“God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility”

Graveyards testify to death

Isaiah 55 All over our world, men have set aside graveyards filled with rows upon rows of tombstones with birthdates and a space for the date of our death that we might remember life is short and eternity is long. The author of Hebrews reminds us that God has assigned a death date for each man. Therefore, stop and listen to the Lord. He is calling you to decide what will take place on that second date.  If there is one thing that is known, men will seek to delay that second date as long as possible. Yet, in the meantime, God is patiently waiting for men to turn to Him.  Beware of falling for the false Laodicean ways; what glitters today can be covered with rust tomorrow. Instead, “seek the Lord while He may be found…” Just as in the days of Noah, God’s calendar date is firm and will not be changed. What God has determined He will fulfill. 

There is a warning here: Beware of delaying the day of your salvation.

Interestingly Jesus came as a babe, and the world ignored him or sought to remove him as Herod did. He sprouted as a twig in a quiet village, yet later men asked what good can come from Nazareth? As a man, He began to do miracles, yet they scoffed and refused to believe. Jesus knew men’s hearts were hard, and Isaiah saw this same hardness. He warned them: seek God early; call unto Him while he is nearby. 

God’s death date is unknown to you but not to Him.  Therefore, do not delay.

Today is the day of salvation. 

“Saul’s Death”

Salvation Graphic

1Chronicles 10 Was it God’s will for Saul to die is a question that comes to mind as we read this short but vivid chapter. In vs. 14, we learned that “the Lord killed him,” so the answer to that question is yes. God willed that Saul should die because he was unfaithful. He did not obey the Lord’s instructions. He tried to use a witch to determine his safety. These are hard words for us to swallow, and we would like Saul’s end to be like many of our fairy tales; they lived happily ever after. But, Saul chose his path and his destiny just as we do. God’s grace is ever-present because He is longsuffering even to the point of death.

Preparing for our entrance into eternity is as simple that a three old can understand it: Admit you are a sinner in need of redemption; Believe and trust in God. Confess your sin to a loving and holy God who will cleanse you in preparation for his glory. We stand on the threshold of eternity every day. The gospel is God’s power for salvation, and the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith. It is also true that since creation, God’s invisible attributes, His eternal power, and divine nature – have been seen and understood through creation. Therefore men are without excuse for not knowing. Saul knew it, and men today know it.  

What do you want on your tombstone? This: “well-done thou good and faithful servant” or this: “he/she was unfaithful.” It really is your choice.  

Graphic: https://bible.org/article/gods-plan-salvation

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