No Place for Pride in the Kingdom

Hello again!

I was struck a little while ago by a minister who claimed he would be at the pearly gates saying “I told you so!!!” to those who would not inherit the kingdom. (ie: end up in hell) It wasn’t the first time I’d heard such a thought either.

I was appalled to say the least. and I believe Jesus himself would be pretty unhappy with such an attitude.

Let’s start with the first thing. NOBODY’S perfect. Not one human, not one. The only one who was, was Jesus.

Ask yourself, why did Jesus come in the flesh to save us? “Because God so LOVED the world.” according to John Chapter 3 verse 16. Also remember this in 2nd Peter chapter 3 verse 9: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” And thank God for his patience! He’s giving us every chance in the book…um as it were.

It makes me want to cry when I hear people say such things. I think perhaps that sometimes when someone has become spiritually successful, it’s easy to begin to feel prideful. Healings, salvations, and increased ministries, finances, these are wonderful blessings, but remember, these are blessings from God, not by your own hand. If a leader is getting off track, I would kindly suggest it’s  time to review your motivations and perhaps get back to your roots. Why did you get into ministry? I’m hoping it’s because you’re unequivocally in love with God. I’m hoping it’s because it breaks your heart to see the untold thousands that will never know Christ or even outright reject him. That you became a minister because you love your fellow human and want the best for them, this is the heart of the Father.

Accepting the sacrifice Jesus made from the LOVE of God is the only reason that any of us will be in heaven. God expects us to feel the same way. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.” (Corinthians verse chapter 13 verse 1)

Here are some other verses about having a right heart towards others:

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Philippians 2:3

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

1 Corinthians 13:4

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

Paul in fact boasted in one thing…..

Galatians 6:14

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

I guess the message is to remember where you came from…the same messy pool as the rest of the human race.  So…ready to repent of that attitude? In First John chapter 1 verse 9 John writes “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Repent to God, ask Him to forgive you of your sins ask Jesus to wash you clean in His blood.

 

God’s “cruelty”

Yeppers….I once thought that God was frankly pretty mean. Considering the lacking baptist church I was brought up in, holier than thou preachers, and just plain incorrect and erroneous teaching, and knowing I’m not the only one, I came across an old testament story that inspired me to write again about this.  So I know someone out there needs to see it.

This is especially regarding the old testament. The history I came across was about a time when King David wanted to bring the Ark of The Covenant to Jerusalem.  Now if you don’t know, King David was very close to God. He was inspired to write a large chunk of the Psalms and was even prophetic about Jesus in some of them! God told the prophet when he anointed the young David to be king of Israel was that he was “a man after God’s own heart.” That’s found in 1 Samuel 13 verse 14 when Saul was dropped as King

^“14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.”

So one would think based on this that King David’s in really good with God….well, yes and no. Let’s take a look at what happened during the transportation of the ark:

In 2 Samuel chapter 6 verse 6 through 8 says. “6When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled. 7And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God. 8Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah; so he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day.…

It seems to me that Uzzah cared! It seems he was doing what he could to protect it! Yes and yes.  He did what anyone who respects the ark, which held the Presence of God would do.

Here’s what really happened. Remember what Jesus said to Peter when he was heading for crucifixion! Check out this scripture in the new testament from Matthew 16 verse 22 and 23: “…22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!” 23But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

This means that while Peter was thinking what seemed obvious to everyday thinking (man’s thinking) it was not in keeping for what God had in mind. So keeping this instance in mind, what was happening with Uzzah?

In both these instances these people really believed they were doing their very best to do the right thing. Basically protecting who they love.

Okay, GOD IS HOLY.  He’s not like us…he’s almost nothing like us (except that we are created in His image). Because of this, we can’t handle being in His presence without going through a lot of steps of very specific instructions for OUR PROTECTION. He said this Himself in Exodus chapter 33 verses 20 through 22, when Moses asked to see God’s face….

²⁰ But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” ²¹ And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. ²² So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by.

He wanted to be with Moses, but could only do so in a roundabout way. Though it may be difficult to accept, God is too perfect for us. It will kill us. There is one way to be close to God. In the old testament, only the the Levite priests were allowed to come near the ark and only after specific cleansing rituals and sacrifices had been performed. Even then, they had to carry it on poles.

In the new testament, Jesus willingly became the one-time sacrifice for all humanity to pave the way back to God. That is how we can pray directly to God and receive healing and answers to prayer.

Remember Peter in earlier in the article? He was actually trying to prevent the sacrifice of Jesus from happening and thereby preventing access to God for all humanity.  He was thinking as men think.

Don’t forget….in 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9 Peter reminds us” The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

So God certainly didn’t want Uzzah to die. God wishes everyone of us to come to Him! God wants us with Him! But it has to be done, with respect and humility, in recognition of our impurity compared to His holiness.

We can approach Him now whenever we like through Jesus.

Make it official. This is what to do to declare Jesus as your savior and be saved. And speak with God and Know you are heard.

If you would like to invite Jesus into your life, say these words out loud:

Dear Lord Jesus, I’m asking you into my heart and my life.  I know I am a sinner. I ask your forgiveness for every sin I’ve ever committed.  I believe you died on the cross for my sins, that you stood in my place and took all the punishment that was due to me when you were there. I believe that you rose from the dead and are alive. I thank you for forgiving me and cleansing me of sin with your blood. Thank you for making me right with our heavenly Father. Please come and live within me and fill me with your Holy Spirit as You promised. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

May God richly bless you!