Psalms Walk-Thru #007

“The heavens declare the glory of the Mighty God; and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.”  Psalms 19:1

 

Right here in this verse we have what is irrefutable evidence, should the world choose to accept it, that God does exist.  There are no excuses as to why mankind should not understand their sinful condition and believe the Gospel. 

 

“For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is clearly recognized by them, for God has revealed it to them.  For ever since the creation of the world the unseen things of Him are clearly perceived, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,  because, although they know God, they do not glorify Him as God, nor are thankful, but become vain in their reasonings, and their stupid hearts are darkened.  Professing to be wise, they become foolish, and change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”  Romans 1:18-23

 

As Christians, we must not be compromising about God and what His Word says regarding Creation.  Certainly the world was Created in six, twenty-four periods, or in six days (Gen. 1:31).  Not days that lasted millions or billions of years, literal days.  For if we speak of the Gospel to those who will listen and tell how Jesus died on the Cross for their sins (1 Pet. 2:24), speak of the gift of God (John 3:16) to all who will accept it and then tell how Christ rose from the dead to sit at the right hand of the Father (Rom. 8:34), then why would we explain that other portions of the Bible are not also accurate?  Will we excuse what the Bible says by substituting it for ‘theistic evolution’? 

 

What will we then say regarding what the Bible clearly teaches about a literal devil (Rev. 12:9) and a literal Hell (Matt. 25:46)?  Will we only tell those who will listen that there is indeed a Heaven (most of the lost would not seem to want to argue about that), but then turn around and declare Hell to not be a place of eternal punishment for those whose names are not written in the Book of Life (Rev. 20:11-15)?  Will we tell them about Salvation, declaring faith in Jesus as the means to Conversion (Eph. 2:8), without tell them that God commands all men everywhere to repent?  Will we exclude repentance?  Let it not be!

 

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has established a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has appointed. He has given assurance of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”  Acts 17:30-31

 

The Holy Scriptures are God’s words for mankind (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  In them they have the words which lead to life.  As Believers, there should be no compromise made whatsoever regarding what the Bible teaches (1 Tim. 4:13, 16).

 

“Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of eternal life.  And we have believed and understood that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  John 6:68-69

 

“The Statutes of Jehovah are upright, rejoicing the heart; the Commandments of Jehovah are pure, illuminating the eyes.  The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of Jehovah are true and altogether just,  more to be desired than gold, even than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  And Your servant is warned by them; in keeping them there is great reward.”  Psalms 19:8-11

 

Oftentimes there are many who enjoy reading books about the Book of Psalms.  There are many who try to find faith through reading Psalms.  Yet that faith is for those who have repented and believed into the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.  That faith is reserved, not towards a world who is dying in their sins, but for those who truly yield to Him in faith.  How many times does a church study the Psalms, going over examples of faith, but fail to recognize that other things are also taught in the Psalms.

 

They proclaim to have faith, but do not believe the other doctrines contained throughout the Psalms.  Do they believe that God really Created the heavens and the earth, as well as themselves?  Do they believe that there is a fear of Jehovah, one that brings repentance to the hearts of men (Job 28:28)?  Do they realize that many attributes of the character of the Almighty God are boldly declared through the Psalms?  Do they clearly see the warnings against ungodly behavior, unfaithfulness and sin throughout their studies, or ignore it wholesale?

 

Just as there are many of the lost who will easily believe in Heaven, hoping or rather demanding that they will go there when they die or a loved one who passed away is looking down upon them, despite the fact that there was no indication or the most remotest of evidence of Salvation inherited by one who has passed away or one who is living currently.  Often times they will cite the good in a person, without realizing that all have sinned and the wages of sin are death.

 

“The fool has said in his heart, There is no God! They are corrupt; they have done abominable works, there is no one who does good.  Jehovah looked down from Heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there were any who understood and sought God.  They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, no, not one.”  Psalms 14:1-3

 

…” for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”…  Romans 3:23

 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

 

Sad, truly it is sad, but should this continue on to be this way.  For in the same way that they believe that they are going to Heaven, despite having not truly accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, the same way they study the Psalms, assuming that they simply must have faith.  If only their faith was not in vain!  If only they realized that they must yield, they through faith must accept Him who died on the Cross for their sins! 

 

When my father passed away a preacher of the church he used to attend was called to do the funeral service.  As I arrived at the soon to be gravesite, the pastor approached me.  Taking him to the side I explained to him that I did not wish that he would declare him to be in Heaven, but rather abstain from such language, as not everyone who dies goes to Heaven.  To my surprise, this small village pastor agreed, to him it was also troubling that pastors declare nearly all who are deceased to be looking down upon those who are attending the burial.  Sadly this is also the way that many Sunday school teachers and preachers speak.

 

They tell their congregation of these things, without stressing the importance that they are for those who are Saved, not for the lost.  Just as Heaven is for those who have victory in Christ, so are the blessings that are contained in the Holy Scriptures regarding faith in God, that is not vain, but for those who have, by faith, accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

 

Amen!