The Way of life, and the Way of Death....the Wayfarer 2/28/18

The Way of Life, and the Way of Death.
 2/28/18

Jeremiah 21:8 King James Version (KJV)
8 And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.

God's demand for repentance, and the promise of redemption in return is found throughout the Old testament as well as the New. It is easily found, when proper regard to text is applied, within the WORD preached by each and all of the prophets sent to bring that message that included the Love of God that surpasses any concept of love that is ascertainable by mankind.

All too often, those prophecies were not heeded, but were merely considered the message of negativity that none was willing to hear, rather than the positive message of redemption  to come IF heard and heeded by those to whom it was given.

The "ear ticklers" that never mentioned any necessity for repentance, promising only continued prosperity remained popular, both to the people and the courts of kings, as that prosperity had no demand of sacrifice, or of repentance, or of change other than that which led farther from God, farther from the TRUTH given them by those prophets, and farther from LIFE, as choice was made again, and again to ignore any necessity to pursue repentance as the pleasures of the times were pursued instead.

Ecclesiastes 3:15

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁵ That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

Over the centuries, man's "learning curve" has never increased to the point of comprehending that simple concept of the requirement of repentance in return for redemption to his allotted place in creation, that lies within the Love of his Creator, relying instead on all else he is able to attempt to substitute  in place of that Creator's intent for him.

Few will ever learn from the ongoing failures of all attempted in past civilization as their search for something "new" reverts to what has long been forgotten that failed miserably to attain the desired result, despite the loftiness of the "progress" being offered.

With the coming of Christ, that message of redemption through repentance was not changed, but repeated again and again throughout his ministry, simplified, distilled to its purest form in His 

LIFE, in the WAY that was shown, and through the continuing TRUTH proclaimed by His substitutional sacrifice, final and complete evidence of the LOVE given by God to and for this miserably incompetent creature that still maintains its own importance above that of the Creator.

John 3:16-19 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Light still shines through the darkness. 

That light remains the acceptance of  the Love that came through Christ, presented wholly and completely for acceptance or rejection in its entirety, which includes the necessity of repentance in return for the redemption made available only by that substitutional sacrifice and the proof of its power provided in the resurrection.

John 14:6

King James Version (KJV)

⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The Way, The Truth, The Life, remain available IF sought through HIM, but only IF sought through HIM.

It may only be found by those,  who having heard HIS message of redemption through repentance, respond to that message, rather than ignoring it in favor of the message being broadcast from the darkness, that somehow man can escape the necessity of repentance and acceptance of the redemption provided by God through Him alone.

God's Love was, and is freely given... your response remains required.

2 Timothy 1:12

King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer