THE REST OF THE STORY

THE REST OF THE STORY 

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”; “our God is a consuming fire”; “I am in anguish in this flame” (Hebrews 10:31; 12:29; Luke 16:24).  Passages such as these, and others like them, are alarming.  And, they are intended to alarm.  The “wages of sin is death”; and “all have sinned” (Romans 6:23; 3:23).  The truth is, “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (II Corinthians 5:10).

We must continually remember that it “is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”.  There is, thankfully, another side to that coin; the “rest of the story”, as Paul Harvey put it.  There are passages of scripture which tell us of the love and provision of God for us.  In this study we will examine a few of them for the confidence and hope they offer.

I hope for heaven, because of

               The Grace Of God      Any study seeking to promote hope must begin with grace, the favor of God which man cannot earn.  The favor of God cannot be bought; Simon offered money for power and was rebuked sharply by the apostle Peter, “May your silver and gold perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!” (Acts 8:22). 

The grace of God and man’s entrance into it by faith is chronicled throughout Scripture.  It is the essence of salvation: Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people”.  So Paul could write, “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8).   Grace enables us to hope.

I hope for heaven, because my God is

               “Not Wishing That Any Should Perish”     Another passage offering hope is  written by Peter in his second epistle:  “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (3:9).  Our God, the “consuming fire”, patiently waits; not hovering around to snatch and cast into torment, He is rather wishing that all should reach repentance.

            There is motivation for repentance.  Romans 2:4, “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance”; and again, II Corinthians 7:10, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret.”  The motivation is provided by God.

            I hope for heaven, because God will not let me be

            “Tempted Beyond Your Ability”     The devil is the tempter (Matthew 4:1-3) and every sin is  preceded by temptation (James 1:14, 15).  The devil is not irresistible; we are charged to “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7; and confer I Peter 5:8, 9).  When we are tempted and sin, therefore, we have no excuse: we have yielded to one we could have, and should have, defeated.

            There is, however, hope beyond our failures; “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure it” (I Corinthians 10:13).

            I hope for heaven, because I

            “Walk In The Light”        We try not to sin; but, we stumble.  If sinless perfection were needed to get to heaven, we sinners would be without hope.  We are heartened by the promise of I John 1:7,  “… if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”   We stumble into sin; and we must admit it.  When we admit it, complying with all the instruction of God of belief and repentance,  the blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin.

            I hope for heaven.                                                                                       Pat