There is a passage in the Gospel of Matthew that strikes terror into the hearts of everyone who has sense enough to fear God.  The scenario described there is the stuff that nightmares are made of.  Consider this: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)”  These verses describe individuals who think their “many works” will satisfy the Holiness and Justice of God and secure them a place in His eternal kingdom when their life on earth is done.  Imagine the disappointment and terror that will sweep over them when they find out they were wrong.

  It is important to know that: because we are sinners by birth and by choice, our good works are of no value to a holy God.  Isaiah put it like this, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)”  Paul, the Apostle, wrote, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,… (Titus 3:5)”

  So if good works won’t satisfy God, what will?  First, you must understand that God’s problem with you is your sin.  The wages of sin is death, but it would have to be the death of something other than a sinner, to pay the debt in full.  The only something that is sufficient is actually a someone, His name is Jesus Christ—He has died your death.  “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God… (1Peter 3:18)”

  There is no other way for you to be eternally saved; it must be done God’s way.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)”

  As usual in the political theater, there is much talk about unity.  It seems the party that has control of the houses of government is the one who speaks the loudest, but when the nation is divided by polar opposite ideologies, unity seems irreparably evasive.  And without unity, ominous clouds continue to form on the horizon, clouds we should not ignore.

  The Bible warns us of the imminent threat of failure when division becomes the acceptable norm.  “And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: (Matthew 12:25).”  Notice that the divine axiom is not limited to kingdoms or republics, but is universal in its scope to include: cities, houses, churches, and families as well.  Division ultimately destroys.

  Is there any hope, any cure for our terminal division?  Our only hope is that we come to an agreement about fundamental truths that affect our political, social, and spiritual foundations.  But whose truth will it be?  We live in an age and culture that embraces the idea that every individual can have his own truth.  This cultural cancer is destroying our institutions of government, education, finance, and perhaps more foundational than all of these, it destroys our churches and families—the building blocks of society.

  It is impossible that we will reverse our direction without realizing that truth’s standard must be found somewhere outside of the purview of man.  A Higher Power—God Himself—will have to determine what is truth, and then, as Jesus said, “… ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)”  He is referring to God’s truth as revealed in His Word.

  Jesus prayed for His disciples, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17)” “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2Timothy 3:16)    The Psalmist understood, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)”

  Four characteristics of God are especially relevant if one desires to establish a relationship with Him.  First, God is Holy—perfect, right and sinless.  God does not just act holy, He is holy, it is His character, and to tolerate sin would violate that character.  We must fellowship with God on His terms: “Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1Peter 1:16)”  This is bad news for us because we “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).”

  Secondly, God is just.  Justice means that God always abides by, and enforces the law without prejudice or bias.  And the laws are His own because He alone is worthy to determine right from wrong.  He does not simply act justly, He is just, it is His character, and again, He cannot violate His character.  This is bad news for us because, “…whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10)”

  Thirdly, God is love, and because of His love, He has recognized our helplessness and devised a plan by which He can forgive our sin without violating His own holiness and justice.  Since the payment for sin is death (Romans 6:23) and the penalty must be paid to afford forgiveness, He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son, to die in our place.  “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1John 4:10)”  This means that He satisfied God’s Holiness and Justice on our behalf.  “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God… (1Peter 3:18)”

  Lastly, God is merciful and gracious: He withholds that which we do deserve (condemnation and eternal ruin), and offers us that which we do not deserve (forgiveness and eternal life).  But, since God created us with a free will, He does not force Himself on us; He offers His salvation from sin as a gift, to be received by faith.  “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)”  “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)”

  The word abundance is defined as having a large quantity of something.  When we compare ourselves to the poorer segments of human civilization, we realize that we Americans enjoy an abundance of many things: tools, toys, talents, time—all of the treasures that life on earth can afford.  But age has a way of forcing us to consider the brevity of this earthly pilgrimage, and so we muse over the fact that hearses are not equipped with trailer hitches to haul our abundance to the mysterious hereafter.  …but there is hope!

  There is another realm in which you can possess abundance, and make provision to take it with you to the other side as well.  It involves the non-physical you—the spiritual you that relates to God.  Originally man was created in the image of God, spiritually alive and capable of fellowship with his Creator, but when sin entered the picture everything changed, and the part of man that relates to God died. “For the wages of sin is death…”  But Jesus has made it possible for you to be (spiritually) reborn into the family of God—to become a child of God.  “…the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)”  He said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)”

  God wants to give you the spiritual, eternal life that was lost in sin.  Jesus died, was buried and rose from the dead to pay for your sin, and He offers forgiveness to you if you will come to Him in faith.  You can be reconciled to God and enjoy the abundant life that He offers.  “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (born again)… (Acts 16:31)”

  The Bible tells us that as His spiritual children, God wants us to enjoy eternal abundance.  Jesus said, “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)”  And then He offers this instruction, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)”

  The book of Revelation speaks of a future event called the Tribulation.  This imminent seven year period will begin with the “catching away” (Rapture) of God’s people through which the Holy Spirit of God now ministers.  It will be a season of unrestrained evil in which God pours out His wrath upon this sinful, unbelieving world.  While the Tribulation will produce a sizable remnant of men and women who will turn to Christ and be saved, the period will end with the death of all who reject Him.

   The years leading up to the Tribulation are called “signless”—there is no single event that triggers a countdown to the Rapture—the date and time are known only to God.  There are however, several passages that speak, in a general sense, of a falling away from truth that will occur as we approach the day of the Lord’s supernatural intervention.  They read like the daily news: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (1Timothy 4:1-2)”  And then, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof… (2Timothy 3:1-5)”  These are not signs, but symptoms of things to come, and if these verses describe the high water mark of the evil days before the end, perhaps we are getting close.  Are you ready?

  Your sins have separated you from God and you possess no remedy, but God saw your plight and sent His Son Jesus who shed His blood to purchase your pardon.  By faith you can accept the gift of forgiveness that He offers, and be adopted into the family of God.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)”