What does the Bible say?

My appreciation to Mr. Burke and his reference to “Corporeal Acts of Mercy” (Matt. 23:31-46). I always wondered where the Democratic Party got the idea that if they used government force to extort money from the productive and give it to the non-productive, they were somehow doing an act of personal charity. Despite Matt. 22:21 (Render unto Caesar, etc.), God probably doesn’t consider that an act of charity on the part of the extorters. If one backs up to the beginning of that same chapter of Matthew, one will discover two parables of individual responsibility. The first is the parable of the wise and foolish virgins (v. 1). Since the wise virgins gave no oil to the foolish virgins, does that mean they were uncharitable and condemned to everlasting punishment? Beginning in verse 14, one will find the parable of the three stewards, each given a varying amount of money. The master upon his return did not hold the recipient of the five talents responsible for the servant who buried his talent. Indeed, the master rewarded the initiative of the two who doubled their allotment and punished the one who did nothing.

This doesn’t mean God always grants success to those who try to better themselves. After all, God “sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45). One last reference to Matthew. In Matt. 4:5-7, one will find the devil quoting scripture to the one who wrote the book. In Revelation 20:21, a final example of individual responsibility: “And anyone not found written in the Book of Like was cast into the lake of fire” (all quotes New KJV).

— Jeff Vail

Salisbury

 

Where will you spend eternity?

It is appointed unto men once to die, after this the judgment. God’s word tells us this: The way we live our life now will determine where we spend eternity.

We have all sinned and come short of the Glory of God. Jesus came to live, and die such a horrible death, and rose from the grave that we might have eternal life with Him. There is a price to pay to get to live with Him. In order to do this, we must be sorry for our sins, come to Him, and tell him we are sorry and forgive us, and help us to live a holy life, change the way we are living.

His Word tells us to “Be ye holy as I am holy,” and it also tells us without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. If we don’t live a holy life before we draw our last breath on this earth, there will be no way we will be with the Lord. It will be too late to ask His forgiveness. Only two places to go when we leave this life. (The other is) a place of torment, burning for eternity where the fire does not out. Such a terrible place to be with all the others who have not accepted Jesus as their savior.

People don’t want to hear what God’s word says, but one day we will be sorry, but it will be too late to repent. Please, accept Jesus, escape the flames of hell. This article is being written because I love souls and care where they spend eternity.

— Alma Johnson

Salisbury

 

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