Enemies of the Cross
Here is a Bible question for Bible Students. How many people died directly because of insurrection or open disobedience against God? I do not know the total number, but as of today I counted about 23,555! And, these are only the most well-known cases. Some people died because of God’s judgement, however others died simply because of something they said. For instance, Korah and 250 others went right into Hell – in one day.
10 But the earth opened up its mouth and swallowed them with Korah, and fire devoured 250 of their followers. This served as a warning to the entire nation of Israel. (Num 26:10 NLT)
More importantly, the severity of God and the grace of God is still seen in this Bible story. Although God killed Korah and 250 of his angering group, He spared a portion of Korah’s descendants. This was because they were set aside for guarding the entrance to the sanctuary.
19 Shallum was the son of Kore, a descendant of Abiasaph, from the clan of Korah. He and his relatives, the Korahites, were responsible for guarding the entrance to the sanctuary, just as their ancestors had guarded the Tabernacle in the camp of the LORD. (1Ch 9:19 NLT)
Another story of deadly consequences due to sin was Ananias and his wife. This couple raised money to help their church community, but they kept some of the money for themselves. First, Ananias died for lying to the Holy Spirit. A short time afterwards, his wife entered the place where her husband died and when she told the same lie, she fell dead also.
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.
4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”
5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified.
(Act 5:3-5 NLT)
And, I think we all know about the 23,00 Israelites who died in the wilderness because they were the rebellious group who committed fornication in the presence of God.
NLT 1 Corinthians 10:8 And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. (1Co 10:8 NLT)
Please allow me to be plain and to the point. I am not entertained by the loss of human life, or even the death of the wicked. One cannot measure the abundance of God’s grace to His people. But, we also read in the Bible where God’s wrath fell upon people who were in direct, open rebellion and we can see the consequences of those sins clearly. Many of us may have rebelled at some time in our lives, but Thanks be to God, His loving grace drew us closer and closer as we continually matured in His mercies. Even after living for God for a long time, there are believers who fall, yet God is faithful to pick His children up and restore hearts of the repented ones. Nevertheless, when I heard about God’s power to keep His children from falling and that they could live victoriously, I became wiser to Satan’s deceptions. All I needed to know was that God looks forward to the time when His toddlers really want to learn to walk. Our loving Savior never leaves us alone. Just like a good father, God knows when to help His children learn how to walk.
We must remember that God is not simply nagging when He corrects us in His Word. God is protecting us against the consequences of sin. Moreover, God knows that He is obligated to His Word in response to our rebellious natures.
A University professor told me that he could become a great preacher if he wanted to because he already knew how to motivate people and make them believe what he taught them. This professor knew the power of stimulating the “pleasure center” of the human brain. People are more than ready to hear something that pleases, affirms, or encourages them. The Word of God edifies, exalts, and comforts, but messages outside of the Bible tend to be just a make-me-feel-good type of word. This professor believed that he didn’t have to know any Scriptures. All he had to do was to say something positive. You better believe that I warned him of such foolishness! Unfortunately, there will come a time when motivational speaking will replace the sovereignty of God and those times are not so far off.
12 and you will know that I am the LORD. For you have refused to obey my decrees and regulations; instead, you have copied the standards of the nations around you.”
13 While I was still prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah suddenly died. Then I fell face down on the ground and cried out, “O Sovereign LORD, are you going to kill everyone in Israel?” (Eze 11:12-13 NLT)God’s message has always been about victorious living and a holy walk with God.
NLT Ezekiel 13:1 Then this message came to me from the LORD:
2 “Son of man, prophesy against the false prophets of Israel who are inventing their own prophecies. Say to them, ‘Listen to the word of the LORD.
3 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: What sorrow awaits the false prophets who are following their own imaginations and have seen nothing at all!’
4 “O people of Israel, these prophets of yours are like jackals digging in the ruins.
5 They have done nothing to repair the breaks in the walls around the nation. They have not helped it to stand firm in battle on the day of the LORD.
6 Instead, they have told lies and made false predictions. They say, ‘This message is from the LORD,’ even though the LORD never sent them. And yet they expect him to fulfill their prophecies! (Eze 13:1-6 NLT)
The truth is that people learn from what they see, rather than what they hear. It is tragic that our behaviors have led many away from the Cross, instead of being led to the Cross.
17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.
18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. (Phi 3:17-18 NLT)
In the last days, some believers will start mixing sinful actions with God’s Holy grace. Their continual ungodly conduct will send mixed messages that confuse the message of the Cross. Even worse, other believers may see that these people are in error, but they will not say anything to warn them of a better way in Christ. Perhaps, it is because they are unable to hear God’s pleadings from Heaven to warn sinners of eternal damnation.
14 “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.
15 In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.
16 Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
(Rev 2:14-16 NLT)
16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.
17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.
18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. (Phi 3:16-18 NLT)