The Direct Contrast of This World—Sin is marginalized by the Enemy
Daily Online Bible Study From the Living Bible
Scripture Verse of The Day
Hebrews 11:2
Men of God in days of old were famous for their faith
Scripture Reading of The Day
Hebrews 11:1-13
What is Faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. Men of God in days of old were famous for their faith.
By Faith—by believing God—we know that the world and the stars —in fact, all things—were made at God’s command; and that they were all made from things that can’t be seen.
It was by faith that Abel obeyed God and brought an offering that pleased God more than Cain’s offering did. God accepted Abel and provided it by accepting his gift; and though Abel is long dead, we can still learn lessons from him about trusting God.
Enoch trusted God too and that is why God took him away to heaven without dying: suddenly he was gone because God took him. Before this happened God had said how pleased he was with Enoch. You can never please God without faith, without depending on him, anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him.
Noah was another who trusted God. When he heard God’s warning about the future, Noah believed him even though there was then no sign of a flood, and wasting no time, he built the ark and saved his family. Noah’s belief in God was in direct contrast to the sin and disbelief of the rest of the world—which refused to obey—and because of his faith he became one of those whom God has accepted.
Abraham trusted God, and when God told him to leave home and go far away to another land which he promised to give him, Abraham obeyed. Away he went, not even knowing where he was going. And even when he reached God’s Promised Land, he lived in tents like a mere visitor, as did Isaac and Jacob, to whom God gave the same promise. Abraham did this because he was confidently waiting for God to bring him to that strong heavenly city whose designer and builder is God.
Sarah, too, had faith and because of this she was able to become a mother in spite of her old age, for she realized that God, who gave her his promise, would certainly do what he said. And so a whole nation came from Abraham, who was too old to have even one child—a nation with so many millions of people that, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the ocean shores, there is no way to count them.
These men of faith I have mentioned died without ever receiving all that God had promised them; but they saw it all awaiting them on ahead and were glad for they agreed that this earth was not their real home but that they were just strangers visiting down here.
Sam’s Response
I find it amazing and very disturbing what has happened in my short life here in this world. Just in a very short time, Sin has been knocked down to the point where you will hear very few people mention the word sin anymore.
If you look to the Word of God and how we are to depend and look to God for the way to live, you will see a direct and growing contrast today to the Word of God, unlike any time in our history.
Constantly, from the eyes of God, who has poured into me his goodness, the world is in direct contrast to how God says to live. The world has become an upside down place and The Word of God is forgotten with so many people. They do not know what they do father…Forgive them was the Dying words of our Lord and Savior.
People do not look at what they do and say “that is not right!”, instead, they have allowed sin to grow to a point where they dismiss it or even embrace it as a “normal” way of life.
Many people still have no faith in God and walk a complete path of unrighteousness. But they don’t see it as unrighteousness. Their direct disobedience to God’s word is a path filled with emptiness and sorrow. Sure they may be whooping it up and claim that they are free, but they are fooled.
God’s first commandment is to love him. We are to obey and walk a path that is holy and a path that is moving us closer to God.
Our pastor recently did a sermon where he pointed out that we are either moving towards God or away from God. The law of physics proves this out to be true.
In the final days, before Jesus returns, he says that we are to be either Hot for God or Cold. Those who are lukewarm will be spit out of the Kingdom of God.
I believe many Christians are walking a luke warm path, and if you are reading this and you know you are not giving God your first and best of you, then make a firm commitment to press into the Word of God and Let God grow your desire for the things he has in store for you, not what this world has in store for you. For this is not our real home….we are here to serve what God has for us, but before we can be used by God for his purposes, we must build and grow our desire for God and our faith.
Faith without works is dead.
I pray that you will be stirred by God to repent and turn away from the desires of this world and look up to heaven and let the love of God burn in your heart…let the love of God work in you by turning to his word daily for guidance and for an ever increasing faith in what God can do in you if you will surrender your life and everything you see around you to him.
He will bless your faith and fill your path with victory and freedom. This is a victory that can not be found in money, jobs or vacations. This victory and freedom is beyond what we can see with our eyes. It is only found in obedience of the Word of God and an on fire desire for God.
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