Some in our society think
that rules were not meant for them. They’re for the other
guy, and of course
these dear folks usually wind up in trouble if they don’t wise up.
There are always rules that
everyone needs to adhere to, from early childhood (brush your teeth), to the
teenage years (be home by 10:00), to the young adult (you must pay this), to
the old geezers (no passing gas in public).
There are rules at home, at
school, at work, in public, and when you get married there are rules at home
again, just different ones.
Can you imagine the Super
Bowl game without rules? Why, there would be nothing but chaos. Maybe the NCAA
will cancel all rules for collegiate sports this year. Nope, ain’t gonna
happen.
Should there be any rules in
the military? Would you like to have your head blown off? There must be rules,
stringently followed rules, because they save lives.
Did you know that speed
limits are rules that were made into laws? Are they really necessary? Are you
kidding? Speedsters are bad enough on the road with the rules.
God has rules too. If the
planets didn’t obey His rules, we would all crash and burn.
Okay, let’s cut to the chase.
How about where we will spend eternity? Every human being since Adam and Eve is
going to spend eternity in one of two places, Heaven or hell. God has but one
rule about this if we desire Heaven. That’s all He needs, but He’s dead serious
about it.
To make a long story short, God’s
one rule to be with Him is very simple, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and
you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31 NIV)
For a little background, but
still keeping it simple, here’s what the Bible says.
Everyone has sinned. (Romans
3:23)
Therefore, everyone will die.
(Romans 6:23a)
God offers the gift of
eternal life. (Romans 6:23b)
We can’t earn it. (Ephesians
2:8-9)
So how do we get it? (Romans
10:11-13)
It is by faith (Ephesians
2:8-9)
Once we receive the gift, we
cannot lose it. (John 10:27-30)
What if I don’t believe?
(John 3:18)
Is there any other way to be
saved other than through Jesus? (John 14:6)
Isn’t it strange that
regardless of our age, or where we live, we all have rules that we must follow?
Often there are consequences if we violate the rules, and sometimes the
consequences can be very serious. But that isn’t the strange part. The strange
part is that so many people think that when it comes to God, there are no
rules. Actually, the same people think they can make the rules themselves on
God’s behalf, and He will graciously concede.
Look friends that kind of
thinking has sent millions of people to hell and is still doing so today. You
might think you can do it your way (as the song goes), but it won’t work. Your
way will get you in a place called hell of which you will reside for all
eternity. Once you breathe your last breath and you’re in hell, there is no
turning back. There is no second chance. It is permanent. So think about it
real hard.
We obey thousands of rules
everyday of our lives. Think about it. We really do. God has but one for us to
be saved. He made it real simple and very easy. He did all the hard stuff, like
die as our sacrifice to provide this free gift. We can be with Him forever, in
a place of happiness we can’t even fathom, but we must come to Him His way, and
that is through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Probably about now one of
Satan’s little demons is gauging you with something called “pride.”
“In his pride the wicked man
does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” (Psalms 10:4
NIV)
“Pride goes before
destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 NIV)
If you would like to read
something very interesting, read these two passages, Isaiah 14:12-20; Ezekiel
28:1-19. It is God prophesying to Satan about his pride and his downfall. Now
read this passage from Revelation 20:7-10. It tells what happens to Satan on
judgment day. I’ll show verse ten below.
“And the devil that deceived
them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the
false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
Rejecting God’s one rule of
coming to Him by faith through His Son Jesus will bring down the same judgment
that will be Satan’s. Revelation 20:11-15 is the judgment of all mankind that
have rejected Jesus Christ.
So in the end, Satan and all
his fallen angels will be cast into the “lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and
shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10)
All who follow Satan by
rejecting Jesus will be “thrown into the lake of fire,” (Revelation 20:15b) the
same place that Satan and all his fallen angels will be.
Those who follow Jesus as
their Savior and Lord will reap the rewards of Revelation 21 and 22.
It’s just one rule. Are you
going to follow it or ignore it? It’s up to you.
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
