You and I cannot ‘demand’
respect. We must earn it. Whether from our family, friends
or business
acquaintances, respect is always something we must earn individually. For
example, an employee may do everything his/her employer requires, but do they
respect him/her?
Only God can demand respect,
but why can He demand respect, but you and I cannot? First of all, He is God.
We are not. He is our Creator. We are the created. Also, He has earned it. For
example, when He stepped out of Heaven and took on our flesh, then died for our
sins upon the cross of Calvary, and then rose from the grave in three days just
as He said He would, HE EARNED IT.
Whether we want to hear it or
not, we have no say in any matter except what our Creator has ordained.
“But
indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to
him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” (Romans 9:20)
Yet, despite all this,
mankind lives on the edge of judgment and destruction by trying to supersede
God. From the time Lucifer said to Adam and Eve, “you will be like God,”
(Genesis 3:5) man still shows utter contempt toward his Creator. Only by God’s
grace has He provided one way we can be forgiven, and that of course is through
Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, the majority
of people today are no different than those of old unless it can be said that
we are worse. Personally I think we are worse, much worse, than those who came
before us, because we have greater access to God’s Word than any of the
generations before us. We have numerous visible signs today of His soon return.
We don’t know the date of His return, but we know it must be very close. We are
the generation He has allowed to understand His prophecies of the end of days.
Again, despite all that, most
people today ridicule His Word, particularly prophecy, His people (the true
Church) and any and everything associated with the one and only God.
Every perverted fantasy of
sinful mankind is being shoved down the throats of those who have been washed
in the cleansing blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The name of Jesus,
as I have said many times before, is being used constantly and consistently as
a curse word. For example, it is getting harder and harder to find a Hollywood movie
that is not laced with pornography, violence and even profanity against God.
What do I mean by “profanity
against God?” I mean that either “Jesus” or “Jesus Christ” will be used over
and over as part of the actors’ dialogue, not to praise Him, but to use His
name as profanity. You never hear them use the name of anyone else … only the
name of God. Plenty of verbs and adjectives will be laced throughout the
filming (I’m sure you know which ones I’m referring to), but only this one name
… the name Jesus.
We as mankind will not get
away with the lives we are living in this 21st century and the
blasphemies we are hurling at God. The day is quickly approaching when it will
be time to ‘pay the piper.’
“Do
not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also
reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he
who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” (Galatians
6:7-8)
“I
have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And
shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an
oath.” (Isaiah 45:23)
“For
it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every
tongue shall confess to God.” (Romans 14:11)
“Therefore
God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and
of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
(Philippians 2:9-11)
Someone may be wondering how
an unbeliever can call God (Jesus) Lord in the last verse. The definition of
‘Lord’ is: someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master
or ruler; an appellation (name or designation) for a person or deity who has
authority, control, or power over others, acting like a master, a chief, or a
ruler.
In other words, every human
being who has ever lived will recognize God the Son (Jesus) as King of kings
and Lord of lords, and all will bow before Him acknowledging Him as God. We who
are saved, willingly and gladly call Him Lord and we share in His love. We
willingly bow before Him, but one day all His enemies will bow before Him and call
Him Lord prior to their judgment. Maybe you don’t think of yourself as an enemy
of God, but if you reject Jesus Christ you are the enemy of God. I can think of
a lot of folks I wouldn’t want as an enemy, but I most certainly would not want
to be an enemy against God.
Grant Phillips
Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html
