God's Economics
A preacher recently announced there were 726 sins. He is now being besieged by requests for the list by people who think they are missing something.’ By the looks of this day and age, it would seem that there is much value in accumulating sin. And it’s true in a certain respect. You see, life is like a bank – whatever we put in our account is added to the previous balance and interest is paid on the whole figure/pile. A little bit of blasphemy here, maybe some backstabbing there, a few sex conquests, and what have you, all adds up. You say, “When does the ‘much value’ come in?” I say it comes in right now – all negative.
Many people think the rewards of life are given at the end of the road, but that’s only half the story. Every rotten thought, word, and act is recorded now, and we receive interest on it now. “Be sure, your sin will find you out. The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked. Misfortune pursues sinners.” The apostle Paul put it this way, “do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” These are hard and cold facts, but ones we should all know since they bear down on every one of us. You and I make our exciting and good plans for life and love, only to see many of them hit the rocks. Our careers sink, divorces mount, children’s lives are shattered, hopes and dreams crumble all along the way. People say, “why, Why, WHY!?” My friend, God’s justice (see "Divine Priorities" link 156) is no small thing – that’s why.
How much better and more practical it is to be out of debt with God and still banking with Him. He deals well on a positive basis also. “Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. He blesseth the habitation of the just. Prosperity rewards the righteous. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” Let’s invest wisely in God’s bank of life and participate in "God's Economics." Right now, He is saying to us, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” See also Romans 10:8-13. Scriptures referred to are Numbers 32:23, Proverbs 3:33, 13:21, Galatians6:7, Psalms 37:4, 1 Corinthians 2:9, and Revelation 3:20.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The above was written April ’78 in Key West, Florida. We printed those essays on Navy paper & distributed them to the soldiers & sailors. I was the assistant for the Army Chaplain at Naval Air Station. The Army had been there since the Cuban missile crisis of ’62 with four Hawk missile sites. It was very good active duty, even though my boss, “chaplain C,” fired me for being too conservative. (See “The Chaplains” link 70). My gripe then as it is now is this – if we are too focused on universalism (liberal thought) we may miss gospel salvation, God’s blessing, & maybe even heaven itself. . . Why take chances with our eternal souls? Cornelius was a devout man but lacked the apostolic message that only Jesus saves. Acts, Chapter 10. After he received the gospel & Christ, God blessed him real well . . . And that appears to be the New Testament pattern. Choose Jesus and His value system, they are alive.
Many other Titles: www.gospelnotes.org * * F. J. Stone * *
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