“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
The Lord God has determined that evil is to be a part of life, the ability to openly rebel against His Sovereign authority and Lordship, in essence, the King has said to those who live in His kingdom, “You do not have to serve me, you may do as you please.” The only laws that He has put in place are those of the physical universe, the substance so to speak that holds the creation together. You have the ability to jump off of a cliff, but there will be dire consequences.
There are laws that are just as prevalent in the Spiritual realm, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” (Romans 1:20) and there is a price to be paid for those who will not adhere to them, as well as rewards for those that do.
Satan’s responsibility in all this is to claim that these “Spiritual precepts” are a lie, and he employs every possible effort to enforce his lies, from there is no God, there is no heaven, that this life is all there is, to “You have been good enough.” There is no end to his endeavors. Yet in the end of this age, he himself will desire to be worshipped, that my friends is called oxymoronic.
We are the ambassadors of the Lord; He has chosen the “foolishness of preaching” (1 Cor. 1:21) in these days. No viable proof can we offer, we cannot say with all assurance to the wicked “If you do this, it will prove the existence of God to you.” We have nothing to offer as proof of the existence of God but our transformed lives. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) This is why our personal testimony can never be enough, it can be offered as we speak to them, but it is the Word of God that leads a person to the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is the Holy Spirit that convicts them of the truth of these Spiritual laws, the reality of the existence of a Sovereign Lord who is ruler over all that is, ever has been and ever will be.
The rewards that we will be given are not because we saved anyone, but because we have been faithful in leading them to the cross, if we were given rewards for that which we have attempted on our own, we would receive nothing. God calls people to the truth of the grace that is offered by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit convicts a man of these truths, we are no more than messengers, but “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Cor. 9:16)
Once the Lord calls you to Himself you have responsibilities that you will be held accountable for, and not just actions that you are required to perform, but the intent of the heart while you do so. This is the foundation of Matthew 15:8, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” The proof of salvation is a heart that continuously fears God, that reverences Him as Holy, Righteous, Sovereign and True, that hates evil in all of its forms, that rests in the promises of the Word of God, without question. For this, one must “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) For without diligent study of the Scriptures, the servant cannot serve well, one must seek the face of God. “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” (Psalm 27:8) You must live by faith, (Romans 1:17) and carry your cross. (Matt. 16:24)
Here is where humility, frustrations, and faith are born, and here is where the world will begin to hate you. It becomes inconceivable to us in the light of the truths of the Scriptures that any would continue to rebel, yet they do, Satan has blinded them, and they have blinded themselves. “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” (Matt. 15:14)
Nevertheless, we have been tasked with the responsibility of offering these truths to all who will listen, and historically it has been proven that not only will most reject these truths, but they will hate you, persecute you, and if possible, attempt to kill you for doing so. They did no less to the Lord of Glory, why should you expect any less.
The resurrection and redemption, these are the offered proofs, it is not ours to make them listen and obey, but to give the message, and each of us will be held accountable for our own actions in this area.
