YOU WERE SERIOUS ABOUT THAT?

When I was the Director of Transportation at Camp I handed out the Routes to the Bus Drivers on Saturday and told them they had to be worked on and handed back to me ASAP, the following Friday at the latest, since Camp started that Monday.  Everyday I received routes and kept reminding the ones not handing them in of the dead line.  On that Friday I went to the one driver who had not turned in his route and asked him for it.  He looked me in the eyes and said, "Oh, you were serious about that?"  I
responded with three words...."Yes.  You're Fired" and walked away.  Any other response would have been wrong and would have created consequences for me and the Camp in the future.

A lot of the preaching in many churches these days is that God is Love, and a God who is Love cannot be angry, will not punish people, and is not who the Old Testament says He is.  It's all about Jesus and so the Law of the Old Testament can be  reinterpreted and put aside.  To me this sounds like distorted truth.  I agree people should not be scared into a relationship with God by the threat of going to hell.  But I don't agree that we should neuter God and soft soap His message or His warnings in order to "get people" into the church either.

It's all too easy to "sell Jesus" to people because nothing is expected of people; there is no way of accountability to trusting and obeying Jesus.  He is just "cool" to hang out with cause He loves people. I believe Jesus is "cool to hang out with", but I also am very aware that He is God...Yes, a God of steadfast love, but also a God to be feared , revered, and obeyed.  There will be a time of judgement.  We are all held accountable for our relationship with Him as well as our words and deeds.

Much of the teaching and preaching today shows the ease of the Christian Life.  It is all about good times and peace.  Surely life with God is one big come as you are party...But is it?  When I read Jeremiah and Malachi I know they are talking to the Israelites in the past, but it sure sounds similar to todays world.

"Everyone is given to covetousness, to greed for unjust gain; from the prophet to the priest every one deals falsely.  They have healed also a wound of the daughter of My people lightly and neglectfully, saying Peace, peace, when there is no peace.  They are not ashamed of the abominations they committed." Jeremiah 6:13-19
'The Lord is wearied by our actions, by when it is said 'Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them." Malachi 2:17

God is clear.  "I am the Lord, I do not change."  Malachi 3:6

It has been said by many of the church's leaders today that everything must change...God must be relevant to Today, and so they are busy changing what God has said and done recorded in the Bible.  The things written and spoken of by the Holy Spirit are meant to change US, not the other way around so people can live how they want to live.

Very early in His ministry Jesus made one thing very clear.  "Do not think that I have come to do away or undo the Law and the prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo, but to complete and fulfil them."(Matthew 5:17,1).  At the end of His ministry He spent time with with His disciples.  "Beginning with Moses and throughout the prophets, He went on explaining and interpreting to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning and referring to Himself." Luke 24:27,45

God is Love; in Jesus we have reconciliation and forgiveness, if we receive it and believe it.  Following Jesus is enriching and exciting; He is truly a "cool" friend to be yoked to.  But to walk with Him is not easy because it means dying to self, to my way and taking up my cross and living His Way.  The Old Testament shows the consequences of not living His Way and they are there to warn us, not simply explained away. Final Judgement will come in the end.  If our response is, "Oh, You were serious about that?" His answer will be "Yes".

In the end the Preacher of old speaks Truth.  "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion to the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13.