You won't meet God in Sunday School...the Wayfarer 4/27/13
You won’t meet God in Sunday school!
4/27/13
Today’s title is , as you can easily see not taken
directly from scripture, but comes as a by-product of an earlier discussion
with a non-believer who claimed to have met and rejected God through exposure
in Sunday school.
Before I continue, let me make
perfectly clear that I mean in no way to disparage the classes taught in the
Sunday schools around the nation. To the contrary I feel that they are one of
the most important and useful tools ever given us to educate our young, and to
hopefully set them on the path to actually meeting the God that I speak of.
Some of the text used here will be
recognizable from a previous sermon, I include it, again, because it is
pertinent to today’s message as well!
God does not live in any church building, chapel or cathedral or even
temple.
He encompasses the entire universe and lives with, around ,and most importantly, in us.
He is far larger than our ability to understand, despite our centuries of accumulated "knowledge” that we are so sure of in our sciences, philosophies, and studies.
We are not capable of fully knowing God in this corrupt world, but must first become incorruptible through death and resurrection.
Despite our efforts to live a Christian life, we will never attain the true quality of goodness, here, and in this body, that is required prior to that meeting . Jesus, in talking to a young man about eternal life said:"' "Why callest thou me good there is none good but God"
He encompasses the entire universe and lives with, around ,and most importantly, in us.
He is far larger than our ability to understand, despite our centuries of accumulated "knowledge” that we are so sure of in our sciences, philosophies, and studies.
We are not capable of fully knowing God in this corrupt world, but must first become incorruptible through death and resurrection.
Despite our efforts to live a Christian life, we will never attain the true quality of goodness, here, and in this body, that is required prior to that meeting . Jesus, in talking to a young man about eternal life said:"' "Why callest thou me good there is none good but God"
We need to thank God daily, therefore, for the
benefit of His grace. Ephesians 2:8-10 teaches us:
"For by grace
are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God.
Not of works lest any man boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ
Jesus unto good works."
It is only through that grace, that we will ever be presentable to the Father, and only through the intercession and forgiveness of His Son that we may attain the required righteousness.
It is only through that grace, that we will ever be presentable to the Father, and only through the intercession and forgiveness of His Son that we may attain the required righteousness.
Romans 1: 18--20 tells us
"For the wrath of God
is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who
hold the truth in unrighteousness. Because that which may be known of God is
manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 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."
What a statement!! This tells us
there is no excuse for not accepting the existence of God because the proof is clearly
there to see in the daily miracle of life and in everything around us. That is why Jesus told us that there is only one unpardonable sin, blaspheming the Holy Ghost. Blasphemy is defined by both Webster's and Zondervan's as the denial of the existence of, or the refusal to accept.
"Without Excuse!!!"
All men have had this revelation of God in His creations and therefore ALL men are accountable to Him alone!
"Without Excuse!!!"
All men have had this revelation of God in His creations and therefore ALL men are accountable to Him alone!
The point I hope to convey is that
each and every individual has to meet God on His terms at the time and
place of His choosing.
We are introduced to God through
finding first our own
miserable failure, to be enough on our own, and recognizing the power that is far greater than we are, or may ever be, as is evidenced in the very miracle of life itself.
Until each individual recognizes his need for God’s presence in his life, he cannot meet Him.
Until each individual recognizes his need for God’s presence in his life, he cannot meet Him.
There are so many "seekers" that never
really seek to find God, but continue to seek redemption through the feel good
philosophies, that, in the long term only drag them deeper into the greed and
depravity of serving self alone.
These philosophies are easy to
accept, because they focus on the things of this world and deny the things to
come.
These philosophies will give no consolation when
these, “seekers”, do, as they must, actually come face to face with
God, and meet him at the throne of judgment that they spend so much time denying
exists.
They will take none of their precious possessions, none of their fleeting fame, none of their denial, with them when called to that throne.
They will take with them only that which they have done with the life and purpose given them, and what they have been, to be judged by the giver of that life and purpose, their souls as naked before God as was their bodies at the day of their birth.
They will take none of their precious possessions, none of their fleeting fame, none of their denial, with them when called to that throne.
They will take with them only that which they have done with the life and purpose given them, and what they have been, to be judged by the giver of that life and purpose, their souls as naked before God as was their bodies at the day of their birth.
I seem to return regularly to the
scriptures of Luke for guidance, and today will be no exception!
“And he lifted up his
eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom
of God.
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your names as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
But woe unto you that are rich! For ye have received your consolation.
But woe unto you that are full! For ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! For ye shall mourn and weep.
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you.”
(Luke 6:20-28)
This guidance was given, however, to
those already well on the way to meeting God, not to scoffers who refused to seek out
exactly what His will is in our life! It tells us to expect difficulties that are to be overcome throughout this earthly journey for all who seek HIS perfection.
Matthew is another of my favorite
sources and I would direct the reader once again as I have in the past to read
particularly the passage found in 7th chapter with an emphasis on
the 13th through 27th verses.
I leave the work of actually turning
to the wisdom given here to the true "seeker" who, I am certain will not mind
looking up the passage himself instead of me spoon-feeding it to him.
It is through the teachings found here , and through all of Christ's teachings that we are given a direction to follow in that search for perfection and immortality, and that give the needed warnings of the traps that await along the way.
It is through the teachings found here , and through all of Christ's teachings that we are given a direction to follow in that search for perfection and immortality, and that give the needed warnings of the traps that await along the way.
I leave the reader with one more
homework assignment, another passage to be read for your own edification and at
your own leisure, This from the final book contained in our Bible, that of
Revelation.
Particular attention is directed to the 20th chapter with emphasis on the 11th through 15th verses.
Particular attention is directed to the 20th chapter with emphasis on the 11th through 15th verses.
I conclude with the same love as
always offered by this same poor sinner, saved by grace through faith in my
savior, praying that all who have ears
to hear listen to the call that goes out
to them daily to recognize the truths given by that same Savior, not by me!
You may not meet God in Sunday school, but I
assure you, you WILL meet him!
It may come after finding the bottom of the bottle you cherish so much that its importance is more magnified than life itself.
It may come on the way to the hospital after the overdose of whichever feel good substance you choose to abuse even knowing the dangers involved.
It may come on a highway when another driver meets you head on because he is so wrapped up in texting his girlfriend that this attention strays from controlling his own vehicle.
It may come when that slight pain in the chest turns into rampant burning pain that sends you in search of help, only to find that that help is no longer available.
It may come when the realization that all the pleasures and deviance from the laws you know were given by God himself fail to hold their temporary allure.
It may come in the next decade, year, month , week, day, hour or second......But that moment will come when you must meet God whether you want to or not!
It may come after finding the bottom of the bottle you cherish so much that its importance is more magnified than life itself.
It may come on the way to the hospital after the overdose of whichever feel good substance you choose to abuse even knowing the dangers involved.
It may come on a highway when another driver meets you head on because he is so wrapped up in texting his girlfriend that this attention strays from controlling his own vehicle.
It may come when that slight pain in the chest turns into rampant burning pain that sends you in search of help, only to find that that help is no longer available.
It may come when the realization that all the pleasures and deviance from the laws you know were given by God himself fail to hold their temporary allure.
It may come in the next decade, year, month , week, day, hour or second......But that moment will come when you must meet God whether you want to or not!
You may choose to do so by opening
your heart while you are still breathing
His air, or choose to put off that meeting until you stand at the throne.
I made my choice long ago. You must
make your own,
EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS!
REPENT FOR THE KINGDGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND!!!
EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS!
REPENT FOR THE KINGDGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND!!!
AMEN and AMEN
the Wayfarer
the Wayfarer
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