OUR RESPONSIBILITY *

As Christians, do we have a responsibility to God? Yes we do. Some preach that God serves us, that if we have enough faith; all we have to do is tell God what we want Him to do for us and God will do this. If we don't get what we asked for from God, it is because we don't have enough faith. This theology is filled with untruth and places a lot of guilt on the believer.

Does God rule by guilt? No. Where does guilt in serving God come from? Guilt in serving God can only come from one source, Satan. You see, God is not here to serve us, we are here to serve God, and we serve a loving, caring, and merciful God. So what is our responsibility to God? Let’s start with another question. Why do we need a redeemer, a savior? For this answer let’s start at the beginning, in Genesis.

Before Adam and Eve sinned, they enjoyed fellowship with God, they also enjoyed eternal life. We see in Genesis 2:9(b}, "The tree of life also in the midst of the garden. " Adam and Eve were allowed to eat from the tree of life until they sinned. Then Adam and Eve, (and all of mankind) were forbidden to eat of the tree of life. At this point is when eternal life was taken from all mankind.

Our goal, as believers in Jesus Christ is to partake of the tree of life once again and enjoy eternal life. This is why Jesus (God manifested in the flesh), came to us and shed His blood for our sins. Jesus is our redeemer and savior. Jesus has made it possible for us, as believers in Him, to partake of the tree of life and enjoy eternal life.

In Genesis Chapter 3 we find that Satan waited until Eve was away from Adam and then Satan manipulated Eve into eating of the forbidden tree. Then Adam ate and sin was in the world. Here is an interesting point: When God asked Adam about eating from the forbidden tree; does Adam take responsibility for what he has clearly done? No. Read Genesis 3:11-12, in verse 11, God asks Adam about eating from the forbidden tree. In verse 12, Adam says, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate". Lack of responsibility. Adam blamed God for giving him the woman, and blamed Eve also in the same breath for his own actions.

Now there is sin in the world and we are not allowed to eat from the tree of life. In Genesis 3:22 we see that God has already made a way for us to come back to the tree of life. Verse 22(b}, "he [mankind] might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever". Of course this way was made possible only through Jesus.

In Genesis 3:24, "He [GOd] drove out the man; and at the East of the garden of Eden He placed the Cherubim [angel], and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life" . This is where all of mankind is not allowed to eat of the tree of life. The tree is being guarded even today by an angel with a flaming sword. You and I, as believers in Jesus Christ, will eat of the tree of life and have eternal life with God. Let’s look at scripture for this promise from God. Revelation 22:14, "Blessed are those who wash their robes (The saved, the believers in Jesus Christ), so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates". This is the moment that we are completely redeemed and will once again eat from the tree of life and enjoy eternal life in fellowship with God just as Adam and Eve did before they sinned, Amen!

The judgment: Both believers and non-believers will be judged. The believers are saved, their judgment will be for what they have or have not done with their knowledge of Jesus Christ. This will determine their reward in Heaven. The non-believers however, will be judged for not believing in Jesus Christ and will be thrown into the lake of fire where they too will have eternal life; but their eternal life will be away from God. The best way I can describe the lake of fire is a volcano with melting lava. This is where the non-believer will be thrown and not die, but live forever in this lake of fire.

We see in Revelation 20:15, "And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire". We know that as Born Again believers in Jesus Christ that our names are indeed in the book of life. We see that those that are not believers in Jesus Christ, and are not written in the book of life, will indeed be condemned to be thrown into the lake of fire. I praise God and thank Him for my salvation and the salvation of many family members and friends. We will not feel the pain and agony of the lake of fire.

So what is our responsibility to God for this wonderful free gift of salvation He has blessed us with? Let’s look at this from a unique position. As believers, we know we are saved and will enjoy eternal life with God. Picture yourself standing and watching the non-believers being judged. You and I are watching people stand before God while He checks to see if their name is in the book of life. Then God tells each person, "Depart from me, I know you not". And that person is thrown into the lake of fire where you and I can see and hear their screams of agony. Then, you see someone you know in this line; a friend, someone you worked with, a cousin, a nephew, a niece, uncle, aunt, brother, sister, mother, father, wife, husband, son, daughter. When God tells them to depart from Him, how would you feel if they looked at you and cried out to you and said, "Why didn't you tell me about Jesus? Why didn't you make me understand how important this guy
Jesus is?!" Are you starting to see our responsibility here? Do we want to see loved ones thrown into the lake of fire?! We, as Born Again Christians, believers in Jesus Christ, must educate ourselves in God's Word so we can clearly explain to those that we love and care about, the importance of believing in Jesus Christ and serving God.

Study God's Word, accept your calling in Christ, support your brothers and sisters in Christ, and support the ministry. Always look for an opportunity to tell your loved ones about Jesus. Even those you don't get along with. In Matt 28:19(a) "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations". This is our responsibility, we are to be in the ministry; we are to educate our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ; we are to support the ministry; we are to preach the Gospel to everyone and bring them to our Lord so they to can have eternal life and eternal fellowship with God.
Those of us that are in prison today have this responsibility as well. There are men walking these prison yards, looking hard and callous and unreachable, but these men are looking, feeling empty inside, crying on the inside, wanting Jesus in their lives, they just don't know it. You and I are the God fearing men that God has called to tell them about Jesus. Walk the walk, God will open the doors. Stand with me, my brothers and let’s keep as many people as we can out of the lake of fire, Amen!

By: Brother Dan Wiltse Tehachapi Max