11-25-19 Whom Do You Trust?
Whom Do You Trust? :: By Dennis Huebshman
There was a TV game show that started in 1957, and ended in 1963 called, “Who Do You Trust?” From 1957 to 1962, the host was a young man named Johnny Carson. The concept of the show was that questions were asked of married couples, and the husband decided who would answer – his wife or himself. By the way, starting in 1958, a new emcee came to the show named Ed McMahon. He and Carson would be on TV together until 1992.
I can still remember some of the antics that took place, and it was more of a comedy skit than a serious game show. However, there were challenges, and the couple that would get the most right answers would win $100.00 per week for a year. That was good money for those days.
When we think of our current “game show” called life, a very serious question of “Whom do you trust” comes to mind. (any emphasis is mine)
First and foremost, there’s the man, Jesus. He not only claims to be the Son of God (John 3:16-18), but that He is God Himself (John 10:30). He expects us to have faith that this is so, and to believe that through Him, and Him alone, we can have eternal life in Heaven. If we read the Bible, numerous prophecies about Him were in the first 39 Books called the Old Testament, and this was before He appeared in Bethlehem.
Just by His birth from a virgin, and through His ministry of just over 3 years, He fulfilled over 100 prophecies completely. Even His death, burial and resurrection happened just as He Himself prophesied. He was fully-human, yet was still fully-God. Some say this is impossible, but with the Creator of the Universe, nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:26).
He is a “Trinity” – three members of one Godhead which no one can fully explain, other than it is so (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Also, He is the only “human” that lived a pure, sinless life from birth through His death and resurrection. He was tempted by Satan after a fasting period of 40 days, yet remained sinless. All other “humans” have a sin nature, and we have all sinned and fallen short (Romans 3:23).
The other “player” is Satan. He is a “created being” that believes he should be equal to the Creator. In fact, his self-pride is what caused his fall (Isaiah 14:12-15), and it’s believed he attained a following of about 1/3 of the heavenly host of angels (Revelation 12:4). They would become the “demons” mentioned throughout the Bible.
Lucifer (Satan) was possibly the most “beautiful” angel created by the Lord God Jehovah. It is apparent that the Father allowed the heavenly host (angels) the ability to have a free-will to make decisions for themselves, just as He has done for us. Most of the angels chose to follow God’s will, and have placed themselves fully and willingly under His control. Two faithful arch angels that are mentioned in the Bible are Michael and Gabriel.
Those who followed Satan placed themselves in the position to be separated from God forever. They do not have a pathway to forgiveness as we humans have. After all, they were already in God’s presence, and still chose to go against Him. Matthew 25:41 tells that the Lake of Fire was created specifically for Satan and his demons.
Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice for us, and He gave us a true covenant. If we accept, through faith, that He came to this earth; died on a cross voluntarily to cover our sins with His pure and precious blood; was raised from the grave three days later to conquer sin and death for us once and for all; and has ascended (Raptured) back to heaven where He is this very day; then we are covered by His Covenant.
God knew from the very beginning that we were weak, and there was no way we could provide a sacrifice that would meet His perfect standards. In the Garden of Eden, it was proved that Satan could influence God’s creation through deceit and lies (Genesis 3). God could’ve ended everything right there and any time thereafter, but decided He would give a chance to any and all who would follow His will prior to the Cross. From Calvary forward, He has made a covenant that “All who call on the name of the Lord (Jesus) will be saved” (Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13). This will extend to the very end of the millennial reign of Jesus on this earth.
He gave a “temporary” means of forgiveness through the sacrifice of animals, but that only showed a person’s willingness to comply with His will, and couldn’t erase the “stain” left by sin. From the Cross forward, no other sacrifice than that of Jesus would be accepted. It was a “one-time” event for all sin, and all who accept Jesus will receive forgiveness (1 John 1:8-10).
This has gone on for centuries; however, one explanation is found in 2 Peter 3:8-10: “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The lord is not slow to fulfill His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the Heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works done on it will be exposed.”
The new Heaven and Earth are described in Revelation 21. Also, God is not bound by time as we are.
Revelation tells about a 7-year tribulation or period of wrath that this earth will go through. We have God’s promise in numerous places, that before that time takes place, those who have accepted His Son Jesus, and have asked forgiveness and for Jesus to save them, will be kept from the wrath. Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; and 1 Thessalonians 5:9 tells us this, and there are even more verses than these. Paul describes this event in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53. It will happen prior to the official start of the tribulation, and is estimated that it will take place in less than one second.
All who will not accept Jesus, and who take their last breath on earth without repenting, will join Satan and his demons in the Lake of Fire Forever! No other options are available.
So the question remains, “Whom Do You Trust?” Joshua 24:15 says we need to make the choice of other “gods” or the Lord God Jehovah. Jesus told us He is the only way to the Father and eternal life (John 14:6). Satan would like you to believe you have all the time in the world, and you don’t have to accept Jesus to be saved. His false prophets are spewing this nonsense from pulpits every week.
It would seem to be an easy choice, but some people make it harder than it really is. Satan pulls at us with worldly pleasures, and many don’t want to give them up. This earth is temporary, and the short life here does not begin to compare with forever. The Father wants us to accept His Son as given above, but will allow free-choice for us to make our decision. Those who choose life will have a home in Heaven prepared by Jesus Himself (John 14:1-3). Those who don’t accept Jesus will be cast into the Lake of Fire forever (Revelation 20:11-15).
There are false prophets that are telling their congregations that God will never put anyone in Hell forever. Truth be known, God doesn’t put them there; they choose it, and it is forever!
Whom do you trust? As for me and my household, we choose the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There’s plenty of room for you also, if you will only take the time to call on Him to secure your eternal soul.
Shalom ‘b Yeshua Hamashiakh! (Peace in Jesus the Messiah)
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