A startling example of faulty dispensational thinking has to do with the last few verses of the fourth chapter of First Thessalonians. A passage having to do with comforting the living saints concerning their dead relatives and friends is employed as the basis for the doctrine of the carrying away to Heaven of the believers so they won't be harmed by Antichrist or the great tribulation. Such an unconscionable approach to the Word of God may sound unbelievable but it actually is taking place.

It is time to renew the covenant. The people need to hear clearly about the blessings of the Lord and they need to hear clearly about the curses of the Lord.

In our day the love of God is overemphasized and the sternness of God is hardly mentioned. The American people are misinformed about the manner in which God's goodness operates and possess very little understanding of the severity of God.

There are many instances in history when people have been burned at the stake or hung. Sometimes torture has been added. We think (and rightly so) "how horrible!"

But no man-made device for punishment approaches the severity of eternal incarceration in a lake that burns with fire and sulfur. Torture ends sooner or later. Being hung or burned at the stake is ordinarily concluded in a matter of minutes.

But what about eternity in a lake of burning sulfur? Have you ever thought of that?

God's punishments are infinitely more horrible than any punishment conceived by man or possible to administer by man.

The blessings from Gerizim are wonderful. The curses from Ebal are awful!

The Christians of today usually hear only how much God loves them and are hoping against hope God will bring them to Paradise in their moral filth and rebellion.

We need to hear how God is willing to forgive us and help us on our way. We need also to hear of the penalties awaiting those who are careless with the gift of salvation. We need to think more about the outer darkness, the area reserved for the disobedient servants of the Lord.

Joshua reminded the people of the blessings and curses. We of today who pastor or teach need to remind the people of the blessings and the curses. One is as certain as the other!

The devil is saying today, in the ears of God's people, "You shall not surely die." He still is lying and Christians still are believing him.

"If you, as a Christian, live in the lusts and passions of your body, you will die," Paul said. We say Amen! What do you say?

Moses' one mistake was presumption. Joshua's one mistake was carelessness. He forgot to pray.

The Gibeonites were able to trick Joshua because Joshua and the people did not go to the Lord. Joshua assumed from what he was seeing and hearing that the Gibeonites indeed had come from a far country and therefore could remain alive.

To be continued.