Israel of old had forgotten their Maker, the Rock of their salvation. They had adopted the ways of the heathen nations. Their belly was their god, which was obvious by their lustful, sinful desires and their worldly pursuits. The way of the truth was made known to them by the oracles of God that had been committed unto them. But, they ignored the truths concerning the God of Israel, truths that were written by the prophets in the generations before them, truths that were preached by the prophets in their day. To make matters worse, they bowed down to idols they had made with their own hands, gods of their own imaginations, gods that didn't exist. Sound familiar? This religious generation is guilty of the same thing. They wear the name Jesus Christ, but they bow to a different Jesus than the Christ of Holy Scriptures. The truth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ is clearly set forth in the very Bible they claim to believe in. God's faithful preachers in all generations proclaimed, and are proclaiming, the glorious gospel of God's sovereign, electing, redeeming, sanctifying grace. The grace of God that is freely bestowed upon His chosen people through the merits of Jesus Christ the believer's Substitute. A gospel that brings with it a stern warning against those who would dare add anything to the finished work of Jesus Christ. Those who teach and believe in anything man has done, including their so called free-will, in order to make salvation effectual, are bowing to a god of their own imagination, a god that doesn't even exist. It takes the power of God to deliver anyone from the power of darkness. Unless we hear the voice of Jesus Christ speaking to our hearts, unless the Holy Spirit gives us faith to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, we will never come away from a god of our own imagination, until we're regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit, our belly is our god. Without Christ, our whole life is spent in seeking things that gratify the flesh. But, when we experience the new birth, like Ephraim of old, we cry out, "What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard Him, and observed Him." The Lord Jesus Christ speaks to sinners under the sound of the gospel. When we hear and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified (who He is, what He had done, where He now is, what He is now doing,) we have heard His voice. We confess Him as our Lord and our God. We embrace Him as our Saviour who washed us in His own blood. We see him exalted in the heavens, seated on His sovereign throne of power, working all things after the counsel of His own will. Those who have heard His voice place their complete trust in Jesus Christ. We will not listen to the voice of strangers. We have observed the Christ of Holy Scripture through the eye of God-given faith and we want to keep looking to Him. Oh that others might hear His voice and observe Him. Then and only then will they forsake the works of their own hands and give God all the glory.
Page maintained by:ront@inet99.net
*