It comes as a surprise to many to find that we, as genuine followers of Christ, have indeed been delivered from the law of God. No longer are we to be stoned if we violate Sabbath laws – nor are we to be put to death for sins like theft or adultery. Christ has indeed paid every penalty we may be due.

But our liberty does not end there. We may covet the wealth and goods of our neighbors as much as we want to. We may lie, cheat and steal as much as we want to. We may watch as many filthy and perverse movies as we want to and we can immerse ourselves in as much worldliness as we can embrace. We may curse, cuss and blaspheme the name of God all that we care to, we may bow down (literally or metaphorically) to all the false gods (idols) we want to and we can be as selfish, rude and obnoxious to everyone in our life as much as we possibly can be. This truly is part of our liberty in Christ.

However, if we persist in all or any of these things, we can know with certainty that we are still behaving as one of God’s enemies and without doubt there will come a day of reckoning.

An angel said to John:

“Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do fright; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.”

And immediately after this Jesus Himself says:

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.”

This will produce in us either a strong emotion of excited anticipation or the deepest certainty of impending disaster and foreboding, depending on what it is that we habitually do with our life.

In contrast to being as wicked as we used to be or as selfish as we may desire to be, however, we may instead partake of the divine nature of God as much as we want to. Though we may struggle against one or even several persistent sins, we may resist and, in time, overcome them as much as we want to. Though we may be surrounded by selfish, rude and obnoxious people, we can respond to them with as much of the love and mercy and grace of God as we want to. Though we may be exposed to literally thousands of conflicting opinions as to what the word of God says and means, we can live in all the light and truth of God that we want, or at least all that is available to us at that time. This too is our great liberty in Christ.

The choice – and the consequence – is ours and ours alone. God is not forcing anyone to be or do anything in this “age of grace.” Those who confuse His grace to be license for sin, however, will one day come face to face with Him who is also a <>just judge of all they have said and done, particularly in His name, and they will find that He was never fooled by their facades at any time. Those who simply rest in Him and trust in His keeping power as they seek to obey all that He has commanded them will one day also come face to face with Him and will find that His rewards are great indeed, rewards worthy of the God who gave Himself to reckon His people back unto Himself.

We may indeed do and say and think all that we want to and to whatever extent we desire. The kinds of things we involve ourselves in are simply the indicators of who it is that we actually and ultimately follow and obey: Christ and God, or, ourselves (which ultimately places is back in the ranks of God’s enemies, right alongside the devil and the demonic.) The things we do now are well worth noting and discerning for they may well indicate our destiny: eternally joined with God and His people (“heaven”) or eternally separated from all hope of redemption (“hell”).

The choice is ours. Today is the day to make that choice.

Let he who has ears hear.

I’d love to hear comments and/or questions from you! Email me!