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As Christians
we are well aware that secular time is running out. As you
read the newspapers and watch television you cannot help
noticing how the crime rate is rapidly climbing; immorality is
becoming more widespread and child abuse is reaching horrific
levels. All this emphasises that the Bible prophecies are
being fulfilled to the letter.
Jesus wared those who would be living in
the last days that they would be seeing and experiencing the
things that He spoke of so long ago.
Why Should we Fear God?
In the Book of Revelation there is a
warning that goes out in the closing hours of time, that every
inhabitant of this earth should be taking notice of.
Revelation 14:6,7 says, “And
I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the
earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and
people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to
him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him
that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of
waters.”
Fear God, why should we fear God? Well
the text says that the hour of His judgment is come. That is a
solemn thought. The thought of Judgment in itself can be
almost frightening.
I know of two people who have been
waiting for months to have their cases heard. At first it was
to be on a certain date not very far in the future. But when
that time came it was postponed and then again until it
dragged on into a year, then another year. These people have
gone through a long drawn out period of anxiety and
frustration.
However the average person, that is the
man in the street, is not aware that there is such a thing as
a judgment that is going to affect them personally. You see
they have not heard the Last Call that God is giving to
mankind, because they have closed their minds and hearts to
the Word of God.
A man said to me the other day, “You are
not bringing religion here, for if you are you are not
welcome.”
People do not want a bar of religion and
in some ways you cannot blame them, for religion has a bad
connotation for all kinds of terrible things are done in the
name of religion. So you cannot really blame folk if they do
not trust religion.
I am positive that Satan has done his
utmost to bring shame and even hatred upon the cause of
Christ.
Need for the
Everlasting Gospel
Today we are not talking about religion,
we are talking about the Everlasting Gospel, the gospel which
transforms lives and brings peace and joy to those who accept
it.
Coming back to the message of the first
angel who warns about the judgment, it should stir us as never
before. But it does not grip us as it should. The reason for
this is that there is too much happening from day to day. This
world of ours is in a turmoil, what with domestic violence to
national catastrophes such as earthquakes, floods, famines and
droughts, our country (Australia) is in the grip of a terrible
drought with no relief in sight. With all this taking place
our minds are dulled, because it is almost too much for us to
absorb and comprehend.
Yes, never has there been a time when the
Everlasting Gospel is needed most to heal broken hearts, to
reveal that God has not forgotten them, to alert them to the
Heavenly Judgment so that they can put their spiritual house
in order.
The wise man recognized that he needed to
do this so he writes about it in
Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14. “Let
us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep
his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God
shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing,
whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
So what are we to do about this crisis
hour for Mankind? We are urged to fear God; that is to
reverence Him, to show respect for His majesty and glory, and
to keep His commandments.
If a man or woman is to have peace in
their hearts they must respond to this last and final call
from heaven.
We all need to accept St Peter’s
challenge in
Acts 3:19. “Repent ye therefore, and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times
of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”
Not Always Justice in
Earthly Courts
If we were facing an earthly judgment
there could be a need to fear the outcome. It is most
disturbing to realise that one can not always expect justice
in the Law Courts these days. Often the sympathy of the Court
is not with the innocent person, but it seems to be with the
violator. We have the classic case of Lindy Chamberlain and
many others who were victims of justice going wrong;
especially when a man abuses innocent children and ruins their
lives and gets off with 9 months in prison, what kind of
justice is that? Yes, that person was let off very lightly in
our Court system. But it will be different in the Heavenly
Judgment. For if that man does not ask God for forgiveness and
truly repents of his evil deeds, I would not like to be in his
place in the heavenly judgment.
It is as Jesus said in
Matthew 18:6. “If
anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in
me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large
millstone were hung around their neck and they were drowned in
the depths of the sea.”
That is a very strong statement and I am
sure that we would all echo the sentiment expressed there.
Parent's Example to
Children
Often we do not realise how, that as
parents, we have a very strong effect on our children’s
understanding of God. For instance a child’s image of God is
often patterned after their own parents, especially his
father. If the child’s father is happy and outgoing, loving
and kind, that is how they see God. But if the parents are
cold and indifferent, that is the way that God is reflected in
their mind. And if the parents are angry and hostile, that is
the way they think of God.
And isn’t that true? We ought to pray
that the LORD will help us to put the right kind of image in
the minds of our children. We as parents should give careful
consideration to this.
I am sure that the LORD had this in mind
when He inspired Jeremiah to write these words.
Jeremiah
32:38, 39 says, “And they shall be my people, and I will be
their God: And I will give them one heart, and one way, that
they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their
children after them.”
When we fear God, not only are we
blessed, but so are our children.
No Need to Fear
Judgment
As I said earlier, if there was a time to
take heed of the call to fear God it is right now. And if we
respond then we can expect mercy and justice in the heavenly
Court session.
I would like you to notice
Psalm 89:14.
“Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy
and truth shall go before thy face.”
Now I ask you isn’t that wonderful; for
it means that we have no need to fear the judgment. I am so
glad that we can expect mercy and justice when our cases come
up in the heavenly Court session.
While we are in Psalms I would like you
to notice another text which is of great encouragement to
those who respond to the call to fear God.
Psalm 85:9 says,
“Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory
may dwell in our land.”
Now I ask you, isn’t that great news;
that salvation is for those who respect and reverence God; for
those who recognise that Jesus has made it possible by His
great sacrifice on Calvary, to be covered by His robe of
righteousness so that we might be able to stand before God
without fault.
How can we Give Glory
to God?
Now I would like to come back to
Revelation 14:7. “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give
glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and
worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the
fountains of waters.”
We are told not only are we to fear God
but also to give glory to Him, to recognise that He is the
Creator, the One who made this universe, the stars, the
nebulas, the constellations, all the heavenly bodies.
But you might ask, how can we give glory
to the One who is the Creator? Think of all the marvellous
things that He has made. Would that not bring glory to Him?
And they do for we are amazed at the remarkable things that He
has created: the flowers with their glorious colours and
intricate patterns, the trees so majestic and pleasing to the
sight, the animals, amazing in variety and complexity of
design. Then there is the Earth itself. As far as
we know there is nothing like it in the universe.
Originally God intended that man (that is
mankind) should be the climax of His creative power. That is
how it should have been. But sadly man in the main has
distanced himself from his Maker, and even become hostile to
the One who made him in the first place.
It is sin that has so changed the nature
of man, that in may cases he has become almost beastlike. Even
little children have become killers without understanding why
they did it, such as that tragic case in Sweden and England
and America.
Sadly St Paul had to admit in
Romans
3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God;”
God can Change Man
But man does not need to remain a sinner.
He can reach out to Jesus who is able to change his sinful
nature.
I am so glad that God did not give up on
man. He was prepared to make the supreme sacrifice so that man
could receive forgiveness of his sins and to come back into
full fellowship with his maker. St Peter says in
2 Peter 3:18,
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever.
Amen.”
Now I ask you, isn’t it wonderful that
when a person allows Jesus to change their life, their
outlook, their values, their very nature, so that it becomes
like God’s character, which is holiness, mercy, justice,
kindness, forgiveness and love. And as we grow in Christian
character we radiate some of the same characteristics of God,
and in this way bring glory to our maker.
Let us submit ourselves to the cleansing
and changing power of the gospel so that one day soon we may
be able to stand with God on the Sea of Glass in the heavenly
Jerusalem and bask in His glory.
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