There Are Always Consequences (Colossians 3:25)

Today's scripture: Colossians 3:25

Many wonderful attributes describe the triune God. He is gracious, merciful, and loving. He is our Redeemer, Savior, and Teacher. He is our refuge, our stronghold, our strength. He is personal. He is holy, righteous, and just.

Most people can get on board with the majority of these descriptors. But many have a problem with the last. God is just. They say if God is loving, then why does He punish? Why is there a hell? Wouldn't a loving God just let everyone go to heaven?

The fact that God is just goes hand-in-hand with the fact that He's holy and righteous. God cannot co-exist with sin. Yet, because He loved His first created man and woman so much, He gave them the choice to obey Him and remain in intimate communion with Him or to choose their own way. And though it's a mystery to us, the all-holy, all-perfect God allowed sin to enter the world.

It was always God's plan, though, to offer the means of man's reconciliation with Him, first through animal sacrifice and then through the once-for-all sacrifice of God the Son, Jesus Christ. God has revealed Himself to mankind throughout the ages, and He still does so today through the general revelation of His creation and the biblical revelation of the gospel.

We all have the opportunity to choose to follow Him or choose to go our own way. And if we choose the latter, there will be consequences. Those who choose not to follow Christ on earth—to, in essence, separate themselves from Him—will spend eternity separated from Him.

Yes, God is love. Yes, He offers grace and mercy. But He is also holy and righteous and just. And because He is a God of justice, He must deal with sin. He must deal with those who don't choose Him.

And they will reap the consequences.

Truth (Psalm 28:4-5)

Today's scripture: Psalm 28:4-5

God has revealed Himself to seeking hearts and minds. Through His creation. Through the testimony of men and women.

Yet, tragically many refuse to acknowledge Him as the one true God. They deny His work. They scoff at His words. They choose to live just as they please.

One day, though, everyone will stand before the throne of God. Each and every person will hear either, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21, 23), or "I don't know you" (Luke 13:27). He will reward those who have committed their lives to Him, and He will judge those who refused Him.

This world is winding down, and I believe the day of Christ's return is close. We who follow Christ need to be diligent about living for Him. We need to surrender to Him each and every day. We need to seek His purpose and His ill.

Ever more, we need to share His truth with others. We need to look for moments to share our stories. We need to help those who are seeking Him to find Him.

It's all that really matters.

Vindication (Psalm 17:1-2)

Today's scripture: Psalm 17:1-2

I'm very blessed. Very, very blessed.

Sometimes, though, even with all the many blessings God has given me, I cry out to Him. I cry out in pain. I cry out for others who are suffering. I cry out for justice for those who have been wronged.

There is so much wrong with this world. As the cancer of sin continues to spread throughout this rapidly-decaying planet, corruption and disease and perversion wreak havoc.

It's enough to make the strongest among us want to crawl into a hole and hibernate.

I still have hope, though. I know that those of us who have been hurt in so many ways will one day be vindicated. The God of the universe, the Creator of all things, the Righteous Judge will one day reward those who have chosen to follow Him ... and call down judgment on those who have rejected Him.

One day, this world will be no more. Its pain and suffering and injustice will be wiped from our hearts and minds. We will live in the light of our Lord and Savior.

As the old hymn says, "... what a day of rejoicing that will be!"

An Everlasting Kingdom (Psalm 145:10-13)

Today's scripture: Psalm 145:10-13

I've been fascinated with the study of end times for a while now, and I believe we're in them. I know many will say that generations upon generations have also thought they were close to Christ's return, but we're in a unique period of history that would allow for prophecy to come true.

We can communicate globally in unprecedented ways. A desire for unification of religions runs rampant (such as COEXIST that incorporates symbols of various religions, including Christianity).

This world is primed for a world leader who will promise peace, and we who know end-time prophecy know who that leader will be—Anti-Christ. For all we know, he is already living and beginning his rise to power. One day, he will take over the world and usher in what the Bible calls the Tribulation.

We who have sincerely given our lives to Christ and have accepted the gift of salvation through His death, burial, and resurrection, don't have to worry about him, though. Before he takes power, I believe we will have already left this world to begin eternity with our Savior.

Indeed, Christ's kingdom is everlasting, and we who know Him will be with Him beyond the end of this earth. We will reign with Him in the new heaven and new earth. We will praise Him and bless His name.

What a day that will be!

So, the question is: Do you know Him? Have you surrendered your life to Him? Are you ready for His return to take up His church?

Or will you be here when the world as we know it comes under the authority of a man who will be a pawn of Satan himself?

The Bible tells us, "... now is the acceptable time ... now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). None of us knows when Christ will return. None of us knows when we might breath our last. In either case, we need to be ready.

Will you be with Jesus in His everlasting kingdom? I pray you will be.

Multiplied Sorrows ... (Psalm 16:4)

Today's scripture: Psalm 16:4

So many people "hasten after other god[s] ..." The god of success. The god of pleasure. The god of wealth.

They put relationships and things and careers above the one true God. They think, "If I can just get this promotion or marry that person or have a solid retirement fund, I'll be fine. I don't need anything but that [fill in the blank]."

The thing is ... none of that matters. No one will find true joy or peace pursuing these gods. In fact, as the psalmist writes, "Their sorrows will be multiplied ..."

Now, you may be reading this and think, "Nope. I have lots of stuff and good friends and take really good vacations. I don't have any sorrow. I'm doing just fine without that 'one true God' you mention."

Well, maybe that's true. Maybe you're living a happy, care-free life. But I wonder. Does the pressure to have the stuff, to have "enough," cause you to work more hours? And do those hours keep you from those you love?  Or does the stress of making certain you have a nice, big bank account keep you up at night?

Maybe, just maybe, your sorrows (the cares of this life) are multiplying, and you don't even realize it.

Something more than the "sorrow" you may feel on earth, though, is the sorrow that will multiply—beyond description—in eternity. If you spend this life pursuing other gods, you'll miss knowing the God of the Bible, the one and only God. If you miss knowing Him now, you'll miss knowing Him forever.

That's true sorrow.

God's Mercy (Psalm 25:10)

Today's scripture: Psalm 25:10

One of the most amazing things about our God is how merciful He is. You may have heard mercy defined as our not getting what we do deserve. We are all sinners—each and every one of us. We are prideful (see yesterday's devotional about that topic!). We gossip. We get angry. We tell what we laughingly call "white lies."

Some of us have done even worse ...

As the Bible succinctly puts it, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (NKJV, Romans 3:23). Indeed, "There is none righteous, no not one" (3:10). Each and every one of us deserves eternal separation from God.

Oh, but then there's that wonderful, amazing word: mercy. God in His mercy doesn't give us what we do deserve. When we commit our lives to Him, we don't get that eternal separation. Instead, we do get what we don't deserve: grace.

God's grace offers salvation and redemption. It lets us relish an on-earth relationship with Him. It gives us confidence that we'll spend eternity with Him.

Mercy ... we deserve hell, but we get heaven.

Take a moment and ponder this amazing gift of mercy. Then take another moment and thank the Lord for His mercy ... and His grace.