10/08/10 TELLING AND YELLING (plus) DRAWN OR DRIVEN...
I have been telling and yelling about it for a long time. It was not the intent of our founding fathers to guarantee freedom of religion to all religions. Now, because people have accepted such an absurdity, Christians are losing freedoms we have always had in this country. God would rather draw us to Himself through His goodness, than drive us through suffering (Ro. 2:4; 2 Co. 7:9-10; Jd. 1:22-23 see below).
DRAWN OR DRIVEN...
GOD WANTS TO DRAW US THROUGH HIS GOODNESS...
Romans 2:4
(4) Or do you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads thee to repentance?
BUT IF WE WILL NOT BE DRAWN TO REPENTANCE, HE WILL DRIVE US THROUGH SORROW.
2 Corinthians 7:9-10
(9) Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
(10) For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death.
IF WE CANNOT REACH PEOPLE THROUGH A COMPASSIONATE APPEAL, THEN WE SHOULD REACH THEM THROUGH AN IMPASSIONED ALARM.
Jude 1:22-23
(22) And of some have compassion, making a difference:
(23) And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
I understand that we all must have godly sorrow in order to be saved, I am just pointing out that we can come to godly sorrow either by being drawn or being driven. It is better to surrender to God in the time of blessing than find ourselves burdened with affliction. But if we do not turn to God with the carrot of His goodness, He loves us enough to use the cane of affliction.
