Sticker Shock

Sticker Shock

by David Brenneman 

As each thing of interest we see either online, in the news or somewhere advertised goes...we finally see the bottom line and gasp.  Taxes, fees, and who knows what else are added and there goes our desire.  Or if you have it, you just go ahead and spend the money on it.  But oh the ouch at doing so. 

We are out and about and either deliberately or unintentionally we find ourselves giving an officer of the law our autograph...oh the ouch of doing that. 

Those things happen and those things are a part of life if due attention isn't something we are seeking. But the crowning event that would change lives forever, not just in a moment, would indeed be if the penalty for sinning happened immediately. 

People everywhere, for generations, take God's grace for granted.  Sin happens and they don't see immediate repercussions so it continues.  But what if it were different?

Well, my Dear Reader, there would have been no humanity.  Pure and simple. 

At the very beginning, when Adam and Eve had sinned had the preincarnate Christ Jesus not exercised grace and mercy this conversation wouldn't be taking place.  

In Romans Paul wrote quite plainly that the wages of sin is death.  But if that's true why wasn't I struck down immediately after my first sin?   My Friend, it's deeper than that.  You were born in sin, that is, thanks to Adam and Eve you are infected with sin by inheritance from them.  

The human race does everything they can to redefine what God has said is sin into anything but. 

But the truth is what they've done is nothing in light of eternity. 

It's an extremely sad affair to be at a funeral for someone who wasn't saved in Christ Jesus.  To be completely honest that person is in Hell.  They left this world and woke up in torment in Hell.  That's what God's Word says, those aren't my thoughts and feelings on the subject. 

Those people know with all certainty that their sins are why they are there. Most do not agree with God on it but are fully subject to His ruling on it.  They cannot change anything about their sentence. They stand condemned. 

If indeed we truly understood the sticker shock of sin, we might indeed think twice, think three times or more before pursuing it.

Satan wraps sin in all kinds of bows and ribbons but it's still sin. It's still got a penalty.  

It saddens me greatly to see people with no hope by choice.  They choose to deny God. Choose to deny Jesus because of what amounts to petty reasoning. They would rather embrace what makes them "happy" now rather than acknowledge the truth about their future.  They believe Satan's lies that God doesn't want what they think would make them happy.  These people use God's name in vain.  

I used to work with someone who constantly said in her exasperation "Oh God!".  Knowing what I did of her last days...unless something radically changed, after she died, "Oh God!" took on a whole new meaning.  More appropriately ""Oh God no!" would probably be more accurate when she arrived in Hell. 

To be clear, God doesn't send people to Hell. People who reject, refuse, salvation in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins choose that option over salvation in Christ Jesus and entry into Heaven.  

Good deeds amount to nothing. 

Good things, good deeds, in the eyes of mankind are rubbish compared to the needed perfect sacrifice for the removal of sins. Jesus took the place of all humanity on the cross over 2,000 years ago to make it possible to be forgiven and to go to Heaven.  But...you and I must choose to come to Christ for salvation.  

We must choose to receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. 

If indeed people would die immediately after sinning provided that any lived after Adam and Eve, due to the nature inherent to sin which is selfishness...all it would probably do is cause people to be enraged at God. 

How can that be said?  Look at the end of the book of Revelation. Satan's been restrained for 1,000 years.  He's released. It taked no time at all for him to convince humanity to join him against Jesus.  His argument to them doesn't need persuasivness.  Their sin nature wouldn't need much convincing to join Satan's plan to attack Jesus.  For a thousand years sin wouldn't be as openly flagrant as it is today.  Those people would gladly join Satan's to live a life in accordance with their own selfishness. 

Then Jesus speaks a word and the entire battle is over.   Doesn't matter what mankind says or thinks on the matter of sin and its consequences, Jesus has the last word. 

When we look at the judgment in Heaven. Jesus asks nobody any questions concerning who is saved and who isn't. 

Jesus asks nothing because He already knows.  He knows who are His and who are not.  

My Dear Reader salvation is free, all that Satan says about it is a lie.  It's not about you losing this or that.  It's not about you being denied this or that.  His aim is to take your mind, your thinking off of what you gain from a right relationship with Jesus Christ.  He wants your worship. He wants everything that is due to God. 

"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 are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13 NASB 

I work with people even today who I can tell aren't saved in Christ Jesus.  Their demeanor, some by the confession of their own mouth, have no relationship with Jesus Christ.  I can't fathom the depth of the loneliness, the such great lack of hope, that they choose to endure.  Their faith in 'luck' and 'fate' is astounding.  But you still see the great sadness even though they hide it well from themselves. 

You cannot understand true hope without a right relationship with Jesus Christ. 

You cannot understand the depth of the lies you've been made to believe because of sin without a right relationship with Jesus Christ. 

If you haven't chosen to come to Christ for salvation Hell and all its torment are what awaits you one second after you die. 

In coming to Christ for salvation, Heaven and the grandest welcome of all eternity awaits you in the open arms of Jesus Christ your Savior.