All throughout scripture we are admonished to discipline ourselves to live a godly life, not a worldly life. Yes, we live in the world, but the ways of the world, (the ways of the ungodly), are not the ways of God. They lead to destruction. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23 KJV
The author of the Proverbs reminds us that, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. 14:12 KJV
In fact the proverbs are replete with comparisons of the ways of the righteous and the ways of the unrighteous. They are replete with the ways of good and evil. We would do well to meditate upon the scriptures. To meditate on the scriptures is to stop. To consider, think, weigh in the balance of its words, upon the Word of God.
To meditate upon scripture is not trhe same as the pagans who meditate in a trance like state, in an attempt to reach a higher state of consciousness, which in fact are doing nothing more than making contact with the Demon Spirits, whom fill their minds with the contrary ways of God. Thus these adherents to occultic or not, meditations, do the will of Satan rather than the will of God.
In contrast to those who meditate on scripture, on the ways of God, they do not go into a trance like state, filling their minds with ungodly thoughts, but instead consider and fill their minds with the ways and Word of God. Those who do so consider and balance the rewards of following and obeying God, rather than following and obeying Satan. The reward of those who meditate on God and His ways is eternal life with Jesus Christ. On the contrary, the gift, the reward for those whom follow after the ways of Satan is darkness, separated eternally from God, with Satan, with no chance of ever crossing over the chasm from darkness to light.
Jesus spoke more on hell in our scriptures than on heaven to give us a warning of what will befall those whom follow after Satan, rather than Himself. Jesus uses the story of the rich man and of Lazarus to contrast and show us what is the final destiny of all of us. We have one of two choices to make before we draw our last breath here on earth. We have the choice to either follow the ways of God, or the ways Satan. Whichever choice we make, will determine our eternal destiny, either heaven or hell.
The choice is simple. To follow the ways of God leads us to and eternity living in the presence of God eternally, with a renewed heavenly body, to no more suffer pain, sickness, death and misery. The opposite choice is to suffer an eternity forever banished from the presence of God with no chance to ever cross the chasm between heaven and hell. To live in eternal darkness, in pain of agony, thirst and discomfort.
Read for yourself the account Jesus gives of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. Here we see in detail the eternal rewards of the choices we make while we still draw breath here on earth, on this side of eternity. At death we read that Lazarus whom we can infer was a righteous man, was lifted up to the bosom of Abraham ( representing eternity in heaven) Jesus says that now, Lazarus is comforted (Luke 16: 25). That is that, whereas, Lazarus while on earth suffered from pain, sickness and disease, from persecution, and bad treatment from the wealthy of the world. But at death, he was immediately taken to the Bosom of Abraham, to heaven, to live eternally with his reward in the everlasting presence of God, of Jesus.
However, the rich man whom sought the ways of the world, who sought to reap the riches and pleasures of life on earth, upon his last breath was rewarded eternally to Hades upon his last breath. Luke 16:23. Here, he is no longer in comfort, but is in eternal torment of pain and agony, thirsty forever, unable to have his thirst quenched. This is the reward of those whom seek and lust after the ways of the world, whom seek after the pleasures of the world. These are the rewards of those whom meditate on the ways of Satan, rather than the ways of God.
1 Tim. 4:7-16 shows us also so clearly that those whom follow and obey the teachings, the doctrines of God, will be eternally rewarded to, not a hope, but a promise of everlasting life with God. 1 Tim. 4:7 says: “But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness." (KJV) If we were to turn this on its side we would read; "Have nothing to do with the ungodly ways of the world."
Following this verse are instructed to discipline yourselves for godliness, for we are told that if we discipline ourselves following the ways of the world, seeking after it’s temporary pleasures, it profits us but for a short time. Whereas if we discipline ourselves for godly living, it holds a promise for things (eternal) things to come in heaven.
Therefore my brethren, may I implore you, may I beseech you to meditate daily on the ways and things of God. And once you understand, and obey there teachings therein scripture, know this, that your eternal reward will be alongside of Lazarus, forever comforted.
So, what is your choice? "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15 KJV
Choose whom you will Follow This world unfortunately, always has and is still striving to go it it's own way, to walk without Christ, to obey his own man made rules, to make up the rules as they go along, and to break every rule of both God and man. There is a reward for them who follow man, but there is also another reward for them who follow God. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. 14:12; 16:25 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. But "...the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23 (all King James Version)
The moral of the story then is to follow after whichever reward you desire to receive in the end. Choose for yourself whom you will follow. Choose life or choose death. As for me and my household, I will follow the Lord.
