A study in contrasts
 
The rapture of the Church is very near. Most of humanity is on the brink of eternity. The average person does not realize this because they are so caught up in their own life. Most people don't give a whole lot of regard for their afterlife. This article is called,"A study in contrasts." The reason for the lack of thought is because the average individual does not know some of the contrasts between God and the devil.
 
After the rapture of the Church a seven year tribulation will begin when the peace covenant is confirmed. Daniel 9:27. According to the book of Revelation over 50% of the population of the world will die in this time period. This is why I titled this article, "A study in contrasts" because people in general really don't know their options.
 
If you were to take a personal survey as to whether people care about their eternity, more than likely in one way or another the results will be apathy regarding this subject. Satan is having a field day when he sees this because people end up rejecting Jesus Christ.
 
I want to give some of the passages that talk about eternal life through Jesus Christ but I also want to list verses that talk about the other side if a person rejects Jesus Christ in one way or another.
 
The rapture is so close. Now is the time when you want to accept Jesus Christ into your heart if you have not already done so and live for Him through obedience.The other way will be complete fear and despair. This is what the Bible teaches. Let me show you some contrasts in the Bible. Society is kind of streamlined but eternity is not.
 
Jesus said, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:14. Jesus does not want us to thirst but have everlasting life through Him.
 
If we reject Jesus Christ our thirst will never be satisfied because the Bible says, "Send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." Luke 16:24. Notice the rich man only wanted a finger of water. That is how bad his torment was in an environment that was completely void of mercy. If some kind of comfort or mercy existed in hell he probably would have asked for a glass of water. I never heard anybody ask for a finger of water. Jesus was trying to make a point.
 
Jesus Christ offers us everlasting life but Satan will always leave us thirsty, lingering in our suffering. Don't reject Jesus Christ in any way because He wants to give.... "Him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
 
John 3:16 says God loves people and wants an individual to believe in Him so they will not perish. "For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world: but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:17.
 
Satan not only wants your soul condemned into Hell but desires to accuse you because the Bible says...."For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." Revelation 12:10.
 
Jesus Christ became our sacrifice when he died on the cross. Satan wants you to be the sacrifice. What I found out is almost nobody understands that anybody who goes to hell is a sacrificial lamb for the devil. They rejected the sacrificial Lamb who is Jesus Christ. As you can see there is a lot at stake because this is our eternity, not a 50 year prison sentence. A time confined verdict would be really bad but forever is beyond horror.
 
When Jesus talked to the Samaritan woman at the well, He did not accuse her but told the woman that the way of salvation was through Him. She was so convicted that she embraced the love of Jesus Christ and became the greatest soul winner in her town.
 
In the Bible Jesus is described as the Light. "And the Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." John 1:5. Jesus is the Light and He wants us walking in the Light. The Light is Jesus Christ Himself.
 
The devil wants you not only living in darkness but can't wait for you to go to a place of outer darkness. "These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever." 2nd Peter 2:17. Jude says... "For whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever." Jude 13. This darkness is evil because it is separated from Jesus Christ."But the wicked shall be silent in darkness." 1st Samuel 2:9.
 
Jesus Christ is the Light. This is His Holiness and love. The darkness is fear and torment.  
 
Another contrast that I would like to talk about is Jesus heals but Satan binds. "And great multitudes came unto Him, having with them those that were lame, blind,dumb,maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and healed them." Matthew 15:30. Look at all the different people with problems that went to Jesus Christ. "Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them, and healed them." Luke 4:40. Notice this verse says Jesus did not turn anybody down. He has compassion.
 
Satan does not have compassion. He torments. "And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day." Luke 13:16. The devil had no intention in releasing her from any pain or agony. In fact Satan desired to put Simon in knots. "And the Lord said, Simon,Simon, behold Satan halth desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat." Luke 22:31. Did you ever see wheat being sifted?
 
Jesus desires to make us whole. Satan wants to tear us up. "But Jesus turned him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour." Matthew 9:22. So many people that were around Jesus when He walked on the earth knew and understood that they could become whole through Jesus Christ. "And besought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole." Matthew 14:36.
 
Satan has a different motive and idea in mind. "Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver." Psalm 50:22.  
 
When Satan saw Jesus heal people in His name he must have been really upset.1st Samuel 2:10 says, "The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces." He does not want anybody being made whole through Jesus Christ because he wants to destroy you.
 
If the Word of God is presented to you, the devil is right there to steal it from you so he can ultimately tear you up. "And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts." Mark 4:15.
 
Jesus loves people. The devil hates us. The Apostle Paul did a great job in portraying through the penned Word of the Holy Spirit how much God really does love us." Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39. There is another side to this.
 
We are free in Jesus Christ. He gives us true riches. "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. "Eph.1:7."  But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Jesus Christ."  Phil 4:19. If we are truly rich in Jesus Christ, we are free in Jesus Christ. As His children we don't know all the freedoms we have in Him.
 
If there is a remnant that is free in Jesus Christ, then of course there are the masses in bondage. I only say this because the Bible teaches this horrible truth. "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leatheth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:14. If a person gets confined to Hell, "His soul draws near the pit, and his life to the executioners." Job 33:22. "Let us swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down to the pit." Proverb 1:12. A Pit is not freedom but confinement.
 
There are so many examples I could probably give you but I will just show one more contrast. God gives us trials for the purpose of teaching His children His love for us but Satan persecutes us for the purpose of defeating our spirit.
 
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perished, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." 1st Peter 1:7. When we have faith in God through our trails, this gives praise, honor and glory to Jesus Christ.
 
Satan has a different approach toward our trails. He tries to capitalize on them. "Above all, the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." As you can see we need to have strong faith in Jesus Christ because the devil is attacking our life.
 
These are some biblical facts of opposite contrasting truths. Jesus Christ is righteous and loves you so much that comprehension is impossible. Satan hates you and wants to confine your spirit in darkness. The choice is obvious that Jesus Christ should be our Savior and Lord.
 
After reading these contrasts our choice should be pretty clear. Accepting Jesus Christ and living for Him is my only choice. The other choice would be unthinkable. If I feel myself drifting away from God I always do my best to allow the Holy Spirit to bring me back into the yoke of Jesus Christ.
 
Bob D.