choosing sides (Romans 5:12-21, Revelation 20:11-14)

[jars of clay]

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness [6] leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.


At the end of the day there are only two sides in this world, either you are on God's belt and with Christ, or you are with on your own strength and against God. But sometimes we have a very crazy idea. We like to think that we can have the "pleasure of the world while still being on the straight and narrow path. We think that the two paths run almost parallel when in fact the exact opposite is true. There is no middle ground, the two paths run exactly opposite of each other. Jesus put it in the way of saying no man can have two masters, we cannot have two gods in our lives. Either we will obey one, or the other. Either we will follow after the things of this world and reap the judgement that comes with it, or we will follow after Christ, and reap the mercy that comes in having faith in him. So who exactly is lord of you? Does your life show that? if it doesn't you need to examine yourself carefully, death comes without warning and without mercy, and after death, there is no getting off the path we are on.

[4ever4him]

wow... that is very nice..... i love it randal!
and it is so true there is no middle path.

[Gavan Johnson]

very very good.. I love it... especially how you tied it all together.. it is so very true and in fact I sometimes have to stop myself from trying to live the world and living for God.... very very insightful as well..

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