The Word of God warns us about the pitfalls and perils that will confront us, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). It is evident that conditions in the world are not favorable to Christian living. We are surrounded by evil of every description. Since we are accountable for our every word and deed, we must make those choices that will bring forth the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

There are many passages in the Bible that warn us about neglecting our salvation. “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Peter 4:18). “And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book” (Exodus 32:33). “Come, see a man [Jesus], which told me all things that ever I did” (John 4:29). Although these are sober words, God has promised to forgive our sins when we repent and believe in the atoning blood of Christ. Instead of blotting out our names, He will blot our sins from the records.

Is Your Name in the Book of Life?

In order to have our names written in the book of life, we must accept the invitation of Jesus: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). No one is exempt from the guilt of sin without the atoning blood of Jesus. Because of his love, He voluntarily shed his blood on the cross for our sins. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). He also said, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Jesus invites everyone to come to Him and be saved from sin.

After our names have been written in the book of life we do not want to have them erased. Jesus says, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Revelation 3:11). And again, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). These verses warn us to be watchful and not to neglect our commitment to serve God. Satan, the enemy of our soul, is described as a roaring lion that will devour us if we do not firmly resist him with faith (1 Peter 5:8-9). We need to search God’s Word and be constant in our prayers, or else our salvation may slip away from us. We are promised, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels” (Revelation 3:5).

Be Ready for the Judgment Day

Today is the day of grace, an opportunity to set our house in order and to prepare for the judgment day. When we die, our mortal bodies will return to dust. But when Jesus returns to judge the world on the resurrection day, everyone will receive an immortal body that will live eternally in heaven or in hell. If there is any stain of sin on our hearts, let us turn to Jesus today to have it washed away. Then we can be ready to enter heaven on that great and notable day. “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).

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What was Jesus teaching when He said, "Judge not, that ye be not judged"? Let us take a look at the entire passage that contains these words.

"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with that judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye" (Matthew 7:1-5).

This portion of scripture, which many say prohibits judging, actually teaches us to judge in two ways. First, we are to judge sin in our own lives. Then, with a pure attitude, we are to help our friend or brother judge the error that might be in his life.

A Right Spirit for Judging

We must be careful to judge righteous judgment with a tender heart toward the one who is erring. Perhaps one reason that judging is so ill-spoken of in today's world is that far too much of it is done hypocritically and harshly.

Christlike judgment is that which seeks to reveal error, points to the remedy, and leads to healing and restoration. This part God has entrusted into the hands of true believers (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).

People have a natural tendency to become critical and censorious toward those with different opinions and lifestyles. It is easy to judge another's words or actions without having a complete knowledge of all that pertains to the situation. A man may feel that a friend has done a grave wrong, and roundly condemn him for it. If, however, he would take the time to visit with the friend and would learn the truth of the matter, he might well conclude that he himself would have acted in the same way.

Perhaps our feelings have been hurt by a remark made by a neighbor. "He's mean!" we fume, "he wanted to hurt me." In reality there is a great possibility that our neighbor had no ill intention at all. He may have misspoken or we may have misunderstood his words. We may see a Christian brother fail in some way. "Look at him," we mutter, "he doesn't care how he lives!" In reality he may care very much, and even at that moment may be in anguish because of his failing. It is not our responsibility to condemn the one who has failed. We should help him see his error and lead him to repentance and forgiveness.

Man, with his depraved nature, delights in proving others wrong and himself right. Sometimes we begin to feel it our responsibility to convince another person of his wrong-doing. If the individual we are trying to convince is not easily persuaded, we may become argumentative. We may speak loudly and forcefully. We may begin to list many errors and failings of the one we are speaking to, or confront him in such a manner that the accused has no way to explain his position. This is not the Lord's way of proving and judging sin. When a person wants to "win the argument" or "prove to someone he's wrong", he has ceased to be an ambassador for Christ. He is on his own mission and is no longer reconciling his brother to Christ. "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:20).

As we seek to judge the error in the life of our brother or of our neighbor, we should never allow this judgment to cause us to feel uncharitable or irritable toward him. We must speak to him tenderly and patiently. "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness: considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1).

