BRENDA AND THE BIBLE: THE SWEET AROMA

By Brenda Groves
The Post Newspaper Contributing Writer
The nice aroma of a home cooked meal was rudely interrupted by an awful odor coming from our pantry one day. And it didn’t take a blood hound to track down the culprit. Whew!!! A rotten potato is almost lethal. It took me a few moments to sift through the pile because they all looked okay from the outside but I finally put my hand on the “spud gone bad.”
But the smell would not go away. A careful inspection found a couple more rotten ones. OOOH!
Isn’t it funny how several good potatoes cannot affect the bad ones, yet one bad potato WILL ruin the whole bunch.
I was thinking about this in regards to some scriptures I read about the warning given to Christians. It spoke against fellowshipping with people who, professing to be religious (or even Christians), yet who do not teach, or lead lifestyles reflecting the Gospel.
There will be groups who will try to combine Christianity with false religions for “the good of all people.” Even now, I am hearing reports that some well known ministries are moving this direction. They started out preaching the word but are now coming together with false religions to build orphanages, feed the poor and do lots of good works. So what’s wrong with that???? That is not the Gospel! Why did Jesus come to earth? This next statement might shock some people but Jesus did not come to help the poor. He came to “preach the gospel (salvation) to the poor (poor in spirit) ….” Luke 4:18-20 Now, hear me out. He came to take mans’ sins upon Himself as a sinless sacrifice. God in the flesh, in order to bring reconciliation between God and man. To restore, and be the Mediator between God and man so each person could have a choice to receive this gift of salvation. That’s the Gospel. The good news. God of hope. Those who are born again Believers in Christ Jesus
are suppose to declare this good news to others. “We overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.” Roman’s 12:11 And yes, we are called to help the poor by proclaiming the good news to them .. disciple them, teach them about who Jesus is, and offer them this choice. Otherwise, all the good deeds in the world will bless many people, but if they are not hearing that their sins are forgiven through Christ Jesus, and that God wants a relationship with them, they must be born again in order to have right standing with God. Well, then they are still “dead in their trespasses and sins” and will leave this world in that condemned state, unchanged and will spend eternity separated from God in Hell. We are called to love all people, but Christians cannot join our faith with people professing false doctrines and still be of one mind and one accord. We can accomplish physical things together, but spiritually speaking we are not worshipping the same God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit- all three separate, yet all three One. How can they fulfill the great commission, if they
cannot testify about Jesus declares “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 14:6 “What does light have to do with dark?” Because “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 Helping to feed and provide for the poor is a good thing, but it’s only a by product of God’s plan and not the main goal.
He has a specific plan for each person’s life and it is this. “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” 2 Cor. 6:14-15 “But I now have written unto you not to keep company with any man who is called a brother if he is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. With such a one you are not even to eat.” 1 Cor. 5:11 This might sound harsh in our politically correct society but there is a reason for this! So we won’t be contaminated with false doctrine. Our power is in our faith in Christ Jesus and His death and resurrection. And if the possibility to be deceived wasn’t a real threat then Jesus would not have sternly warned us to be
watchful and alert and abide in His word. “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be
named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” Eph. 5:2-4 So even if it looks good on the outside, sadly, without a new born again spirit through the Lord Jesus Christ, the inside is still rotten.
(All scripture taken from NKJV)
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com