The Price of Sin Will Never Be Worth It

There doesn't seem to be anything in this world that isn't crazy expensive. 

The shortages that have come upon us through the past three years have just begun to escalate; it is becoming harder to have our basic needs met. The quality of everything that we've known and loved just isn't the same anymore. 

And what you're being sold is never worth the hefty price you pay.

This thought has hung around in my head for some time. I read and observe a lot. I can't help but take notice of this gradual acceptance of evil. Society is being continuously groomed to make light of something that is no joke. 

Hollywood paints the picture of Hell as a place that is one big party where everyone will be able to freely continue their life of sin.

The presence of evil here on Earth is welcomed, encouraged, and accepted. The Bible vehemently warns against doing so. 

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20 KJV)

Hell is a truly awful place. Many people don't realize that eternity spent there is total separation from God and everything that He provides.

Therefore, not an ounce of rest will be found there.

No air will be found in Hell, because God is the breath of life. 

There will be no light, because Hell is a place of eternal darkness. 

Hell is a place filled with inescapable flames of torment.. there will be no source of the comfort or love that only He can give.

That's quite the hefty price tag. 

 

The penalty of sin is never worth the price you pay. Christ died for YOU and paid the debt of that sin. He gave His life because He loves YOU. 

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5:8-9 KJV)

It is often said that the best things in life are free. The gift of salvation doesn't come with a cost. The freedom and the peace found through trusting in Jesus remains incomparable to anything this world could offer.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23 KJV)

The improvement in quality of life will always be worth it. 

You don't have to face an eternity in Hell, but you will by continually choosing to reject Christ. One day, it will be too late to change your mind. Tomorrow is never promised.

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14 KJV)

Eternity with Jesus will always be worth it. He loves YOU. He is seeking to save YOU. Choose to seek Him while He may be found.

"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7 KJV)

A Simple Truth (God's Word Stands)

 

            Those age-old recipes are the best. This past week, my mother and I made one of our all-time favorite quick breakfast snacks. It is a simple recipe that contains three basic ingredients: a roll of sausage, a whole jar of cheez whiz, and biscuit mix. 

My mind was blown away as I was combing through all of the recipe variations that were found for this particular snack. So many didn't like the taste or color of the original. They thought adding an extra ingredient or taking away another would make everything better. 

But it doesn't. One or two little changes make a HUGE difference.

In my own personal experience, I've learned to never mess with the original when it comes to any recipe that's known as tried and true. Those are usually uncomplicated and worth every single bite. 

Those thoughts bring me to the heart of today's message:

Just taking a quick glance into the world shows how complicated everything has become. The confusion that lies within can easily be spotted. It's an all-too-common practice these days to add or take away from something that is great, to begin with. 

The same principle applies when discussing good old-timey Christianity and the infallible truth found in the pages of God's Word. Today's society tells us that being an old timey Christian just doesn't cut it. The world paints its presence as outdated when compared to the idea of all modern-day religions.

But that just isn't true. 

Why is sticking to the old stuff so important?

God's Word Is Perfect:  God's Word remains infallible in its original form. Modern-day religion is often rooted in the spirit of confusion; many follow the instructions found in Bibles that are missing important passages of Scripture, while others are very loosely translated in a way that conveys entirely different messages that are nowhere near their original intent. God's Word is already finished. It doesn't need to be changed. Let's look at this verse found in chapter four of  the book of Deuteronomy:

"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you." (Deuteronomy 4:2 KJV)

God's Word Is Pure: God's Word is complete and pure. It cleanses and brings protection to our lives in ways that no one else ever could; its pages act as a perfect shield for all that put their trust in the Lord.

"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." (Proverbs 30:5 KJV)

God's Word Is Powerful: The biblical truths found throughout God's Word are described in the book of Hebrews as sharper than any two-edged sword. They are designed to provide powerful discernment within the heart and mind. The words hold purpose as a trustworthy guide; a much-needed lamp within a world of darkness.

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12  KJV)

God's Word Holds A Simple Truth: Modern-day religions plant the seeds of the idea that there is more than one way to be saved. Even the idea that we can save ourselves! The simple truth of the matter is that Jesus is the ONLY way to eternal life in Heaven. Salvation is simply by grace through placing faith in Christ alone.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6 KJV) 

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV) 

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A Heart of Vigilance

 The Lord laid a message on me that just needs to be written, and I hope this plants a helpful seed of vigilance in the heart of someone else. 

It is crazy to witness all of the changes in our world that have become so evident over the last few years. I would have never imagined that this level of deceit and darkness was ever possible. 

Oh, but it is. 

There's so much going on, almost too much to process. Circumstances that create so many questions. And I have to wonder: is anyone else willing to question what is being shown to us?

Let's use a bottle of Coke as an example. Do you really know what's in it? Can you fully trust its ingredient list? 

Have you ever paid attention to the things you are consuming on a daily basis? 

I've been on a water kick recently and in the past couple weeks, I have found myself to be free from thirst; while pop is certainly pleasurable, it always left me longing for something more. I could never satisfy my body's desperation to quench that thirst.

For the longest time, I never knew how dangerous and downright sketchy the ingredients were. I simply wasn't paying attention and I didn't care to investigate. I just knew I liked it, so I kept on buying into it. 

It tasted great, so how can it be harmful?

Right? 

It is SO important to have a heart of vigilance in our world today. The waters of the earth are filled with darkness, dishonesty, and division. Everyone seems to be concerned with all the wrong things; never giving a thought to what's really important right now. 

Be mindful of what you are drinking. Be watchful. Be vigilant. Satan is like a roaring lion that seeks to devour everything that is in his path. 

And it is plain to see that he has sprung forth into action. It's right in front of our faces. 

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8 KJV)

You will never know true satisfaction outside of a personal relationship with Jesus. The water He gives will always be enough to quench your thirst.

My challenge for you today is simply to have a heart of vigilance and to be mindful of what you are consuming. 

Just think about it. 

"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14 KJV)