No Laughing Matter
No Laughing Matter
By Dennis Huebshman
I tell people that I know God has a sense of humor, because He made me. Also, He made the duck-bill platypus, which comes in a close second. I truly believe our Heavenly Father really does have a sense of humor, but there are some things that are not a laughing matter.
God is tolerant, at least to a point. I am amazed that with all the things of my past, He has allowed me to even exist. Looking around at the world today, I believe the human race is pushing Him way too far. What we are seeing is unprecedented as to the amount and types of evil. How, we ask, can a loving God allow Himself to be “pushed” so far? Why would He ever forgive me of all I’ve done?
Looking at 2 Peter 3:8-10, “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years; and a thousand years as one day. (9) The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise, as some count slowness; but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (10) But (here’s the kicker), the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” (ESV – all emphasis is mine)
That takes us to the end of the Millennial reign of Jesus on this earth; just before God creates a new earth and brings down a new Jerusalem from heaven for the Lord to rule in forever. Prior to the “touch-earth” second coming of our Savior, approximately 6000 years will have passed, and the Father will have witnessed every evil depravity that will have happened. Remember, we see evil and hear of terrible things, but we still only see a small part of it. God sees every act, and has seen everything humans have done since the first sin in the Garden of Eden. No one hides from Him, as Adam and Eve found out.
No wonder that in Matthew 25:41, Jesus said the “eternal fire” was prepared for the devil and his angels (demons). God knows who the author of all evil is, and the time will come when satan will receive full pay-backs. At the present time, God is allowing him certain latitude to deceive whoever he can, but whether or not he will admit it, satan knows his days are numbered.
God did not create us so that He could control our every thought and deed. He gave us “free will” to accept or reject Him and His son Jesus; just as the angels also had “free will”. Satan was the first to fall because of destructive pride (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:11-19), and he was cast down with about 1/3 of the angels (Revelation 12:3-9) that followed him. These are the demons we have today, and will be the terrible influence of the 7-year Tribulation.
The biggest difference between us and the fallen angels, we have a pathway to forgiveness where they do not. Our Savior came to this earth to provide the “perfect” human sacrifice, and all that call on Him will be saved. (Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13) It does not say, “All Except…”; however there is one “except”. That is to deny Jesus, and not repent before taking one’s last breath on this earth. That is blaspheming the Holy Spirit, and thus called the unforgivable sin. During the 7-year Tribulation, taking the “mark of the beast” will also blaspheme the Holy Spirit and will be unforgivable. (Revelation 14:9-11) The angles had been in the presence of the Heavenly Father when they fell, and there is no sacrifice that can change their destiny.
God is not some ancient “person” who is senile and just sitting around all day doing nothing. Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever one sows, that he will also reap.” Isaiah 5:20, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.” Whatever He gave us in His love letter (Bible) has not changed in any way.
God is eternal. He has no beginning and no end. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are a part of the Godhead, and are eternal the same as the Father. Sometimes this is hard to wrap our minds around, but we have to remember God made time for us. (Genesis 1:3-5)
Because Jesus came to earth as “fully human”, it is often overlooked that He was still “fully God”. He did not start His existence in that manger in Bethlehem. John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 17:5, “And now Father, glorify Me in Your presence, with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.” Also, He was not forced to be our sacrifice; He gave Himself willingly. (John 10:18)
Name one other so-called deity in any other religion that offered themselves as a sacrifice for their followers. For them, all sacrifice is to be done by the followers to appease their gods. When the final week of Daniel arrives, and the antichrist is in control, he will demand all worship be directed to him, or be killed. There will be many martyred during that time.
Our God proved His love for us by sending His Son to provide a pathway to Him (John 3:16-18); and this was done while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8).
God loves each and every one of us, and although He is glad that we honor His Son, and strive to glorify Him, we can not count on our “deeds or works” to save us. All our deeds are like filthy rags as given in Isaiah 64:6. Our Salvation was bought and paid for on the Cross by Jesus, and any attempt to “pay” for it on our part is an insult.
What gives the Father pleasure is for us to have faith that Jesus did pay for our sins with His blood. His sacrifice should have been ours to bear. We must believe the fully human Jesus died, while the spirit, or God-part, went immediately to paradise to welcome the first person covered by the covenant of the cross – the thief that accepted Him. On that third day, Jesus was raised from the dead, and sin and death for believers has been conquered forever. He ascended to heaven to prepare a home for us. (John 14:1-3)
When we accept the perfect sacrifice of the Savior and call out to Him for forgiveness, we are by no means perfect and sinless from then on. We do have a pathway for forgiveness when (not if) we do sin – 1 John 1:8-10. Then, when we ask to be forgiven, God sees that we belong to the Savior, and through Jesus, we are pure in God’s eyes.
The down-side; anyone who does not accept Jesus before they take their last breath here can never be purified before God. For all of them, there is a judgment at a Great White Throne (Revelation 20:11-15). Each and every sin ever committed in their lifetimes will be brought out, and there is no forgiveness. There is only punishment paid for by the sinner in the Lake of Fire forever. Satan and his demons will not be persecuting anyone as shown in movies, but will be suffering their own misery. There will be no “partying” with friends, and there will be no light, but a darkness like never experienced on earth. The only place there will be light will be in the presence of Jesus, who is the light.
The best part of all of this; it’s completely yours to choose. You can guarantee yourself a place with Jesus forever by truly accepting Him as your Savior and advocate before the Father. He will not turn anyone away, and there is no particular time or speech for this to take place. Just realize, He is the only Way to the Father and to eternal life. (John 14:6)
There are false prophets and antichrists even today, who will try to mislead you. All religions are not the same, and we do not worship the same God. Also, it’s either Jesus or satan; no other option exists.
Our Jesus will return soon to call His Church (all believers) to be with Him and avoid the 7-year Wrath. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 describes what is called the Rapture, even though that word is not in the bible. When the Rapture takes place, it will be over in less than one second. Only those who accepted Jesus prior to this will rise up to meet Him. We are not given a day or hour, but we are assured it will happen. Our Father would never joke about this. He had to witness His Son going through agony on a cross for us, and He is very serious about who will spend eternity with Him. Call on the Savior today; He has room for you!
Maranatha!