In the words of the Psalmist- “..I am fearfully and wonderfully made..” (Psalms 139:14).
Of all of God’s great creation humanity seems to be clearly set forth as his most cherished possession. It is this fact that prompted David to say:
“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained; what is man that you are mindful of him? And the son of man, that you visit him?
(Psalms 8:3-4).
The answer to this question is easily found in Genesis 1:27.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them”.
As such, God placed man over the earth that He created and gave him dominion over all it’s inhabitants, His divine plan being to create a race of people after His likeness, holy and without blame before Him in love, that they should be to the praise of His glory.
(Ephesians 1:4,12).
This He purposed in Himself, “before the foundation of the world”. (Ephesians 1:9,4).
For, “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world”. (Acts 15:18).
However, some time after the creation the first humans, after God had blessed them and established them in the earth, they rebelled against God, and in doing so gave Satan dominion in the earth. Sin and death entered the world and humanity’s problems began to over take them.
Sin became a part of their very nature. No longer were they the innocent creatures that they were when they came from the hands of their creator. No longer could they enjoy the peace and tranquility they once enjoyed when they walked in harmony with their God. Now they have been changed and their authority has been transferred to the one who masterminded there down fall.
SATAN
Satan, who was once named Shining one (he-lel), In the KJV Lucifer (Latin), rebelled against God some time before the creation of man. (Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28).
And he now uses the authority he gained from Adam, to exploit humanity in his fiendish plot to deify himself in the eyes of humanity and reign on earth as our king.
(Isaiah 14:13-14, Daniel 11:36).
HIS SUCCESS
In the process he has warped the minds and hearts of the people so that some will not discern between good and evil, while others choose to live by humanistic ethics that are far from godliness. He has laid complex traps for us that bind us in mental and emotional confusion to keep us from finding the way of peace. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Romans 3:17). He has fed our minds with perverted concepts and morals to steer us away from truth and righteousness. Through his deception he has blinded the masses of humanity, and lead us in the path of covetousness and immorality. (Romans 1:29-31).
THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD
Fortunately God is omniscient and knows all things, neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. (Isaiah 46:10, Hebrews 4:13). Therefore, knowing that humanity would sin against Him and be over taken by sin, God had already provided the mean for our redemption through Jesus Christ. We are told in Revelation 13:8 that Jesus was the lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world and that His blood was shed before the foundation of the world. In gospel of John 1:29 we are told that He was the lamb that takes away the sins of the world.
THE BIBLE
How God would accomplish the redemption of humanity and deliver us from the bondage of sin and the influence of Satan, and indeed how He has accomplished the redemption for us through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, is recorded in detail in the pages of God’s word the Bible. It is the book of the generations of Adam (Genesis 4:1).
It is the book of the generations of the heavens and the earth.(Genesis 2:4).
It is the truth and it is the light. (St. John 17:17, Psalm 119:105). And through it God reveals to us the cause of our turmoil’s and their solution.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HEARING THE WORD
The Bible is indeed the word of God, and although there have been countless attempts to disprove its validity and destroy its influence; it still remains authoritative and reliable.
Millions today still testify of its life-changing message.
There are however millions more who have never taken the time to hear it’s message.
God has tried in vain to persuade them to listen to His offer of salvation. Because He has chosen not to violate there will in this matter, they have exercised their right not to listen, and in doing so, robbed themselves of the opportunity to be saved.
Faith can only come by hearing (or reading) the word of God. (Romans 1:17). Believing in Jesus is essential for salvation, and you cannot believe in Him if you have not heard of Him.
(Romans 10:14).
God has commissioned His Spirit filled, water baptized, blood washed servants to preach the gospel of salvation throughout the whole world to every creature, and this work is being carried out today. (Mark 16:15).
The question is, are you listening? Are you going to the place where God’s word can be heard? If so, are you listening carefully in order to understand so that you might become a partaker of God’s gift of salvation?
Jesus said in Mark 4:24 “Take heed what you hear…unto you that hear, shall more be given”. Hebrews 2:1 tell us that we “ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip”.
Jesus also exposed Satan’s desire to keep us from hearing and obeying God’s word. (Luke 8: 2).
The book of Acts reveals to us that Satan uses people who follow him to hinder the preaching of the gospel. (Acts 13:6-12, 14:1-7).
Therefore the choice is yours. You can neglect to hear God’s word, and reject it’s message, excepting the consequences that will be the result, (Acts 13:45-46, 14:1-7, St. John 8:24, Rev.20:11-15), or you can find a church where God’s word is being preached and taught, where you can learn the truth that can set you free. (John 8:31-32).
If you have searched but you can not find a church that teaches the whole gospel, where you can worship God and learn of Him, (Matthews 11:29), We invite you to (as Joshua said),
“Come hither, and hear the word of the lord your God”. (Joshua 3:9).
If you are interested in escaping the soon coming wrath that will be unleashed on this sin infested world, (2 Peter 3:3-12), please contact us , and we will tell you words whereby you and your family can be saved. (Acts 11:13-14).
Please don’t delay. Tomorrow is not promised to you. (Proverbs 27:1).
Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart. (Hebrews 4:7).
Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, (Isaiah 55:6).
This message is a product of God’s love. Please tell someone else about it.
[UU1]AFJM P.O. box 7332 Freeport, NY 11520
email: [email protected]