“The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud” (Proverbs 16:17-19).
There seems to be a great number of people that believe they will be going to heaven, simply because they “Believe in God.” That’s just wonderful, but is it correct? There are many that say or are willing to admit they are “Christians” and one must wonder how they are “Christians” when they obviously do NOT follow Jesus Christ.
There are many that will have the proverbial “Family Bible” sitting on a special table, specifically there for this reason, yet…do they ever open the cover and read the contents? Still many others, will come to church every single Sunday and listen to the sermons, but are they willing to put the emphasis of the sermons to daily use?
How many have sat in those pews for years, have heard the call to the altar for salvation and simply watched a parade of people come forward and have never once considered it to be a need for themselves?
And still as yet, how many love to come to church simply because of the “sanctity” of that church, that feeling they get as they walk through the doors, feeling the holiness and then piously sit there knowing the hymns, many of the verses preached in sermons, yet have NO relationship with Jesus Christ?!
Worst yet, how many will drive to church in their Mercedes and BMWs or such, in the $1000.00 suits and dresses, as if church was a contest to see whom has the best of possessions. Never once would you see or even hear of them bringing in street people or the homeless. They have those “missions” for such folks, let them go there with their kind!
I fail to see the Christianity in this. It’s more of a show of wealth than anything close to a humble heart at work for the Lord! If Jesus Christ, who IS God, were to walk here on earth…Where would HE be every day, including Sunday?
As the Word of God asks, “Where is your treasure, for there will be your heart also” (Matthew 6:21).
Argue all you want, the Word of God is the final answer. If you find what I am stating here is an offense to you, then your quarrel is with God Almighty and not me. Just asking, who do you think will win? As I have stated before, WE are the fallen species, WE make all the mistakes, WE are the sinners, WE are the “created” and God Almighty is the “Creator!” Obviously thereis a difference here…agree?
You would be surprised to know how much information is in the book of Matthew! And every single word of this book comes straight from God’s lips and is meant for you and me to listen to.
James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and HE shall lift you up.
Did you notice…it begins with “Humble yourselves”? Now we must ask ourselves, if possessions and wealth are all so important, then why does the Bible say, to humble yourselves….FIRST?
Do you remember the Pharisees andSadducees, and how they treated others? Do you now understand why Jesus Christ was so against them?
Matthew 6:1-4 “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men.
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”
Humility and being humble is the answer to this and many other questions, so then, who is listening? It would appear to me, that the Word of God does indeed have the answers to all our questions, doesn’t it?
HYPOCRISY…is something we all hate, yet as you drive your fancy car to church in all your fancy clothes, what are you telling the poor, the homeless, those who do not have anything?” That you are willing to allow the soiling of your clothes and automobile for the chance to help others? What would Jesus say if HE were sitting in your front seat? Or maybe you have forgotten this:
Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Am I talking here, like I am better than anyone else? Absolutely NOT! I have made my fair share of sinful mistakes, and so now I try and remember what I am here to do. It is the exact same thing that is required of you:
To follow Jesus Christ and HIS Commandments to the best of my ability and if I am messing things up, that I am more than willing to listen for HIMto correct me. Two verses should be heard all the time, The first one is this:
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The Lord God Almighty loves me and wants the best for me, despite my failures. HE is always here, in absolutely everything. Right down to the very smallest part of an atom. All things will be according to HIS perfect will…there is nothing else!
The second verse is:
James 4:14 “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
We have no other choice!
Everything, to include your thoughts are under HIS controlling hand and according to HIS perfect will. The ONLY real and true choice you and I have, is whether or not we wish to follow Jesus Christ!
And that’s that. Being that you only get this ONE choice to make, might I suggest…you really think hard about this…and then make your choice. Your eternal destination will be according to how you choose.
Finally and as I first stated; we are to come before the Lord God…in all humility, in all honesty, giving HIM the honor, glory and thanks, that HE deserves from each of us. Without HIM, we can do nothing! Here it is;
John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”