How Far Is "DOWN" ?
By Harold Stoddard
Isaiah 48:22, "There is no peace, saith the LORD,
unto the wicked."
Isaiah 57:21, "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."
(KJV)
There was perfect peace in the garden of Eden as God walked
with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day; they could visit and have
fellowship together; everything was peaceful and there was peace among
all creatures and with their Creator. Adam and Eve lived a peaceful
happy life in their innocence. A glorious time it must have been; however
at the urging of Satan they forsook the way of peace and from that time
until now man's life has been one of rebellion, turmoil and war. Sin
of every type has beset the world. How far will man continue on his
downward path, away from God and His offer of the return of the peace
men once knew? For many, "DOWN" will end in the lake that
burneth with fire and brimstone. Rev. 20:15.
The warning has been given already, yet we continue to put confidence
in the plans of men; we clamour for peace; we desire peace and make
programs to bring peace; we even fight wars and wars and wars to force
peace; yet peace always eludes us. God has given us the answer in the
verses quoted above, but the wicked hearts of men, in their pride and
arrogancy, still claim they will find the answer without the help of
the Almighty; and so humanity goes on down, down, down away from our
Creator and we have become miserable examples of God's creation.
Oh, how far has our own nation fallen today, as we continue to despise
God our Saviour who Himself IS the Way of Salvation to all who will
believe; and the Way of Truth and Righteousness to every nation who
will turn and follow Him in true repentence.
Nations that have forgotten God and have forsaken His way, continue
to drift helplessly on Down, despising the blessed Name by which we
may be saved. We have so much trouble in our schools and no one seems
to know why. How foolish we are to have cast out of our schools even
the Name of Jesus Christ, who Himself IS the Prince of Peace!
Our courts today have an overload of cases to try and justice is gone
from them, for we have cast the Name and even the Word of Jesus Christ,
out of the courts and through their perverted ideas, men reign and justice
is denied.
Every year we legally murder untold numbers of babies in our country.
Most certainly the most heathen practice ever devised by man is called
Partial-birth Abortion. In our state at least (Colorado) you may be
thrown into jail for killing a dog or even a rattlesnake...yet, partial-birth
abortion is legal.
We are being told today that it is illegal to post the Ten Commandments
in the front of a courthouse; yet, they are the only Perfect laws ever
written and they are forever settled in heaven and need never be changed.
How far is "DOWN"? ...remember the Lake of Fire...That is
your answer.
Our Creator in due time, His time, will stop the way we are taking;
however it will be too late for individuals to recover and so those
who despise Him today will hit Bottom and will KNOW how far "Down"
is...
However, with the warning comes also the Way of escape, for the Scripture
says: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and
the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince
of Peace." (Isaish 9:6 KJV)
Jesus Christ Himself came with healing in His wings to save to the uttermost
all them that will come unto God by Him. He came as a Babe in a manger,
He endured the cross, and He arose from the grave in total victory!
God has promised that although we live today in an evil world of turmoil
and trouble with sin on every side, we may have the peace of God in
our hearts and lives by simple faith in Jesus Christ. He says in Romans
5:1, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ." (KJV). You will never get the answer
by following the ideas and programs of men but only from the very Word
of God which is forever settled in heaven. The Bible says of men's programs:
"And the way of peace have they not known:..." Romans 3:17
KJV.
Those who recognize their lost condition and come to Jesus Christ in
simple faith trusting only in Him will have the peace of God in their
hearts even as the world struggles in turmoil around them. The words
of Jesus are these: "Peace I leave with you, my peace give I unto
you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27 KJV.
The Blood of Jesus Christ has been shed for you...no greater price will
ever be paid, for Jesus paid it ALL and here is His last invitation
to all who are lost: "And the spirit and the bride say, Come. And
let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst Come. And
whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation
22:17 KJV.