Lot's Life Shows Us The Consequences Of Not Living A Separated Life

Genesis 13:12-13, “Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.”

Genesis 14:12, “And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.”

There is an important truth to be learned here. Take a careful look at our two text passages of inspired Scripture. We learn in Genesis 13:12 that Lot, Abraham's nephew, “pitched his tent toward Sodom.” That means he set the opening of his tent toward Sodom, so he could see the city. Lot's heart was already in Sodom. The very next chapter of Genesis tells us that Lot “dwelt in Sodom.” Lot's heart was already in Sodom before he even moved there. This is why for many years now my favorite Bible verse has been Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

This passage of Scripture should clearly show you dear reader the danger of having unwise and sinful desires. It was very unwise for Lot to desire to move to such a wicked city. It would be like wanting to move to “Sin City” Las Vegas today.

And as we learn from this inspired passage of God's Word, our desires ultimately shape our decisions and outcome. Look at all the horrible dire consequences because of Lot's foolish fatal decision to move to the heathen city of Sodom:

1. Lot was so worldly that his two son-in-laws laughed him to scorn, when he tried to warn them of the imminent fiery judgment upon Sodom. Those men and two of Lot's daughters were destroyed in Sodom.
2. Lot's beloved wife looked back and died, turning into a literal pillar of salt.
3. The broken family brought booze out of Sodom. Lot got drunk and impregnated both of his daughters.
4. Two heathen nations (Moabites and Ammonites) were birthed from Lot's immoral relationship with his two daughters.
5. Lot and his family lost their home. If Lot had chosen to live somewhere less convenient away from Sodom, they would have been okay. Abraham was okay.

These are just some of the obvious dire consequences of Lot's horrible decision to move with his family into the city of Sodom, but there were hundreds of horrible consequences for generations to follow. The heathen Ammonites and Moabites wouldn't have existed if it weren't for Lot's carnality. Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. Lot created a gigantic mess by his sinful ways!

The Ammonites are often depicted negatively in the Bible, particularly for their hostility toward the Israelites and Satanic practices such as child sacrifice to their god Milcom. The Ammonites did not show hospitality toward the Israelites. The Moabites are depicted negatively in the Old Testament due to their idolatrous ways and frequent hostility toward the Israelites.

Truly, a picture is worth a thousand words! From just looking at this tragic story of Lot and his family in the Old Testament, we see a living example of why biblical separation is so important. Lot never should have purposed in his heart to move to such a wicked place as Sodom. I cannot help but suspect that when Abraham gave Lot a choice of where to live, and Lot chose the well-watered plains of Jordan, that Lot already had his heart set on Sodom. One thing is abundantly clear, Lot did end up dwelling in Sodom with his family. Lot would have been better off moving his family down into the sewer system of New York.

What are the desires of your heart dear reader? Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Romans 15:4a, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning...” Let us learn from the tragic mistakes of foolish Lot that the decisions we make have real life consequences!

If Lot hadn't moved to Sodom his wife wouldn't have died. If Lot's wife hadn't died he wouldn't have impregnanted their two daughters, because his wife would have been present to prevent such wickedness. It was their two daughters who instigated the sins. Lot's other two daughters wouldn't have died in Sodom, with their husbands who didn't believe Lot's warnings. Oh, how sin thrills and then it kills! Oh, how sin fascinates and then it assassinates! Do you see dear friend how sinful decisions often lead to dire consequences?

Biblical Separation Matters

It's bad enough that the heathen world mocks and laughs at me for preaching against the sin of women wearing pants in public. But then there are ungodly pastors and worldly pastor's wives today who mock, resist and criticize me for preaching the truth about modesty.

There wouldn't have been a debate 100 years ago about whether or not it is wrong for Christian women to wear pants. You couldn't have found a lady in a pair of trousers a century ago in the United States. Just because our deteriorating moral culture now approves of women wearing sexy pants in public, doesn't mean that our holy Creator has changed. You know as well as I do that NO WOMAN would dare wear a pair of pants to meet the Savior at the Judgment Seat of Christ. She will wear a dress!

I am so sick and tired of ungodly neo-evangelical pastors and their wicked wives condemning my Bible preaching against women wearing pants in public. It is a sin!

1st Timothy 2:9-10, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

There is nothing “modest” about pants on women and you know it! To debate this passage of Scripture in a sinful attempt to justify women wearing pants today, is no better than homosexuals who wrest the Scripture in a wicked attempt to justify same-sex marriage. Anything can be justified if you try hard enough! In the Old Testament, Jezebel wanted Naboth's wine vineyard, so she did whatever it took to falsely accuse and murder Naboth, and she did! Only a fool would dare wrest God's Word to justify women wearing immodest pants!

Professed Christian women wearing pants is a far more serious issue that most people realize, because along with it comes a subtle feminist mindset. No doubt most religious women who wear pants would quickly deny being a feminist, but their behavior speaks for itself, denying their words. There is no argument that women started wearing pants in mainstream American society in the 1960s during the women's liberation movement. Christian women (especially pastor's wives) who wore pants throughout their life will weep bitter tears at the Judgment Seat of Christ, realizing that they were advertisements for sinful immodesty and feminism.

Dear reader, there is a whole system of rebellious thinking that goes along with a woman wearing pants, the very opposite of biblical fundamentalism. I wouldn't give you a dime for a shameful pastor's wife who wears pants in public. SHAME! She is also dropping the ball as a mentor for the other females in a local church, setting the bar of morality very low. Ladies, I cannot stress enough the importance for you to wear dresses, skirts, culottes and skorts in public. Please don't become a billboard for the Devil and the world by wearing pants. If what I have just preached is silly or offensive to you, it is only because you are not right with God.

Jack Hyles Speaks On BIBLICAL SEPARATION

The Importance Of Little Things

The seemingly little decisions and choices that we make on a daily basis matter dear reader, more than you could possibly ever know. ...

“If you want to never do anything that is terribly wicked, then you never do anything that is slightly wicked.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Unjust In The Least"

Biblical separation is intended to keep us as far away from sin as possible. That is why I have never drank even a single drop of booze, because you can't take two drinks if you don't take the first. I want to stay as far away from the deadly consequences of sin as I can.

I arranged some of the icons on my two computer desktop screens into the shape of a cross, to continually remind me that I am a child of God and need to be careful where I go on the internet. Literally, you are being watched dear reader. The government, police, hackers, corporations and God knows who else, monitor your movements on the internet with tracking cookies. You might as well imagine that you are looking into a one-way mirror, where thousands of people can see you, but you cannot see them, because that is the truth!

