‘Last Generation’
2 Pet 2:20-21 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions
of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they
are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than
the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the
way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered
to them.
Christians can
lose their salvation if they go back to their old ways of worshipping idols, money
(covetousness), their successes (pride), pleasures (lusts of their flesh). To
prevent us from worldliness, disobedience and apostasy, He will cause
calamities to make us suffer.
1 Pet 4:1-3 Therefore,
since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same
mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he
no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men,
but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing
the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness,
revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
Curses for Disobedience
Deu 28:15-16, 22 “But it shall come to pass, if you do
not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His
commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses
will come upon you and overtake you: Cursed shall you be in the city, and
cursed shall you be in the country.”.. “The LORD will strike you with
consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the
sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you
perish.”
In the OT, the
Lord would send calamities upon the disobedient Israelites hoping that they will
repent and not be condemned to eternal fire. On repentance, the Lord will
forgive their sins and will be delighted to heal and bless them.
2 Chron 7:13-14 When
I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the
land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My
name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their
wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal
their land.
Chastisement out of Love
Heb 12:5-6 And you have forgotten the exhortation which
speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor
be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He
chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”
Similarly, our
Abba Father would not want to see us suffer eternal fire, for it will hurt Him
tremendously. So whenever we sin, He has to chastise us to halt us on our
tracks to damnation.
God will send
calamities deadly diseases, bankruptcy, sickness, accident, problems, upon His
rebellious children. In the OT, it was referred to as ‘curses’ but in the NT it
is ‘chastisement’.
Heb 12:10-11 For they (natural fathers) indeed for a few
days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be
partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the
present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of
righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Just imagine we
caning our own children; it really breaks our hearts, but for them to yield the
peaceable fruit of righteousness, we have no other choice. Every time God
chastises His sons, He too feels the great pain because He loves us.
