Someone
may argue over whether the glass is half full or half empty, but
really, beyond whether a person is an optimist or pessimist, the
point is that the glass is refillable.
I
have seen many, many discussions about how people perceive the
fullness of a glass, but face it, everything in the world is not
about you. God has designed each of us in such a way as to be
creative and has blessed us with the ability to make objects ( which
includes glasses of course ). Our focus in life should not be
on ourselves, but rather towards THE GOD OF ALL CREATION! To do
otherwise is to pursue idolatry.
Well,
how do we get to know God? The answer to this question is simple:
listen to the Bible, for within its pages are the very words of Go.
Today, I did a simple word search for: “The
Scriptures
says”
and below you will find the results in their immediate context within
the book of Romans...
Romans
9 ( World English
Bible )
1
I tell the truth in Christ. I
am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit,
2
that I have great sorrow and
unceasing pain in my heart.
3
For I could wish that I myself
were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives
according to the flesh,
4
who are Israelites; whose is
the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the
service, and the promises;
5
of whom are the fathers, and
from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God,
blessed forever. Amen.
6
But it is not as though the
word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel, that
are of Israel.
7
Neither, because they are
Abraham’s seed, are they all children. But, “In Isaac will your
seed be called.”
8
That is, it is not the
children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of
the promise are counted as a seed.
9
For this is a word of promise,
“At the appointed time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.”
10
Not only so, but Rebecca also
conceived by one, by our father Isaac.
11
For being not yet born,
neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God
according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who
calls,
12
it was said to her, “The
elder will serve the younger.”
13
Even as it is written, “Jacob
I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14
What shall we say then? Is
there unrighteousness with God? May it never be!
15
For he said to Moses, “I
will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on
whom I have compassion.”
16
So then it is not of him who
wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy.
17
For the
Scripture says
to Pharaoh, “For
this very purpose I caused you to be raised up, that I might show in
you my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
18
So then, he has mercy on whom he
desires, and he hardens whom he desires.
Ever
since the creation of human beings, God has had a problem with what
they do; they sin. Most humans will reject or ignore God and
ultimately be judged according to
their actions. So, what is God to do with that rejection? The answer
is simple: God WILL USE THEIR LIFE
to further the Human Race in
such a way that eventually all human beings will have the opportunity
to be saved from the results of their sin.
Not even one person can withstand the
desire of almighty God. God
alone is supreme,
period.
Romans
10 ( WEB )
1
Brothers, my heart’s desire
and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved.
2
For I testify about them that
they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3
For being ignorant of God’s
righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they
didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
4
For Christ is the fulfillment
of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5
For Moses writes about the
righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by
them.”
6
But the righteousness which is
of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend
into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down);
7
or, ‘Who will descend into
the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)”
8
But what does it say? “The
word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;” that is, the
word of faith, which we preach:
9
that if you will confess with
your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God
raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10
For with the heart, one
believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation.
11
For the
Scripture says,
“Whoever
believes in him will not be disappointed.”
12
For there is no distinction
between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich
to all who call on him.
God
chose the nation of Israel for himself and gave them HIS LAWS, but
they could not keep them. Why? Because human beings fail. No matter
how hard they tried, they failed to keep the whole of God’s laws.
They missed the point, for true obedience to God is not just a matter
of doing or not doing something, rather it is a decision of
submission to God within the human heart. Genuine obedience is not
based on race, or compliance to rules, but rather faith in God, that
HE will supply mercy and understanding for all human beings who will
trust in HIM and do their very best they can to follow HIM.
Therefore, God sent Jesus into the world, to show God’s way to
heaven through true belief and obedience. To obey his gospel and
become a faithful disciple of Jesus is the way to heaven!
Romans
11 ( WEB )
1
I ask then, did God reject his
people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of
Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2
God didn’t reject his people,
which he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the
Scripture says about Elijah? How
he pleads with God against Israel:
3
“Lord, they have killed your
prophets, they have broken down your altars; and I am left alone, and
they seek my life.”
4
But how does God answer him? “I
have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the
knee to Baal.”
5
Even so then at this present time
also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6
And if by grace, then it is no
longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of
works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
7
What then? That which Israel seeks
for, that he didn’t obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and
the rest were hardened.
8
According as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see,
and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.”
9
David says, “Let their table
be made a snare, and a trap, a stumbling block, and a retribution to
them.
10
Let their eyes be darkened,
that they may not see. Bow down their back always.”
11
I ask then, did they stumble
that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation
has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
12
Now if their fall is the
riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how
much more their fullness?
It
is a sad fact that not everyone will listen to God and even though it
seems like no one faithfully follows God, there are indeed many, many
who will. Elijah needed to learn this and so do we. God’s desires
will be completed in God’s way and in God’s time, whether or not
we can see it. Like
the hymn says… we must “trust and obey”, period.
All
the reasoning in the world will never be enough to satisfy the human
mind that has no desire to submit to the Almighty. Reason will not
save you. However, if you seek God, you will find HIM. And if you
obey HIM from the heart and obey his Gospel, HE will save you.
If you continue faithfully for the rest of your life, heaven will be
your reward. Once there, be sure to ask God about the glass- HE WILL
GIVE YOU THE ONLY ANSWER THAT YOU REALLY NEED!
