Only The Lord Is Worthy
Only The Lord Is Worthy
By Dennis Huebshman
“As a result, God exalted Him, and gave Him the name that is above every name, (10) so that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow – in Heaven and on earth and under the earth – (11) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11 – emphasis mine)
In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow to a large golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up just outside Babylon. The king had declared that everyone would bow and worship this “god-image” or be thrown into a fiery furnace. He challenged them and in verse 15 asked them, “who is the God who will deliver you from my hands?”
In Daniel 3:16-17, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. (17) If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image you have set up.” Not only were they spared, but the king saw a 4th. being in the fire with them. It is believed this was the preincarnate Jesus
In Daniel 6, we have another king, Darius, that had an ego moment. Members of his cabinet got him to sign a decree that no one could “petition” any other god or man for 30 days. They knew Daniel prayed three times every day to the Lord God Jehovah, and were jealous of his righteousness, and they could find no fault in him. Even though Daniel knew of this decree, he continued praying as he always did at an open window that faced toward Jerusalem. When the evil ministers reported to Darius that Daniel had violated the decree, the king had no choice but to cast him in a den of lions. He realized then that it was a foolish decree, but according the law of Medes and Persians, it could not be revoked.
As it turned out, Daniel had a very peaceful night with God’s lions; but Darius did not sleep at all. In the end, the evil ministers and their families were cast into the same den, and this time, the lions did not hold back. All of the accusers were killed.
In Acts 4:18-20, Peter and John were warned by the religious leaders not to be using the name of Jesus. Peter and John responded, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you must judge; for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
These are just a few examples of people who were threatened, even with their very lives, because they believed in, and had faith in the Lord. For these particular instances, God protected them. Fiery furnaces, lions and religious persecution are no match for our God. Gabriel told Mary in Luke 1:37, that nothing is impossible with God.
First, we must understand that Jesus and God are One (John 10:30). God created the world for us, therefore, He is in complete control over it. In John 16:33, Jesus told His disciples, “I have said these things to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulations. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” After all, Jesus and the Holy Spirit were there with the Father at the creation.
Until Jesus actually rose from the dead, his “faithful followers” still had doubts about Him. At His arrest, we’re told all fled from Him (Mark 14:50). His betrayer, Judas, never actually repented, but killed himself in shame. Peter denied Jesus three times, but in the end became a major advocate for the Savior.
In Acts 4, by standing up to the religious leaders, Peter showed a boldness that definitely was not there before the resurrection. He stated in verse 12, “And there is no other name under Heaven, given by men, by which we must be saved.”
With the exception of John, all the disciples were martyred. Stephen, the first recorded martyr for the risen Christ, followed Jesus’ example and asked that those stoning him be forgiven. Before he died, Stephen said he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55-56) That gives us hope that when a believer leaves this earth in death, the Savior is there to personally welcome us Home.
Believers have a hope for our future that the secular world does not. We are not satisfied here, as we’re not home yet. Either by death here, or being taken up in the Rapture, our satisfaction will finally be complete when we are with Jesus. Jesus bought us with His precious blood, shed for all of us at Calvary. All who would call on Him to be saved will be accepted. Those of this world, and therefore servants of satan, will never have this peace. They face an eternity of separation and misery that will last in the Lake of Fire forever. To not accept the sacrifice and the Savior that gave it is the same as rejecting God, and is the unforgivable sin.
To receive salvation, one must believe that Jesus came to earth for the sole purpose of rescuing us. His sacrifice was not forced upon Him as He gave His life willingly. (John 10:18) For us to be saved, we must believe His blood covered all our sins, and we must confess we are sinners. (Romans 3:23) When God raised Him from the dead, sin and death were conquered once and for all. When we accept His sacrifice, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us, and we have become a child of the Savior, destined to be with Him forever.
Jesus was the only “human” to have ever lived that could be worthy of being the perfect sacrifice, that could ever be acceptable to the Father. He is also “fully God” who freely gives this gift of eternal life to all who will truly accept Him. We cannot buy or earn our salvation, and we definitely do not deserve it. This is why, those who reject the free gift will have chosen to be apart from Him forever.
Today, we have open worship of satan. If someone hasn’t repented by the time they take their last breath here, they will spend eternity with the Prince of Darkness in the final hell as given in Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10 and Revelation 20:11-15. There is no escape or pardon from the Lake of Fire; and no reduced sentences. It’s forever, contrary to what some false ministers are saying.
Likewise, all who accept Jesus will be with Him in Heaven forever. Jesus Himself will prepare a place for us as given in John 14:1-3. He is the “straight and narrow Way” given in Matthew 7:13-14; and the only Way to the Father. (John 14:6)
He will be coming soon to call all believers up to meet Him in the air. The dead in Christ will rise first, followed by those who are still living. Secure your eternal home with Him by asking Him to be your Savior. (Romans 10:9-13) To wait another day may just be too late. One of satan’s most famous lies is “You have plenty of time.”
Once the Rapture is over, which will take less than one second, it will still be possible to come to the Savior, but the way will be much more difficult. Many will turn away from him to save their lives here. He’s waiting for your call right now. Please don’t hesitate.
Shalom!