Today’s Text: Romans 8:22 “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time”

With each generation, there always seems to be a rise in sin and corruption, but the fact of the matter is that it has always been so; the same things we read and hear happening in 2016 (Mothers killing their children, children killing their parents, psychopaths on killing sprees, crimes committed by supposedly charismatic individuals, leaders or politicians embezzling funds, individuals who are considered men of God living contrary to the very scriptures they preach), also happened in the 90’s, 60’s, 30’s and even in the days the bible was written.  These things have happened before, they are happening now and will still continue to happen (“History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new” Ecclesiastes 1:9 NLT).

The whole creation has been groaning for a very long time, from the time Adam (Mankind) sinned in the garden of Eden and the whole creation was cursed along with him (“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life” Genesis 3:17). The same perversion we read of about that time is still evident today (“Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable” Leviticus 18:22), and the killings is as it was in the days of Lamech-Cain’s grandson (“Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, l1isten to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me” Genesis 4:23)

The whole creation will continue to groan until the sons of God are made manifest, when Jesus returns upon the earth to restore all things, when lion and the lamb feed together (“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” Isaiah 11:6-9), and all men know and serve God (“No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest” Hebrews 8:11)

Sin is not new under the sun, but you giving your life to Jesus and living for Him, is an event that is new and will cause the angels to praise and worship God (“I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” Luke 15:10), then do the new, so the old will have no part in you.

 

Beaming Prayer:

Father, I groan and look forward to your coming that will bring restoration from all the ills that has befallen this world, in Jesus name.

Looking back at Rugged Maniac, one of the things that made me go through the mud and rush into the gutters was because I saw people around me doing it; I could see the excitement and pleasure on their faces as they jumped and crawled through the mud, and I started thinking “it cannot be that bad and I don’t want to be the odd one out”.
Jesus spoke about the signs that will usher in the end of time and one of the signs is that many will indulge in sin (wax cold), because sin will become a norm in those days (“Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold” Matthew 24:12). Just like I felt compelled to participate in the mud activity because everyone around me was doing it, so also, many are beginning to lower their standards because even those they trust and look up to (public figures, Hollywood stars, leaders, parents and even so called religious giants) are indulging in the sinful acts and the world seems to say nothing bad about it.
Multiplication of sin and the lax on sin, has made many to rethink their faith; they now say if this and that person could do these things, then I too can do them, but one clear thing we need to understand is that just because everyone/majority is doing it does not makes it right, but this should rather make us more alert. (“While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly” 1st Thessalonians 5:3)
Let us be vigilant, because there is no other dangerous time than we are right now; a time where the inconvenient is forcefully made convenient, a time where sinning is what is normal, a time where righteousness is now deemed old school, a time where acting bad is cool (“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” Isaiah 5:20), and many are unfortunately falling for this.
Let us be like Noah, who remained righteous when others were walking away from God, and be like Lot who was grieved daily by the sins of the land, rather than join in (“But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him” 2nd Peter 2:7)

Beaming Prayer point:
Father, may I not be overtaken by the multiplications of sins of this time in Jesus name

Today’s Text: Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”

Upon graduation from the university and getting my first paying job, I eagerly was looking forward to the end of the month; a day when I get to reap the fruit of the labor I had put in for the whole month.

Just as we get paid our dues at the slated paydays, so will God pay everyone for their deeds. God has promised to reward those who remain faithful to Him with “eternal life in Christ Jesus” and to those who choose to give themselves over to sin, they can expect to be paid with death. What type work are you putting in? Is it to life or death? (“God will repay each person according to what they have done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness” Romans 2:6-8)

Some have actually started receiving their reward even before the judgement day, but one sure thing is that we will all be rewarded at the end (“The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever” 1st Timothy 5:24-25)

What are your deeds? Do you think they are worth life or death? We determine what we get paid at the end of our life, then why not work towards that which gives life?

Beaming Prayer point:
My Father and my God, help that I will not be deceived by the fleeting pleasures of sin that brings death and also help me to work towards that which will give me life in Jesus name.