64. What will you do when the end comes

Deuteronomy 32:29   and there is no understanding in them. If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!

Psalms 81:13     Oh, that my people would listen to me

Psalms 107:43     Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

Isaiah 48:18-19     Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!

Hosea 14:9     Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them

Isaiah 10:3    What will you do on the day of punishment, in the ruin that will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth?

Jeremiah 5:31    but what will you do when the end comes?

Luke 12:20     But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

Job 27:8     For what is the hope of the godless when God cuts him off, when God takes away his life?

What will you do when the end comes? If you are wise you would understand your latter end.  If you will pay attention to God and keep your eyes on Him and your heart and soul fully seeking and desiring Him the end is clear.  If you are given a glimpse of eternity, sin, judgment, atonement, redemption, salvation, the need for repentance, grace, mercy, and love of God, and you live as though this world is all there is to live for, then you are to be pitied.  For you have rejected a full life in Jesus Christ.  You have cast aside blessings and promises of eternity in heaven for desires of the flesh here and now.

The end comes to all life.  Judgment comes to all. Those who have rejected a life of humble service, honoring, glorifying, following, and obeying God will find that when life ends they have believed a lie.  They are cast into torment for eternity for this is the judgment to those who reject the grace, mercy, and love of God through Jesus Christ.   “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.   And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”

There is no room in our lives for being lukewarm, neglectful, or complacent to the gift of life through Jesus Christ.

Let them consider

“but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

Psalms 107:43  Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

 Psalms 28:5    Because they do not regard the works of the LORD or the work of his hands, he will tear them down and build them up no more.

 Psalms 64:9     Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.

 Isaiah 5:12     They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands.

 Jeremiah 9:12     Who is the man so wise that he can understand this? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken, that he may declare it? Why is the land ruined and laid waste like a wilderness, so that no one passes through?

 Daniel 10:12    Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.

 Hosea 14:9   Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

 Psalms 50:23     The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”

 Ephesians 3:14  For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,   may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

There always seems to be a way man finds to avert focus on God.  When they do not focus on God, they stumble, their land is laid waste,  they are not built up, they are beat down, or they do not see His salvation.  On the other hand those who, ponder, discerns, set their heart to know and seek God, and consider what God has done, they are strengthened with power in their inner being.  They are grounded in His love.  They know Love that surpasses knowledge.  They see God’s salvation.  They humble themselves.  None of us are immune to getting sideways.  None of us are immune to Satan’s attacks.  None of us are immune to our sinful nature and it’s wants and desires.  Our battle is to keep these influences at bay with knowledge and understanding of God and His holiness.  Our hope can be found in no one else.  Our faith can be in no one else.  If his word is not in our daily lives we will surely loose our way.  Remember salvation is offered to all but it is not because we are worthy.  It is because we have come to a place where this world and all it has to offer, leaves us wanting and empty.  Do you want to find true purpose and satisfaction this side of eternity.  Seek God and you will find.  Knock and the door will be opened by God.

Discern, Know, Understand

“Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them;” 

Hos 14:9  Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

Psalms 107:43  Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

Proverbs 1:5-6   Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

Proverbs 4:18  But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

John 18:37   Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

John 8:47   Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
Job 34:10-12 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.  For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.

Hosea has been a very good book to study.  I am amazed at how many times knowing and understanding God was mentioned.  The moral condition of the people was corrupt and God was ignored. Even with all of these warnings many did not return to God.  What does it take to get us to return to God?  Do we not take them serious?  Do we expect our lives to be any different than those  before us who chose to ignore God?  Do we expect understanding and knowledge of Him and His purpose in our lives if we neglect His word?  We are encouraged to draw onto Him so that our eyes, hears, and mind are opened to His holiness, love, mercy, grace,  atonement, righteousness, gentleness, wrath and judgement.  Ignorance and neglect have a price on our soul.  Do not neglect Him in your life.  Choose to commit each day to Him and study His word to become a workman who is not ashamed of the life led this side of eternity.