18/12/12

Can man depart from evil and do good?

Psalms 37:27 - Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.


Today's message is very clear by itself. If any person wants to live forever, then all that person needs to do is depart from evil and do good. It is as simple as that.

A person who can do this does not need any religion, or help of any other person or being, including Jesus Christ. Yes, a person does not need even Jesus Christ to be saved if that person can keep away from evil and do good; this is what the Lord has said, and what He has said stands.

First thing we should remember man has limited knowledge and understanding. His wisdom grows with knowledge and experience. That is why people today have more wisdom then people ages back. But all that wisdom which man has today is nothing compared to what he needs to know of the Kingdom of God.

Let me take an example - the Kingdom of God is not a physical world but a spiritual world. The word spirit given in the Bible is the Hebrew word 'ruwach' which means 'breath' or 'wind'.

Breath or air is not a living thing yet spirit is a living thing.
Spirit does not have a visible form or shape yet the Bible states a spirit having a spiritual form and shape not visible to earthly man. It uses adjectives to describe a spirit.
Spirit is not energy yet has energy, power.
Spirit is not restricted by natural time and place, or by natural laws.

Man in all his wisdom cannot picture an elementary thing like spirit then what position is man that he can know things of the Kingdom of God? If man in all his wisdom cannot know of the Kingdom of God then in what capacity is man to know good from bad. If he cannot know good from bad then how is he to refrain from bad and do good.

History shows what man did as a hero years bad is now considered as an act of terrorism. Many of the rituals man followed in the name of God years back has been banned today and any person following them can be arrested and even face life sentence.

God knew after man ate of the fruit of doubt in the Garden of Eden, man lost his sense of discernment and does not have the wisdom to know good from bad.

Jesus Christ came as man, paid the price for our sins, took away the wrath of God so that we can receive the Spirit of Truth and by receiving His Spirit we receive the ability to know of the Kingdom of God, grow in discerning good from bad and thus walk in righteousness.

God did not stop there He also gives us His other Spirits (Holy Spirit constitutes of 7 Spirits) so that we receive all the help we need to walk in goodness and thus overcome evil. Man by himself cannot walk in righteousness but only by the help of the Holy Spirit can he start taking the baby steps of righteousness and grow into a mature Son of God.

We need Jesus in our lives because it is only by Him that we can receive His Spirit and be saved. The walk of salvation starts with believing in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and finishes with the working of the Holy Spirit in us.

Many people stop at believing in Jesus and think they are saved. These people will be totally disappointed on the Judgment Day when the Word will judge us.

God created the world and rested in His Spirit; Jesus did His work and rested in His Spirit. We all need to know the importance of the Spirit of God in our walk towards our salvation.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, man was given access to eternal life when he had access to the Tree of Life, but when he ate of the fruit of doubt to know good and evil. Man was innocent of evil for the all that You created, You declared it as good and the only evil that existed then was Satan. Lord, You paid the price so that by your Spirit we will again receive the Truth in us and thus overcome evil. Holy Spirit, reveal more and more of the Kingdom of God to us. At the same time strengthen us by your work on our spirit that we may not stumble but walk the path of righteousness to receive the righteousness of Christ...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Proverbs 3:13-18
13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Ecclesiastes 2:18-26
18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Isaiah 11:2 - And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

John 14:17 - Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 16:13 - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)