Bible Studies
Universal Iniquity and the True Heart
For some time I have suspected that our current world is the most wicked that has ever been, even more wicked than Sodom, for their end came in a single day, but this world will be punished over many days. In Psalms 125 is an amazing revelation which may speak to this, but I believe God purposefully left it obscure enough that salvation might remain a test of the heart, not the mind. The key phrase is:
[Psalms 125:3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.]
There are several definitions for what exactly “rod” means, but the most likely to fit in this phrase is authority, or rule, as there is also a correspondence to rod as rule in [Revelation 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron.] What might be understood from Psalm 125:3 is that employment of the elect by the wicked would cause them also to put their hands to the iniquity, whereby the wicked shall be judged. Therefore God tells us that the righteous will not be under the authority of the wicked, which is employed by the wicked, lest they also be judged as partakers of their iniquity. (Is the driver for the bank robbers guiltless?)
Could it be that in our modern world that the employment or association to eliminate poverty are the iniquity? Are not the righteous poor and needy, the Kingdom of God belongs to the poor, and by no means shall a rich man enter into heaven? Notice those who are rich negate the scripture Jesus says about riding a camel through these eye of a needle, [Mark 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.], but what about not rich, but at least living comfortably because they have a steady job?
The five verses of Psalm 125 encapsulate an important message from God, and the scripture surrounding lend support to its understanding. [Psalm 125: 5 As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.] Notice that the turning aside is correlated to verse 1, “they that trust in the Lord”. The turning aside is because they trust in their sure money, therefore they need not daily seek God. Their living is secure, they are not tossed about like a tempest, unsure from one time unto the next where house or bread will come from, and their family stands behind them. They do not daily weep, their path a trail of sorrow, waiting in their heart every day for the Lord to appear: for the rod of the wicked rests upon them: they have employment with the workers of iniquity. They are allied with them, accepted of them, but not so the upright in heart, who shall not be accepted, and will have no secure place among them.
Psalm 125:5 teaches us the false hearts of the believers in Christ will turn aside from trust in God, and unto evil doings. Notice the immediate result of not hoping in God each day results in turning aside from him and into evil ways. It is not just their faith is not passionate, or burning hot requiring a revival, but because they need not cry out to God daily, weeping in sorrow, poor and needy, afflicted and unsure one day to the next; they immediately turn to crooked ways as a sure phenomena. When their hearts are turned aside because they have the world, and do not need God, he will then lead them so that they serve the workers of iniquity, being partakers with them, because it is the appropriate manifestation of what is in their hearts. Do you know what it takes to be true of heart?
Do you get a regular paycheck? The next time you have your secure paycheck in your hand, contrast that moment to a moment of terror and a questioning why has God allowed this to happen. When you think with gratitude for your secure income, and your secure house, look at the man standing on the street who appears homeless, or jobless, alone or destitute: you should wonder who is fortunate according to the scripture, you or he; For the enemy to the world can find no place within it. [James 4:4 Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?] Therefore if the world has accepted you, and you have a brother that loves you, or a sister you are glad to see, how shall you be approved of God? Did not Jesus say that if you did not hate your worldly mother and father, and hate your life, and seek to lose it, you would not be worthy of him? [Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.], and [ Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.] Why then if you have family who loves you do think to be accepted of Jesus Christ? Why if your career is sure do you bother with religion, hoping for the reward to come? You have your reward, for only if the heart of a man turns aside from God may he be accepted of the world in any place, long enough for his career to be sure.
Do you read Luke 14:26 and say within yourself, this is the error of men? Sweet loving Jesus would never say something like, unless I hate my own children I would not be worthy of him, or this means something other than what it says, or this only applies to people with evil family members, even though the perfect scripture which God is able to translate into any language perfectly, does not say anything about “some people’s family”? If this scripture does not mean what it says, how can you trust any of it? Shall you just go by what sounds right to you and dump the rest, even though every respected minister of the gospel will tell you the scripture means what says, and says what it means, and there is no error, lies, false statements, or mistranslations, whereby those that would seek him be lost in confusion, and none could be held accountable by a misleading word? Why do you think the rich cannot be saved? They have their reward. Why do you think the popular cannot be saved? They have their reward. Why on earth would God essentially be saying you have to be poor, alone, and hated of the of the world to be righteous, saved, worthy of Jesus Christ? Because daily they weep in sorrow, fasting each and every day, having no one, and many are their afflictions. They had nothing in this world, therefore their reward is to come, and how much better it is! What are the riches of the world compared to the approval of Christ?! What is the fame of the world compared to the fame of the life to come, life everlasting with God, in flesh that ages not, neither is there fear it shall come into harm, or blemish, ever?! Did you trade the acceptance of this wicked world for that?! Do you know what it takes to have a true heart, refusing the friendship of the world?
Therefore do not be double minded about your religion. No preacher, priest, bishop, deacon, minister, or great man of scriptural teaching has access to any words beyond that which any might obtain and read (the bible), to contain any truth whereby the true of heart might come into the knowledge of salvation. I see these persons of faith on television, on the internet, or in the church, who have not faced the ugly reality of what the bible really says, even though God makes it crystal clear that his word can be trusted now and forever, even every word of it: [Timothy II 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:] (Notice it does not say, “Except the stuff that is obviously mistranslated or the error of men who wrote it.)
If I found my own life was against an element of acceptance with God, I would examine it carefully, and what should I do if there was something wrong, but still I believe heaven and hell are but a stone’s throw away? If I was not able to give up my life in the world to be worthy of Christ, then I should forsake my religion, or else repent, but the ultimate definition of foolishness would be to expect both the world now, and the world to come. I would know that if I held on to the love of my family, or money, or career, or friends who love me and stand by me, that I have made my choice; my heart is turned aside. Should I then sing praises? Should I ask of him in prayer, anything but that my heart might turn to him, and when it does be outcast and poor, afflicted, oppressed, and depressed, even weeping to God for the pain daily? Do you know what it takes to be friends with the most high God?
There is only God or the world, let no one deceive you. Did you believe the false Christians, who say entering into eternal life was easy: just believe on the name of Jesus Christ? If you have not understood what it takes to be righteous you will lose that belief, because God will take it out of your heart the same as he put it in. The scripture will be fulfilled, that only those who still call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, for they earned the right to keep that belief in their heart, with weeping, and mourning each day, and being tossed about with tempest, often homeless, driven out of every place, a derision, hated, alone, an object of slander, being poor, afraid, having no surety. They cry out to him, and put their trust in him, as there was nothing for them to hold on to in the world. Only such will be turned again and return with everlasting joy on their heads, praising God their redeemer, who wipes away their tears, and for their patients fulfills the covenant to Israel: the everlasting life among men, for God dwells among them. [Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.], [Psalms 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Psalms 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.], [Psalms 126:2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.] Do you know what it takes to be upright in heart, forsaking all to follow Christ, and the sacrifice that really means?
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