Judgement and Grace

I apologize for there being such a long time since the last post. So many things have been happening and we're preparing for more!

The Next Door Bible Study met yesterday and we studied Genesis 19-the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Although some things are very unpleasant to even discuss we have to know what God's opinion is which is why we have a Bible. Our world today is just about the polar opposite of what God expects of mankind. It was an interesting time.

One question from the discussion text came from Lot's wife looking back just as she was instructed not to do. She met her end that day. We discussed the problem with starting on the right road and looking back to sin. What makes us turn back? Some of the answers are that we miss the sin-it's fun for the moment. We may have a fear of the unknown, even when it's God leading. Maybe it's rebellion because we are forced to do something we aren't ready to do or don't want to do even if it may save our life. Whatever the case, there is a time that comes when God will turn mankind over to their desires which will destroy them, "For the wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23 and "For although they knew God they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-Who is forever praised. Amen." Romans 1:21-25.

We discussed the fact that we do not understand the extent of our decisions. We don't understand the good that God can do through one obedient person, one example is Abram who became Abraham. He had much less of God's word and fewer demonstrations of God's great love and yet he trusted God.

We also do not understand the extent of our decision to sin and the Pandora's Box that opens. The sin that is so fun at the moment can lead to permanent damage done. Sodom and Gomorrah's sin and judgement literally, according to the Bible (Genesis 13:10) changed the landscape of the land. Our sin can change the landscape of our lives. A person addicted to drugs can break an entire family. A spouse's affair can leave children in a single parent home. Gambling can cause families to lose everything. The list goes on and on. Sin has an unquenchable appetite, there is no bottom to the pit, no cap on the limit and if we persist in it, God will allow the sin the destroy us.

BUT GOD, I love those words, in His wisdom, knew we needed grace and it is just a prayer away. When we are faced with the consequences of our sin we have a God who is just waiting for us to admit our failure and ask for forgiveness which He promises to give. Because God cannot lie, because He is truth, He will forgive. What an amazing God we serve! That knowledge comforts me when nothing else can. The Creator of all, who knows me far better than anyone ever could, than anyone will ever know me; who placed every hair on my head knew every sin I have committed, would commit, and will commit in the future and died for me anyway. He saw value in this unformed, spark of an idea and made me His own handiwork, His poem, according to Ephesians. I didn't then and don't now deserve it. It's all because of His grace. I am so thankful for His grace. He did the same the day He saved you, too.

I don't know where you are in your walk today. I don't even know if you are saved-that you have a relationship with Jesus Christ. If you don't, please understand that these promises of God cannot apply to you as long as you stand opposed to Him as His enemy. Please ask God for forgiveness and accept Him as the Lord of your life. But if you are saved today and fighting for peace, fall into the grace of God. Forgive yourself, forgive others and ask God to repair and remake the damage done. You may never see healing on this earth in certain situations, but once we all get to Heaven, all truth will be known. We will see everything that we couldn't say right, we'll see the love that's been hidden behind scars and lies. We will be healed. Praise God, we will be whole.

Please pray for the Ladies Bible study to begin next Thursday here. We will be studying "Lies Women Believe and The Truth That Sets Them Free" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I can't wait! Pray for the ladies who will come to be set free of the lies and bondage that holds them captive.
Thank you for supporting me and praying with me. By the way, the drug dealers that lived across the street from me and tormented the kids have been evicted and not seen since. Praise God for answered prayers!

To God Be The Glory!
Jamie