A few weeks ago (March 14 to be exact) I took a friend of mine out to celebrate her 89th birthday. The night before I had gone to bed with the forecast of possible rain. I woke up to snow!
When I picked my friend up, she had the best description of March that I had ever heard.
“It’s confused,” she said.
It is indeed, for since then we have had 35 mph winds, drenching rains, and beautiful sunny days.
While the March forecast might keep us all a bit “confused,” it is comforting to know that “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” I Corinthians 14:33.
And of clarity. And nowhere do you see this clarity more than in God’s personal love for us and the simple path to salvation. It’s not rocket science and it’s not confusing.
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Jeremiah 1:5
“But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:30-31
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46
No, God is not the author of confusion, but Satan is, and he will twist and manipulate these simple, clear truths so that people will not call sin, sin. That people will believe that if there is a god, he is unknowable. They will claim that there are multiple ways to get to heaven (all of which require being good enough or doing enough) or that everyone will go to heaven. And finally, that there is no hell.
Confusing these simple truths robs people of an intimate relationship with God and a life of peace, but worst of all, sets them up to spend eternity in pain and torment.
Though we have no control over March’s mercurial temperament, or any responsibility for it, we do have an obligation to make sure God’s simple, clear, and life-giving truths are made known to all.
When I picked my friend up, she had the best description of March that I had ever heard.
“It’s confused,” she said.
It is indeed, for since then we have had 35 mph winds, drenching rains, and beautiful sunny days.
While the March forecast might keep us all a bit “confused,” it is comforting to know that “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” I Corinthians 14:33.
And of clarity. And nowhere do you see this clarity more than in God’s personal love for us and the simple path to salvation. It’s not rocket science and it’s not confusing.
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Jeremiah 1:5
“But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:30-31
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46
No, God is not the author of confusion, but Satan is, and he will twist and manipulate these simple, clear truths so that people will not call sin, sin. That people will believe that if there is a god, he is unknowable. They will claim that there are multiple ways to get to heaven (all of which require being good enough or doing enough) or that everyone will go to heaven. And finally, that there is no hell.
Confusing these simple truths robs people of an intimate relationship with God and a life of peace, but worst of all, sets them up to spend eternity in pain and torment.
Though we have no control over March’s mercurial temperament, or any responsibility for it, we do have an obligation to make sure God’s simple, clear, and life-giving truths are made known to all.
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