“I Warn You, As I Warned You Before!”

By Lou Yeboah

“I will not put up with sin forever.  I am going to open Hell to you, and show you what it is like, maybe that will help you get some get right. You see, I am about to destroy the city, and I’m telling you, if you don’t change your ways, you will perish under the wrath which is SOON TO COME. So, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell…And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.” [Matthew 5:20-30; Mark 9:43-48]. “I warn you, as I warned you before!”

Having heard all your life about the grace and mercy of God, you have taken His grace for granted. Woe unto you! Exhibiting the spirit of Esau, in which unfortunately you may well discover his end too.  You see, Esau’s life is the story of a man who traded his soul for fleeting pleasure. He sold his birthright, which included not only material benefits and family privileges, but spiritual blessings as well, for a bowl of soup. It says that “he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way” 25:34]. He didn’t have a second thought about what he had done. He did it, it felt good, and only much later did he come to regret it.  Esau wanted to repent of his actions, but it was too late. “He found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.”[Hebrews 12:17]. Esau sought to reverse the catastrophic outcome of his mistake/decision, but was rejected because he had no further opportunity to repent. The damage was done and there was no turning back.

May each of us learn from Esau, and not wait until it is too late to consider the cost of our decisions and actions. God is good to allow time for us to repent of our sins by delaying His judgment. But don’t think that we have all the time in the world, to repent. Because according to Genesis 6:3-5, it reminds us that the “Lord spirit shall not strive-with man always.” A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” [Proverbs 22:3]. 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]. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. [Romans 11:22].

“Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?… Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. [Ezekiel 18:21, 30]. “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” [Isaiah 1:18].

“The great day of the Lord is near – near and coming quickly. See, the Lord is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish… In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.”  [Isaiah 66:15-16; Zephaniah 1:14-18]. “The great day of the Lord is near ? near and coming quickly.

May the God of heaven give you understanding in all things which concern his glory, and your eternal good.