Judgment Committed to Christ's Church

The New Testament teaches that responsibilities have been given to the believers who form Christ's church on earth. They are to be a people distinct from the ungodly generation about them (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). They are to live in unity, "having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind" (Philippians 2:2). The keys of Christ's kingdom have been given to them, and they are to bind that which God has bound and loose that which has been loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:19; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-14; Titus 3:10-11).

Prove False Teaching

Christendom is in great confusion today. One group of professing Christians proclaims "here is Christ." Another denomination says, "No, He is here." Doctrines are being taught that conflict greatly with one another, yet all claim spiritual authority. What is the cause of this chaos? Has it not come about because of the unwillingness of people to judge between truth and untruth?

Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets...Ye shall know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:15-16). The Son of God gave to believers the grave responsibility to judge their teachers by the lives they live. He warned that many false prophets would come in His name, and in His name would do many wonderful miracles. Sadly, however, the fruit of the lives of these teachers would reveal selfishness, pride, lust, covetousness, dishonesty, and other ungodly characteristics. By this proving, the sincere child of God is to be admonished to flee from these teachers, lest he also be led astray by them (1 John 4:1).

Much of the false teaching that has spread across the world has a certain appeal to the nature of man. It seems reasonable and right. Those who follow it give great testimony to the power of God in their lives. Only a careful and thorough proving of these teachings, comparing them with the complete Word of God, will reveal that falsehood has been mixed with truth. As these tenets are followed to their conclusions, it is so often found that they do not blend with the biblical doctrines of self-denial, humility, and meekness. They seem rather to give place to self-sufficiency, pride, and carnal living.

God, the Final Judge

There is coming the day of final judgment at which time God will deal with the fate of the souls of men. His judgment will be in accord with His written Word. The Bible tells us that the day will come when "the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).

God has the ability to look inside the heart of man. He alone is able to weigh all the circumstances under which each soul has lived. He is able to determine the motives and intentions which move each human being. God is able to decide whether a soul has lived according to the faith prescribed in His Word.

The individual who judges sin in his life, who lives according to the Word of God, can be assured that God will receive him at the final day of judgment. The person who does not give heed to the teaching of Jesus will face a fearful day of judgment. Jesus said, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).

May we ask God, the great Judge, to give us a keen understanding of His will for our lives, that we may judge righteous judgment and at the end receive our eternal reward!

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Who are you? What is your name? Where did you come from? Where do you live? Where are you going?

You know the name of your village. Maybe you have never been anywhere else. But you know that your village is part of a big country, and the countries are all part of the big world.

The Bible

It was almost 6,000 years ago when the world was made. It was made by God. God has a book called the Bible, which tells how He made the world and how He made the first man and woman. God made man in his own likeness.

Ever since then children have been born. Ever since then people have died. Thousands and thousands of them have been born and have died.

You were born to your father and mother. But it is really God who made you. He made everything. Have you ever thought of how wonderfully God made everything and how He made you?

Your parents gave you a name. God knows your name. He knows every name, no matter what language it is. He knows everything.

Because God made us, He knows all about us. He loves us because we belong to Him. He is our Father in heaven, and He cares for us more than our own fathers and mothers do.

God

God has always been. He lives forever. So when He put his breath into us, it made us live forever, too. No, not our bodies, for they die, but the soul inside us lives forever.

Do you know God? Maybe you ask, “Who is God? Where is He?”

Do you really want to know? Yes, you do. Deep inside you want to know.

You have never seen God, have you? No, but that doesn’t mean He isn’t there.

There is only one God. There is no room for any other, because the one who is really, really God fills heaven and earth. He is everywhere at the same time.

God’s home is heaven, that beautiful place up there, but He also lives in the hearts of people who obey his voice.

How do I learn to know God? Is that the question you are asking? God has a wonderful plan to show us how.

God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus, down from heaven to show people who He is and what He is like. God and Jesus are one.

By a miracle, God’s Son was born as a baby and grew up to be a man. Then for three years, Jesus told the people of the love of God, his Father. He told them that God is holy and cannot bear to see sin.

