Everything is fine

   Do you want to have a happy audience in church? Speak of God's love. And you don't even have to say much – it's quite enough to have a blissful look on your face. Most of all, don't speak of the importance of changes in thinking, about patience, endurance, humbleness, self-denial, carrying a burden. And don't talk about repentance, sanctification, learning to love and so forth. Don't even try to talk about the importance of good deeds.

   Why? Because we only want to hear the good news. We want to hear, that everything is ok, that God loves us unconditionally, no matter what we do. We want to hear, that we're saved by Jesus's sacrifice, that one day, we'll be with God and Lord Jesus in heavenly kingdom, and that nothing will change that, no matter, what our behaviour is.

   And because people don't read God's word ( the Bible), they don't usually find out about the “displeasing facts”. My friend told me, how priest ( from the town I come from) asked attendants, how many of them read the Bible at least once. And from all those more than 100 people, apparently only a ministrant, who went through some theological school happened to raise his hand. That's very sad. All those people only know what the priest tells them on Sunday mass, when it comes to the Bible. And so we're getting back to those only positive preachings. How many religious people will be surprised one day, by what the God's word clearly says and what the priest never talked about. How many of us will once hear those horrible words “ I never knew you - depart from me” Matthew 7,23.

Matthew 7,13-23: Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many entering in through it. Because narrow is the gate and distressing is the way which leads unto life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them from their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree produces excellent fruit, but a corrupt tree produces evil fruit. A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, nor is a corrupt tree able to produce excellent fruit. Every tree that does not produce excellent fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore from their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many works of power in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who work out lawlessness!

   Can you see? Lord Jesus doesn't speak to non-believers, but Christians (believers). Even to such Christians/ believers, that were performing miracles in his name, casting out demons, healed sick, prophesied and so forth. We can see here, that the reason of their rejection, was the fact, that they didn't do God's will, and they participated in wrongdoing. (ανομια = greek word „anomia“ means injustice, doing something against the law, sinful behaviour).

   It's quite common to hear from preachers, that once someone becomes a Christian (believer), they can no longer lose their salvation and therefore are guaranteed an everlasting life.

   Do you think, that Jesus is just scaring people for no reason, when he says, that only those will be saved, who will remain faithful to the end (Mathew 10,22)? Why does he warns, that he'll truly declare those people before His Father, who declare him in front of other people (Mathew 10,32-33)? Why is he warning people in the parable about the 10 virgins, that they can also hear – “I do not know you” (Mathew 25,1-13)? Why is he in the parable about 10 talents warning, that only those who are doers of good, will receive everlasting life (Mathew 25,14-46)? Why apostle Paul warns, that God will repay everyone according to their actions, and will only give everlasting life to those, who will remain persistent in doing good and will seek glory and sanctity (Romans 2,6-14)?

   Do not just rest on the preacher's word, have a God's word written in your heart. Think also about God's warnings, not only about God's love. Remember: (Mathew 7,13-14): Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many entering in through it. Because narrow is the gate and distressing is the way which leads unto life, and there are few who find it.