Have you ever wondered how the Saints of old knew how to follow God in righteousness and stay upright in His sight? Indeed according to history, the righteous were rare. Take Enoch, for example; how was it that he walked with God, did what pleased Him, and, as a reward, was taken to Heaven without suffering death? The answer can be baffling because we just do not know.
Certainly, not many men or women in those days honored and obeyed God, except later when Noah came onto the scene, for wickedness had utterly filled the hearts of all mankind. To do every sort of evil that they could imagine. For this reason, God was sorry that He had created man in the first place and why He brought worldwide destruction upon the earth through the great flood.
And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Genesis 6:13
If you study the Book of Genesis, you will see that something is missing that we have now. Perhaps the reason for the utter ungodly behavior of mankind. After that time, later God gave His Law that we may know how to live. However, it wasn’t until after the flood did God instruct Noah about murder, 4000 years after creation. If a man commits murder, he must pay for his crime with his own life.
Even after Noah, God didn’t give the fullness of His Law until Moses over 1500 years later, where He instructed us on right and wrong. But now that we have God’s Law, it is the basis of our civil law to this day. Which we use as the foundation of justice, the rule of law, and punishment. More importantly, God has placed His Law on everyone’s heart, so we have no excuse.
For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in Heaven that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart so that you can do it. Deuteronomy 30:11-14
Though mankind of old did not have God’s Law or the Words of God that they may obey Him. They still were held responsible for their actions, thought, and wicked deeds because they knew good and evil. How much more will we now be held accountable for every sin we have committed in the sight of God?
Not only do we have God’s Law, the Ten Commandments, but we also have the entire Word of God full of His instructions on how to live and behave righteously and not to follow in the footsteps of all the wicked men of old. Therefore, we have utterly no excuse.
Listen to what Jesus says in Luke 11:28 “Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!”
Not only does God command us to follow His ways so that we may please Him and not build up just punishment for our crimes. He has given you a way of salvation and forgiveness through the blood and sacrifice of His son Jesus Christ where you will not have to suffer for your crimes.
For God so loved the world, I that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-18
At this time, God calls all who will listen and obey to cry out to Jesus in repentance for their sins and crimes against God’s holy Law since Jesus is the only way to the Father. The only path of salvation given to mankind by God for the forgiveness of sins.
God offers redemption and reward, just as Enoch was taken because He was found to be righteous and pleased God. So you, too, can go to Heaven and receive a great reward for your obedience to the ways of God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
You may have lived a life of sin, but God offers you grace and forgiveness if you repent and follow His son. You may not have realized that your punishment is waiting in the form of eternal torture in Hell. But it is since God has declared that every person who sins shall die and receive justice for what they have done in their life, good and evil.
But praise God, even though you have broken His Law, He has allowed you to live for the opportunity to be forgiven. Turn to Jesus today. Humble yourself before Him, asking for forgiveness, knowing that you are a condemned criminal without the mercy of the Judge.
But be encouraged because God is loving and merciful to those who turn from their wicked ways in truth to follow Jesus and God’s Law.
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom Heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Acts 3:19-21
The Soul Sower 