Choices in life – and for eternity
Rod Smith
October 03, 2008
We all make choices every day. Eat at home or eat out; stay in the existing job or take another one; stay in LA or move to NY; have boiled eggs or fried.
It´s the same for eternity. Jesus offers us the choice of eternal life; we take it or leave it; He offers a daily divine helper; we accept the offer or we don´t.
God does not use pressure tactics. So often in the Bible we read the term "whosoever." "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." "For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but will have everlasting life." Some do, some don´t. There´s a choice before all of us: "If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, if you believe in your heart God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." If is the key word.
It´s if we do it, or if we don´t. The consequence follows according to the choice we make. It is why Jesus told believers to spread the message so that everyone knows what the choices are.
People who have heard but don´t believe have only themselves to blame if they don't enter heaven. No-one would have threatened them.
So often when handing out tracts the cry is heard: "You´re forcing ´religion´ down people´s throats." Not true, and a lie from satan. It´s a simple choice being offered, a presentation of what God says.
It´s the same principle as ads on the TV. The product is extolled and featured and the person watching buys the product or he doesn´t. That is the freedom of a democratic society. It is the meaning of liberty. There is no pointing a gun with finger on the trigger and saying "You must do this, or else…" as in a non-democratic or "police state" society.
The way of liberty is God´s way. The Bible says "Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty." That´s if human tradition doesn´t get in the way of that liberty - as so often happens in some of today´s churches.
So the gospel is a set of choices. Do we choose God´s way or our own way? Do we choose salvation or damnation? Do we choose eternal life or eternal death?
Do we see Jesus as some vague, historical, "religious" figure of 2,000 years ago, or do we see him as the risen and living saviour? Therein lies the choice.
If Jesus were to appear each morning at our breakfast table there´d be no need for faith, right? The divine realm is invisible. If Jesus were to appear, then the divine realm would not be divine. He promises he will appear one day to take up those who believed, but the believing has to come before the taking up. God does not operate in our carnal five senses realm. We believe not by seeing, but by faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God, the Bible says.
So, dear reader, are you going to exercise faith or not?
[For those interested, the next article will appear approximately one month from now.]
It´s the same for eternity. Jesus offers us the choice of eternal life; we take it or leave it; He offers a daily divine helper; we accept the offer or we don´t.
God does not use pressure tactics. So often in the Bible we read the term "whosoever." "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." "For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but will have everlasting life." Some do, some don´t. There´s a choice before all of us: "If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, if you believe in your heart God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." If is the key word.
It´s if we do it, or if we don´t. The consequence follows according to the choice we make. It is why Jesus told believers to spread the message so that everyone knows what the choices are.
People who have heard but don´t believe have only themselves to blame if they don't enter heaven. No-one would have threatened them.
So often when handing out tracts the cry is heard: "You´re forcing ´religion´ down people´s throats." Not true, and a lie from satan. It´s a simple choice being offered, a presentation of what God says.
It´s the same principle as ads on the TV. The product is extolled and featured and the person watching buys the product or he doesn´t. That is the freedom of a democratic society. It is the meaning of liberty. There is no pointing a gun with finger on the trigger and saying "You must do this, or else…" as in a non-democratic or "police state" society.
The way of liberty is God´s way. The Bible says "Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty." That´s if human tradition doesn´t get in the way of that liberty - as so often happens in some of today´s churches.
So the gospel is a set of choices. Do we choose God´s way or our own way? Do we choose salvation or damnation? Do we choose eternal life or eternal death?
Do we see Jesus as some vague, historical, "religious" figure of 2,000 years ago, or do we see him as the risen and living saviour? Therein lies the choice.
If Jesus were to appear each morning at our breakfast table there´d be no need for faith, right? The divine realm is invisible. If Jesus were to appear, then the divine realm would not be divine. He promises he will appear one day to take up those who believed, but the believing has to come before the taking up. God does not operate in our carnal five senses realm. We believe not by seeing, but by faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God, the Bible says.
So, dear reader, are you going to exercise faith or not?
[For those interested, the next article will appear approximately one month from now.]
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