Do not be deceived,God is not mocked, whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. Gal 6:7 You dont plant apple seeds and get wheat. You dont sow good and have a Father that ignores. Our hope rests in God’s goodness.
However, Romans 11:22 reminds us, warns us, BEHOLD, the goodness and severity of God. God is good, Ps 34, but He is also holy and must deal with sin. Sin is so egregious that the ONLY way it could be dealt with was by the death of His Son. If you can “earn” your salvation by works, then God is unjust for sending His Son to the cross. Indeed, God tells us in Eph 2,” By grace you are saved thru faith, not of yourself, not of works, lest any man should boast. For we were created for good works, which God ordained that we should do.”
This begs a question: what happens to those who dont practice those good works? Well, Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about heaven. Additionally, He spoke more about money and material things than He did about His Kingdom. So Jesus knew that hell is real and that material things “own” us and keep us from God…from peace…from heaven. Jesus said,”Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matt 6:33 Jesus also said,”No one can serve two masters. You cannot serve God and money.” Matt 6:24 So you will either allow God to be first in your life, His rightful place, or you will put yourself, your money, your image in His place. And do not be deceived, you will reap what you have chosen. The “Christian” who puts money above God does not know his Father.
The world does not understand spiritual things because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor 3 What about the”Christian”? Not to beat a horse, but do not be deceived. These things are written for our understanding. Rom 15:4 Search your heart. If money or the world are your top priority, Gods proper position, then you need to seriously consider….am I a Christian? If there is no fruit, no evidence, then do not be deceived, you probably are not a Christian. The warning is as applicable to “Christians” as it is to the world and the unbeliever.
Ps 14:1”The fool has said in his heart there is no God.” The one who lives like there is no God is also a fool. The one who ignores God’s law and lives their life as they please is the very fool God is describing. God’s rules are not a burden. They are for our protection and to protect those we encounter.
Ps 1 says.”Blessed and happy is the man who walks not in ungodly counsel, nor stands in the ways of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. Note the proression: first he walks, then he stops, then he sits, then he becomes like and regrets. Vs 2 His delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law he meditates day and night. And he shall be like a tree, planted,flourishing,”and whatever he does will prosper.” vs 6 “For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”
Gal 5:22 describes the fruits, the evidences, of someone who is a Christian, who has the Holy Spirit guiding their life: love, joy,peace,patience,kindness,goodness,gentleness,faithfulness,selfcontrol.
Does that describe me? Would my spouse describe me as possessing these characteristics? Who does not want love, joy and peace? Surrendering to God brings those blessings. Prov 19:22”What is desired in a man is kindness”. In most cases, kindness costs nothing. And in all cases kindness reflects my Savior. Am I known for my selfcontrol? If you are it is because you have surrendered yourself to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. I die daily.” Gal 2:20,1 Cor 15:31
The Christian looks at these traits as a guidepost. Am I exhibiting these traits? Am I more…selfcontrolled than last week? What am I doing today to develop these traits? How would it bring my Father glory to live out these traits? Would exhibiting these make my witness stronger? Am I “letting my Light shine” or am I causing others to say”I thought he was a Christian?”
This is the devils plan. He started in the Garden of Eden. Did God really say? He uses God’s Truth in a twisted way to cause us to doubt, to excuse sin, to lead us away from God. Has satan ever whispered in your ear,”he hurt you. You should do this to get him back.” The mature Christian checks this selftalk against God’s Word. So what does God’s Word say? Rom 12:19 Vengeance is mine, I will repay, thus says the Lord. Jesus encouraged us to suffer wrong and even said we are”blessed when we are
persecuted for doing what is right. Matt 5:12 Besides, our key verse is not to be deceived, God is not mocked, whatever we sow, we reap. Repay evil with good and trust the results to God. 1 Peter 3:9
So what about the”believer?” satan will use scripture, emotions, half truths to keep the unbeliever that way. Jesus described satan as “the deceiver, a liar, a murderer, from the beginning”. Saying a word that you dont believe,dont live out, indeed living the opposite of God’s Word tells YOU and the world what you truly are: deceived, unsaved,lost, without hope. satan will keep you busy, distracted, defensive,lost.
Jesus said,”By their fruits you will know them.” Matt 7:20. Good fruit indicates a life surrendered. Selfcontrol is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work. Lying, pride, wordliness, unforgiveness also indicates your spiritual condition.
