More...

"Well, that's just your opinion," someone answers crossly when you point out the need for...well, just about anything they don't want to do.

At what point does failure to do what God commands become something that will cost a person their soul?

Acts 2:38 And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Two older women sit reading and studying their Bibles together. One of the ladies turns to Acts 2:38 and says to her companion, "See, right here, we are commanded to be baptized. It says plainly--repent and be baptized--."

"It doesn't say that in my Bible," the other woman says.

The first woman can't believe her friend is so blind, "Well, just turn to Acts 2:38 and you can read it yourself!" she insists.

"It isn't in my Bible," the other woman says testily. "I cut it out."

How many of us would be so bold, yet, how many do that very thing if not in fact at least in their own mind.

"I just don't think God will judge me in this..."

We know there are sins of omission, and sins of commission. The ones are sins of things we fail to do for whatever reason, and the other are sins we commit...for whatever reason.

Luke 12:47 And that servant, who knew his lord's will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; 48) but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.

What a quandary, to be beaten by the Lord, or to be beaten by the people.

Ezekiel 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned, and the sword come, and take any person from among them; he is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

Some things seem so simple that people don't see the sense of it and therefore decide they don't need to do it. However, just because you don't see the need...

"Well," the speaker gives the illustration, "the young man's father is going on a trip. And he tells the son, "Son while I'm gone I want you to fix the fence over here, plant a tree in this spot here by the fence, and paint the barn red."

The father leaves, and the son looks things over. Indeed, the fence needs repair, and the tree will go nicely where his father wants it planted, so he follows those instructions. After all that is finished he goes down to the barn and inspects that project, but decides that his father is wrong, that barn doesn't really need painted....

"In what has the son followed his father's instructions?" the speaker asks. "In nothing." He decided what he would do, and as long as it agreed with what he WANTED to do--that's what he did. He did what he wanted to do."

So, the question comes to each of us...what are we doing? What are you doing? What am I doing? Let us do the will of the Father.

Matthew 17:5 While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Luke 20:13 And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him. 14) But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. 15) And they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them? 16) He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

What can we learn? First thing: Jesus is the beloved Son. Second thing: we are commanded to hear (follow and obey) Him. And third, if we don't reverence him--The obvious conclusion is we will be destroyed. Only two choices, only two paths.

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!