THIN ICE

The Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea, which is 1290 feet below sea level, and no water flows from the Dead Sea. This is the end of the line. More than this, nothing can live in the Dead Sea; it is just that dead. And this is how any sinful life must end. The apostle Paul tells us, “The wages of sin is death.” (Rom.6:26). Sin is bad whenever and wherever it is found, but it is sad indeed when members of the Lord’s church live in such a manner that heaven cannot be their home; or when they indulge in sinful practices to the point that they are skating on thin ice. Take, for example, the sin of neglect. Church members are sometimes guilty of this sin. We need to be so careful because Peter tells us that judgment shall begin with the house of God. This means that judgment is going to begin with members of the church. Peter further tells us that the righteous shall scarcely be saved (1 Pet.4:18). Since the righteous will barely make the grade, we must be very careful to be classed among the righteous. And who do you suppose the righteous are? Will the list of the righteous include every one who has his name on the church roll? Will it include those who carelessly miss the worship services? Will it include those who fail to give as they are prospered; or those who have the attitude, “I learned the truth so let everybody learn the best way that he can?” I think that to ask theses questions, is to answer them. The righteous will not include the negligent!

And what about worldliness? Will the church member who still practices the sensuous things of the world be classed among the righteous? When we become Christians, we are to put away the practice of evil. It does little good to try and justify worldly practices by calling them pastimes, or by closing our eyes to their evil. Isn’t heaven worth sacrificing a few “good times?” There is no room in the same life for Christ and the world. We must decide which we shall serve. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:24 that we cannot serve two masters!!

There are many kinds of sins, and any of them, followed to their conclusion, will lead to eternal destruction. When one ends in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, that is the end of the line! Satan, like the Dead Sea, receives all that he can, but gives nothing in return. On the other hand, Christ offers eternal life. If we will give up the evil practices of this earth, take up His cross and follow Him, eternal happiness is the reward. Why not follow after righteousness that heaven might be your home!