Where were they?

Where were they?

Written by

Meg

 

Before I start working, I sometimes have time to read news around the world. Despite of my busy schedule, I recently realized that the world itself is too busy, too. It is quite scary for people to dwell much into world news thus, it is encouraged to read the Bible daily to be fed of Good News before anything else.

 

Lately, I appreciate more deeply what the Word of God wants to tell us. I am fond of those passages in the scriptures where they warned people. This simply means that God Himself loves us so much that He doesn’t want His people to be in danger but to be safe, be saved and have an eternal life with Him.

 

In spite of those warning, God also made Himself clear to me that He is a disciplinary God. That those who disobeyed Him, He also abandoned them. Looking back the story of Noah, people referred to him as a fool or crazy man. Who can someone create a huge ark without any sign of rain? Can someone imagine how Noah endured to tolerate what people say about him for hundreds of years in building the ark? If you are Noah, will you feel upset and stopped building the ark? Will you be disappointed for those years of waiting for the rain to come proving you are right?

 

People who mocked Noah died when the rain came and flooded the Earth for 40 days and 40 nights. Did God able to save these people? NO. Why? Because the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (Genesis 6:5-6). Where were they? Where were these people? Aren’t they too busy for their own self, busy for their own businesses? Did they care much of what God told to Noah?

 

If I am to see, it is clearly obvious around the world what kind of people we have in the present times. The world is full of worldly things --- read the newspaper, watch tv, listen to music, most of which are not so good news than good news isn’t it? I don’t think God is happy about what’s happening?

 

Let’s take a closer look at Sodom and Gomorrah, the LORD rained  brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven, and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground (Genesis 19:24-25). Why? Because the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD (Genesis 13:13); this was also supported as the LORD said, "The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave (Genesis 18:20). God Himself not saved wicked people of Sodom and Gomorrah but instead punished them with fire. Where were they? Just busy doing evil things, not right, unacceptable, and not pleasing in the eyes of God.

 

With the two stories one thing is common, one thing is clear, God was not pleased with people who are sinful and doing wickedness. He let them suffer in their iniquities. Will they go to heaven with him? I don’t think so? As Peter said, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth (1 Peter 1:15-17). Just thinking, if those people are not with him in heaven, are they in hell?

 

God is pretty sure about hell. There is justice both in earth as it is in eternal life. If people committed crimes, by the court verdict they will be punished of imprisonment or even death. Prison is without freedom while death is a passport of going to hell easily especially if that person will not able to repent. There will be another judgement after death on that person and that depends on God Himself whether he or she will have an eternal life with Him in heaven or will be thrown to hell with the devil (who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone), where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:10).

 

But here’s the good news. The story of people in Nineveh was exceptional. Despite that Ninevites were Gentiles, ruthless and warlike people who were enemies of Israel, God still extended His salvation to them. When God saw their deeds that they turned from their wicked way then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it. (Jonah 3:10). That’s amazing isn’t it? God showed up His mercy and love for those who repented from their sins.

 

Another story who received an instant heaven was the other criminal who hang on the cross with Jesus Christ. The conversation was evidently stated in Luke 23:41-43 as it read --- “and we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man (Jesus) has done nothing wrong." And he (the criminal) was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." What a great example of instant forgiveness! It was grace from Jesus Christ that saved this man from his sins. Did God allow this criminal to do good works as a way to heaven considering his limited time to live? NO. It was indeed the grace of God. The Lord is full of mercy and grace; it is undoubtedly amplified in Ephesians 2:7-9 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

 

Why am I telling this? There’s not much difference between the people of old time and this present time. Some people are too busy to be selfish, too greedy, immoral, corrupted, wicked, sinful and among others which I believe made God feel so unhappy. I don’t know when the prophecies of Revelation will take place but one thing is for sure it will happen. We cannot stop it just like the prophecy of prophet Isaiah about the coming of the Messiah that was concluded when Jesus Christ was born. Likewise, the prophecy on the death of the son of God and was fulfilled when Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross.

 

The prophecies in the Book of Revelation are about to happen sooner or later, the question is where are we? Are we at work, at church, at school, at home? Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near (Revelation 1:3); as the Lord said, "Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll” (Revelation 22:7); “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame” (Revelation 16:15). On the Final Judgement, everyone will be judged accordingly, good or bad. People’s fame, beauty, intelligence, education, achievement, position, trophies, certificates are all worthless especially --- “if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” Revelation 20:15.

 

 

Truly the salvation of God is personal. He imposed His judgement exclusively. This simply imply that we have to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Can we work out for someone else’s salvation? I don’t think so? But we can only pray for them that they may see the wondrous and amazing grace that only God can offer for those who repent and believe in Him. On the other hand, the grace of God is not an excuse to do wrong and repent later on; what if there’s no more time to ask for grace and salvation? Will there be a second chance? One thing is for sure, everyone has a choice.