THE WORKERS ASSURANCE
Acts 13:46
Morning Meditation 4/13/2014
"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles."
The worker needs assurance when he goes into hostile territory with the preaching of the Word. He needs to know he is not by himself. He needs to know that if he loses his earthly life, nothing is lost, but all is gained. He needs to memorize the truth of Psalms 116:15, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." If the death of His saints is precious in His sight, they will gain much more in death than they have in life.
The late Billy Kelley used to say he was not afraid to swing out over hell on a rotten corn stalk. When you saw Billy and his 450 lbs you knew Billy had perfect assurance of salvation. I have that same assurance. The Lord has promised never to leave us nor forsake us for any reason.
THE FIRES OF GOD'S JUDGMENT ARE KINDLED BY MAN'S SIN
There are two words which are rendered judgment in God's Word. One meaning the act of judging, in order to get the facts on the case; the other, which is generally rendered "Condemnation," and signifies the carrying out of the sentence of judgment already passed. As to the first, God's conclusion in relation to man universally, is, that all are guilty before Him (Romans 3:19); and as to the second, God is waiting in grace to see if men will accept His Son as their Saviour, in order that they may be "delivered from the wrath to come" That trial is going on now. Men who reject Jesus are helpless at the Great White Throne Judgment where all who are judged there are lost forever more. There will be no second chance. One has the freedom to reject Jesus in this life but he has no power to reject the consequences of that choice. It is either turn or burn..
There are three things which bring forth the judgment of God against man's sin.
1. God's judgment comes because of what man is. Romans 5:18-19, "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."
Adam, by his act of disobedience made himself a sinner, and all his posterity too. As one drop of deadly poison in a glass of water will make the whole poisonous, so Adam's transgression has poisoned the whole race of man. As a consequence of the fall, man's nature is evil; hence, he is evil, and does evil. Man sins because he is a sinner. So God must deal with the sin as well as the sinner. Until man sees that he is a sinner by nature he is not open to God's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
2. The judgment of God comes upon man, because of what he has done. When the judgment of the dead takes place, we read that they are "judged according to their works" (Rev. 20:12). What they have been determines what they shall be; hence, those who have been filthy and unjust, will be the same. What men have done will determine the measure of their punishment.
3. The judgment of God comes upon man, because of what he has not done. Some of God's most terrible judgments have come, and will come, because of things not done. This is plainly brought out in the following Scriptures, where omissions to duty are censured and condemned.
Judges 5:23, "Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty." Meroz was cursed, because help was not given.
Matthew 7:26-27, "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." The storm of Wrath overthrew the house of the man, because he did not build on the rock.
John 16:9, "Of sin, because they believe not on me;" The everlasting destruction and separation from the glory of God's presence, will be, because He was not known and obeyed; and the sin of all sins, is, that men will not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus is God's remedy for sin in its entirety. Jesus died for what man is as well as what he has done. What man has done only demonstrates what he is, i.e., a sinner by birth and a sinner by choice. Jesus invites all men to be saved. Matthew 11:28-30, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
