04/28/2008
8The fourth [angel] poured out his bowl on the sun. He was given the power to burn people with fire, 9and people were burned by the intense heat. So they blasphemed the name of God who had the power over these plagues, and they did not repent and give Him glory.
10The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues from pain 11and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, yet they did not repent of their actions.
In the end times, there will be many catastrophic events and bizarre plagues that will come on the earth. These things are destined to be. The inhabitants of the earth will have become so vile and ungodly, that they will know these things are coming from God, but rather than repent of their actions, they will turn and shake their fists at Heaven and curse God.
You have heard the question, and perhaps you have asked it your self: “How can a loving God allow suffering?”
We must remember that He is also a jealous God. Worship, praise, and glory are due to Him and He will not allow arrogant, ungodly people to proceed in their rebellion. Many times God allows things to come into our lives to show us when we are wrong. Should a loving parent not discipline their children? Does a parent cease to be a parent just because the child chooses a different path?
God created us for a relationship with Him. Those of us who defy that relationship will ultimately be held accountable for our rebellion. By allowing calamity to come into our lives, God allows us opportunities to repent. But ultimately, some will continue in their defiance. These times of testing, in effect, become the catalysts of determining our end rewards.
Let it not be said that God never gave them a chance. Because as we see, even in the fourth and fifth plagues, the people, knowing that God is pouring out discipline, continue to defy His authority. Rather, they choose to follow the beast, the antichrist.
I am disappointed when I see people worshiping the earth or proclaiming messages like “all paths lead to Heaven.” This simply is not true. In Romans 1 and 2, we see that everyone should know and understand that there is a God simply by observing the complexity and grandeur of nature. And then we should all know that Jesus is our only path to God because He alone arose from the grave, establishing His authority. And by His own words, He is the only path to God.
It is a sad fact that some will choose a destiny of separation from God. Some may repent but only after severe discipline. Will you choose to obey and honor God now?
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2008 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
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