43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell. ~ Mark 9:43-47
These are some very strong words. A very hard teaching that we just brush over. Listen to what Jesus is saying; you have to examine yourself and remove anything from you that isn’t of God. You have to remove anything within you that contradicts the Word of God. You can’t walk in the Light and walk in the Darkness. You have to choose one. You have to make an active decision to pick up your cross and follow Jesus.
Oftentimes, we get so caught up in other people and what they’re doing wrong and how they’re making mistakes and we completely miss our own shortcomings. Jesus is warning us that we have to be self-disinfecting. Being salt is not just for others but for yourself as well. You must take a self-inventory and evaluate yourself. You can’t take for granted that you have accepted Jesus as LORD and Savior, and there is nothing else to do.
This admonishment or warning is directed toward Christians, not the world. It is us Jesus is talking to. If you, my servants, find that your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. Even if it is your eye that causes you to sin, pluck it out. Do not let any of them cause you to be thrown into the unquenchable fires of hell. It would be better for you to enter eternal life maimed or crippled or even with one eye or even blind than the alternative.
The treasures, toys, and fruit of this earth will one day pass away. You can’t even take it with you into Eternity. It doesn’t last forever. Eternal things last forever. Each of us is building up eternal property and treasure. The only thing is our property, and our treasure aren’t always in good real estate. Some of us are building up property and treasure where the moths and locusts can’t get into harm. A place of peace, love, and God’s Holy presence. Whereas others are building up property and treasure in a lake of fire. In a place of eternal torment and destruction. In a place where you have to pay for each and every sin that you’ve committed because you refused to accept the free gift of life purchased for you while you were on this earth.
As long as your heart is still beating, there is a chance of redemption. Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. He’s calling for you to remove that sin from your life. To put away the greed, sexual immorality, anger, unforgiveness, rejection, and everything else that is keeping you from wholeheartedly following Him.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Remove Anything To Follow Him.
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