GOD KNOWS HIS OWN IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE

“Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.” Rom.14:13

     To work redemptively in every life is the privilege and responsibility of the professing Christian. And our judgment must have the literacy of Scripture and the wisdom from on High to rightly associate with others in our service to GOD the Father and Jesus Christ. The following words of the Apostle Paul exemplify the dynamics that GOD allows for the diversity in people’s lives: in their understanding, intellect, and environment. In this passage, Paul identifies the two classes of men: Those who know of the Ten Commandments and those who don’t, and how GOD’S Holy Law will judge every man whether they were aware of it or not.

     “For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law [a personal knowledge of the Ten Commandments], do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” Rom.2:11-16.

     The Bible teaches that precious and beautiful principle how Christ alone is the only bridge whereby men may cross to heaven, as it is written: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. Many Christians corrupt this principle by teaching that only those who know the name of Jesus Christ will inherit eternal life. The Bible’s guidelines of salvation do not teach this. The above passage of Paul verifies it. Millions of people who never heard the name of Jesus Christ will inherit everlasting life, as Paul said in no uncertain terms.

     There is also the beautiful prophecy (yet to be fulfilled) of the many people among the redeemed who will come to Jesus and ask Him, "What are these wounds in thine hands?" Zech.13:6. Millions of American Indians, Africans, Chinese, Islanders, people from around the globe will learn for the first time GOD'S great plan of redemption. These many people who lived up to the light of their understanding, embracing the Spirit of Heaven’s Love, welding it to their hearts, refusing to violate their conscience concerning its leading in their lives, detesting all actions of a sinful nature, including their own by avoiding their influence, these will be raised to everlasting life.

     This lesson is also seen in the days of the prophet Elijah. In his day, when it seemed that none in Israel stood faithful before GOD, the LORD said, “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” I Ki.19:18.

     The LORD cautions us in our manner of judgment. Said Jesus, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matt.7:1,2; 12:37. This is why if we are to err in our perception of people, we should always err on the side of mercy. Because many have offended people in their life's walk with a harsh spirit and not the tenderness of Christ. Multitudes have turned away from Christ’s salvation due to ungodly men and women slandering the very love that Christ displayed. We are counseled for gentleness: “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.” Rom.14:1.

     And the LORD repeatedly warns against our causing the eternal loss of any man: “And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” Mk.9:42. This is because of a precious principle, teaching that if you were the only one to be saved from this sin cursed Earth, Christ would have come just for you. Said the LORD: “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish;” “for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” Matt.18:4; I Sam.16:7.

     With the Scriptures enlightening us of the LORD’S means to judge the salvation of every man (Jn.12:48), why then did Christ command the great message of GOD’S salvation to go to all people? GOD commanded the knowledge of His Truth to be given to all men that they may gain the desired answers to the basic questions of life, thereby removing perplexity, doubt and discouragement, as well as discern the many snares of evil, that its influence not rule in one’s life, through whose influence the vast majority of the human race will perish in the end of time (I Pet.4:18). The LORD said it plain enough: "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matt.7:14.

     Those who know for themselves the lessons of Scripture and truly walk in the light of Christ’s Spirit accomplish far greater works of care and decency for their fellow man; for they have come to know the outstretched arm of GOD to rescue His kidnapped children from the clutches of their own selfish nature and the one who the Bible says has the power of death in his grasp: Satan, “the prince of this world.”

     Paul’s passage in Romans, chapter 2 also compliments the Saviour’s words from His Sermon on The Mount: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt.5:17-19. To “fulfil” doesn’t mean to do away with the Ten Commandments as the Standard of Christian Living, but rather demonstrate the character of their perfection by living up to the standard set forth by GOD that will judge every man, as Christ and all of His Apostles declared. Fulfilling the speed limit doesn’t do away with the speed limit.

     The greatest hypocrisy this world will ever know is the revelation that those claiming to be the representatives of GOD or scientific truth are merely traitors to their profession. Treachery rules among the leaders of earth: in science, medicine, law, religion and government. Said Christ, "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 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." "For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."

     But GOD knows His own in every walk of life, and He will lead them and gather them to stand together for the last great conflict between true love and its obvious counterfeit.