I don't want worldly friends. If you are a born again Christian, then you either need Christian friends or no friends. I'd rather be alone with no friends, than to hang around ungodly heathens who do not fear God. I FEAR GOD!!! I understand that one day in eternity I must stand before God and give account for my deeds (Ecclesiastes 12:14), words (Matthew 12:36) and thoughts (Proverbs 24:12). We must all appear before God to answer for our life (Romans 14:10-12).

There are no unimportant things. Please don't make light of modesty ladies. The way that you dress in public very much does matter. I'd rather have other ungodly woman snicker, mock and put me down with their hateful words; than to become an advertisement for the Devil and the heathen world's standards of clothing and immorality. It all boils down to how much you care!

Nearly all neo-evangelicals will foolishly tell you that sharing the gospel is what really matters, and not what we wear or put into our mouth, but it does matter, it really does. When you see a long-haired fella smoking a joint, covered in badass tattoos and wearing black leather, you don't think that he is a Christian who loves God. No, you think he's a roughneck. I carry visible gospel tracts everywhere I go, attached to my phone with a rubber band, and I wear my phone on a chain around my neck. I do that so people can see that I am a Christian. For many years I wore my “Jesus” and “John 3:16” cap. I like to proudly let people know that I am a Christian.

I can spot Mormons a block away, because there's always two males in white shirts with ties riding a bicycle and wearing a safety helmet. Jehovah's Witnesses travel in groups and always carry satchels. Baptists going soulwinning are all but an extinct species today. My point is that when Christian women wearing pants in public, it sends a clear message that she belongs to the world's system of low standards. She is worldly and far from God.

I could go on and on about Biblical separation. Pastor Jack Hyles has written an entire helpful book on the topic titled: 'Jack Hyles Speaks On Biblical Separation.'

Tragic Lessons From The Life Of Lot

I think the tragic life of Lot in the Old Testament is the best living illustration of where a lack of biblical separation can lead a family. Lot lost his wife, his two daughters and their husbands to death, all because he decided to move to Sodom. That's five premature deaths because of Lot's selfish decision to relocated his family into “Sin City” Sodom. Lot had to live with those deep regrets for the remainder of his life.

There are so many important lessons that we can learn from the tragic story of Lot. No doubt Lot never would have commit incest with his two daughters had he not drank the booze, which wise preachers rightly call 'LIQUID DEVIL!' Lot was foolish. I THANK GOD that I've never touched a drop of booze in my life, and I don't plan to start now. While under the toxic influence of alcohol, people are capable of committing the worst unimaginable evils. I've heard my share of horrific true stories of what alcohol does to bring out the monster in people.

It is unbelievable how much destructive damage, misery and destroyed lives resulted from one small decision by Lot to move into Sodom. The city was where the fresh markets were displayed. In Sodom you could buy succulent roast lamb, chicken or beef over the fire at the local barbeque. Sodom was where the action was at! Oh, but it came with a hefty price tag! Sodom was where prostitution ran wild. Like many liberal progressive cities today like Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland, the sin of homosexuality was openly seen all over Sodom. If you were a wicked sinner, Sodom was where you felt right at home.

If you are a redeemed child of God dear reader, I encourage you to separate from the world. I do not mean don't watch television or listen to secular music. Some Christians may want to do that, and that is fine. But I personally like 1970s country music with a pedal steel guitar. I like some of the Beach Boys music, which I think is fine. As a musician I like just about any kind of pretty quality music. But I won't hang around worldly friends who live in open sin, smoke pot, skirt the law, do not fear God, and are only going to drag me into their miseries.

According to 2nd Corinthians 6:14-17, we should never go into business together with an unsaved person. Nor should we ever marry an unsaved person. I am speaking to the saved here. If you are a child of God and you marry an unbeliever, you will have the Devil as a spiritual father-in-law. You don't want that, trust me friend!

The older I grow, both physically and spiritually, the more I am realizing the great importance of maintaining biblical separation from the wicked. And that includes separating from wicked pastors and churches who use Satan's corruptible seed (the perverted modern Bible revisions), and preach Satan's deadly Lordship Salvation counterfeit plan of salvation. These are not genuine New Testament Bible-believing churches; but rather, they are in the same boat as the pseudo-Christian religious cults who are working against the cause of Jesus Christ.

I also encourage you to separate from worldly believers who do not fear God. These are “perilous times” as foretold in 2nd Timothy 3:1-7. I knew an elderly Christian man years ago who divorced his wife. Before the ink had even dried on the divorce agreement, he married another woman. After one year he divorced her too, and remarried his first wife. Folks, that is as wicked as the Devil. The guy is faithful to go to church! A lot of foolish believers think that just because someone goes to church, that somehow makes them a good Christian. It doesn't!

That being said, I would never condemn anyone for any sin. I am the biggest sinner that I know, because we all know ourselves better than anyone else. Peter said in Luke 5:8, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Peter had been fishing all night long with his peers and caught zilch, notta, nothing. Jesus told him to give it another try. Peter was reluctant to do it, but said in verse 5, “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” I love that!

Have You Been Born Again?

Dear reader, even if you are not sure the Holy Bible is God's inspired Word, and quite frankly you aren't really sure of anything, it doesn't matter just so long as you obey the gospel by BELIEVING IT! It is perfectly acceptable for you to have doubts, just so long as you act upon what little faith you may have to obey the GOOD NEWS!

Anyone who comes to God as an admitted guilty sinner—accepting Christ's sacrificial death on the cross 2,000 years ago as full payment for your sins, believing that Jesus was buried, but then physically ressurected from the dead three days later—is saved instantly, irrevocably and permanently.

Don't Let Anyone Entice You To Do Something Wrong

2nd Kings 6:25-30, “And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress? And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son. And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.”

Proverbs 1:10, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”

I was listening to the King James Bible today, from the Old Testament book of 2nd Kings. I love the Old Testament. I agree with Evangelist Lester Roloff (1914-1982) who said that the Old Testament will put iron into your blood. He is speaking spiritually, of course. Romans 15:4 says, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Please don't miss that truth dear friend, God gave us the Old Testament FOR OUR LEARNING. Amen.

