Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. (Jude 1:5—NIV)

The above are clear statements that, kept in context, speak to Christian people about the danger of starting and then turning back, of not enduring to the end, of putting our hand to the plow and then looking back.

I wonder how current Bible scholars render such statements null and void? I know today's teachers will twist and turn every way to prove we do not have to live righteously; we should live righteously they agree, but if we do not no significant harm is done. "Thou shalt not surely die" is preached every Sunday from Evangelical pulpits. The blind are leading the blind.

If the Bible is God's inerrant Word, and if I am interpreting it correctly, when believers die who have trusted in the "four steps of salvation" to save them, and have not followed the Lord Jesus in the path of discipleship, they are going to suffer in the spirit realm. You can believe this or not but I think this is what I am getting from the Lord.

So the argument about whether or not we are to obey the commandments of Christ and His Apostles is no mere exercise in theology. It is your future we are talking about so be sure you have clear Biblical ground for what you believe. Do not take the word of any Christian teacher. Find out for yourself what the Word says. Pray and ask God for understanding. If you do you may turn into a wrong-way lemming, but that's better than drowning!

It may influence your decision to learn that most of the punishments Jesus spoke of in the Gospels are not directed toward the unbelievers but toward His servants. And those punishments are severe!

It helps both my systolic and diastolic pressures to set down these thoughts, but I don't know if anyone outside of our church is listening.

Every day challenges are set before us. Every day grace is given us to overcome the challenges of the day. If we, through the grace of Jesus Christ, overcome the evil, the rewards of the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation belong to us.

If, however, we lead the usual American Christian life, not seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, trusting that Jesus "did it all" and we are perfectly righteous in God's sight even though we are neglecting our salvation, not overcoming the evil of the day, blaming people, gossiping, yielding to lustful passions, not gathering with fervent saints, watching the moral filth of the world on the television, wasting time on professional sports and other hobbies, we will never, never, never receive the rewards promised to the overcomer, not by grace, mercy, or belief in Christ.

To be continued.