WOE— BEWARE!

Woe— Beware!

 For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth.  —Exodus 9:15

 Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! —Matthew 18:7

             A day of reckoning is coming.  “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9).  Yes, our Lord is patient with this sin-infested world that is in rebellion against Him— A world that does not want anything to do with Him and desires to do evil.  But this world system is headed for judgment.  Just as our Lord could have annihilated Egypt if He do desired, so He could do that with the whole world… and judgment will come to this whole world one day.  But He is patient because His desire is that people will turn from their own evil ways to follow Him and His ways that are totally good.  So, will people follow the satanic worldly ways of evil or the God’s ways of good?  Will they desire to be held captive to do Satan’s will (II Timothy 2:26) or seek to do God’s will (Matthew 6:19)?

            Temptation is not sin in itself, but it is a lure to sin.  Jesus made it very clear that those in this world’s system headed by Satan that lure people to sin are headed for woe.  Their end will not be good.  They encourage others to sin, “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:32).  Yes, those who tempt others to sin, to go against God’s desires, will be judged by our Lord.  Wouldn’t want to be in that position!

Dear Father I am so grateful to know that you are Sovereign over everything and that nothing escapes your notice.  That is sobering for my own life, but it is also comforting to know that nothing in this world system escapes Your notice and that You will make all things right one day.  May I be faithful as I live for you by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On-whMoulOM