Then God made a way for us to be saved from our sins. He let his Son Jesus be nailed to a cross by wicked men. He laid down his life—so great was his love!

He was the sacrifice that can pay for the sins of the whole world—every sin you have ever done, every sin of every boy, or girl, man, or woman.

Did Jesus stay on the cross? Did Jesus stay in the tomb? No, after three days He arose victorious. Then He went back to heaven and is waiting till God says the world shall come to an end. Then He will be the righteous Judge of all people.

Do you have the Gospel of John? Read chapter 10. John has written what Jesus told the people. What He said is still for us today. Jesus said He was the Good Shepherd and gave his life for the sheep. We are the sheep. The ones that are his sheep know his voice. He calls them by name. A stranger they will not follow.

The Stranger, That Other Voice

Who is that stranger, the one from whom we shall flee? Oh, he is a thief! He cares nothing for the sheep. He is a liar. There is no truth in him. He is the devil. He is our enemy, Satan.

But first, he is the enemy of God. He was once a good angel with God in heaven. But he became proud and lifted himself up against God. He fought against God and many angels joined him. God won, because He has all power. So He cast Satan and all his followers out of heaven. Satan hates God for this.

Because he can never get close to God again, he pours his anger on God’s creatures, the people of the world. Because he sinned, he tries to entice everyone to sin. Never again will sin enter heaven.

There is another place, the place that God made for the devil and his angels. It is hell. Hell is a place of torment. It is a burning fire that will never go out. It is the place where the devil and his followers will be punished forever. It is an awful place where God will have to send us if we choose to listen to Satan’s voice.

Satan does not want us to think about hell. He does not want us to think about God. That is why he is trying to get our attention away from God. Satan tries to make us listen to his voice.

Have you heard that other voice inside you, the voice of the stranger?

Sometimes he makes us believe he has good things to offer. Sometimes he makes us think: “I am better than others. I am important. Me first. I’ll get even. I have to fight for my rights. It’s alright to steal, just so I don’t get caught. Everybody tells lies, so I can, too. Dirty thoughts are not so bad—nobody knows what I’m thinking. Dirty words—they’re good for a laugh.”

And at other times, have you been so discouraged that you were tempted to think, “I’m no good, why keep on living?”

These are all the voice of the devil. He is a liar—that is why he tries to make us liars. He is a thief—that is why he wants to make us steal. He is a murderer—that is why he tries to make us hate others.

When you listen to that voice, how does it make you feel? Does it make you feel good inside? Oh, no, it makes you unhappy. It makes you want to hide. That is just like Satan is. He likes to do things in the dark.

Jesus, the Shepherd’s Voice

Do you know Jesus, the Good Shepherd? Would you like to be his sheep? Would you like to know his voice?

Yes you can; but first you must not listen to that other voice anymore.

Now, when you are quiet, you will hear the gentle voice of Jesus calling you to give your whole life to Him. You will hear Him telling you to be sorry for all your sins and to confess them.

Maybe, sometime when you were very still, you were thinking, “What shall I do with all my troubles and burdens? I wish I could be good. I wish I would be at a place where I’d never be hungry or sick anymore. What will happen to me when I die?”

And maybe you have had many more thoughts. That is the voice of Jesus calling you.

Do you sometimes feel sad when you don’t even know why? Or do you feel lonesome when you are not even alone? It could be because you are lonesome for God, the One who made you and loves you. He is the Shepherd calling for his lost sheep. He is calling and calling, and seeking and seeking you!

When you hear the Shepherd’s voice, answer Him. Tell Him you are sorry for your sins. Tell Him just how you feel, and ask Him to save you. That is praying.

Have you ever prayed to the God of heaven? Do it now. He will hear you and understand you. He will give you the peace you are longing for.

Wouldn’t you like to be his sheep and know his voice? He wants to be your friend. He will take away your burden of sin. You will feel happy inside. You will be loving and kind like He is. He will help you to overcome your fears.

Even if others would mock you for being a Christian, you know that Jesus will take care of you. Even if the stranger would tempt you again, you must trust Jesus to help you overcome.

When you are safe in the Shepherd’s loving arms, you know that at the end He will take you to his wonderful, happy home with God to live with Him forever!

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