“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
–Revelation 3:19
As each man gets older and more experienced, practically EVERY man loses patience with those who would teach him using chastening.
It is not hard to see why this is.
As each person grows older, that person becomes more accustomed to HANDING OUT instruction–along with the discipline which accompanies effective teaching–than to RECEIVING it.
HOWEVER, followers of Jesus Christ KNOW that the LORD ‘chastens those He loves.’ (Jesus said as much in Revelation 3:19).
God does NOT try to instruct the wicked because the wicked are mostly UNTEACHABLE.
“…fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
–Proverbs 1:7
“Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.”
–Proverbs 28:5
“Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.”
–Daniel 12:10
“A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.”
–Proverbs 12:2
(As a newer translation put it, “but that his heart may discover itself” becomes “but only in expressing his opinion.”)
So, the followers of Jesus Christ KNOW that, while chastening often exposes the one chastened to discomfort (occasionally to EXTREME discomfort), that discomfort is of a TEMPORARY nature. If one is chastened, one is loved by the LORD.
IF one is so concerned with his comforts in this life, then (like most moderns) one will likely NOT be effectively instructed using chastening (punishment and suffering as a teaching tool).
Those who happily endure being chastened KNOW it is much better to suffer temporary discomfort than eternal torment.
Just as it is better to be instructed in this life than to be judged, found wanting and to pay for that judgment eternally.
BUT, believers ‘take the LONG VIEW‘, as it is known.
And, because of their short-sightedness, the wicked concentrate on achieving comfort in this short life–all the while gathering an eternity of hurt.
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Perhaps that is a BIG reason the followers of Jesus Christ do not so much mind their chastening?
HAS the reader thought much about THE CHASTENING of the LORD?
Does the reader welcome such CHASTENING?
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple
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[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: July 9-11, 2021.]
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MORE
- Chasten
- The Joy of Chastening
- Chastening or Judgment: Man’s End Times Choice
- Grace and Mercy Abound
- The Mercy of the Lord
- Sincerely Seek the Mercy of the LORD: Do Not Wait, Do Not Delay
- Tender Mercies of the Lord: Will Not Always Be Available
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- God is in Control
- The Nature of Spiritual Deception
- Tender Mercies of the Lord: Will Not Always Be Available
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: Image by Christian Dorn from Pixabay.com
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