Whom Will You Obey?
As we live our lives, we have no doubt had times in our lives in which we have not obeyed as we should. This “trait” of humanity began in the Garden of Eden when the woman, in Genesis 3:6 decided to disobey God’s Command regarding the forbidden fruit. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. This trait continued with the first son of the first earthly parents. In Genesis 4:7 we read of a conversation that occurred between Cain and the Lord after Cain had disobeyed. If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Interestingly, the word “disobey” in that form, doesn’t exist in the Bible. The word “disobeyed” occurs once. This is found in 1Kings 13:21, where the old prophet who had deceived the “man of God”, informed him of his error and also defined disobedience. And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee,. The disobedient prophet died as a result.
The Word “disobedient” occurs 13 times, and “disobedience” is found 6 times in God’s Written Communication to man. Even without these, there are still plenty of passages which indicate the penalty that must be paid for going against God and His Word. In Jude vs 7, the Spirit had a New Testament penman, provide an Old Testament example to remind Christians of the end result of disobedience to God. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
The Spirit had the apostle Peter “stir up” the minds of the recipients of the letter in 2Peter 3:1-2, so they would continue to obey. This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: We can see in 2Peter 3:17 why the warning was given. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. This is important as all will serve someone or some-thing as Romans 6:16 clearly shows. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.
Perhaps, many years ago when my wife’s dad, O.D. Wilson wrote the poem below, he was trying to “stir up” some minds.
The Kingdom Will Not Pass Away
Stand up, shout it out to the nations,
The Cause of the Lord will survive,
The world is offered Salvation,
Because that the church is alive.
There are “seven thousand” dear brother,
Who’ve not bowed their knees unto Baal.
But within the ranks the unfaithful,
Are working that it might fail,
When Daniel unfolded his vision,
Daniel chapter two, forty-four,
He promised that God up in Heaven,
Would build One to stand evermore.
The kingdoms of men come and go friend,
But Christ set His church on the Rock.
The Word is the seed of the kingdom,
And faith is the key to the lock.
Some day when the trumpet is blowing,
And time on this earth then is past,
The Body of Christ will be going,
The triumphant church, Home at last.
Eternity then will be waiting,
The heavens and earth passed away.
The faithful will be celebrating,
The message is for us today.
O.D. Wilson – deceased
Whom do you serve? Are you serving and following Satan? His kingdom is “of this world”. It will pass away per 2Peter 3:10. . . . the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. The church, the body of Christ will exist with God forever. Make your choice as to whom you will serve.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
