Did you know we were NEVER MEANT TO DIE, death isn’t really NATURAL AT ALL. “For the wages of sin IS DEATH…” (Rom. 6:23) That’s why Paul tells us, “The sting of death IS SIN, and the power of sin IS THE LAW.” (1 Corin. 15:56) Paul describes death, as a sting, kenteō a deadly weapon.
When God delivered Israel from the bondage of Egypt He said, “You have seen how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself…if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be A SPECIAL TREASURE TO ME above all people…” (Exo. 19:4-6) God’s intention was to introduce His SPECIAL TREASURE to GRACE but the people rejected God’s GRACE, they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but LET NOT GOD SPEAK WITH US, LEST WE DIE.” (Exo. 20:19) They said this because “…they did not believe in God, And did not trust in His salvation.” (Psa. 78:22) So instead, God gave them THE LAW. DEATH instead of ETERNAL LIFE, the LAW instead of GRACE!!! Oh, what a mess we made of God’s perfect plan!
The LORD said through Jeremiah “…My people have committed two evils: They have FORSAKEN ME, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can HOLD NO WATER (emptiness).” (Jer. 2:13) Time after time the people of Israel turned AWAY FROM GOD and made idols to worship. Occasionally they would call on God for help, “…they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And HE DELIVERED THEM out of their distresses.” (Psa. 107:6) It was not long until they were back to disobeying God because, if “…the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is FULLY SET IN THEM TO DO EVIL.” (Eccl. 8:11)
So, God sent His messenger, “…John the Baptist came, preaching and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near…the prophet Isaiah said: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD, make straight paths for Him.'” (Matt. 3:1-3) Then as a result of God’s divine loving nature He, “…so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:16-17) Although many were saved, healed and delivered when they were asked, “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. THEY ALL ANSWERED, “CRUCIFY HIM!“ (Matt. 27:22)
As a result of Peter preaching to Cornelius, a gentile and all his house, Peter said “So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, EVEN TO GENTILES GOD HAS GRANTED REPENTANCE that leads to life.” (Acts 11:17-18)
So, let’s believe God, obey and serve Him WITH OUR ALL…
-Bill Stockham