2nd Chronicles chapter 22. Jesus is the ONLY WAY!
Good Morning Everyone
There was so much evil amongst Israel and Judah and amongst the leadership, that God anointed Jehu to destroy the house of Ahab of Israel and the officials of Judah and even Ahaziah the king of Judah.
There are different times throughout Scripture that God take someone's life who is in opposition to him and his truth. I sometimes wonder about that today with individuals. I think of rulers in the middle East who have gained power only later to be killed. Were they killed because God sent someone to destroy them cuz of their wickedness?
When I was 20 years old I had newly recommitted my life to the Lord, and I began to proclaim Bible truths that were offensive to my father. He was involved in an organization that says all religions are acceptable for all serve the same God. I was proclaiming to my dad John 14:6 where Jesus said “I am the way the truth and the life. No one gets to the father except through me.” Then I showed my dad Matthew 7:14 where it says “Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.” I used that verse as a way of saying not everyone is going to make it to heaven just because they believe in a god. He couldn't believe these truths. He couldn't believe that it had to be a faith in Jesus alone. As a result he asked me to speak with one of the members of the organization who was the pastor of a church. So I meant with this pastor at his house and we talked and debated about John 14:6 and how the organization mislead people into thinking that their way is okay and there's only one way and that's Jesus. We left with our differences. One week later my dad told me the pastor died. Two thoughts immediately came to my mind:
1. Sadness and
2. I couldn't help but wonder if God took his life for promoting a gospel of half-truths.
Regardless of whether God took his life or not I am reminded how we need to represent Christ in all we do and for his glory. Colossians 3:17 says “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Everything we do has to be about Jesus. False gods are not acceptable. We can't let ourselves get sucked into a life that promotes self, or half-truths or false gods.
Side note: My dad surrendered his life to the Lord before he died of cancer in 2007. He said his greatest regret is that he didn't surrender his life to the Lord sooner.
I was reminded today of what we read in Luke 21:13-19.
“This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.”