As I was listening to this disturbing passage today from 2nd Kings, which was a time of famine in the land, I became infuriated at the wicked woman who said to a stranger: “Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.” That evil stranger had no intention of ever killing and eating her own son. She was a pathetic manipulative liar, and as far as I am concerned, demon inspired. Can you image someone being so evil that they would even try to convince you to murder, cook and then help eat your own child? That is exactly what the wicked woman did, but she lied and after eating the other woman's child, fled with her own child. She took advantage of a stranger. It's not hard to understand why so many people in the world hate people. People will do to you whatever you let them do. Always be on guard.

The Ungodly “Friend” From Hell

When I was about 7 or 8 years old, I was walking to the grocery store one day with my friend Bobby. He tempted me to steal a small carton of chocolate milk. Now, God knows my heart, that such a wicked thought had never once entered into my mind. I know for a fact that as a good kid I never would have tried to steal that milk, had my so-called “friend” not taunted, tempted and pressured me to do it. At first I refused to do it. But Bobby started calling me a “chicken.” So I relented and did it under pressure from Bobby to steal.

But I got caught. The store owner stopped me and said: “Son, open that bag,” and I did and he saw the chocolate milk. The elderly man said I was not allowed to come back into his store until he talked with my mother, and he asked me for her phone number, and as an otherwise honest boy I gave it to him. On the way home I kindly asked Bobby to please not tell anybody about the incident. Bobby was so rotten and evil (also about age 7 or 8) that when we arrived home, he literally ran throughout the neighborhood hollering: “David got caught stealing from Johnny Joes! David got caught stealing from Johnny Joes!” I was crying. My grandma was crying. My mother was upset when the store owner, Johnny, called her.

From that day forward, I never once stepped foot into Johnny Joes' store again, because I was too ashamed of what I had done. I walked to other grocery stores in the area, some a few blocks farther away, so I wouldn't have to face the stigma and shame of being a thief, all because my crooked ungodly “friend” Bobby pressured me to steal that chocolate milk one day. Bobby was a low character boy, and I fell for his trap.

The good thing is that I learned some lasting character lessons from that painful incident:

1. There's no such thing as a “friend” who entices you to do something wrong. Proverbs 1:10, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” Bobby was never a true friend.
2. I never should have succumbed to Bobby's enticing words. He was an evil influence. If someone today were to ask me to do something wrong, I would tell them to: “Get the hell away from me!”; and you do the same dear reader if someone entices you to do evil.
3. When you do wrong, evil people will rub your face in it. Proverb:22:1, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” Always protect your name and innocence. What Bobby did was evil. It was his idea in the first place and he pressured me to steal, and when I did and got caught he went and told everybody in a malicious effort to destroy my reputation. To run through the neighborhood tearing down someone whom you enticed to do evil is ten times more evil.
4. Ultimately, I have no one to blame but myself for what I did that day. In our text passage from 2nd Kings, that foolish mother who killed, boiled and ate her child with a complete stranger who enticed her to do it, has no one to blame but herself. She ran crying to the king begging for justice, but she did that to herself and her own child. And worse, she had to live with that regret for the rest of her life.
5. People will entice you to do wrong, but you alone will suffer the consequences. That woman's baby is dead, but the other woman still has her baby. People will manipulate lie and take advantage of you if you are weak and foolish. That is why I have and always will reject Medicare Advantage Plans. All they are is greedy private insurance companies wanting to screw you out of your due benefits. They're a bunch of dirty thieves! I have to live with getting caught stealing for the rest of my life. Bobby didn't get caught, I did. He convinced me to do something wrong, and I succumbed to his Satanic mouth. I suffered the consequences alone, but nothing bad happened to him.
6. The people who entice you to do wrong will disappear from your life. That foolish mother never saw or heard from that evil stranger again, the wicked woman who pressured her to boil her child; just like the evil serpent who ruined Eve's life in the Paradise of Eden, and then was never seen or heard from again. I have no idea where Bobby is today, and I really couldn't care less. His father was a Chicago police officer who used to physically beat his wife. I'd see her working at Jewel food store, in the deli, with a black eye. Bobby is probably no better. People will ruin your marriage if you let them, and then go their merry way. The people who hurt you will leave you alone in your misery.

By God's grace, I will never again allow anyone to entice me to do something wrong, unethical, immoral or illegal! We never know when evil will rear its ugly head in our life's journey, but we can plan ahead of time to say, “No.” We can avoid hanging around bad influences. As a general life's rule, I wouldn't want to be around anybody who doesn't like to share Bible truths, talk about the things of God, and who has a heart for sharing the gospel to win souls to Christ.

Bible Characters Who Were Enticed

In the inspired Holy Bible we find numerous examples of wicked people who enticed others to do evil:

1. The serpent enticed Eve in the Garden of Eden. By her ungodly behavior she brought down her whole family. They lost Paradise. Her wickedness led to the death of Abel.
2. Potiphar's Wicked Wife Enticed Joseph to commit adultery, but he refused.
3. Aaron was enticed by the Hebrews in the Wilderness to make them a graven image to worship. In Exodus 32:24 Aaron tells his brother Moses that he just put a bunch of jewelry and gold items into the fire, and lo and behold a calf mysteriously came out...lol.
4. The wicked Philistine princes enticed Delilah, offering her money if she would betray Samson to find the secret to his strength. I calculated that they paid her about $420,000.
5. The wicked Pharisees enticed Judas Iscariot, offering him 30 pieces of silver, which in today's money would amount to about $1,250.
6. The Devil enticed Jesus, offering Him all the power and glory of this world if He would bow down to worship and serve him. Satan enticed Christ three times, trying to get Him to jump off a tall pinnacle of a temple, and at another time he enticed Jesus to turn some stones into bread.
7. Bathsheba enticed David while bathing naked on her roof. I personally believe this for two reasons. First, all women have a sixth sense when it comes to men looking at them. There's no way that she washed naked outside without knowing that the king could see her from his palace. Second, when David tried to commit adultery, she didn't refuse the king. A godly woman would have refused and if necessary scream and resist.
8. Jonadab enticed Amnon to rape his half sister in the Old Testament. If you let them, people will ruin your life with bad advice (Psalms 1:1-3). Always be on guard. That is why my favorite Bible verse for many years has been Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Though The Stars Fall, Do Right!

Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968) taught that truth, and he preached it often. Though the stars fall, do right! There's nothing to weigh, consider or ponder; if it's wrong, I'm not going to do it. Prisons are full of fools who allowed someone else to entice or pressure them to break the law. People will entice you to do something wrong, and when you do they'll blackmail you to do something else wrong, or threaten that they'll go to the police. That is how small crimes lead to big ones.

