June 23, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
GREATER CALAMITY: COVID-19 OR COVETOUSNESS?
“Therefore be followers of God as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ has also loved us…. But fornication and all uncleanness or COVETOUSNESS, let it not be even NAMED among you, as is fitting for saints, neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that NO fornicator, unclean person, nor COVETOUS MAN, WHO IS AN IDOLATER, HAS ANY INHERITANCE IN THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST AND GOD..” Eph. 5: 1-5, NKJV (See verses 6-27).
“Let it not be even NAMED among you.” “Named,” is from the Greek onomatopoeia, meaning “to name, i.e., assign an appellation; to utter, mention, profess, call.”
Achan’s delayed confession was not prompted by genuine repentance for sin, the transgression of the law, no contrition, no change of purpose, no abhorrence of evil!
“So confessions will be made by the guilty when they stand before the BAR OF GOD, after every case has been decided for life or death [during the ongoing investigative judgment in heaven].
“The consequences to result to himself will draw from each an acknowledgement of his sin. It will be FORCED from the soul by an awful sense of condemnation and a fearful looking for of judgment. BUT SUCH CONFESSIONS CANNOT SAVE THE SINNER.
So long as they can conceal their transgressions from their fellowmen, MANY, LIKE ACHAN, feel secure, and FLATTER THEMSELVES that God will not be strict to mark iniquity.
“All too late their sins will find them out in that day when it shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever.
“When the records of heaven shall be opened, the Judge will not in words declare to man his guilt, but will cast ONE penetrating, convicting GLANCE, and every deed, every transaction of life, will be vividly impressed upon the memory of the wrong-doer. The person will not, as in Joshua’s day, need to be hunted out from tribe to family, but HIS OWN LIPS will confess his shame. The sins hidden from the knowledge of men will then be proclaimed to the WHOLE WORLD.” Patriarchs & Prophets, p. 498.
What I have been sharing with you is not a peace-and-safety message but present, testing sealing truths. NMF