"Turn and live" declares the LORD GOD
As the New Year approaches I am comforted by the truth that with God “there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17). God does not change. He will not change His mind about me or any other believer since the good He’s purposed towards us is based on neither our goodness nor badness, but is “according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7). God’s kind intentions are further solidified through Jesus’ personal assurance. He said, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Lk. 12:32). Since I am a believer only by the grace of God and therefore a “sheep” of His flock it is permissible for me to personalize the verse by rendering it this way: “Fear not, [Chris DeLuna], for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Therefore even through 2011 “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in [me] will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). “For those who love God” (Rom. 8:28) we can be certain that God will continue to work “all things…together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
As this New Year approaches I am also comforted by His Sovereignty. The earth has made another a full circle around the sun just as God appointed since the beginning of creation. When God created the sun and the moon he said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years…” (Gen 1:14). Even now the LORD actively “upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3), but its days are numbered. The Bible says this present “world is passing away” (1 Jn. 2:17). He who is married to this age will be a widow in the next. God will usher in a new age with a new earth in which “night will be no more. [God’s people] will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light” (Rev. 22:5). Do not be unbelieving. The day of the great divide will surely come. God will forever separate light from darkness, sheep from goats and saints from sinners. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). “Nothing unclean will ever enter [the Kingdom of Heaven], nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. 21:27). How about you? Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life?
Unbeliever, unless you repent this is your fate. If you die in unbelief you will immediately be ushered into hell, but in due time hell will give you up so that you may appear at “the Great White Throne” (Rev. 20:11). Your entire life will have been recorded in "the books” (Rev. 20:12). Jesus’ word will prove true for he said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matt. 12:26). You will especially answer for having derided God and His people, the church. Jesus takes every infraction against his church personally. Like any good and honorable husband Jesus protects and defends his wife’s honor because He loves his bride, the church, as his own body (Eph. 5:28). This is the attitude in which Jesus confronted Saul of Tarsus when Saul was “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1). Notice how Jesus phrased the question to Saul. "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" (Acts 9:4).
God the Judge will take His seat at the great white throne, the books will be opened and you will be judged according to what is written in the books. God will swing his gavel for the final time and formally consign you to “the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:14) for eternity, but why suffer such a fate? As the Lord has previously pleaded he continues to do so even today saying, “Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel?” (Is. 1:5). As he pleaded with Israel before He pleads with us too, “Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live" (Ezekiel 18:30-32). Do you not know that God’s sword is always sharpened? He has “bent and readied his bow; he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts” (Ps. 7:12-13) so that he is always ready to “repay those who hate [Him]” (Deut. 32:41). “God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day” (Ps. 7:11). “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” (Heb. 2:3). We will indeed not escape if we neglect salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Turn to Christ and live!
As this New Year approaches I am also comforted by His Sovereignty. The earth has made another a full circle around the sun just as God appointed since the beginning of creation. When God created the sun and the moon he said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years…” (Gen 1:14). Even now the LORD actively “upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3), but its days are numbered. The Bible says this present “world is passing away” (1 Jn. 2:17). He who is married to this age will be a widow in the next. God will usher in a new age with a new earth in which “night will be no more. [God’s people] will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light” (Rev. 22:5). Do not be unbelieving. The day of the great divide will surely come. God will forever separate light from darkness, sheep from goats and saints from sinners. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). “Nothing unclean will ever enter [the Kingdom of Heaven], nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. 21:27). How about you? Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life?
Unbeliever, unless you repent this is your fate. If you die in unbelief you will immediately be ushered into hell, but in due time hell will give you up so that you may appear at “the Great White Throne” (Rev. 20:11). Your entire life will have been recorded in "the books” (Rev. 20:12). Jesus’ word will prove true for he said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matt. 12:26). You will especially answer for having derided God and His people, the church. Jesus takes every infraction against his church personally. Like any good and honorable husband Jesus protects and defends his wife’s honor because He loves his bride, the church, as his own body (Eph. 5:28). This is the attitude in which Jesus confronted Saul of Tarsus when Saul was “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1). Notice how Jesus phrased the question to Saul. "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" (Acts 9:4).
God the Judge will take His seat at the great white throne, the books will be opened and you will be judged according to what is written in the books. God will swing his gavel for the final time and formally consign you to “the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:14) for eternity, but why suffer such a fate? As the Lord has previously pleaded he continues to do so even today saying, “Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel?” (Is. 1:5). As he pleaded with Israel before He pleads with us too, “Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live" (Ezekiel 18:30-32). Do you not know that God’s sword is always sharpened? He has “bent and readied his bow; he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts” (Ps. 7:12-13) so that he is always ready to “repay those who hate [Him]” (Deut. 32:41). “God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day” (Ps. 7:11). “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” (Heb. 2:3). We will indeed not escape if we neglect salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Turn to Christ and live!
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