 “All things truly wicked start from innocence.” —Ernest Hemingway

“If you want to never do anything that is terribly wicked, then you never do anything that is slightly wicked.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, "Unjust In The Least"

I live by these precious quotes and truths today. Throughout your life you will meet evil people who have no problem skirting the law, breaking the rules and doing what is wrong.

I used to work with a shady man at the U.S. Postal Service about 20 years ago, who would go to lunch without clocking out. He'd work out at the gym while on the clock getting paid. He stole boxes of toilet paper from the post office. I stayed away from him! His wife (that he swindled from her husband) was a devout Roman Catholic. I shared the gospel with him and he claimed that I had led him to the Lord. So, he went around the workplace telling everyone that he was a Baptolic (half Baptist, half Catholic). I have no idea if he really got born again or not. Only he knows that. I am not condemning the guy, because we are all wicked sinners. My point is that he was a bad influence, so I maintained my distance from him, lest I go down with him if he ever got caught. To my knowledge he never did. What saith the Scripture? 1st Timothy 5:24, “Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.”

Dear reader, by God's grace I implore you to become vigilant in this matter of not allowing wicked people to entice you to do something wrong. Teenagers especially, be vigilant in this matter of being truthful, chaste and righteous. Temptations abound for youth today. As we grow older not so much. I'm just an old man living a boring life, and I like it that way. Proverbs 1:10, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”

These Are Perilous Times

We are living in a greedy culture today of ungodly people who couldn't care less about loving one's neighbor as thyself. My dog Miss Pickles peed blood on the floor at PetSmart yesterday. The vet charged me $105.95 for a urine analysis and another $147.66 for some antibiotics ($259.73 total). A cat had also scratched her eye on Friday and that cost me $182 for a stain test and some antibiotic eye drops earlier in the day yesterday. I checked online for pricing. For just 4 ounces of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (antibiotics) liquid, the vet charged me $146. I found it online (only veterinarians can buy it; $20.45 for 16 ounces). So, for what costs them $20.45, they charge their customers $590.64! I see this greed everywhere I go today. Matthew 24:12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

All in all, I am thankful that Miss Pickles seems to be doing better. The urine analysis showed white blood cells and bladder cells present, which the doctor said is likely either a UTI (Urinal Tract Infection), or possibly early signs of cancer. The dog is 5 years old as of January. She has gotten hold of a Little Debbie fudge brownie the day before, which I read online can caused digestive bleeding; but the vet said he didn't think that was the problem.

The Stain Test confirmed that the cat scratched her left cornea. There's a spiritually dead Presbyterian church a block away from my house. I've never seen more than 3 or 4 people present. Someone at the church feeds the cat, and there's a bowl of water. So I call it the “Presbyterian cat.” When I was walking Miss Pickles Friday evening, she ran ahead (her leash is about 15 feet long). She ran around the corner of the church building and I heard a loud yelp, and she came running back. When I turned the corner I saw the black cat, who hadn't budged until she saw me. She had clobbered Miss Pickles before I could see what was going on! Thankfully, the doctor said her eye seems to be healing well. No more cats!

Miss Pickles didn't pee blood this morning on her pee pads in the living room by her portable playpen. I'll be giving her liquid antibiotics for the next 14 days, and eye drops in her left eye for 7 days. She wouldn't allow me to put the syringe in her mouth, so I mixed her antibiotics with a tablespoon of yogurt, which the nurse said I could do. The dog likes that. Lord willing, she'll be back to normal. I also had her groomed yesterday, since it is hot and humid outside. I got her the shortest number 10 haircut. And they cleaned her teeth. That cost $122. I also have three Zebra finches, and I bought some Millet and liners for them yesterday at PetSmart. It all came out to about $600. Praise the Lord! It was a hectic day, especially for Miss Pickles.

I took this photo of her last night at the animal hospital...

Miss Pickles

In these perilous times people don't care about their neighbours like they should, charging as much money as they possibly can just because they can. But God is still faithful. 

God's free gift of eternal life is still 100% free, completely paid for by the precious blood of Jesus. Don't you dare believe any lying preacher who says you must be willing to forsake your sinful bad habits to get to Heaven, because that is works (Jonah 3:10). Christ died on a cross 2,000 years ago to pay for our sins, because there is nothing that we can do to remedy the situation. The very idea of having to be willing to turn from your sins to be saved is preposterous, because NO ONE has ever done so. The true Gospel always points you to CHRIST; a false gospel always points to YOU. If salvation is truly by grace, then you don't need to start or stop anything to be saved. Eternal life is a free gift from God (Romans 6:23).

Thank you sincerely for reading my ministry blog. God is good and faithful.

Pastor Brad Strand Is Wrong To Call Eternal Security A “Secondary Doctrine”

1st Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

Before I get into my article, let me say that I have tremendous admiration for Pastor Brad Strand. Today, he has been faithfully pastoring a small country church in Texas for decades, a man after my own heart. Brother Strand was one of my favorite Bible professors at Hyles-Anderson College in the late 1980s. He was already laboring on his intriguing Bible commentary back then, which he told us about. He spent 30,000 hours over 33 years preparing his invaluable Bible commentary. I bought five copies (2 new and 3 used).

That being said, as a fundamentalist Bible preacher myself, I feel compelled to correct doctrinal issues when I humbly disagree with any preacher, regardless of who they are. I have corrected Pastor Jack Hyles (my hero of the Christian faith) when I thought he was wrong.

That being said, in his commentary for 1st Corinthians 13:12, Pastor Strand points out that the Bible concedes we see through a glass darkly for now, which means that no one has it all figured out. 1st Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” He uses this premise to teach that as believers we ought not be dogmatic or condescending toward our Christian brethren in secondary doctrines.

Here is Brother Strand's disturbing commentary for 1st Corinthians 13:12...

