I am going to quote both verbatim AND paraphrase some remarks the apostle Paul makes in the 14th chapter of the Book of Romans. When I quote him word-for-word, I’ll say it’s verbatim. When I paraphrase, I’ll say I am doing so.
“No man lives to himself, and no man dies to himself” (verse 7, verbatim). We all have some influence for good or ill on those with whom we come into contact in life. And we will be judged accordingly.
“We (yes, us believers), shall ALL stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (verse 11, last part, verbatim). It matters not whether we number in the millions or billions. We will all, AS INDIVIDUALS, stand before our LORD, “So then EVERY ONE OF US shall give account of himself to God” (verse 12, verbatim). We better come to grips with that stark fact. It IS going to happen to YOU and to me! No one knows the mechanics of just how that will work. We inhabit time. The spirit world inhabits eternity. That’s a big difference. That difference is so profound that it allows for Jesus Christ to judge every single one of us individually regardless of how great our number as time will no longer figure in as a component in that process. Got it?
“The kingdom of God is not about what we should eat or what we should drink. It’s about achieving a righteous lifestyle, a holy conduct. That alone will bring the peace of God and joy of the Holy Spirit into our daily lives” (verse 17, paraphrase).
“Whatsoever is not of faith IS SIN” (verse 23, last part, verbatim). If you can’t do what you are doing in good faith, keeping a clear conscience throughout it all – you are sinning. Stop it. Let it go.
I will give account to our Lord for all that I have written or will yet write. That’s why I weigh carefully my action before I hit the “publish” button and send an article out into the ether.
My closing thought: You had better believe ISIS is right now regrouping. Satan is mad. He knows that he has but a short time, but, remember, “a short time” to a spirit being who has lived for perhaps millions of years could well be two or three centuries or more! The demons that inspired Charles Manson and the Son of Sam are now both inspiring and entering into many men and women embracing Islam and vowing allegiance to Allah, another name for Satan himself. And there are lots of demons to go around. One man during Christ’s earthly ministry was possessed BY THOUSANDS!! How many demons possess a father as he murders his wife and three little boys as they sleep? We had better get as close to Jesus Christ as we can and stay there. A word to the wise……..
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley