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THE WOE'S OF THE BIBLE
by Alan Yusko
We are in the last days sometime before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. These are days of growing evil and apostasy. Unfortunately things in the world will not improve. Instead conditions will continue to grow more evil and dangerous as we grow closer to the return of the Lord Jesus.
This tract will look at some of the "WOE's" of the Bible. These days men love sin as they mock and reject God. Wicked men enjoy doing evil with no concern about the consequences. However, little do the wicked know, but there are some things that will bring pain and judgment into a person's life. God in his Word, the Bible, pronounces a WOE on certain activities. This means WOE to those who do such things.
In this tract we will look at certain 'popular' activities that will bring on a WOE pronouncement from God.
THE WICKED LOST PERSON LOVES DARKNESS, SIN, AND EVIL.
The first point I wish to make is the fact that people who reject God will accept and love evil. Men who reject the light will love darkness. Look at the following set of verses:
John 3
16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.
17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the
world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that
believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed
in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19: And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil.
20: For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither
cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Above is the very familiar verse of John 3:16. However, after that verse there are some very revealing facts. First notice in verse 18 that the person who does not believe in Jesus already stands condemned before God. Then in verse 19 we are told that these people choose to love darkness rather that light. A person who loves darkness rejects God. Darkness is the absence of the light. Since God is light then darkness is a rejection of God. Verse 19 states that people actually love the darkness. These people love their sin and rebellion and want nothing to do with God. They are not interested in listening to anything God has to say to them. Then in verse 20 it talks about those who do evil. These people we are told, hate the light. This means they hate God and do not want His light.
This is quite interesting and revealing. Men who hear the Gospel and reject it are actually rejecting God. These people love sin and darkness and actually hate the light (God). They are condemned because there can be no forgiveness of sins to a person who rejects God and His free gift of salvation. They literally stand condemned even as they live here on earth. See the following verse:
John 3
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God
abideth on him.
Notice that those who are living in rejection of the Lord Jesus have nothing to look forward to but the wrath of God. Sin requires a payment. There is a penalty for sin. Either we pay that payment ourselves (wrath of God) or we allow the Saviour (Jesus) to pay the penalty for us. But the bottom line is that the penalty for your sins must be paid. It will be paid by Jesus as your Saviour OR by yourself suffering the wrath of God in hell for all eternity.
In light of the above we can look at some of the things God rejecting people do that will bring on a 'WOE' from God. There are consequences for actions. A man will reap what he sows. If a person sows evil, wickedness, and rebellion, he will reap 'woes' and judgment.
DRINK
Drinking booze is one way to get a 'woe' from God. However it is an escape for men who reject God. It dulls their minds and blinds them to eternal things.
Drinking is one way to personally invite trouble into your life. It is an act of disobedience and will result in pain and hurt. See below for a description of drinking from a Biblical perspective:
Prov 23
29: Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath
babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30: They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31: Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his
colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32: At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33: Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter
perverse things.
34: Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or
as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35: They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have
beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Drinking is addictive. It hurts, it causes pain, it makes the drinker act like a fool, it encourages sexual immorality, and it makes a person sick. Yet the drinker is addicted. He will seek it again and the process will continue.
Next we see a 'woe' for those who are drinkers:
Isa 5:
11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning,
[that] they may follow strong drink; that continue
until night, [till] wine inflame them!
Above God pronounces a 'woe' to those who drink booze. They drink and drink until the booze 'inflames' them.
Isa 5:
22 Woe unto [them that are] mighty to drink wine,
and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
Those who drink love to brag about their drinking exploits. They love to be considered as mighty men to the drink. They come back to work after a long weekend of drinking and brag about how much they were able to get down before they passed out. It is really quite foolish if you think about it. To those God warns with a 'woe' for this type of action.
Isa 28:
1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of
Ephraim, whose glorious beauty [is] a fading
flower, which [are] on the head of the fat valleys of
them that are overcome with wine!
As people get into booze it will slowly overcome them. Let me make a distinction. When I say booze I'm talking about beer, hard drink, and wine. Our wine is so strong it is in the category of 'strong drink'.
Hab 2:
15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that
puttest thy bottle to [him], and makest [him]
drunken also, that thou mayest look on their
nakedness!
Drinkers love to have company. It is a social thing to try to gather as many booze heads as possible to partake of drinking. The above verse shows another danger of drinking. It can expose a persons private parts of their lives to others. A person may become sexually immoral or be exposed in another type of way.
The Bible is very clear on drinking. Don't do it. Not a little bit but none at all. It is an activity for lost people to partake as they wait this life to end so they will face their eternal damnation. Christians have no business doing an activity where God clearly warns with a 'woe'.
Christians have a choice:
Eph 5
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled
with the Spirit;
Christians can either be filled with wine and booze OR.... they can be filled and empowered with God's Holy Spirit. Each negates the other. A person cannot have both booze and the daily infilling of God's Holy Spirit. So, Christian, you have a choice. What will it be? Booze or the daily infilling of God's Holy Spirit?
GODLESS PASTORS
This is an interesting topic. What is a Godless shepherd? Well it is a pastor of a Church that has rejected sound Biblical doctrine. This man is nothing more than a hireling who is interested in personal pride, financial benefits, or other personal gains. The interests of God's people mean little to this type of evil pastor. Unfortunately in these last days of apostasy these pastors can be very popular and be in charge of large church assemblies.
Let me give you an example of one such a pastor. There was a man who was brought into a church as a replacement pastor. Since this godless man came to this church here is what he has done. He encourages rock and contemporary music. He has a Saturday night contemporary/rock service for the younger folks age 30 and under. What these people are doing is to go to the service on Saturday night and skip the Sunday morning service. Many families are upset about this as they can see it is splitting the young people from their families. A few are upset about the rock music, while others are upset at the splitting up of families. Now in the Sunday morning service changes have been made. Before this 'pastor' arrived there was a morning service at 11am and Sunday school starting at 9:45am. There were all kinds of good adult and youth Bible study Sunday school classes. However this pastor wanted to change things. He was concerned about the parking situation at the church and wanted to come up with a way to get more people in and out of the church. Of course with more people coming and going, I'm sure the hope is for the donations to increase. His plan is as follows. First he did away with Sunday school. There is prayer and Bible study on Wednesday evening so that will be fine for Sunday school. He then went to two services on Sunday morning. This way people could come to either the early or the late morning service and then be on their way. Many, many people were very angry at this move as they loved having their Bible study Sunday school and fellowship. But this pastor didn't care as he cancelled all Sunday school classes to implement his 'plan'. One Sunday school class, called the Bereans, asked to be allowed to meet during the first service. Their request was denied and they were told that they could no longer meet. Also included in his 'plan' is promise keepers meetings and he speaks very highly about our Roman Catholic 'brethren in Christ. Note: The Roman Catholic church is a works based sacramental false religion. It denies as its foundation the finished and complete work of Jesus on the Cross. What this means is Romanism teaches that what Jesus did on the cross was not sufficient for salvation. The sacraments, priests, mass, and purgatory must be added to complete salvation.
Now here is the amazing thing about this example. A few people have left this church as a result of this new 'pastor', and good for them! However, the majority of people stayed! They are the type of sheep where a hireling can come in and do whatever he wishes. These people are not Bereans. They do not love God and sound doctrine enough to stand up against this hireling. So who is more at fault? Is it the hireling pastor? Or is it the gullible congregation that accepts this man?
What does God say. Well this section is full of 'WOES' to hireling pastors. Here is a strong warning. If you are a pastor then you are very accountable to God. He is watching and you will give an account of your work with God's precious blood bought people. I believe God will deal in judgment with hireling pastors both in this life and in the one to come! Here is what the Bible says:
Jer 23:
1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter
the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Here is the first 'woe'. A pastor can either build up God's people or he can tear them down. The pastor can hurt God's people with rock and roll, or he can seek to maximize attendance statistics and donations by cutting out things like Sunday school, or he can be tolerant of error and false teaching. Woe to the pastor who hurts God's people!
Zec 11:
17 Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock!
the sword [shall be] upon his arm, and upon his
right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his
right eye shall be utterly darkened.
God has judgment for hireling pastors. In God's time and in God's way they will be held to account for what they have done. To the bad pastors God says 'woe'. It is not a light position to take on the job of being a pastor of God's people. Yet many men are doing so. Being a pastor is a high calling and good and Godly pastors deserve honor and respect. However the hirelings will receive judgment from the hand of God.
Matt 23:
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven
against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves],
neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
A bad pastor is not interested in getting people saved and into the Kingdom of God. If he were then he would not reject Godly sound Biblical doctrine. A hireling actually puts up roadblocks to people getting saved. Mr. Pastor if you are bringing in rock and roll and uniting with false religions (Romanists) then you are actually putting up roadblocks to salvation. God says 'woe' to you!
Mt 23:
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence
make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the
greater damnation.
Money is very important to a hireling and a bad pastor. Many will cheat and steal from the innocent and helpless. Here is an example of a money greedy hireling. There is a man who is a pastor. He is currently out of work at this time. He is ordained and is part of the vineyard movement (laughing cult). A relative of his needed a computer and they wanted to help out this man and his family. This man put together a computer system for them and they purchased it. They spent $1700 for their new computer. These people know virtually nothing about computers so they can be easily taken advantage of. Well the computer they got should have really cost around $800 to $1000. It came with a copied and pirated copied version of windows 98. The operating system disk was burnt onto a copied cd-rom. The monitor is very cheap and is a no-name brand. The speakers are worth about $10 for the pair and sound like a $10 pair of speakers. The bottom line is this 'pastor' cheated his own relatives! He charged outrageous high dollars for a low quality computer.
He is a perfect example of a hireling who will do dishonest and evil things for the sake of money. God says 'woe' to him and his kind! Imagine this type of a man as a pastor of a church.... Woe, woe, woe!
Mt 23:
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye compass sea and land to make one
proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him
twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
People of like kinds try to gather others to themselves. Sodomites tend to hang out with other sodomites, Doctrine rejecting people seek other doctrine rejecting people for fellowship. There is a saying: Birds of a feather tend to fly together.
Matt 23:
16 Woe unto you, [ye] blind guides, which say,
Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is
nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of
the temple, he is a debtor!
Another 'woe' and the term 'blind guide' is used. Who would want to follow a blind guide? This type of guide would surely lead you into great danger. Why follow a blind guide. The goal is to keep your eyes on the Lord Jesus and be a good Berean. Read, follow, and obey God's Word, the Bible.
Mt 23:
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and
have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law,
judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have
done, and not to leave the other undone.
Another 'woe' to evil pastors. Here they are called hypocrites. This means: 'do what I say .... (but not what I do)' A hypocrite is a deceiver.
Matt 23
25: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make
clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they
are full of extortion and excess.
26: Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the
cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are
like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward,
but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
On the outside a hireling tries to look good. They dress well, wear nice jewelry, have a nice speaking style, but inside they are full of evil.
Matt 23:
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and
garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
Lu 11:
42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and
rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over
judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to
have done, and not to leave the other undone.
The hireling is not interested in Godliness. In fact they are the first to scream that's unloving' as they reject sound Biblical doctrine. A bad pastor really does not love God nor does he love God's people.
Lu 11:
43 Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the
uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings
in the markets.
Another woe for a hireling. They like the honor that goes with their position but not the responsibility before God. A pastor must be very aware that he will give an account to God for his actions. A good pastor will seek Gods face and seek the will of God as he does his job and ministry.
Lu 11:
44 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye are as graves which appear not, and the
men that walk over [them] are not aware [of them].
The hireling is like the walking dead. They are lost and perishing even as they play the 'Christian' game.
Lu 11:
46 And he said, Woe unto you also, [ye] lawyers! for
ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne,
and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one
of your fingers.
Another woe and this one relates to the do as I say but not as I do attitude of the hireling.
Well we have read several 'woes' directed at evil pastors. God is quite concerned about those who lead His Church. He will personally deal with the hireling who seeks to serve himself. As I think about all the verses it is very clear that God is concerned about evil pastors. He wrote much about such a thing in the Bible. Today we have to many hirelings and not enough good and Godly pastors. However there will definitely be a penalty to the hireling. God will deal with a person who is an evil pastor.
John 10
12: But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose
own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep,
and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13: The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth
not for the sheep.
PEOPLE WHO START UP EVIL AND OFFENCES
Matt 18:
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it
must needs be that offences come; but woe to
that man by whom the offence cometh!
Luke 17:
1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible
but that offences will come: but woe [unto him],
through whom they come!
In these evil days this type of person is quite common. There are all kinds of deceivers, false teachers, murderers, cheats, and other types of no-gooders in this world. God says 'woe' to this type of person. Evil will certainly come but 'woe' to the person who is the originator of the evil act or movement. God is judge and He sees everything that happens down here on earth. To the wicked God gives a warning with a 'woe'.
Prov 2
22: But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the
transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
Prov 15
9: The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but
he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
CALL EVIL...GOOD AND GOOD..EVIL.
Isa 5:
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
that put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
This woe certainly applies to our society today. Lets take the sexually immoral for example. Our godless society thinks it normal to freely fornicate and commit sexual immorality. The great heroes of our movies and TV are really nothing more than immoral men who can only be satisfied by multiple partners. Sexual disease is rampant and society is working like crazy for cures for some of the more terrible sexually transmitted diseases. AIDS, herpes certainly put a bit of a damper on the life of the immoral. However, God's standards of morality are not even considered. God and morality is mocked in our day and age. A person who stays sexually pure is mocked, put down, and is considered 'weird' in our society. Literally good is evil and evil is good. The sodomites proudly claim their sexual orientation 'rights'. Fornication is a way of life in our society. On the other hand God and His Word is rejected. Our society wants nothing to do with holiness or obedience to God. Many have accepted atheism and evolution and rejected any concept of God. They then define their own morality which is certainly opposite from God's morality. Truly, we live in days where evil is considered good... and good is considered, evil. To that, God says, WOE to them!
WOE TO THE WICKED. THEY LOVE SIN AS THEY LIE, CHEAT AND STEAL TO INCREASE THEIR RICHES.
Everyone who has rejected the Lord Jesus and the free gift of salvation and eternal life is considered a 'wicked' person by God. That person has rejected God's salvation and has rejected God. They are living under the judgment of God in this life. God has several "woe's" to the wicked.
Job 10:
15: If I be wicked, woe unto me; and [if] I be righteous,
[yet] will I not lift up my head. [I am] full of
confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;
Isa 3:
11 Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him]: for
the reward of his hands shall be given him.
The wicked are a people who are under the curse of God. When they die their sins will not be forgiven since they have rejected the Saviour, the Lord Jesus. As a result of rejecting Jesus these people have chosen to pay for their sins themselves. The penalty is eternity separated from God in the lake of fire. This is why we all need a Saviour! No one can pay the penalty for sin! However, God in His great love for lost mankind paid the penalty Himself. Now men can either pay the penalty for their sin themselves or they can allow Jesus to pay the penalty for them.
Mic 2:
1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil
upon their beds! when the morning is light, they
practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
There is one thing wicked lost people like to do. They like to devise and perform evil. God says 'woe' to those who devise and practice evil.
Isa 3:
9 The shew of their countenance doth witness
against them; and they declare their sin as
Sodom, they hide [it] not. Woe unto their soul! for
they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
For the lost there is no shame in their sin. Rather than having shame and sorrow they proudly proclaim it. An example of such a thing would be the gay pride days held in most cities on a yearly basis. Here all kinds of child molesters, transvestites, and sodomites proudly proclaim their sin for all to behold.
Isa 30:
1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD,
that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover
with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may
add sin to sin:
The wicked are rebellious and they love sin.
Isa 33:
1 Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou [wast] not
spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt
not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease
to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; [and] when thou
shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they
shall deal treacherously with thee.
The wicked are also dishonest and self centered. For personal or financial gain they will cheat, lie, or steal.
Jer 22:
13 Woe unto him that buildeth his house by
unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong;
[that] useth his neighbour's service without wages,
and giveth him not for his work;
Many rich people today have gained their riches by cheating or taking advantage of people. Many godless companies today force their employees to work long hours without pay. To those who do these things, God says 'woe'.
Hab 2:
6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him,
and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe
to him that increaseth [that which is] not his! how
long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick
clay!
Another reference to the wicked who gain their riches by taking things that are not his. Being dishonest is very common as a business practice in these last days.
WOE TO THOSE WHO LOVE SIN
One characteristic of a wicked God rejecting person is their love of sin and rebellion. God pronounces a 'woe' on those who love sin.
Isa 5:
18 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of
vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:
The wicked actually seek out sin and draw it to themselves. They love sin and darkness. One of the reasons many wicked do not want to go to heaven is they feel it will be too boring without their sin.
Isa 29:
15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their
counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the
dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who
knoweth us?
Those who reject God quickly forget that God is still aware of them. Yes, they may plan to do all kinds of evil things, but God is still watching them.
Hab 2:
12 Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and
stablisheth a city by iniquity!
When the wicked come to power they are violent and ruthless in the pursuit of their goals. With wicked lawmakers, the laws are even changed to support, encourage, and allow evil. Take the murder of unborn children for example (abortion). It is very legal to murder a baby and the laws are geared to attack those who oppose the murder of children. However, God is still watching and judgment is certainly coming to the wicked.
Ec 10:
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a child,
and thy princes eat in the morning!
Above is a reference to wicked rulers. An immature leader is a bad thing as well as a leader with uncontrolled personal appitites.
Isa 10:
1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees,
and that write grievousness [which] they have
prescribed;
This certainly applies to the leaders and lawmakers today. For example, right now many godless leaders are trying to redefine the family by passing laws favorable to same sex perverts. Right now same sex perverts who co-habit together can get spousal company benefits. In Canada there was a recent court challenge to the term 'spouse' to allow for same sex perverts. To those leaders, lawmakers, and judges, God says 'woe'.
Hab 2:
9 Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to
his house, that he may set his nest on high, that
he may be delivered from the power of evil!
The wicked love to do sin and evil but they don't like to get caught and punished for their evil. It is a very sad day to the wicked when they are caught and punished. How much more sad it will be when they stand before God. However, those types of thoughts are far from the mind of the wicked. The wicked are more concerned about the 'here and now' rather than for eternity.
WOE TO THE PROUD
Isa 5:
21 Woe unto [them that are] wise in their own eyes,
and prudent in their own sight!
Knowledge without God causes pride and puffiness. Many of the proud snobs of the world hold PHD's and have 'higher' education in the universities. These people become the leading atheists and evolutionists. They reject God and seek to replace Him with their humanistic teachings. As the wicked reject God, they become 'wise' in their own sight. God says 'woe' to such people.
WOE TO THE SELF SUFFICIENT - THOSE WHO DO NOT NEED GOD
Isa 31:
1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and
stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because
[they are] many; and in horsemen, because they
are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy
One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
Frank Sinatra sang his theme song for the wicked... 'I did it my way'. Yes the wicked pride themselves in their accomplishments apart from God. They are not grateful or thankful to God for any blessings in this life. When trouble comes the wicked do not even consider God for help.
Ezek 13:
3 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish
prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have
seen nothing!
There are all kinds of people these days with funny visions and other 'strange' sightings which they claim is from God. I like to call them false profit's. I use the word 'profit' because they seek their own glory or financial gain in their prophecies. All that is needed on earth God has written in His Word, The Bible. The Word of God is sufficient for all our needs here on earth.
Hab 2:
19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to
the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it [is]
laid over with gold and silver, and [there is] no
breath at all in the midst of it.
Lots of pagans bow down to statues made of various materials. They pray to the stupid things as if they can actually hear the requests being made. Rather than coming to God these lost people turn to their statues and dumb idols. God says woe to those who do such a thing.
Luke 6:
24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have
received your consolation.
