God’s word directs us on how to be pleasing to Him and how to live for Him. His plan for man’s salvation of faith, repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, is a simple plan.
Yet many refuse to obey. Many lives have been damaged and homes broken up all because of failing to comply with God’s directions. Many souls will be lost for the same reason.
God has warned man yet many fail to heed His warnings. In the book of James we find, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren” (James 1:13-16).
Lust can be and has been categorized into three areas, the lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Allowing one’s self to be overcome by any or all of these can lead to destruction. King David gave in to the lust of the flesh and committed adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:1-5).
The example of Naaman, captain of the host of Syria (2 Kings 5:1ff) shows how man wants to do things his way. Naaman served the king of Syria and captain of his armies, but he was a leper. He was told that the prophet of God could cure him of this dreaded disease, so he went to see the prophet. In his mind he had decided just how the cure would come about.
However when the remedy was told him his pride almost cost him his health and his life. “But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper” (2 Kings 5:11).
Fortunately for Naaman, he had a servant who could show him he needed to reel in his pride. “And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, my father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?” (2 Kings 5:13). When he obeyed the prophet’s words, his leprosy was cured.
Jesus, in one of the sermons He preached while upon the earth, told that man must do God’s will. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:21 – 23).
Heaven awaits all who will follow God’s directions.
Yet many refuse to obey. Many lives have been damaged and homes broken up all because of failing to comply with God’s directions. Many souls will be lost for the same reason.
God has warned man yet many fail to heed His warnings. In the book of James we find, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren” (James 1:13-16).
Lust can be and has been categorized into three areas, the lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Allowing one’s self to be overcome by any or all of these can lead to destruction. King David gave in to the lust of the flesh and committed adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:1-5).
The example of Naaman, captain of the host of Syria (2 Kings 5:1ff) shows how man wants to do things his way. Naaman served the king of Syria and captain of his armies, but he was a leper. He was told that the prophet of God could cure him of this dreaded disease, so he went to see the prophet. In his mind he had decided just how the cure would come about.
However when the remedy was told him his pride almost cost him his health and his life. “But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper” (2 Kings 5:11).
Fortunately for Naaman, he had a servant who could show him he needed to reel in his pride. “And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, my father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?” (2 Kings 5:13). When he obeyed the prophet’s words, his leprosy was cured.
Jesus, in one of the sermons He preached while upon the earth, told that man must do God’s will. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:21 – 23).
Heaven awaits all who will follow God’s directions.