By John S Willard
OK, so you say that God is Love and that God is kind and forgiving but on the other hand, you say that He is judgmental. He will let some into Heaven and send others to Hell? Is that loving, kind and forgiving? How can that be?
Keep in mind as you are reading this that God has given us a free will, to choose what we want, what path we are going to follow and, most importantly, whom we will serve and where we will spend eternity. Yes, eternity! You are going to live somewhere when you die and leave this world, it's just a matter of where.
When Lucifer was still in Heaven and rebelled against God, he was cast down from Heaven. It was not that Lucifer was bad or wicked at the time, but that he desired to be as God or better. He wanted to ascend above God. That was his rebellion and why God cast him out. We, also have the ability to decide what we want to do in and with our lives. Do we want to accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord or do we want to follow in the world's footsteps?
Jesus said, Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
This is the way of sin and sinners; both what is the best, and what is the worst of it. That which allures multitudes into it, and keeps them in it; the gate is wide, and the way broad, and there are many travelers in that way. First, "You will have abundance of liberty in that way; the gate is wide, and stands wide open to tempt those that go right on their way. You may go in at this gate with all your lusts about you; it gives no thought to your appetites, to your passions: you may walk in the way of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; that gives room enough." It is a broad way, for there is nothing to enclose those that walk in it, but they wander endlessly; a broad way, for there are many paths in it; there is choice of sinful ways, contrary to each other, but all paths in this broad way. Secondly, "You will have abundance of company in that way: many there be that go in at this gate, and walk in this way." If we follow the multitude, it will be to do evil: if we go with the crowd, it will be the wrong way. It is natural for us to incline to go down the stream, and do as the most do; but it is too great a compliment, to be willing to be damned for company, and to go to hell with them, because they will not go to heaven with us: if many perish, we should be the more cautious. That which should frighten us all from it is, that it leads to destruction. Death, eternal death, is at the end of it (and the way of sin tends to it), - everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. Whether it be the high way of open profaneness, or the back way of close hypocrisy, if it be a way of sin, it will be our ruin, if we repent not.
Then, there is the "straight and narrow " way. First, the gate is strait. Conversion and regeneration are the gate, by which we enter into this way, in which we begin a life of faith and serious godliness; out of a state of sin into a state of grace we must pass, by the new birth, Joh_3:3, Joh_3:5. This is a strait gate, hard to find, and hard to get through; like a passage between two rocks, 1Sa_14:4. There must be a new heart, and a new spirit, and old things must pass away. The twisted way of the soul must be changed, corrupt habits and customs broken off; what we have been doing all our days must be undone again. We must swim against the stream; much opposition must be struggled with, and broken through, from without, and from within. It is easier to set a man against all the world than against himself, and yet this must be in conversion. It is a strait gate, for we must stoop, or we cannot go in at it; we must become as little children; high thoughts must be brought down; we must strip, must deny ourselves, put off the world, put off the old man; we must be willing to forsake all for our interest in Christ. The gate is strait to all, but to some straighter than others; as to the rich, to some that have been long prejudiced against religion. The gate is strait; blessed be God, it is not shut up, nor locked against us, nor kept with a flaming sword, as it will be shortly, Mat_25:10.
Secondly, the way is narrow. We are not in heaven as soon as we have got through the strait gate, nor in Canaan as soon as we have got through the Red Sea; no, we must go through a wilderness, must travel a narrow way, hedged in by the divine law, which is exceedingly broad, and that makes the way narrow; self must be denied, the body kept under, corruptions humbled, that are as a right eye and a right hand; daily temptations must be resisted; duties must be done that are against our inclination. We must endure hardness, must wrestle and be in an agony, must watch in all things, and walk with care and circumspection. We must go through much tribulation. It is an afflicted way, a way hedged about with thorns; blessed be God, it is not hedged up. The bodies we carry about with us, and the corruptions remaining in us, make the way of our duty difficult; but, as the understanding and will grow more and more sound, it will open and enlarge, and grow more and more pleasant.
Thirdly, the gate being so strait and the way so narrow, it is not strange that there are but few that find it, and choose it. Many pass it by, through carelessness; they will not take the pains to find it; they are well as they are, and see no need to change their way. Others look upon it, but shun it; they like not to be so limited and restrained. Those that are going to heaven are but few, compared to those that are going to hell; a remnant, a little flock, like the grape-gleanings of the vintage.
Do you remember Paul and what he said about himself? 1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief. What was he before his conversion: A blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious. Saul breathed out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, Act_9:1. He made havoc of the church, Act_8:3. He was a blasphemer of God, a persecutor of the saints, and injurious to both. And yet, Saul (Paul) was used mightily of God! How do you rate yourself against his background? Is there hope for you? If God can change someone like Paul, is there any wonder or doubt about you?
