Our next conversation began as I was pondering Ecclesiastes 11:13-14:
The conclusion of the whole matter:
For this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment,
Whether it be good or whether it be evil.”
Father God, as I read this, I see the word whole and the word every – emphasized…
So, it is clearly very important to fear and obey you, as every work or thing in our lives will be determined to be either good or evil.
Elizabeth, the reason I am highlighting this verse is so my people – you included – will begin to examine their daily walk with me. It is necessary… for part of my church “being asleep” is because they have allowed their “purpose” to become indistinct, and they have lost sight of their life’s focus, which is to be on pleasing me, their maker and keeper.
Your lives are from me. – Your choices are of you. – I give Free Will. Yet when you stop obeying me or lose perspective as I am crowded out of your life (as far as emphasis on pleasing me, your God), then you open yourselves up to evil without being aware of how I am viewing you… and your choices.
That’s right Elizabeth. And I tell you all to Fear Me…and keep my commandments, i.e. everything my Word and my Spirit tell you is to be heeded! This is serious to me! Christians have been lied to, to believe my grace is for the purpose of them being able to live for both me and the Devil! No! Grace enables you to obey me when you choose to. It doesn’t cover disobeying me! It makes you mine – based on my righteousness – but every – and I mean every – choice you make will be judged. Is it good? Or is it evil?
Lord, I ask you to clarify even more what you deem good or evil…
Elizabeth, the Holy Spirit and My Word make it clear what I look upon as good – or as evil. Every person – even unbelievers – are also given a “conscience” to know what is good or evil. Yes, they can sear it so that it is not heard, but it was theirs until they were given over to their own evil dictates.
God, this is scary…that we can keep on “ignoring” what we hear with our consciences until you give us over. I know reprobate means being rendered “useless”. So sad, that so many “once believers” have become reprobate. Please help us to come back alive to Your Will for us Lord… that of obeying you and making the choices for good!
Elizabeth, let’s talk of good and evil.
The spirit prompted me to go to the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:1-15.
Read this, and discern how I view good and evil from this passage.
Lord, I am seeing verse 7, your words to Cain, which read: “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.” AND I see in verse 6 that Cain was “angry” and his “countenance fell” – when you didn’t respect his offering.
Right! And see where then this inner turmoil led?
Yes, I see – First I see that it led to murder from “hatred” of the one who did obey you, Lord.
Cain sacrificed what he wanted to you, but clearly Abel had “obeyed” you and gave to you what You wanted.
You say throughout scripture that “obedience is better than sacrifice”.
Yes, exactly! Believers are sacrificing to me what they want, but not obeying me in what I want. This is a problem.
So, we started this, God, by asking how you view good or evil…and I see from this, that it must be questioned, by us, “What is Your perspective?” and “How are You viewing my actions?”
Now, I want you to go to Galatians 6:8. What does it say?
The question to ask is, “Who are you pleasing?” “Me or Yourself?”
Elizabeth, also, look at verses 9-10. What does it say?
“Let us not grow weary in well-doing for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.”
Sure Elizabeth. Just as you could not, as a single woman making $700 a month, bless others in financial giving or taking a meal or something costly to someone else, there are times when you don’t have opportunity. There are times of being a “receiver” even. But good can be done still by the giving of time, or service, or even just a thankful heart when good is done to you. I do not expect giving or good to come from nothing. You must have received it first. Aren’t tithes from what has been received? Yes, for sure. And so is good. Be good as you have opportunity. My Spirit will lead each one of my kids into the good. Joy will come too.
And the “inner turmoil” that results of an evil choice will keep my kids from evil too.
Yes, Elizabeth – this is right. Especially where the apostate church and world has caused lies to abound, the truth of my word must be known. It need not take long to discern good and evil, for the Spirit is at work in my kids. Unbelievers who pick up a bible will be drawn to truth and shall find me too. So, encourage those prodigals (those away from me that once knew me) or those not yet mine to open up my Word too.
Yes, Lord. I pray some may even be reading our conversation today.
Friends, here is that scripture passage once again, for you to meditate on:
the conclusion of the whole matter:
For this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment,