Scripture
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
~Psalm 1:6, NIV
Quote
Decisions determine destines.
~Max Anders
In spite of what the world teaches, there are only two roads. Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Jesus did not mention a third option because one does not exist. There are only two kinds of people, the saved and the lost, the repentant and the unrepentant. There are only two ultimate destinies; heaven or hell. There is no gray area, this is wishful thinking on the part of liberals and unbelievers. If you can find where Jesus taught something contrary, please give me the reference. I have read the bible through over 30 times and I have yet to find the gray. John Dewey and all of his disciples believe in the gray because they do not want to be held accountable but there is no gray and you will be held accountable.
Psalm 1 is a contrast between the godly and the ungodly. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers. If you are in step with the world, something is drastically wrong. If your views on abortion, homosexuality and same sex marriage is the same as Hollywood and the New York Times, you are in step with the wicked. You have taken a seat among them. If your world view is more in tune with the world than the church; you have a spiritual problem. Something is definitely wrong if you enjoy hanging out with those who mock the church. If you watch these infidels who come on late night TV and enjoy there scorn, you have not been reborn. Your love should be for scripture and you should be feeding on the word of God day and night. You do understand that when they mock the religious right, they are mocking the church.
Here is the contrast: The righteous are like a TREE where as the unrepentant are like chaff. First, lets note the characteristics of the TREE…
- It is living.
- It is planted with deep roots [Its strength is underground, not visible].
- It is growing [If a tree is not growing, it is dying. Trees do not stay the same].
- It is fruitful [It gives and reproduces].
- It is useful [a blessing to others, bearing fruit, giving shade or fuel].
- It is enduring [can withstand storms].
Are you alive spiritually? Are your roots deep in the word of God? Do you spend time in scripture? Are you growing spiritually? Are you bearing fruit? Are you a blessing to others? Can you withstand the storms?
The ungodly are like CHAFF…
- Chaff has no life or fruit.
- Chaff is light, it has no substance, can be blown away by a gentle breeze and certainly cannot withstand a storm.
- Chaff envelopes the wheat. It is wrapped tight around the grain so that it had to be beaten or thrashed to separate it from the wheat. Until it is put under extreme pressure, you can tell chaff from wheat.
- Chaff is worthless, of no use to anyone.
- Chaff has no future: it is either blown away or burned.
Chaff is similar to the tares that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 13, tares have the appearance of wheat but it is a weed. Jesus told the story of a farmer who had an enemy. During the night, the enemy planted tares in the farmers wheat. When the workers spotted the tares they ask their master what to do. This is what he said: “Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.” This was Jesus way of saying, there are tares [unsaved people] in the church and you cannot pick them out because you cannot see below the surface but the thrashing day [judgment] is coming and the tares will be separated from the wheat [Matthew 25]. There are only two ultimate destinies–heaven and hell. Our Catholic friends created a third but it is not scriptural.
Baby, it is cold outside. I wanted some Christmas weather but now I am ready for some 50-60 degree weather. It was so cold yesterday that I stayed inside most of the day. Last night at 10:00 pm, it was colder in Rocky Ford than it was in Chicago. It was 27 here and 35 there but I had still rather be here than there, amen. I am glad to report that my good friend Larry Garner is at home and he is thrilled.