Judgment & Holiness
I'm going to get brutally honest with you for a moment. I want to tell you something that's not being taught from many pulpits. We have so proclaimed a God of mercy and love that we have completely thrown away the God of judgment and holiness.
Of course, if it were not for His mercy, none of us would have the opportunity to repent and receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, but there's more to our salvation. Contrary to public opinion, He didn't just save us so we could feel comfortable, while we have a good time doing our own thing in our own way. He brought us into His family and He's developing us into a holy and mighty army that marches in unison...with one goal...to be pleasing to God, seeking His face and doing His work.
We are representatives of His mercy and love to a dying world that is destined for hell and many are going there simply by default. They've lived their lives providing for their families, doing good things, living as productive citizens yet they have no time for their Creator or Savior. He is a God of judgment, one that doesn't desire that any should go to hell and even provided the way of escape, but it's got to be done on His terms and not our own. Many churches no longer want their congregations to feel uncomfortable as they are convicted of sin, so they stopped talking about it. They don't even mention hell, and by so doing many have forfeited eternal life for eternal damnation. They are hearing what they want to hear, but it's far from the truth. God does love you... enough to convict you into turning from evil and running towards Him.
Repent... stop making excuses for sin and begin to seek holiness...I didn't say perfection, but a pure heart... one that desires to please God above all else and rejects mediocrity and compromise. He's calling you up higher... His plans for your life are magnificent, but where He's taking you, you'll be required to travel lighter and leave the baggage behind.
2 Timothy 4:3-5 (TPT) For the time is coming when they will no longer listen and respond to the healing words of truth because they will become selfish and proud. They will seek out teachers with soothing words that line up with their desires, saying just what they want to hear.They will close their ears to the truth and believe nothing but fables and myths.So be alert to all these things and overcome every form of evil. Carry in your heart the passion of your calling as a church planter and evangelist, and fulfill your ministry calling.
Hebrews 12:14 (NKJV) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
Peter 1:15-16 “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy."
Hebrews 9:27 (KJV) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
Romans 14:12 (KJV) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Malachi 2:17 (NKJV) You have wearied the Lord with your words; Yet you say, “In what way have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “Everyone who does evil Is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them,” Or, “Where is the God of justice?”
Matthew 12:34-37 (KJV) O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. or by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