There is a saying that some take too seriously: 'He who dies with the most toys wins'. Some people seem to believe that and spend their life in a mad dash to increase material wealth. But riches apart from God is very empty. A person is either one short heartbeat from either heaven or hell. After you die do you really think how much money you have in your bank account will matter? No, at that time the only issue will be: What have you done with the Lord Jesus? Did you accept Him or did you reject Him as your Lord and Saviour?
Luke 6:
25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger.
Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn
and weep.
If you are reading this right now and you do not have Jesus as your Saviour then you really have nothing to laugh about. You are literally on your way to a Christless eternity in the lake of fire. Sure you can laugh now and feed your face until you have heartburn. However, to perish means to be separated from God for all eternity. That is forever and ever and ever with no hope!
Luke 6:
26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of
you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
In this world that rejects God, those who also reject God will be praised. It is considered normal to live apart from God. Children are taught in schools that the Bible is not true and there is no God that created the heavens and the earth. Instead there is evolution with its foundation stone of atheism. While the wicked walk their short years down here on earth, they console and approve of one another. They are happy to believe in the lie that there are many paths to God and heaven. Yes it is very socially acceptable to state that we will all be saved no matter which path taken. The only people causing trouble and dissention are those darn Christians. They keep saying Jesus is the ONLY way to God. What a narrow-minded and unloving thought to the mind of the wicked! However the facts of the Bible and salvation have not changed. Jesus is the ONLY way to be saved and all other paths lead to hell and eternal damnation.
WOE TO THOSE WHO HATE GOD
Isa 45:
9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! [Let]
the potsherd [strive] with the potsherds of the
earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it,
What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no
hands?
Our last 'woe' deals with those who openly hate God. These people usually claim to be atheists or are a member of a false religion. I've actually seen people curse God to my face. Some people literally hate God. These people are very foolish and are throwing away God's free love gift of salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life in heaven. But to many, no amount of reasoning will work. Their minds are made up and they will live and die without Jesus as their Saviour. This is not what God wants but He will certainly honor their choice.
Remember that sins must be paid for. Either we pay for them ourselves (lake of fire for all eternity) or we let Jesus do it for us (our Saviour). The choice is up to each individual person. God will not force a person to be saved. If a person chooses to reject Jesus then God will honor that person's choice. However he must suffer the consequences of that eternal choice.
I would encourage you to accept Jesus today as your Lord and Saviour. God loves you so much that He became a man and died on the cross to pay for your sins.
TURN OR BURN
Repentance is admitting you are a sinner with a determination to turn away from a life of sin and rebellion toward God.
Ezekiel 18
30. Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one
according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn
[yourselves] from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be
your ruin.
Ezekiel 18
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have
transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why
will ye die, O house of Israel?
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith
the Lord GOD: wherefore turn [yourselves], and live ye.
Isaiah 55
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy
upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Psalms 38
18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
Acts 3
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the
presence of the Lord;
Luke 13
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish.
IF YOU DONT TURN... YOU WILL BURN
2 Thessalonians 1
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus
shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Matthew 25
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from
me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and
his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty,
and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed
me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we
thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or
in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did
[it] not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the
righteous into life eternal.
Revelation 14
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is
poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he
shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the
holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever:
and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his
image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Revelation 20
11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from
whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found
no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the
books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book]
of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were
written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and
hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged
every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is
the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was
cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and
murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all
liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire
and brimstone: which is the second death.
1 Thessalonians 5
9 FOR GOD HATH NOT APPOINTED US TO WRATH, BUT TO OBTAIN SALVATION
BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
THE BIBLE SAYS......ALL HAVE SINNED:
Romans 3
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Ezekiel 18
20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear
the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the
iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be
upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
SIN HAS A PENALTY:
Luke 13
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish.
THE LORD JESUS PAID THE PENALTY:
Romans 5
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us.
YOU MUST RECEIVE THE LORD JESUS:
John 1
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become
the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:
SINNERS PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner and I ask You to come into my life to forgive and save me. I now receive You as my Saviour (trusting in You ALONE to save me) and my Lord (making You my Master and comitting my life to You).