Paul admitted that we know “little” (For now we see through a glass, darkly) compared to what we shall know when CHRIST returns. If 1 Corinthians 13:12 emphasizes anything, it stresses that we ought to be slow to be dismissive (flippant and indifferent) and condescending toward others who may hold a different theological view concerning 

“secondary doctrines not related to salvation; such as: (1) when the rapture of the church is to occur (Lk 17:27); (2) eternal security” (Jn 10:28-29, Mt 13:44-45, Gal 5:16-17,21 and II Tim 1:12); (3) Calvinism (Mt 28:19a), predestination (Rom 8:29 and II Thes 2:13); (4) differences between the versions of the Bible (Lk 11:51, Acts 7:45 and Heb 10:39); (4) gap theory (Gen 1:2b, 28c); (6) music standards (Psa 47:7 and Eph 5:19); (7) personal standards (Rom 14:1, 22a and 1 Cor 6:12); (8) tongues (Mk 16:17a, Acts 2:3a, 4, 6, 7, 8, 13a, 17-18 & 10:44-46 & 19:6); (9) global warming (Gen 1:25, II Pet 3:7 and Jud 21:25); and (10) etc. (Rom 14:1b and Phil 1:17). According to Paul truth exists, but it is our process of acquiring it that is limited and imprecise (Deut 29:29). 

NOTE: Outside of the doctrine of salvation (Gen 49:18, Exo 14:13, 30-31, Psa 74:12, Jonah 2:9, Hab 1:5, Mt 7:13-14, Lk 7:50, Jn 4:14 & 5:29 & 6:28-29, Rom 13:11, Titus 3:5a and Heb 6:1c), which came to us via great LIGHT (Gen 1:3b, Lk 2:30-32 & 18:34 and Jn 1:3-5), every other theological subject is, at best, clouded. Meaning: The Word of God can appear to us at times in dark speeches (1 Cor 13:12 and Num 12:7-8). —Pastor Brad Strand, The Strand Study Bible, p. 1902

Now, kindly said, I would agree with Pastor Strand that issues like global warming, music standards, gap theory and personal standards are non-essential “secondary doctrines” not worth fighting over in the churches. However, I strongly disagree with him that important issues such as eternal security, predestination, Calvinism and differences between the versions of the Bible are mere “secondary doctrines” that we shouldn't be dogmatic over.

Eternal Security Is NOT A Minor Secondary Doctrine

Brother Strand goes on in his commentary (on the same page for 1st Corinthians 13:12) to define “dogmatism” as: “the foolish art of deceiving one's self into seeing absolutes where they don't exist.” Huh? Say what? That is ridiculous when we're talking about the biblical doctrine of eternal security! I detect a level of contempt in Pastor Strand's words for those Christians who debate over these matters. That is not good.

Eternal Life and Eternal Security are NOT two separate Bible doctrines, they are one and the same teaching. If you have Eternal Life, you have Eternal Security! I am surprised that Brother Strand considers Eternal Security a non-essential doctrine. How can Pastor Strand glibly dismiss Eternal Security as being a mere “secondary doctrine” that we shouldn't be dogmatic to fuss over? How can he teach that Eternal Security is not an absolute truth? I couldn't disagree with him more, respectfully.

Dear reader, if you deny the great doctrine of Eternal Security, then you are saying that we must DO SOMETHING to remain saved. If you think you can lose it, then you clearly believe YOU must do something to keep it, and that is WORKS. Salvation is of the LORD, not man (Jonah 2:9). The only thing that you and I contribute to our own salvation is the sin that made it necessary. What do you mean that Eternal Security is a secondary doctrine? No Sir. No way!

The biblical truth of Eternal Security is just as important and worthy of fighting over to contend for the faith, as is the gospel itself.

Calvinism Is NOT A Minor Secondary Doctrine

Furthermore, Calvinism is of the Devil. John Calvin (1509-1564) is either burning in Hell now and forever, or else there are two different gospels. John Calvin emphasized that to get to Heaven, one must repent to turn from your sinning, have faith in Jesus Christ, and live according to God's commandments until death. This is NOT the gospel.

Perhaps the most notable Calvinist of our generation is Dr. Albert Mohler (president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) in Kentucky. Richard Albert Mohler Jr. (born 1959) has been the theologically incompetent President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Hillcrest, Kentucky since 1993. The man is a brilliant writer and loves to read many books. In that respect, he is a man after my own heart. I humbly think Dr. Mohler is a good man and sincere in his beliefs. That being said, he is unfortunately WRONG on God's simple plan of salvation. ...

“We don't affirm easy-believism.” —Dr. Albert Mohler Jr. 'Have We Really Misunderstood the Gospel for 2000 Years?' (23:47 time in YouTube video)

What a darn fool! Dr. Mohler is openly a 5-point Calvinist, an infidel, as is his mentor Dr. John MacArthur (1939-2025). These men are theologically dangerous, despite both being likable personalities and good men (as far as sinful humans go). Although I admire certain aspects of both men, I also loathe their corrupt view of God's simple plan of salvation.

How can Pastor Strand carelessly make light of the damnable false teachings of John Calvin, which are dooming millions of men's souls to everlasting fire, torment and damnation in Hell? There is no way that Albert Mohler is a born again believer when he openly teaches that as Calvinist's, “We don't affirm easy-believism.” Dear reader, if you think getting saved is hard, YOU ARE NOT SAVED! What do you mean you don't affirm Easy-Believism?

Was it not easy for 3,000 people to get saved on the Day of Pentecost? Sure it was easy, they gladly received the gospel which the Apostle Peter preached unto them (Acts 2:41).

Was it not easy for Cornelius and his companions to get saved? Sure it was, they simply believed the gospel truth which Peter preached unto them (Acts 10:43-44).

Jesus likened getting saved to looking at an object on a pole (John 3:14-16).

Jesus likened getting saved to drinking some water (John 4:13-15).

Jesus likened getting saved to eating some bread (John 6:48-58).

Jesus likened getting saved to walking through a door (John 10:1, 9).

Albert Mohler is a fool. It is very free, simple and yes, easy, to get to Heaven. You simply need to believe that Jesus did it all for you.

Therefore, I have to strongly disagree with Pastor Strand that Calvinism is merely a “secondary doctrine” that Christians should not be dogmatic to oppose and expose! This is not a matter that we are in the dark about. We can be absolutely certain that all five tenets of Calvinism are FALSE.

Calvinism teaches the heresy of Limited Atonement (i.e., that Christ only died for the redeemed, not all men). The very idea that we cannot know absolutely that Christ died for all men is absurd. 1st John 2:2, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Brother Strand is very wrong in this important matter. We can know of an absolute certainty that Calvinism is blatant heresy!

And the same argument can be made for predestination. It doesn't take a trained theologian to expose Calvinism as blatant theological fraud. If you'd like to learn more about the false teaching of predestination as taught by John Calvin (1509-1564), and the correct biblical teaching of predestination, I highly recommend reading this free book in .pdf format by Pastor Max D. Younce (1935-2023) titled: 'NOT CHOSEN TO SALVATION.'

