“And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.” (Rev. 10:10)
There are no words written that are as comforting as the Scriptures, no positive emotion within us that is not touched by them, nothing but the Word of God can lift our spirits up to eternal praise, glorying in His eternal love for those He has called to Himself. They are as honey to us.
But not all of them go down so well, do they? Not everything we read in the Scriptures sits well in our stomach, in our soul.
“And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 13:50)
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matt. 25:41)
Initial responses and end results, two entirely different concepts.
I have found over the years that few who serve the Living God care to discuss those bitter subjects, love, care and compassion, not only from the Lord of Glory, but towards those we meet, that we speak to about Him are preferred. Eternal peace, joy indescribable, pleasures forevermore. Those are the topics we concern ourselves with, not eternal suffering, pain for all time, suffering of both mind and body without end.
And so, we speak to them of His love, but not His wrath that abides on them today, we tell them of His desire that all should call upon Him for the salvation of their soul, but not what will happen to them if they do not. The words of truth that in faith we believe are bitter to us at times, and so many will only reveal that singular side of the Savior. Sweet as honey, beyond comparison with what He offers and promises to those that believe in Him, trust in Him and what the Word of God tells us of the only way to the Father.
Not the One who will sit on that Great White Throne of Judgment and cast them into eternal darkness, not the One who made a whip before entering into the temple, not Him who promises eternal suffering to those who deny Him.
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” (Eph. 4:15)
The pendulum has swung back to the other side in our days my friends, never judge, not even with righteous judgment, take every precaution to never offend, not even with the truth of His words. Treat everyone you meet as if they are that thief on the cross. Let everyone into the assembly, there are none with spots and blemishes, let all into your house, bid everyone godspeed, there are no swine, cast His pearls before everyone you speak to.
Deny His truths within yourself, that some of the words of the Living God are bitter to us.
The truth that is to set us free will keep you in bondage if you do not accept these truths, that those the Almighty has given over to a reprobate mind His wrath rests upon, and will for all eternity.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2nd Cor. 6:14)
If you cannot comprehend the light, you will never know when you are in the presence of darkness. You will never know when you are to apply Matthew 15:14 in your life.
“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”
This notion that God is love and only love has blinded many to the truth, that there is a great bitterness in some portions of His Word. Many fear to speak these portions of His truth to those they meet, hope is better than warning.
I ask you this question. Are all who are hid in Christ to stand on the wall and warn of eternal damnation?