Last Word on the Course of Events

     Because man fell prey to Satan's deception he enjoined himself to a government that works contrary to the laws promoting the security of life and its regeneration. It is written in the Bible that GOD Himself had to intervene to save man from his extinction and show man the Laws whereby our mutual safety is secure in one another's care. These Laws are simple, and they are called the Ten Commandments. All who follow these Laws are led by the Love Born of Heaven and are safe in the eyes of GOD to inherit everlasting life. All others who reject this one and only perfect government have chosen the path of destruction; for to choose sin is to commit suicide. And GOD will never remove His gift of a free will. GOD must allow them the choices they have made whether for good or for evil: for life or for death. Those who make alliances with evil and remain therein are to die what the Bible calls "the second death." This is a death from which there is to be no resurrection: an eternal death of unconsciousness. "In that very day his thoughts perish,” wrote the psalmist. They are to never have life ever again, for this is their choice. Sin is the path of suicide: it never benefits regardless of its resemblance to virtue.

     No other knowledge than the complete message of the Bible addresses with any precision the logic of this predicament that all life on earth has been facing throughout its history. Biblical Christianity alone, which was the first and true religion of earth, according to the book of Genesis teaches that the demand for sacrifice went beyond the lowly creatures and even man to include the Creator Himself Who became the Savior, Jesus Christ. The leading attribute of Jesus Christ according to the Bible is that of Creator. He spoke into existence the entire Creation: “All things were created by Him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Over 800 verses of the Bible testify to this fact. Only the Father of man could legally redeem the children of man. Our Creator chose to give up His throne and pass through a metamorphosis inconceivable in its scope when He humbled Himself to become the lowly, self-sacrificing Jesus Christ, and allow Himself to be literally nailed to a tree. Sinful men united to murder their own Creator: a GOD who lives to serve! To remove the source of life is to remove the existence of life: this has ever been the goal of sin. Man to this day works to the destruction of GOD and Creation, and today's science and religions have united to achieve that end; and this foolishness is declared as the working of righteousness and integral to the perpetuation of life.

     It is the transgression of GOD’S established laws that has brought every woe to life. And if men will not honor GOD'S Holy Law here they would not honor it in heaven or in the new earth: it would not be safe to bring them there. One lifetime is the probation given to men; and if one lifetime will not convert the soul, leading to repentance and the renouncing of sin, a thousand lifetimes would avail nothing.

     The day is soon to come for those who truly desire to follow GOD when these marvelous words will be fulfilled: "And GOD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain [for anyone throughout the whole of Creation]: for the former things have passed away." All the things that men have lied, stolen, and killed for, the thrones, the fame and the riches—none of these can compare to the wondrous beauty GOD has planned for the redeemed of the human family, "As it is written, eye hath not seen; ear hath not heard; neither hath entered into the heart of man the things GOD hath prepared for those who love Him." The riches of this world cannot compare to the riches of beauty and knowledge GOD will bestow throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. And the greatest among all riches is the ever- increasing knowledge of our Creator's Love when He unresistingly went to the Cross at Calvary.

     GOD has placed in the heart hopes and dreams that only eternity can fulfill. GOD’S gift of eternal life is found in a promise: a promise made by Jesus Christ, to take the saints home to heaven for a thousand years while Satan is bound to a desolate Earth of his own making: "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you [in heaven]. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again [at the 2nd Advent], and receive you unto myself [“in the clouds”]; that where I am [with GOD the Father], there ye may be also." "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." Rev.20:1-6.

     Everlasting life is a promise of GOD to those who "love Him and keep His commandments;" and there is no lie, nor contradiction in this. Hold to this promise. Never let it go. For this is one "hope that maketh not ashamed."

     A world is coming whose characteristics of existence will be so far above the natural wonders of our world that the Word of GOD gave several prophecies of how all of the creatures of earth will be perfectly safe. This includes man and beast. “And none shall make them afraid.” Carnivorous behavior will not exist. Old age and death will forever be vanquished. And nothing will threaten their safety and happiness ever again, for man will abide by the Law ordained for the preservation of life forever. Man, the Crowning Creation of GOD, will thrive in a tapestry of life whose endeavors will continue throughout eternity. In addition, our Creator has designed our universal home with such a degree of diversity and complexity that men will be busy in its study and exploration forever. And it will be discovered that ungodly aliens do not exist, other civilizations of other worlds will never be destroyed by wars, disease, asteroids or supernovas. And above all it will be discovered that man did not have to fall into sin to learn that GOD would come to redeem them from their afflictions and fulfill every aspiration that He Himself placed in their hearts “in the beginning.”