Can You Handle the Truth - From His Heart - Week of May 8

CAN YOU HANDLE THE TRUTH?

"... and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly thereafter." - 2 Peter 2:6

The most famous line in the movie A Few Good Men came from Jack Nicholson as he portrayed Colonel Nathan Jessup.  When on the witness stand he was asked for the truth. He then boldly replied, "You want the truth?  You can't handle the truth!"

What about you?  Do you want the truth?  Can you handle the truth?

THE TRUTH ABOUT AMERICA

America is in deep, dark trouble.  We have turned our back on God's Word, God's will, and God's ways.  We have kicked Him out of virtually every vestige of public life.  To be sure, we want His presents ... we just don't want His presence.  We want God to pay the bills and rain down the blessings; we just want Him to do so from afar.  I guess we haven't learned that it doesn't work that way.

Romans chapter 1 teaches that when a nation turns its back on God, God responds by giving that nation over to spiritual idolatry, sexual immorality, and social depravity.  Turning our back on God has devastating consequences.  His righteous anger is uncovered when we rudely tell Him we no longer want or need His archaic, outdated ways.

GAY MARRIAGE

The Supreme Court is currently deciding the case concerning gay marriage in America.  In some minds, the decision is a simple one: Equality for all!  No more discrimination!  It's a civil right!  God is love!  This decision will hurt no one, but it will help millions!  That sounds so good, but is it really true?  NO!       

The Bible is crystal clear on this "hot potato" issue.  God designed marriage and defined marriage in Genesis 2.  God also defined sexual immorality and the sins which bring down a nation.  Romans 1 specifically mentions homosexuality as one of those sins.  If we as a nation embrace homosexuality as normal, natural, God-blessed, and God-ordained, that decision will bring devastating consequences.  Sodom and Gomorrah embraced it, and they were cataclysmically destroyed in undeniable, irreversible fashion.  2 Peter 2:6 tells us those cities serve as "an example to those who would live ungodly thereafter."  Jude tells us "they indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh" (Jude 1:7).  God is not mincing words here.  

BUT SIN IS SIN, RIGHT?

Sin is sin, and sexual immorality takes on many forms.  God hates them all.  The difference with homosexuality is this: people get angry if you call it a sin.  No one balks at adultery being sinful, or fornication being sinful, but they come unglued if you lovingly tell them that homosexuality is sinful.  Yet the Word of God stands.  Adultery and fornication have always been sinful, and they always will be.  So it is with homosexuality.  It has never been right, and it will never be right, no matter what the Supreme Court rules.     

For the longest time, Christians lived under the charge, "Love the sinner, hate the sin."  In America today, we are being told, "Love the sinner, and love the sin!  If you don't love and embrace the sin, we will vilify you as a hater, bigot, homophobe who needs to be punished severely."  May God have mercy!

WHAT TO DO?

1. We must pray. Thursday May 7 is The National Day of Prayer.  Every Christian needs to be on his/her face before God on behalf of America.

2. We must speak the truth in love. It is not hate speech to lovingly tell someone the truth!  

3. We must continue to love the sinner and hate the sin, regardless of who gets offended by it.

4. We must not back down on this critical issue.  The stakes are too high.  Heaven and hell lie in the balance.  No one can get right with God if he/she holds on to sin.  Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:5).

Listen, if we continue to willfully depart from God, His patience will run out on us.  We will be a nation that experiences His wrath (see Romans 1:18).  Indeed, "it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31).

I believe what I have written is the truth.  Can you handle it?  Will you do something with it?

Love,

Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries                                     

Jeff Schreve founded From His Heart Ministries, www.fromhisheart.org, in 2005 with the vision to reach as many people as possible with the good news of God's love. Jeff believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a great plan just for you. He broadcast on radio, TV and in the internet around the world from his pulpit ministry as Pastor of First Baptist in Texarkana, Texas. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.

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