Psalm 49:13-19 in the Message Bible makes it VERY clear why we should never envy the unbeliever who SEEMS to have everything going for them!
13-15 This is what happens to those who live for the moment,
who only look out for themselves:
Death herds them like sheep straight to hell;
they disappear down the gullet of the grave;
They waste away to nothing—
nothing left but a marker in a cemetery.
But me? God snatches me from the clutch of death,
he reaches down and grabs me.
who only look out for themselves:
Death herds them like sheep straight to hell;
they disappear down the gullet of the grave;
They waste away to nothing—
nothing left but a marker in a cemetery.
But me? God snatches me from the clutch of death,
he reaches down and grabs me.
16-19 So don't be impressed with those who get rich
and pile up fame and fortune.
They can't take it with them;
fame and fortune all get left behind.
Just when they think they've arrived
and folks praise them because they've made good,
They enter the family burial plot
where they'll never see sunshine again.
and pile up fame and fortune.
They can't take it with them;
fame and fortune all get left behind.
Just when they think they've arrived
and folks praise them because they've made good,
They enter the family burial plot
where they'll never see sunshine again.
Verses 7-8 in the Amplified Bible:
7None of them can by any means redeem [either himself or] his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him-- 8For the ransom of a life is too costly, and [the price one can pay] can never suffice.
It took the most precious, valuable and costly gift that God could ever give to redeem us from the hands of the enemy! The Blood of Jesus! Thank You, Father and thank You, Lord Jesus! AMEN!
Titus 3:3-6 tells us not to be overly critical of unbelievers. After all, they are only being true to their nature! What do they need? A Saviour!
3For we also were once thoughtless and senseless, obstinate and disobedient, deluded and misled; [we too were once] slaves to all sorts of cravings and pleasures, wasting our days in malice and jealousy and envy, hateful (hated, detestable) and hating one another. 4But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man [as man] appeared, 5He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6Which He poured out [so] richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
It does no good whatsoever for an unbeliever to try and clean up their act! They need to recognize that they are personal sinners who need a personal Saviour! Then introduce them to YOURS! That is the single greatest act of love you can ever do for another person!
Verse 9 has another instruction for us that I have come to realize is very vital.
9But avoid stupid and foolish controversies and genealogies and dissensions and wrangling about the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile.
You and I will never be able to debate someone into the Kingdom of God! Just follow the leading of the holy Spirit and present the simple Gospel. Cover it with prayer and expect Isaiah 55:11:
11So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
It is the job of the Holy Spirit to convince someone of their need for a Saviour. Another important thing to remember when dealing with unbelievers is that you CANNOT teach them the Word of God. They are unable to receive the Word until they are born again because they must have a new spirit to be able to understand. 1 Corinthians 2:14:
14But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.
Once someone receives Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour, they can receive the teaching of the Word of God because they will have the Holy Spirit living in them to teach them the Word!
Isaiah 11 prophesies of the coming Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth! It looks at His first coming and then moves right into His second coming and His millennial reign as King of kings and Lord of lords! Isaiah 12 is a song! It is the Song of Salvation! (Isaiah's name means "Jehovah is salvation"!) Verse 2 is a very familiar verse from a song we used to sing in church!
2Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and song; yes, He has become my salvation.
Sing TO HIM as Your Lord and Saviour, not just about Him! His presence will become much more real to you if you will do that! Make it personal! After all, He IS your personal Saviour!
Shalom in Him!
