Often Christians are inclined to cherish the many encouragements, Promises, and blessings found in the Bible. We are right to do so, but shouldn’t we also cherish the chastisements, reproofs, warnings, and rebukes? Are not these also THE WORD OF GOD?
“A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool.” Proverbs 17:10 NASB2020
What does this mean to you? Is this a verse that you would rather not acknowledge, or is it the bread of life?
We find that in the beginning, God gave sundry blessings to His 1st couple. Those that He created “in His image.” He made them, male, and female, He created them, and He gave them all of His creation, to dress, and keep. He gave the authority to execute, and rule over God’s creation to mankind, and the headship of their relationship to Adam, the man. He gave Eve, or the woman, the blessing, duty, and privilege to be his helper. It is not that he was to lord over her, but they each had responsibilities, within their relationship, that together made them all that God had created them to be, the earthly image of God.
How is it that they lost the benefits, and blessings given to them by the Creator? Was it not by disregarding the duties assigned to them by God? Didn’t Adam reject his responsibility to guard and protect his wife from the enticement of the serpent? Didn’t Eve disregard the commandment of God not to eat the forbidden fruit? Didn’t Adam then partake of that forbidden fruit, rejecting the warning from God, and receiving the just punishment for his rebellion, taking his wife, and all of creation with him in that judgement?
How is it that such a calamity happened? Is it not because they chose to honor the words from God that they wanted, and reject those that they’d rather not honor?
I believe that the answers are clear. They doubted the righteousness, and authority of some of God’s words, and they added words to the commandment from God, then they were successfully enticed to reject the ONE commandment of abstinence given to them by their Creator. They became FOOLS, and;
“… even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,” Romans 1:21-22 NASB2020
“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, For they exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 1:21-22,25 NASB2020
We, as the created ones, the descendants of Adam and Eve, have no authority to pick, and choose the passages of scripture that we shall adhere to. We may not assign the hierarchy of the laws of God. We may not add to God’s word, and we may not subtract from it.
“I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18-19 NASB2020
We are witnessing a time when many of our peers have counted themselves as judges over their fellow citizens, and even over their, “brethren in the Lord.” They have called evil good, and called good evil. They have passed judgement over others based upon opinions, theirs, and those that they admire, regardless of available evidence, or lack thereof.
“One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord .” Proverbs 17:15 NASB2020
'There is a way which seems right to a person, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 16:25 NASB2020
“The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous. Bright eyes gladden the heart; Good news refreshes the bones. One whose ear listens to a life-giving rebuke Will stay among the wise. One who neglects discipline rejects himself, But one who listens to a rebuke acquires understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.” Proverbs 15:29-33 NASB2020
Will we be Wise?
Will we be righteous?
Will our ears listen to life-giving rebuke?
Will we fear The Lord?
Will we have Humility, or will our PRIDE cause us to fall?
“Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 KJV
It is us, each of us, who must make this choice for ourself. No one else is burdened with that right and responsibility. I urge you all to make the right choice.
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD , choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 NASB2020
God bless you, Dave
Thanks for the great message!