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So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him That runneth, but of God that
showeth mercy. Rom9:16 God is sovereign. He makes the ultimate call. Whether it is the seed of Abraham in the Old Testament or through the blood of Christ in the New Testament, God ultimately decides who goes to heaven. We are saved by grace through faith and that faith is a gift from God so we have nothing to boast about. Salvation is not a right but a privilege and God has determined that through the preaching of the gospel people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. There are billions of people in the world but God has ordained that only the elect will make it into heaven. To be part of the elect should give us such gratitude and humility that we should gladly spend and be spent for God. In the Old Testament God chose the Jewish people and he pitted them against the pagan world. In the New Testament both Jew and Gentile are the elect and God has ordained that through hearing the word of God that faith should come and that by his grace we are saved. But those who reject the word are under the curse. They forfeit the blessing of God and are subject to the schemes of the devil. From a personal standpoint sickness and disease, poverty and lack are a consequence of sin. We have inherited a sin nature from our first parents, Adam and Eve, and as a consequence death has entered into the world through sin. When and as we sin we open the door for the devil to inflict harm on us and consequently we experience much hardship in life and ultimately death. From a natural standpoint, earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes and the like are also a consequence of the fall of Adam and Eve. People are subject to natural disaster because of the disharmony of nature. From a global standpoint nations and people who reject Christ are not under the umbrella of God’s protection and are subject to war, famine, and other natural disasters as well. To be born again in a pagan country is to be like the Jewish nation in the Old Testament. Danger is all around you and many will die for their faith. Rather than killing and destroying the pagan the born again believer is to convert him. The result of being the elect is martyrdom not war. God is sovereign. Unless we submit to God we are under the curse. To submit to God in the present order of things is to receive Christ as Lord and Savior and to work out our salvation in fear and trembling. Not to submit to God is to be subject to all the evils of the world. Natural disasters are a sign of Jesus soon return and the rapture of the church and the tribulation which is to follow. Are you ready? Only those that are born again and Spirit filled are. Recognize the sign of the times and repent and receive Jesus. The gospel has been preached to all the world so that nothing hinders His return. Be ready! Amen |