he is solidly with me in our resolve to live for Christ. Far too many people live for everything else but Christ. They will stand firm with family in order to keep family in their life, while negating God and His principles to maintain worldly relations.
When we must have family above all else, we cannot be sold out to Christ. God has clearly shown us in His word that we are to go with God, leaving behind family who refuse to learn and attempt to work ruin in our lives because of their ungodly mindset. AND, yes, I am speaking about family who claim to be believers, but mock us, demean us and refuse instruction or correction.
Luke 14:26 ""If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple."
I write a lot about this subject because it is the condition of our world, if we do not understand what we are dealing with, we may give into to the ungodly for the sake of peace. I am here to tell you that we have actually been commanded to get away from these people in order to walk with God.
Matthew 10:16-25
"16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,
22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household."
"2 Timothy 3
Perilous Times and Perilous Men
3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
The good news is that we can walk with godly people, our circle will be small because there are not many left, but one good friend is all we need, and that friend is Christ.
John 15:15 ""No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."
God has instructed us not to remain friends with those who cause divisions, manipulations and turmoil. We are to become separated from non-believers who will not repent and trust Christ and we are to separate from believers who walk disobediently to the Word, while working to malign our walk.
Proverbs 26:21
"Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife."
God is deeply concerned with the quality of our relationships, we are not called to remain in every relationship, even if those involved who claim to be believers. A profession of Christianity is not necessarily proof of a born again status. When someone is born again and works ruin among the brethren, we are to pull away from them too.
Titus 3:10-11
"As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned."
Notice in verse 5 of 2 Timothy 3, God commands us "from such turn away." We are in disobedience when we remain in the company of those who are trouble makers. They will keep our focus on all the drama instead of on Christ. In Titus 3 we are commanded to "have nothing to do with them."
Here is a description of what the body of Christ should look like;
1 Corinthians 1:10
"10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment."
1 Corinth 12:25-27
"25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it."
If there is a disagreement, we are to respectfully go to the word and prayer to resolve it. Those who have already been told the answer need to hold their ground lovingly, firmly and boldly.
When we obey God, telling the truth boldly, standing our ground and encouraging the one who causes division to repent, one of two things will happen, they will either repent and be restored or they will run away. When unrepentant trouble makers run away it is a blessing for them to leave, but it is even a greater blessing that they repent and be restored. However, let me warn you, in these last days of apostasy, there is a greater chance they will merely leave.
Proverbs 28:1
"The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion."
We are living as in the days of Noah, when everyone did what was right in their own eyes and no one would listen.
Praise the Lord we know the end of these things, when this life is over our reward awaits us, a home with nothing but pure love in the presence of our Savior is in store for us. How could we ever be intimidated by this wicked world when we know all this. Hallelujah!!!!
Proverbs 15:32-33
"32 He who neglects discipline despises himself,
But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.
33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility."
Proverbs 15:1-5
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
15 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,
But the mouth of fools spouts folly.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline,
But he who regards reproof is sensible."
