09/11/2017 - BEWARE OF CORRUPTION

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Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. Acts 24:26

The good examples of the people who served the Lord must be followed and imitated by all who were called to be a part of the Body of Christ.  Besides this great privilege we cannot give the devil the satisfaction of removing us from the presence of God and preventing us from duly preparing ourselves to enter the Kingdom of God. We know that the lost will be separated from eternal joy.

It is true that to be tempted does not mean we have sinned. However, those that like temptation and let it fall into their hearts will begin to suffer more in the hands of the enemy. So, if there is no repentance, they will not ascend with Jesus on the Day of His return to retrieve those that remained faithful. Why dismiss and waste the great opportunity to be accepted by the All-Powerful and to be with Him forever?  Definitely nothing is worth losing to eternal damnation.

Because of the Jews who did not accept Christ as Savior and stuck to blind faith in the Law of Moses which they did not keep, Paul appealed to Caesar and was taken to Rome to be judged by this worldly emperor who was in the flesh and demon possessed. Would it not have been better if they had been converted and learned what Moses had learned with the Lord?  They were lost because they did not love the Almighty.

Had he been weak in faith, Paul would have given money to Felix, the governor. In spite of being in the presence of the man powerfully used by God, that corrupt politician had eyes only for money and dismissed the opportunity to be saved and called to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The adulterer who sees a person with lust and sinful eyes does not see in that person the Christ that they love, but only someone that they want to lead to perdition.

The future of those that have been corrupted is the same as of the homicide, adulterers and other criminals that forewent the chance to repent and enter into Heaven through the Narrow and Straight Door (Luke 13.24). Flee from those that do not love the Lord even though they may seem to be of God. If either of you is already married, the temptation that arises between you is purely Satanic and must be rejected and refused outright.

If those that are called to salvation – to be citizens of Heaven consequently – do not confess and get rid of their sins, they will have the same fate of those that refused offhand the offer of the Lord.  No matter how long you have been in the Way or what you may have done for the Kingdom of God; sinning will disconnect you from the Kingdom and lead you to the abyss.

What do you prefer?  A little money now, to fulfill the devil’s wishes or suffer if necessary like Paul suffered and gain eternal life?  Does the pleasure of a forbidden practice make eternal suffering worthwhile?  Of course it does not. So take care not to fall. Keep watch and pray because if you fall into temptation you may be lost forever. Mercy!

In Christ, with Love,

R. R. Soares