Consequences for Unbelief
Romans 14:23 NKJV
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Whatever is not from faith is sin.
This is definitely an everlasting Word of God from His Holy Scriptures that DOESN’T make the list of the “ Top 10 most inspirational quotes from the Bible” list!
Are we living by faith or are we living by unbelief?
How do we know the difference?
Our Christian walk with Christ depends on this.
Sometimes unbelief stems from a lack of desire. It’s a hard thing to be in a situation that never seems to be going your way. Or if there is an outcome that we weren’t expecting.
It’s easy to say “just have faith”.
It takes a desire to have faith. It takes us giving up total and complete control to the Throne of Heaven.
Something that many Christians don’t speak about is there are consequences for unbelief.
The unfortunate thing is that unbelief has eternal consequences.
People die in their sins because of their unbelief.
Doubt and Unbelief are different.
Unbelief is a settled refusal to believe.
Sometimes unbelief sneaks up on us.
We start depending on the wrong things.
We look for answers to appease our emotions.
Unbelief starts out with doubt. It comes about because of our human weakness. We lack the confidence to trust fully in God!
When we have unbelief in our lives, when we are lacking in faith it stops God’s working power in your life.
It will stop it dead in its tracks! When the storms in our lives come against us. When we are about to be crushed and it seems like there is no way out. All of our hope is gone. That fear, that unbelief that settles in our souls paralyzes us.
As we walk closer to Jesus we should be maturing in our faith and trust.
Sometimes unbelief comes with a faith that is not willing to grow up.
This is where the problem starts to grow.
In America only 4% of people have a Biblical World View.
The harsh reality that 96% of people don’t understand is that there’s consequences for unbelief.
There is a blatant rejection of Jesus Christ, His Throne and His message!
There are consequences for unbelief.
It is hard to convince people of the error, sin and way of living when they have no sense of what the Bible says.
Even when we actually go out for the assignment of the Great Commission and let them know what the Lord says.
It is hard because there is a mindset and a worldview that is completely contrary to having a Biblical World View.
But there are consequences for unbelief.
There is a rejection of Christ.
We have moved so far away from Him it seems like there might not be a coming back from this one.
When I think about the rejection of Jesus, I think about Noah and the Ark that God Commissioned Him to make.
Matthew 24:37-39 NKJV
But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
What’s amazing is the majority don’t believe this.
But they didn’t believe it in the days of Noah either.
It is said that the ark took over 100 years to build.
Imagine the people coming and mocking Noah.
Imagine Noah building this Ark. No one had seen such a thing. I’m sure people asked what he was doing. I’m sure that he would tell them that a great flood was coming. I’m sure they laughed at him.
They didn’t believe him. They’ve never heard of what he was talking about, “what is this flood” they may have asked. Not knowing or understanding that judgment from Heaven’s Throne was imminent.
Either they couldn’t believe it or they wouldn’t.
Not much has changed today.
Everyone is so caught up with the Goodness of God, His love and mercy, they fail to believe in His Justice and Righteousness, even His wrath.
The clouds start to roll in.
The sky turns dark.
The rain starts. The water starts to increase. More and more non stop.
Something happens.
Genesis 7:15-16 NKJV
And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.
We miss something.
The Lord shut the door of the Ark!
The Lord was the One that sealed Noah, his family and the animals inside.
It was by His power and His strength.
The Lord had given these people years and years to repent from their wickedness.
They had time to humble themselves to Him.
Many people think there’s always tomorrow.
There is always tomorrow, only if the Lord allows it.
Imagine for a moment.
Imagine the panic and the chaos of all the people.
They see the doors shut.
They see the water pouring down.
The screaming. The desperation to get on that Ark. That pounding and scratching at the door that the Hand of God closed, never to be opened again.
Sometimes we think that we must know everything about everything.
We must know the exact date that Jesus is coming back. When the rapture is. When and what the Mark of the beast is.
We concern ourselves with things that actually make our faith weaker. We look for signs and wonders. We look for the things of this world to solidify our beliefs in Christ.
We look for proof instead of relying on the evidence!
We search for the wrong things in the wrong places!
We must stop playing the Christian games and start to truly desire God above all things.
A beloved brother in Christ told me this.
It only takes 5% of real Christians to make a difference. Whether in the workplace,at home or out in public.
It only takes 5% of Holy Spirit filled men and women to make a difference for the Kingdom of God!
Behaviors change. Speech changes. Less chaos. Just being a real representation of Jesus is all it takes.
That is the power of the Almighty living inside of us!
Are you one of the 5%!
Don’t be quick to answer.
Ask the Lord if you are.
If you’re not part of the 5%, then why not?
So many Christians have doubt in their hearts.
Doubt turns into unbelief.
Unbelief turns into hopelessness.
Hopelessness turns into walking away from the Faith and a Biblical WorldView.
Let me ask you this question.
Would Jesus marvel at your faith or your unbelief ?
Jesus never marvels at what man can do. It’s not in building and construction. It’s not in our talents.
What He marvels at is our faith.
John 20:27 NKJV
Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
Sometimes we need to remind our faith that it is those wounds that Jesus bears is our reminder of unbelief.
The Cross, the death, the witness of His Resurrection.
The promise of His return.
Let Him marvel at your full belief in Him and His promises.
Be the 5% that actually makes a difference!
The Lord hasn’t sealed the door yet, but it is coming! Don’t worry about timelines and prophecies, get to work!
Noah didn’t know when the Lord was bringing the flood. The flood came when the work Noah was Commissioned to do was done.
You have the ability to make 5% increase to 6%. It doesn’t seem like much, but what is one soul worth to you!
Pastor Ed
