Remember, Lest Ye Forget
When we were very young, most likely our parents taught us many values that would help us grow up healthy, have many friends, and be successful. One of the first qualities to be taught was probably to show gratitude or being thankful to others who showed favor to us or gave us something like candy.
I can recall every time this action occurred in my presence growing up in the 1950’s and 1960’s, a parent involved would immediately respond, “Now what is it that you are to say”?
On the same line of thinking, are there people in our lives that we have blatantly or accidentally forgotten to say, “Thank you for something that you have done for me”? What would our parents think about us if they knew about these times of forgetfulness?
Better Late Than Never
The Bible is the Word of God about God. The Bible is also God in Word form (John 1: 1) so when are reading the Bible, we are in the Lord’s presence. The Bible teaches that God, alone, created the heavens including Earth, the planet where we live (Genesis 1: 1- 2). In continuing with His creation, he climaxed it with the creation of humanity, Adam and Eve (Gen. 2).
If one continues reading, he will see that God realized His creation, although made in His image (Gen. 5: 1), would disobey Him (Gen. 3: 6-7). God is holy and sinless. Disobedience from His creation is intolerable, and He declared death for their disobedience (Rom. 6: 23). However, in this same verse that declared death includes an offer for the gift of eternal life to show His great love for His creation (Rom. 3: 23) (John 3: 16).
In the fullness of time, the Father would send His Son, Jesus to pay the sin debt for ALL creation. This would be accomplished on a Cross called Calvary. (1 Cor. 15: 3- 4) (Rom. 5: 8). The results of Calvary provided an opportunity for mankind to have atonement for his sin debt which began with Adam and Eve (1 Cor. 15: 22). Although Adam and Eve had been created in God’s image, their disobedience had cursed them with the sinful nature which would be passed through each of the successive generations.
However, John, Disciple and Author of the Gospel of John, John the Apostle, John the Revelator, John, the Disciple whom Jesus loved, and John who was given charge of caring for Jesus’ mother at the Cross, “turned the world upside down” with (John 3: 16)! God herald through (John 3: 16) and many other scriptures, there was yet hope for His creation (Heb. 11: 1, 6). This was God’s plan of atonement to redeem Creation back to the Creator
(1 Cor. 15: 3-4) (Rom. 5: 8) (1 Peter 2: 24) (Isaiah 53: 5) (2 Cor. 5: 21) (Heb. 2: 14).
Although this wonderful plan of redemption in which the innocent dies for the guilty was a “Masterpiece of the Creator”, a greater part of humanity has rejected Christ’s sacrificial death in the past and still rejects this plan for atonement today. Thus by its own rejection of Christ, creation has to pay its own sin debt for disobedience itself being sent to live in Hell eternally (Matt. 7: 13-14).
Back to the Main Point
Whether or not humanity chooses to accept Christ’s death on the Cross of Calvary as atonement for God’s penalty for redemption (Rom. 6: 23), it is creation’s choice to be made. However, to have the opportunity to avoid Hell with an offer of eternity in Heaven as described as an eternal place of perfect peace, joy, and love, centered on the direct presence of God (1 Cor. 2: 9) is at least something to ponder a moment.
Would our parents agree that probably the least we as part of creation should say, “Thank you, Jesus the Christ, for giving me the opportunity for the “choice” of eternity in Heaven or in Hell? Humanity maybe then might have to give this matter some more consideration. Don’t take too long to think about it, however. Now is the day of Salvation (2 Cor. 6: 2).
The Trump of God is about to sound. Jesus the Christ is about to step out onto a cloud and head to earth (1Thess. 4: 16). High Court with a Judge whose face caused heaven and earth to flee and hide will be in charge! The fate of all humanity will be in His hands. No subpoenas will be issued, but all earth will be present! Judgment will be swift and final. Would it help with our decision to know that Hell has already been created and is being forced to enlarge without measure in its dimension to contain those that have and are still going there (Isa. 5: 14)? Why not change your destiny and avoid the crowd (Mark 8: 36) (Rev. 20: 11-15) (2 Cor. 5: 10)?
Sower's Field by L. Michael Schoonover 