So, is God judgmental? No, it is up to you. 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
John S Willard
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_S_Willard
OK, so you say that God is Love and that God is kind and forgiving but on the other hand, you say that He is judgmental. He will let some into Heaven and send others to Hell? Is that loving, kind and forgiving? How can that be?
Keep in mind as you are reading this that God has given us a free will, to choose what we want, what path we are going to follow and, most importantly, whom we will serve and where we will spend eternity. Yes, eternity! You are going to live somewhere when you die and leave this world, it's just a matter of where.
When Lucifer was still in Heaven and rebelled against God, he was cast down from Heaven. It was not that Lucifer was bad or wicked at the time, but that he desired to be as God or better. He wanted to ascend above God. That was his rebellion and why God cast him out. We, also have the ability to decide what we want to do in and with our lives. Do we want to accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord or do we want to follow in the world's footsteps?
Jesus said, Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
This is the way of sin and sinners; both what is the best, and what is the worst of it. That which allures multitudes into it, and keeps them in it; the gate is wide, and the way broad, and there are many travelers in that way. First, "You will have abundance of liberty in that way; the gate is wide, and stands wide open to tempt those that go right on their way. You may go in at this gate with all your lusts about you; it gives no thought to your appetites, to your passions: you may walk in the way of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; that gives room enough." It is a broad way, for there is nothing to enclose those that walk in it, but they wander endlessly; a broad way, for there are many paths in it; there is choice of sinful ways, contrary to each other, but all paths in this broad way. Secondly, "You will have abundance of company in that way: many there be that go in at this gate, and walk in this way." If we follow the multitude, it will be to do evil: if we go with the crowd, it will be the wrong way. It is natural for us to incline to go down the stream, and do as the most do; but it is too great a compliment, to be willing to be damned for company, and to go to hell with them, because they will not go to heaven with us: if many perish, we should be the more cautious. That which should frighten us all from it is, that it leads to destruction. Death, eternal death, is at the end of it (and the way of sin tends to it), - everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. Whether it be the high way of open profaneness, or the back way of close hypocrisy, if it be a way of sin, it will be our ruin, if we repent not.
Then, there is the "straight and narrow " way. First, the gate is strait. Conversion and regeneration are the gate, by which we enter into this way, in which we begin a life of faith and serious godliness; out of a state of sin into a state of grace we must pass, by the new birth, Joh_3:3, Joh_3:5. This is a strait gate, hard to find, and hard to get through; like a passage between two rocks, 1Sa_14:4. There must be a new heart, and a new spirit, and old things must pass away. The twisted way of the soul must be changed, corrupt habits and customs broken off; what we have been doing all our days must be undone again. We must swim against the stream; much opposition must be struggled with, and broken through, from without, and from within. It is easier to set a man against all the world than against himself, and yet this must be in conversion. It is a strait gate, for we must stoop, or we cannot go in at it; we must become as little children; high thoughts must be brought down; we must strip, must deny ourselves, put off the world, put off the old man; we must be willing to forsake all for our interest in Christ. The gate is strait to all, but to some straighter than others; as to the rich, to some that have been long prejudiced against religion. The gate is strait; blessed be God, it is not shut up, nor locked against us, nor kept with a flaming sword, as it will be shortly, Mat_25:10.
Secondly, the way is narrow. We are not in heaven as soon as we have got through the strait gate, nor in Canaan as soon as we have got through the Red Sea; no, we must go through a wilderness, must travel a narrow way, hedged in by the divine law, which is exceedingly broad, and that makes the way narrow; self must be denied, the body kept under, corruptions humbled, that are as a right eye and a right hand; daily temptations must be resisted; duties must be done that are against our inclination. We must endure hardness, must wrestle and be in an agony, must watch in all things, and walk with care and circumspection. We must go through much tribulation. It is an afflicted way, a way hedged about with thorns; blessed be God, it is not hedged up. The bodies we carry about with us, and the corruptions remaining in us, make the way of our duty difficult; but, as the understanding and will grow more and more sound, it will open and enlarge, and grow more and more pleasant.
Thirdly, the gate being so strait and the way so narrow, it is not strange that there are but few that find it, and choose it. Many pass it by, through carelessness; they will not take the pains to find it; they are well as they are, and see no need to change their way. Others look upon it, but shun it; they like not to be so limited and restrained. Those that are going to heaven are but few, compared to those that are going to hell; a remnant, a little flock, like the grape-gleanings of the vintage.
Do you remember Paul and what he said about himself? 1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief. What was he before his conversion: A blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious. Saul breathed out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, Act_9:1. He made havoc of the church, Act_8:3. He was a blasphemer of God, a persecutor of the saints, and injurious to both. And yet, Saul (Paul) was used mightily of God! How do you rate yourself against his background? Is there hope for you? If God can change someone like Paul, is there any wonder or doubt about you?
So, is God judgmental? No, it is up to you. 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
John S Willard
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_S_Willard
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