One major problem with the OT saints was that in their pursuit or bowing down to other idols, they did not even realize they were sinning against God. We the NT saints look at the OT saints and wonder how could they have been be bowing down to the altars of Baal and Ashteroth when they should have known God?
If man was given another two thousand years, the future saints would look back at us and say the same thing because many of us do not realize we are bowing down to our own modern type of idols or altars of Baal and Asheroth. Many of us are sick and we do not even realize we have been bitten by serpents just as God's people had been bitten during the wilderness when they complained and sinned against God.
Numbers 21:5-9 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, neither is there any water, and we loathe this light (contemptible, unsubstantial) manna.6 Then the Lord sent fiery (burning) serpents among the people; and they bit the people, and many Israelites died.7And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord, that He may take away the serpents from us. So Moses prayed for the people. 8And the Lord said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent [of bronze] and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live. 9And Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole, and if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of bronze [[a]attentively, expectantly, with a steady and absorbing gaze], he lived.
1 Corinthians 10:9 (AMP) We should not tempt the Lord [try His patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him, and exploit His goodness] as some of them did--and were killed by poisonous serpents;
In many cases, the OT saints did not realize and know they were sinning and therefore did not repent which resulted in many perishing. Many today complain of their situations. Today, if we do not realize our sins and confess them, many of us will perish in the same manner, physically and spiritually. But sadly, many of God's people even today are still perishing!! We are perishing like the other nations of unbelievers because of our disobedience!
Deuteronomy 8:19-20 And if you forget the Lord your God and walk after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. 20Like the nations which the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.
"And if you forget the Lord your God and walk after other gods." The word forget might as well be synonymous to continued backsliding! If one was cold then one would know they are backslidding but when one is lukewarm, they do not even realize they are sinning against the Lord.
Moses had to make a fiery serpent of bronze on a pole. The people had to repent and look attentively, expectantly with steady and absorbing gaze to live. Today, you do not need to look at a bronze pole but the Son of Man who has been lifted up on a cross! But we still need to confess our sins and if you think you have not sinned or if you believe you are good to go then you are but a pharisee who prays before the altar of God and thanking Him for not being like the other evil doers. You are but self righteous. It was the tax collector who had come before the Lord to ask for mercy not even lifting up his head and it was he who went home justified.
What is your attitude? Are you good to go or are you humbled enough to ask God to search your heart for any hidden sins or if you are bowing down to idols?
John 3:14-15 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must [so it is necessary that] the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross],15 In order that everyone who believes in Him [who cleaves to Him, trusts Him, and relies on Him] may [c]not perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live forever!
Many people who have been bitten by spiritual serpents today are not looking up at the Son of Man who have been lifted up on a cross and are not being healed. Why? First order is to know if we have sinned. If we do not know we have sinned against the Lord, then how is one to repent. We MUST then ask the HOLY Spirit to search our hearts and show us. We must confess our sins and continue to LOOK at the Son of Man who had been lifted on the cross to live physically and spiritually.
1 Corinthians 11:31 (AMP) For if we searchingly examined ourselves [detecting our shortcomings and recognizing our own condition], we should not be judged and penalty decreed [by the divine judgment].
Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
January 12, 2012
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