Bible Reading: Job 33-34; Acts 13:24-52
“And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed” Acts 13:48 (KJV)
God gives room for everyone to give his life to Christ and be saved from the everlasting punishment ( Matthew 25:46). The word of God is clear that God is no respecter of persons. It is their choice that will determine how they are treated. Romans 10:10-13 (KJV) says clearly, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” So our choice is critical in life. God has given everyone the freedom to exercise his choice but has also advised us on the right path to take but the decision to make the final choice has been left to each individual. This is how God started with human beings from creation. Thus in Gen 2:15-17, He put Adam in the garden of Eden and asked him to dress and keep it but should not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He further gave the consequence of disobedience to Adam that he would die if he should eat of the fruit. Despite the clear instruction, Adam disobeyed and he paid for it. God is still dealing with men along the same line today. He sent the Lord Jesus Christ to every creature to accept him as our Lord and Saviour so that we may be forgiven of our sins and be saved from eternal damnation with a corollary that if we refuse to accept Jesus, we would end up in lake of fire.
God has made the options and the consequences clear to us and it is left for us to make a choice of what to do. This is the point made clear to both Jews and Gentiles in Acts 13:46. The message of salvation was preached to the Jews first but noting that they chose to remain in sin, God caused Saul to preach the same message to the Gentiles and seeing the opportunity, they rejoiced at God’s love. Acts 13:48 )KJV) says “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”
So is it with you today, if you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, this is an opportunity to be ordained for eternal life by believing or be doomed to everlasting punishment by continuing in sin. As Moses said to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV), “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”
If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, please confess your sins to him, ask for forgiveness, accept him as your Lord and Saviour and promise to live a life of obedience to his words from now on. And if you already have Jesus, pray to him to reveal more of himself to you.
Prayer: Oh Lord give me grace to live a life acceptable to you and grant me the revelation of you.
Pastor Joel Ezeugo