Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

John 1:1-5 & 9-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Talking to a young lady in College, she asked “Since Jesus died for the sins of the world, doesn’t that mean that the penalty for sin was paid by Christ and everybody is going to heaven now?” I saw where she was going, because so many of her friends, family members, and classmates did not receive or believe in Jesus, nor live by biblical morals and standards from God, and she didn’t want any of them going to hell, yet didn’t want to offend them with the gospel message either. Isn’t it strange how it is acceptable to offend God, but not acceptable to offend people. I explained that a gift is not a gift, unless the recipient accepts and receives the gift. The gift giver can offer the free gift, but if the intended receiver refuses it, then it is not truly a gift. I gave the example of the doctor that examined a patient, and then met with them to say that they had an illness that was poisoning their body and they would surely die, but then puts a bottle of medicine on the table and says that this is a cure that would save their life. The doctor says “Here, I give it to you free, as a gift to save you.” If the patient refuses to receive that antidote, though it would save them, they die. But people want to refuse the medicine, and live. Spiritually speaking, they want to willfully live in sin against God and still go to heaven. But you can’t have your cake and eat it too. You can’t have it both ways – yours and God’s.


The problem is that many people want to be the ruler/god of their own life and live contrary to God’s moral and ethical standards and commands, yet not pay the consequences (punishment) for their disobedience and rejection. The pride of life is self-serving for self-gratification. This is the “world” – the human system that opposes God’s purpose. It’s not the love of God, but truly the love of self – the commitment is to no one else. Who is on the throne and who is serving who? In John 12:25-26 Jesus said, “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

Apologist Blasé Pascal writes, “The world is a stage for the exercise of mercy and judgment. It is not as if mankind were created by the hands of God, but as if they were God’s enemies, granted by His grace enough light of truth to return if they wish to seek and follow Him. Yet they also have enough light to receive punishment if they refuse to seek or follow Him. Jesus came to blind those who have clear vision and to give sight to the spiritually blind (Read John 9:38-41). He came to call sinners to repentance and justify them, and yet to lead the righteous to their sins. But he came “for a sanctuary and a stone of stumbling” as Isaiah 8:14 says. We all seek satisfaction, and only differ according to the object in which we locate it.” James 4:4 “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God”

Last Sunday, I was visiting my dad and his church invited a guest pastor to give the sermon message. Pastor Jon Venema of Grace Community Church of Visalia exhorted us to quit being a disciple of the world and commit ourselves to being disciples of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Quit letting other secular people determine how we are going to live and behave; our habits and our attitudes. It is God that meets our heart needs, not the world, so let’s not look to others, outside of the Lord, for true love’s source. Love your neighbor as yourself, do to others as you would have them do to you, love like Jesus loved, but follow the Lord and let Him flow through you and direct your walk along the path of life. Receive God’s love. John 15:19 Jesus tells us, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

John 14:23-24 “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.”


Believe & receive, trust in and live for Christ. Piece of cake!
In Christ, Brian