Whatsoever Things Are True
by Dan Coburn
Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church
pastordan@mtida.net
So how do I get there from here? 
Folks have some pretty funny ideas on the accessibility, or even the approachability of God. Some don't believe at all (or rather insist they don't), but as we will see in a moment, God will destroy that argument altogether. 
For now, let's just talk about folks that are seeking God, whether it be a whole-hearted search or just tire kicking.  Many believe they have to get their mess together before approaching  Him. Many feel they have not adequately been de-briefed. Some are putting it off with a plethora of excuses such as - "Nobody ever really told me" or "What about the tribe in Indonesia that never heard? Talk to them, then come back and talk to me".  Some will claim they just didn't understand enough to make the decision. 
I have some good news -- and I have some bad news, that we will call today's Spiritual Switch.  In Romans 10, Paul asks these questions rhetorically (vs 18) "Have they not heard?" then answers "THEIR SOUND WENT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS UNTO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD."  Then in the next verse = "Did they not know (understand)?"  This one he answers with insulting sarcasm - "I WILL PROVOKE YOU TO JEALOUSY BY THEM THAT ARE NO PEOPLE, AND BY A FOOLISH NATION I WILL ANGER YOU."  Here specifically, he is addressing the nation Israel, and says "Don't tell me you didn't get the memo, I sent it to the Gentiles, and they ate it up; those dirty, stupid, uneducated Gentiles who you think yourselves so superior to".
Nugget: Ever thought to yourself how stupid Christians are?  Hmm.   So what hoops do I have to jump through to get to God?  What sacrifices do I make?  What Mission Trips?  How much money do I have to give?  How much time must elapse following my last great sin?  That is all what we call Works, and profits you nothing. 
In vs 6, we are admonished not to try to ascend into heaven (by our own good deeds) for that is "to bring Christ down from above".  How does God look at it?  "But what saith it? THE WORD IS NIGH THEE, EVEN IN THY MOUTH AND IN THY HEART: THAT IS, THE WORD OF FAITH, WHICH WE PREACH.  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." vs 8-9 
Let's recap.  On that day (however it looks), you will be tempted to say: "Lord I didn't know, or I didn't understand, or I didn't have opportunity"; to which God will reply: "Everybody knew (Romans 1:20) as my message, the Gospel was preached to the ends of the earth. And don't tell me I wasn't accessible, I put the words right on your tongue, yet you refused to utter them. And you didn't have to go on some quest to find me, for behold I stood at the door and knocked. If you only would have opened, I would have come in and supped with you, and My Father and I would have made our abode (home) in you, and you would have in no wise been put to shame --- but you would not have Me.  "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish: (Why?)  because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." 2nd Thes. 2:10   He is on your lips -- What will you do? 
God Bless.

Cottonwood, Idaho 83522
 

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