A Chosen Eternity

July 22

(Luke 16:29-31 NIV) ““Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' {30} "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' {31} "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.””

(Matthew 21:28-32 NIV) ““What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' {29} "'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. {30} "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. {31} "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. {32} For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.””

(Matthew 25:41-46 NIV) ““Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. {42} For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, {43} I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' {44} "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' {45} "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' {46} "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.””

Many ask: “Why does God make it so difficult to believe? Why doesn't He open the heavens and speak to us? Why doesn't He perform miracles, or send an angel to speak to us? Then we would believe.” But many heard Christ’s words, and still did not believe. Many witnessed His miracles, yet still chose not to follow him. Jesus said that those who would not listen to Moses and the prophets would not be convinced even if someone returned from the dead. Revelation follows faith, not the other way around. The rich man was not in hell because he had not heard -- he was in hell because he chose not to believe God. Lazarus was not in heaven because he was poor and unfortunate -- he was in heaven because he knew and believed God. We choose our eternity in this life. Death simply makes that choice permanent. Seeing is not believing -- believing is seeing. Believe God today! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day