RIGHT DOCTRINE MATTERS!!!

The Differences Between Bible Versions Are NOT A Minor Secondary Doctrine

I am appalled that Pastor Strand would glibly make light of the threat of Satan's corruptible seed. The corrupt modern Bible revisions change God's simple plan of salvation, by redefining what it mans to repent and believe.

The Greek verb for “repent” in Mark 1:15 in the King James Bible is metanoeo, which means, “to think differently.” It is a change of mind. It DOESN'T mean to “change your hearts and lives,” which is what the corrupt ERV says!!! . . .

KING JAMES BIBLE (KJB) — Mark 1:15, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” [emphasis added]

EASY-TO-READ VERSION (ERV) — Mark 1:15, “He said, “The right time is now here. God’s kingdom is very near. Change your hearts and lives, and believe the Good News!” [emphasis added]

That is wrong, wrong, wrong! You don't have to change your own life as a requirement to be saved. Rather, it is the indwelling Holy Spirit that comes into a person at the time of salvation that changes one's heart and life, over time as one grows in grace by nurturing on the milk of the Word (1st Peter 2:2).

To “repent” just means to think differently. The word itself doesn't even tell us what to change our mind about. For that, we need to examine a particular Scripture passages' content to determine what to change our mind about. In the case of Mark 1:15 the Bible plainly tells us. We need to think differently to believe the gospel to be saved.

Many foolish men have made a religion out of repentance. They have made a Christ out of repentance. Instead of repentance facilitating (to make possible) believing to be saved, wicked but sincere religious men have made it into an additional step to be saved. No one has ever been saved who didn't repent. That is, change their mind to admit two things: You are a guilty SINNER; and second, Jesus is the SAVIOR.

Pastor Harry Ironside (1876-1951) said it well...

"Repentance is the recognition of my sinnership—the owning before God that I am as vile as He has declared me to be in His holy Word." —Pastor Harry Ironside, 'Except Ye Repent,' chapter 3

That is vastly different than being willing to forsake one's sinful bad habits to be saved, which is a false gospel commonly taught in most churches and religious institutions today.

Some smart alec will say that you have to turn “from” something in order to turn “to” something. Well, then the answer is very obvious, the opposite of belief is unbelief. The truth is that you must change your mind from whatever has been hindering you from coming to the light of the truth of the GOOD NEWS (Jesus' crucified, buried and risen) to be saved. So, if a man has believed, has HAS repented. It is a false teaching to question whether or not someone has “repented” who has already put their childlike faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Initially, getting saved does not change a person one bit, except that now you have the gift of Christ's Holy Spirit living inside your body (Romans 8:9; 1st Corinthians 3:16-17; 1st John 3:24, 4:4). It is the Lord's Holy Spirit working in us that changes our life, but this is not a requirement to be saved. You see, the ERV is teaching doctrines of devils, requiring people to change their own life (which is human effort) as a requirement to be saved. This is reformation, not repentance, which does not bring regeneration (the new birth).

So, as you can clearly see for yourself, the issue of exposing the Devil's different Bible versions is not a mere “secondary doctrine” that we cannot be dogmatic over. We certainly can! I am absolutely certain that the Devil's Bible revisions are dangerous!!! All of Satan's apples have worms! All of Satan's Bible revisions attack the deity of Jesus, remove the Godhead, and water-down the truth of God's eternally inspired Words.

Calvinism, Denying Eternal Security and False Bibles Are Absolute False Teaching's We Must Divide Over

Although I agree that Christian believers ought not fuss and needlessly divide over secondary doctrines; such as, the timing of the Rapture, age of the earth, Zionism, standards of dress, music styles and tithing; I full disagree that critical issues; such as, eternal security, Calvinism (limited atonement, predestination, perseverance of the saints, et cetera) and differences between the Bible versions are mere secondary doctrines that ought not divide us.

So, kindly said, if you follow Pastor Brad Strand's advice for his commentary on 1st Corinthians 13:12, then you will wickedly support Pastor John MacArthur's and Dr. Albert Mohler's damnable Calvinist heresies. Calvinism is anything but a secondary doctrine! It is major false teaching! That is an absolute fact!!!

And any false teacher who denies eternal security (e.g., Dan Corner, Seventh-Day Adventists, Catholics and many Protestants) has been inspired by demons. Of that I am certain! This is not a mere secondary doctrine that we ought not be dogmatic over. Eternal Security is Eternal Life, and you cannot separate these two biblical doctrines. To deny the eternal security of a believer is to deny a free grace gospel, which is the simplicity that is in Christ. Catholics deny eternal security because they teach that works (avoiding mortal sins) are required to stay saved. That is a major damnable false teaching, not a “secondary doctrine.”

That all being said, I appreciate Pastor Strand's Bible commentary. It is truly a masterpiece of English literature, and I sincerely mean that praise. I cherish The Strand Study Bible, which you can purchase on Amazon. I bought some used ones from Abe's Books and eBay. Buy one while you still can, because I don't think they are still in print. I have learned so much truth from Brother Strand. I love the guy for his labors for Christ! To God alone be all the glory.

Consider Your Ways

Haggai 1:7, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.”

One thing that I have learned in life is that God will not force someone to do what is right. If you have a rebellious wife, you can pray for her morning, noon and evening, but God will not force her to repent (change her mind) to do what is right. Sadly, America has a serious problem with defiant rebellious wives today because of the Satanic influence of feminism. The inspired Holy Bible in our text passage of Scripture says to, “Consider your ways.”

And if you have a stubborn ungodly husband, all your prayers won't influence God to force him to repent to do what is right. But the Bible does say in 1st Peter 3:1, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives.” Many Christian wives angrily demand that their husband do this or do that; but she is as lazy as a hound dog on a hot summer day, she tells lies and goes behind his back deceitfully, she is more stubborn than her husband when it comes to apologizing or admitting when she is wrong. I tell you with Scriptural authority than no husband will ever “be won” by that kind of shameful wife.

Haggai 1:7, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.” We all need to consider our ways. The English word “consider” is translated from three different Hebrew words which mean: “to put, the heart, above.” And then the word “ways” means: “road, or course of life.” Hence, we are to put our heart above the road we are traveling to examine it.

