John 3: 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him. --NIV
Greetings in the name of the Son, amen.
There is the desire, in most of us, to believe that all religions are the same--that we all worship the same God. If we understand that the Hindu religions, Shinto, Buddhist, and tribal religions do not have the true God, then we may still want to believe that Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses worship the true God. If we even see their error, then we may question whether or not the Jews and Muslims worship the true God, since they claim to worship the God of Abraham.
But this passage clearly shows us that all who do not believe in the Son, are under God's wrath. There is no eternal middle ground offered in Holy Scripture, nor is there any sort of a second chance. Our time of grace is while we are in this world. Once we die, it is too late to change.
It is not that God doesn't want people to be saved. Nor is it His fault if they do not beleive in Jesus. On Monday we saw that at several points in history everyone knew the truth about God. Now we see that even those who claim to worship the Father have only His wrath if they do not also have faith in the Son.
But for all who believe in the Son there is eternal life. They are the true worshippers of the Father. Rather than the wrath of God, they face His open arms. They go from this life of struggle to one of eternal refreshment with their God and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him alone be the Glory forever. Amen.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for revealing the Father to us. Thank You for living, dying, and rising from the dead for us. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit upon us to give us faith. We ask that by Your Holy Spirit You would keep us in the true faith, amen.