YBible Thoughts Y September 13, 1998
"Inasmuch as he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath give assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead"(Acts 17:31).
As Paul preached to the learned gathering in Athens, he concludes that God did not accept ignorance, but commands all to repent(v. 30). The preaching of Paul did result in some believing, but others rejected his message, even to the point of "mocking"(v. 32-34). It was certainly Paul's desire that all would be saved, but the apostle realized not all would accept the truth. So it is today.
Much labor and effort is expended by Christians in attempting to guide people into the truth. When one single soul obeys the gospel there is cause for rejoicing. There is also a sadness in realizing the majority do not heed the truth and live their lives without God and without truth.
Even more alarming is that many will hear the truth and not obey it. Such ones cannot stand before God and say, "I never heard your word." The Bible(the word of God) has the same message for all. It is understandable; it is clear in the commands to become a Christian. Yet, many will take the word of some man, or the practice of some religious group and reject the plain message of salvation found in the New Testament.
It is also alarming to know there are those who have obeyed the gospel but drift back into the world. These, as well, cannot stand before God and say they were ignorant of the commands of God. In many communities, including our own, there are those who for years followed the paths of righteousness but slowly drifted away from the truth of God.
In the opening passage in this article, Paul states, "...he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world." What a sobering reality that will be! One can stand before men and offer excuses, obtain sympathy, and leave in relief they did not suffer for their actions. Not so when we stand before the one who created each of us. Nothing will be hidden; no excuses will be accepted; no additional time for repentance and obedience--it is all over! One's fate is decided by what one does in this life--before facing the great judge of all men.
The time to obey the gospel and live right is while in this life. Now is the time to be faithful and not turn away to the world and its offerings. When one stands before the God who created all of us, it will be too late to change.
No man has a right to make allowances that God has not. Jehovah set the standard for man to follow that man might someday be able to be in Heaven. Men take the liberty to alter what God has given, explain it away, or ignore it altogether. That will not change, in any way, what God has commanded and expects of those who would be His followers. For it is by what God has revealed that each one of us will be rewarded or condemned.
No man has a right to add to the standard that God has given for mankind. As above, to do less than God expects is to abuse the rights of God; to demand more than God commands is an abuse of the word of God, as well. We are not to take from the commands of God nor are we to add to them. This applies to all of us, aliens and Christians.
Our concern is not how do we please the brethren, our family, our friends, the government, or society in our religious beliefs and practices. Our concern is to please God, for it is He that we will stand before to answer how we please Him, not man.
Even beyond the previous, it is dangerous to seek to please ourselves. The flesh has a strong influence upon our thinking and actions. Paul said, "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I would do I know not: for not what I would, that I do practice; but what I hate, that I do"(Romans 7:14-15). Paul illustrates the power that influenced him; that same power can, and does, take control of men and women at present.
One is pleased, from a fleshly standpoint, to follow the paths of the world. It becomes a constant battle to remain faithful to the God of Heaven among all of the temptations. Self must be controlled, or as Paul stated, "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members"(Romans 7:22-23).
Man has a tendency to take the right and prerogative of a judge in regard to others. Man(even brethren) will say, this is all right or that is OK, but only God can do that. It is the duty of Christians to communicate to others what the Lord expects, for it is His will that must be followed. And...each person is responsible for his/her conduct. Christians are not the judges. In fact, no Christian should want to be. However, it is the duty of Christians to communicate the expectations of the judge.
When we remember that someday God will judge us for the life that we lived in this world, we should be motivated each day to live as Christ has commanded. When one does as the Lord revealed, that person can pillow his head in death with the confidence of standing before the great judge and being told to enter into a heavenly abode. Whatever be the cost, it will be worth it!