“I said there's only one thing that'll take a man to Hell. You know what it is? It's the opposite of faith, it's unfaith or unbelief. That's all. Now then, what will take a man all the way to Heaven? Faith, in Jesus Christ. What is the one prerequisite to being saves? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” —Brother Lester Roloff, “Faith”

“A man that's not a Christian can't be honest. Now that's gonna hurt some people, but that's the truth. You cannot be honest until you come to Christ, because you're living a life of ingratitude; and you're living on God and won't recognize him. And God supplies and holds everything together, and in him you live and move and have your being; and yet you won't recognize God's ownership in your stewardship, you're being dishonest. You're God's property by creation, by sustenance and by regeneration; and if you don't recognize it, you're not honest with God. Nobody! I believe that the main the root of honesty is recognizing that God owns everything. Living off of Him.” —Brother Lester Roloff, “Faith”

Life is short dear reader. Are you prepared to meet God? Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Cultural Christians Are Not True Christians

I learned this week that Elon Musk is a “Cultural Christian.”

Cultural Christians are individuals who appreciate Christian values and culture but do not actively practice the Christian faith. They may identify as Christian due to their upbringing or cultural environment, rather than a commitment to religious beliefs. Cultural Christians often enjoy elements of Christian culture, such as holidays and traditions, without adhering to the faith itself. SOURCE

Dear reader, kindly said, Elon Musk is treading on thin ice! He is living dangerously! Being a Cultural Christian is not the same as the new birth. In the past Elon identified as an atheist, but now says he is agnostic (unsure).

Around 2014, famous horror writer Stephen King (who has been dubbed The King of Horror) said publicly that he is no longer an atheist. Stephen King stated that he made a decision to believe in God, noting that it was better to believe than not to believe, especially during his struggles with addiction. He has expressed that while he is a believer, he remains uncertain about the existence of an afterlife. What saith the Scripture? James 2:19, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), a Founding Father of the United States, considered himself part of Christian culture, despite his doubts about the divinity of Jesus. Sadly, unless he repented on his death bed, Thomas Jefferson is burning in Hell now and forever.

Jesus Is The Great “I AM”

Nobody is saved who denies Jesus' deity (John 8:24). The pronoun “he” in John 8:24 is in italics in the King James Bible. Which means the verse literally reads: “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am, ye shall die in your sins.” Exodus 3:14, “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”

Some people have foolishly alleged that Jesus never claimed to be God. Oh, but He did dear reader, He most certainly did in John 8:58, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” The unbelieving Jews fully understood that Jesus was claiming to be God, evidenced by their angry response in John 8:59, “Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.”

The unbelieving Jews knew exactly what Jesus was claiming, that He is God almighty! The Jews said to Jesus with contempt in verse 57, “Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?” Jesus replied by saying that He existed before Abraham was even born. What saith the Scripture? John 10:33, “The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” The Jews fully understood that Jesus claimed to be God almighty!

We find a remarkable Scripture passage in Job 23:12, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job said that he considered and highly regarded God's Word more than his food. Do you regard God's Word as being more valuable than a Little Caesar's pizza? Do you esteem the 8,810 promises of God in the inspired King James Bible more than your favorite meal? Matthew 4:4, “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Consider Your Ways

According to Hebrews 9:27, we all have an appointment with the Grim Reaper, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Most people are not prepared to die. Most people have never been born again.

By God's grace and mercy, may we all consider our ways. Haggai 1:7, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.”

God Sees Your Suffering, Burdens And Life

Genesis 31:7-12, “And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked. Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.”

I was listening to Willard Waggoner read the book of Genesis yesterday and today, and I heard this passage of Scripture, and two phrases caught my attention:

1. but God suffered him not to hurt me (verse 7)
2. for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee (verse 12)

I love the book of Genesis. I love the amazing true stories, especially the story of Joseph. God is so beautiful the way that He always works behind the scenes. Dear reader, we have a wonderful, good and faithful Creator, God.

Jacob had cheated his brother Esau out of his inheritance. Jacob had deceived his father by conspiring with his manipulative mother Rebekah to trick Isaac. When Rebekah heard that Esau was plotting to murder Jacob, she sent Jacob to live with her brother Laban. So, Jacob married his cousins Leah and Rachel (and their two handmaidens), and they all bear unto him 12 children. Laban cheated Jacob 10 times, lowering his wages. When a wild animal killed some of the livestock, Jacob took the loss instead of Laban. Again and again, Laban defrauded Jacob, just as Jacob had defrauded his brother Esau. What goes around comes around! This is the reciprocating law of life.

Jacob said if Laban could have robbed him of everything, he would have. Genesis 31:42, “Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.” But God protected Jacob and his family. I love these two statements that Jacob made:

1. but God suffered him [Laban] not to hurt me (verse 7)
2. for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee (verse 12)

I especially love that last statement from Genesis 31:12. God told Jacob that He had seen all the horrible things which his uncle Laban had done unto him. I love that truth because it means God sees everything that happens in our life too.

Psalms 139:1-4, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.”

Nothing escapes the eyes of God! NOTHING! Dear reader, you are known to God. The LORD knows the very number of hairs on your head...

Matthew 10:29-31, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

I'm sure you've often prayed like I do and felt like it's a big waste of time. I admit that I don't see God answering my prayers. In fact, not any of them! I used to struggle with religious scrupulosity and felt like it must all be my fault. I thought to myself, “Maybe I did something wrong, or perhaps I didn't do something that I was supposed to do, and God is offended.” But as I grew in grace I came to understand that it wasn't anything I had done wrong. It is normal for God to appear to ignore us when we pray. Anybody who says differently is a liar!

There were periods in the Old Testament when several hundred years passed without a single miracle being mentioned in the Bible. Jesus taught the people in the synagogue that in the time of famine in the days of Elijah, only one widow was provided food by God. The rest starved to death (Luke 4:25-26). Joseph and his family sojourned in Egypt in peace for 30 years. But then a wicked Pharaoh rose up who knew not Joseph, killing the Hebrew male babies. The Hebrews were enslaved for 400 years! The lesson to be learned here is that God doesn't always work in our time frame, and in the way that we desire.

Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

When I pray today, I don't look for visible results. The Scripture tells us in 2nd Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” If we pray and wait for visible results, we are trying to force God into our thinking and mold, walking by sight. I have learned that God works behind the scenes in mysterious ways. The LORD loves to work that way!

We see this truth bared out in the Old Testament book of Esther. In those ten intriguing chapters we see the hand of God at work, yet “God” is not mentioned even once in all ten chapters. There is no mention of the “Lord.” The lesson to be learned here is that when you cannot see the HAND of God at work, just trust the great HEART of God.

