One of the great difficulties for us all is not to fall into mediocrity or indifference in our walk with the Lord. This is a struggle for each one of us as we live in a world that is constantly testing whether we are committed to the teaching and commands of God’s word. I note that in our church constitution that Grace CCC believes in the Divine inspiration and infallibility of the Holy Scriptures as originally given and its supreme authority in all matters of Christian faith and conduct. This is of utmost importance as our allegiance to the infallibility of God’s word will be tested over and over again!
We therefore need to be on our guard when prominent people come and seek to soften the teachings and clear commands of God’s word. Recently on a popular television program our former Prime Minister did exactly this in his support of gay marriage. It is a popular stance to take because it seeks to appease those who wish to make people feel more at ease with living a life of promiscuity. I note that in 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10 Paul gives a very direct statement on who will not inherit the kingdom of God. He says, “Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor the drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” Is God’s word infallible and is it the supreme authority?
But note the verse following this verse – verse 11 – where Paul says, “And this is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” This is the hope that we have! We were sinners like this too but there can be victory over all these sins – it comes with the need for repentance! Because what follows repentance is sanctification and justification before God!
In our text today we witness how the prophetess Jezebel was given repeated opportunities to repent from her love affair with sexual impurity and from her other sins but she refused to take action. She turned her back on the offer of forgiveness through repentance. She paid a heavy price for her disobedience! This is in stark contrast to the rewards she could have had so easily! The rewards on offer to us in our text today are unbelievable! Take heed of the counsel – repent; take action and become a ruler of the nations together with Jesus in the world to come!