People are complacent. They have either outright rejected God as fiction or remade God in the image they want… one that loves and accepts everyone without any change or obedience from them. They have created in their mind a God that has no standards of right and wrong and just wants to be recognized in name alone, or perhaps a church service attendance once a week. They dismiss the truth of God as holy… as a judge… as one who holds the eternity of each person in His hand.
Their is no need for anyone to repent. All just assume whatever they are doing or however they act is acceptable to God and “good enough” to get them into heaven. If God is to be feared or judge people, then people say… “I just don’t believe in a God who doesn’t love everyone.” The flaws in this line of thought are limitless. You can choose not to believe in gravity, but it is still there and you will still be affected by it.
1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;
There is no one who does good.
1The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
Just to ensure clarity of understanding, this next verse was spoken by Jesus to those who were listening to His teaching. It was not a message about “those sinners who were not in attendance”. It was a message to the people who came to listen to what Jesus had to teach. It was a message about being a disciple. Even as a disciple, a learner after Christ, He warns us to fear God rather than man.
24“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 25“It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!
26“Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27“What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. 28“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31“So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
32“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33“But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
To fully understand the truth of who God is, do not rely on books written about the Bible, though some may be good tools. Do not rely on sermons from pastors because they teach from a church pulpit, though many are godly men. Seek God personally and directly. Search Him out in prayer and study of the Bible. Challenge yourself to understand what the Bible teaches. To do that you often have to be willing to humbly admit that what you understand, what you have been taught by the churches growing up, what our culture claims is right… may be all wrong or mostly wrong. Pray, seek, study the Bible. Pursue a personal relationship with God as if it is the most important relationship you will ever have… it is. Refuse to be complacent just accepting what is taught and said about God.
—-
Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.