God sees your burdens, heartaches, needs and suffering dear reader. It burns my heart with joy and comfort to know that God told Jacob, “I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee” (Genesis 31:12b). God sees when our spouse does us wrong. God sees when thieves rob our possessions. God sees when someone does evil against us, whether it be bearing false witness or trying to destroy our name and reputation with slander. God sees it all.

Another Scripture passage comes to mind from Hebrews 4:13, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” We all have an appointment with the Grim Reaper (death), and then we must answer to God (Romans 14:10-12; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Hebrews 9:27).

Nothing escapes the scrutiny of God. He is the keeper of our soul. Proverbs 24:12, “If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” I love that Bible verse. It means God doesn't need any juries in Heaven, because He already knows THE TRUTH of all matters. No one will be able to deceive or lie to God. It greatly comforts my soul to know that our omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent God sees everything going on in everyone's soul and life, so that we must all be judged for every word (Matthew 12:36), our intentions (Proverbs 24:12), and every deed done (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Sometimes The Best Thing To Do Is Absolutely Nothing

2nd Samuel 1:10-14, “So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou?  And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?”

I could show you umpteen examples from the inspired Holy Bible where people would have been MUCH better off had they simply done nothing. In our text Scripture passage from 2nd Samuel, an Amalekite confesses to King David that he has killed King Saul. He was lying of course, Saul commit suicide, but the Amalekite did attempt to kill Saul. He sincerely thought by slaying David's enemy that the king would be pleased and reward him handsomely, but to his horror David was enraged and instead ordered him to be executed for treason. Had the Amalekite done absolutely nothing when Saul begged for him to kill him, the Amalekite would have been just fine. The lesson here is clear: Be careful about doing what people ask you to do.

I cannot think of a better example of what not to do then the way the south handled the issue of slavery. For decades prior to the American Civil War (1860-1865) there had been protests and talk up north from activists and preachers about freeing the slaves down south. This constant antislavery rhetoric from the Union made southern Confederate slave owners paranoid, big time! I mean, the slaves were their cash cow, their life's blood. Without the slaves who would work the cotton and tobacco fields? The plantation owners down south didn't want to lose their slaves.

So, when Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was elected as U.S. President on November 6, 1860, the south panicked. The best thing that they could have done was absolutely NOTHING! But under the misguided leadership of the first and only president of the Confederate States, Jefferson Davis (1808-1889), the south decided to secede from the northern Union, and that is what compelled President Lincoln to start the Civil War. If the southern states simply hadn't seceded, they could have kept their slaves. Abraham Lincoln said so, as I will show you in a moment.

Several hundred thousand men and teenage boys were killed by each other. Approximately 250,000 to 420,000 boys under the age of 18 were involved in the American Civil War, with estimates suggesting that around 100,000 Union soldiers were 15 years of age or younger. That is a shocking statistic! Sadly, many of them were killed in a needless battle over slavery that didn't even need to be fought!

The most common musket balls used during the Civil War were .58 caliber Minié balls, which were designed for rifled muskets, and .69 caliber balls for smoothbore muskets. The .58 caliber Minié ball was approximately 0.58 inches in diameter, while the .69 caliber ball was about 0.65 inches in diameter. Minié balls caused extensive damage to the body due to their design and high velocity, often resulting in severe tissue destruction and shattered bones. This led to a high number of amputations during the Civil War. An estimated 60,000 amputations were performed during the Civil War, with a significant portion of those being necessary due to the severe injuries caused by the weapons of the time. Approximately 75% of those who underwent amputation survived the procedure, many wishing they had died.

Abraham Lincoln Wasn't Concerned About Freeing Slaves

In a shocking letter written by President Lincoln to Horace Greeley (founder and editor of the New-York Tribune newspaper) on August 22, 1862, Lincoln states:

Executive Mansion,
Washington, August 22, 1862.

Hon. Horace Greeley:
Dear Sir.

I have just read yours of the 19th. addressed to myself through the New-York Tribune. If there be in it any statements, or assumptions of fact, which I may know to be erroneous, I do not, now and here, controvert them. If there be in it any inferences which I may believe to be falsely drawn, I do not now and here, argue against them. If there be perceptable in it an impatient and dictatorial tone, I waive it in deference to an old friend, whose heart I have always supposed to be right.

As to the policy I "seem to be pursuing" as you say, I have not meant to leave any one in doubt.

I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be "the Union as it was." If there be those who would not save the Union, unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views.

I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men every where could be free.

Yours,
A. Lincoln.

Wow! All that President Lincoln cared about was saving the northern Union. The Confederacy fought a costly and egregious war that never even needed to be fought in the first place, all because they were enamored with unwarranted paranoia and fear over nothing. If the south had just done NOTHING, no slaves would have been freed. The south created their own dilemma by wrongly reacting due to their fear (False Evidence Appearing Real). Pastor Jack Hyles was absolutely right, who said: “It's not our actions that destroy us; it's our reactions.”

I admit that I am guilty of having often done this very same thing throughout my life, allowing my stupid fears to cause me to make bad decisions that caused even more pain, loss, suffering and grief. I am a worrier by nature, which makes it all ten times worse! So, knowing this about myself, I have to be careful not to make hasty decisions. I have painfully learned that oftentimes the best thing to do is absolutely NOTHING. Or as Dr. Jack Hyles used to wisely say, “Don't make decisions when your decision maker is broken.”

For every time in my past that I regret having not taken action when I should have, there are far more times that I regret having taken action instead of just doing nothing. This is why we all desperately need God's wisdom, to know how to respond in different given situations.

When the Apostle Peter drew His sword and cut off the servant's ear in defense of Jesus, Peter would have been better if he had done nothing. Peter had previously told Jesus that he would prevent Him from being crucified, for which Jesus called the apostle, “Satan” (Matthew 16:23). Peter had good intentions, but he was very wrong (Proverbs 14:12). It was absolutely necessary for Jesus to be crucified that God's free gift of salvation could be offered to humanity. Peter had tunnel vision, failing to grasp the big picture of what was going on.

So, when you're in a situation and not sure what to do, sometimes doing nothing is the best thing. Let the other person make the first move. It all depends on the particular situation, but I think in many cases we'd be better off doing nothing. Exodus 14:14, “The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” You don't have to always react to someone's words or a situation. Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”