The beginning of Deuteronomy tells in the beginning of the twenty-eighth chapter about the blessings that God would place on his people, Israel, if they obey him. The second half of the chapter however is much darker because it tells about the curses that would incur if they didn’t obey God.
In Isaiah 30: It tells about how Israel obeyed God for a while, then when they found themselves in trouble went to Egypt (the world) for their comfort. Then when they found themselves in a corner and in even more trouble, they would finally cry out to God and God would open his arms to them again.
What they learned was is that they could not keep God’s laws on their own. Over and over again God gave them the chance to redeem themselves. Over and over again Israel as a country failed to be able to follow the plan that God for them. They kept going back to the world that not only hated them, but cheated them out of God’s blessings.
Help Only God Could Provide
They needed help and God already had a plan in place. It says in John 3:17, “the son of man did not come to condemn the Law but to fulfill it.” Jesus, God came to earth in the flesh,. He chose to come to earth as a baby, to live a holy life that was uncorrupted by the world system, and to give himself as the ultimate sacrifice fulfilled the law and offered his accomplishment back to us as the gift of salvation. He, in essence said, “I know you are unable to keep the law so I am keeping it for you. If you’ll agree that I am Lord of your life, I give my blessing back to you.”
He took the curses of Deuteronomy 28 to the cross with him. If we believe it, then we receive salvation not only from eternal damnation, but also from those curses.
But You Have to Ask
That’s not to say that we have automatic immunity. In Romans 3:23 it says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. In other words, we have all earned death if we sin. What exactly is sin, you ask? Sin is simply disobeying God’s instruction or preferring to follow the ways of the world rather than following those instructions.
Jesus came to fulfill the law. It says in Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” It is in only in his offering of himself as our Savior that we can have right standing with God. In Romans 12:6 it says that he is our propitiation and, I John 2:1 says that he is our advocate with the father. As it says in John 3:18, all you have to do is believe. However, if you do not believe, it also says in the same verse that you are condemned already.
Are you ready to accept the gift? All you have to do is believe that he is who he says he is. Otherwise you remain at the whim of the world’s system.
Donna Brown is pastor at Faith in God Church 1 1/2 miles south of Brandsville, Missouri on Hwy 63. Sunday services are at 10 am and Wednesday night Bible Study at 6:30 pm. As Author Cygnet Brown, she has recently published her first nonfiction book: Simply Vegetable Gardening: Simple Organic Gardening Tips for the Beginning Gardener
She is also the author of historical fiction series The Locket Saga. which includes When God Turned His Head and Soldiers Don’t Cry, the Locket Saga Continues, and most recently, A Coward’s Solace, Book III of the Locket Saga.For more information about Cygnet Brown and her book, check out her website at http://www.cygnetbrow.com .