Just to be clear: I don't want anyone to think I see myself as some ‘prophet’ like Isaiah or Jeremiah, nor do I see myself fulfilling some role in God’s kingdom like Noah did. But I sure have my moments when I can identify with some of the ‘weight’ they had to feel at times with the message they had been given to deliver. And what was their ‘message’? - “Judgment is coming!” 

No doubt those three individuals (from the OT) that I mention had their moments of facing opposition, scoffing, and even persecution. I can’t say I have faced any of that given the peaceful setting I live in these days ...typing these out behind a computer screen and then posting online from our house here in sunny California.

But let’s not forget what Jesus told those He commissioned to go preach back in His day. He said you will be ‘taken up and delivered’ to authorities to be scourged...family will rise up against you...and you ‘will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matt. 10:16-22). And guess what? They were sent out by Him to preach the same message He preached...about the ‘kingdom of heaven was at hand’, and that people ‘needed to repent’ (Matt. 10:5-8; Mark 6:12-13)

Were you aware that it is the ‘goodness and kindness of God...that lead us in the direction of ‘repentance’? (Rom. 2:4). You do also know, I trust, that there is a huge difference between a ‘warning’...and a ‘threat’? Go refresh yourself with the exchange found in Luke 13:1-5, where Jesus offered up some sobering insights...and a warning as to what will happen to those who fall short of repenting. That was not a ‘threat’, either.

When I speak about feeling the ‘weight’ of such messages that can come across at times...sounding strong on ‘warnings’ and ‘wrath’ and ‘judgment’... I find myself going back and reading Isaiah 30. There was a strong ‘woe’ pronounced upon the ‘rebellious children’ (1) who were quick to ‘take counsel, but not from the Lord’. And there’s an interesting statement made where God said they tend to ‘trust in the shadow of Egypt’, which is a ‘type’ of the ‘world’ (2-3). You might give some time to ponder what is meant by that, ‘trusting in the shadow’ of the world.

But it’s verses 9-11 that hit close to home as God’s indictment against His people is made known: They are ‘rebellious, lying children’. They have no regards for His law, and say to those who utter the words of God: “Do not teach us about what is right. Tell us ‘smooth’ or pleasant things’. You can even tell us things that are not true...just get off this path about the ‘Holy One of Israel’. It’s easy to rightly conclude that the people were not interested in hearing messages about holiness, righteousness, and godliness. And that was unfortunate for them back in their day, as it is just as unfortunate for us living today. Do you know why? Look what Paul wrote in Romans 1:18 –

“For [God does not overlook sin and] the wrath of God IS (being) revealed from heaven against ALL ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who in their wickedness suppress and stifle the truth (AMP)”. Did you notice the ‘tense’ there as being ‘present’ tense and not ‘future’?.

And what was Paul’s admonition given to Timothy in 2 Tim. 4:1-5?

I realize any kind of talk that centers around ‘wrath’ and ‘judgment’ is not usually the first choice off the menu that people want to hear when they go to church, or take part in any Bible study for that matter; and do you know why...(beside the fact it can be unnerving)? Most NT believers don’t think ‘judgment’ even applies to them today. Many of the ‘gospels’ being preached today have convinced ( or I would say ‘deceived’- 2 Cor. 11:3-4) people that NT ‘believers’ need not worry or fear judgment of sin...because ‘Jesus took ALL punishment for our sins on the cross when He died, including past, present, and future sins’.

Friends...if that is the case, then what was Jesus talking about when He instructed that man to ‘go and sin no more or something worse will happen to you’, in John 5:14? What was Paul talking about in his words to the Corinthians in his first letter to them explaining why some among them were ‘weak, sick, and dead’? (1 Cor. 11:27-32). And dare we even touch on what happened to Ananias and his wife in Acts 5:1-11? Oh, the reason I used ‘deceived’ earlier was because Paul warned us...Let no one deceive you with empty words...for because of such things, the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience’ (Eph. 5:6)

Let me also state for the record, that when any person comes to Jesus in repentance (like the prodigal son did in Luke 15), wholly surrendering their life to Him, ALL of their past sins are forgiven and forgotten and their past is made pure in His sight. And IF...one does sin, they can again find forgiveness when they come to the Father, broken and humbled (James 4:7-10; 1 John 2:1). But this idea that someone who is a ‘child of God’ gets off ‘free’ when they continue to practice sin is a lie born in the pit of hell. You can be sure God will deal with us, just as He always has when His children sin and break His commandments. God has never changed. (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 12:5-14; 10:26-33; Rom. 6:23)

But there is another deceptive teaching that has led many astray, or caused them to ‘grow at ease in Zion’, as Amos suggested (6:1). And it’s this idea that those in the church need not be concerned about any coming ‘judgment’ ...because they will be ‘long gone’ thanks to this ‘rapture’ that will take all of God’s children out of here ...before He ‘lowers the boom’ on everyone else. Now before you hang your hat on that ‘questionable promise’, you might want to take into consideration just who God’s ‘children’ even are, and I would direct you to 1 John 3:6-10; 5:18, and Romans 8:14 and John 10:27. Then, we can wrap up with 1 Peter 4:17 where he said “the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God, and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not OBEY...the gospel of God?” How can ‘judgment’ begin with God’s people... if they are already gone?

Join me tomorrow?