ALMIGHTY

WHO?

By JOHN KEMPER, Pastor

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

POST OFFICE BOX 278

LAFAYETTE, COLORADO 80026

It is no new thing that people want nothing to do with God. Solomon stated 3000 years ago, "There is no new thing under the sun . . ." (Ecc.1:9)

The above text and question was posed by Job in the oldest book in the Bible. This would be at least 2000 years before Christ was born.

The "therefore" of verse 14 is Job’s conclusion to verses 7-13 where he describes the affluency of man who has need of nothing. In verse 7 he says they live to a ripe old age and are very self sufficient.

Verse 8 describes their children as "established." The word established means, "to stand erect," which means to be fixed, prepared, to be prosperous. Simple stated their following generations continue strong and self sufficient.

Verse 9 implies that not only are they affluent but in good health with no discipline or chastening from the Lord. Verse 10 describes their manifold blessings and in verse 11-13 they enjoy life to the fullest.

"THEREFORE they say unto God" that there are 4 things they don’t want or need from Him:

Job describes the above persons as "wicked" in verse 7. They ask God to "depart" from them. Why should they worship One whose presence they don’t need or want?

Even today, some 4000 years after Job, men don’t need, or should we say, don’t want God. They have no time for Him each day, nor on the Lord’s day. In Psalm 2:3 they say unto God, "Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us."

First, though they may not state it verbally, by not wanting His PRESENCE they are atheistic in heart.

Secondly, they don’t want God’s KNOWLEDGE. If one closes the Bible, does not read it, does not use it as a guide through life, then they have no restraint on morals or activities. "We desire not the knowledge of Thy ways." Isn’t that what many in our modern society have done? And does that not sum up our modern educational system?

They wring their hands wondering "what is wrong with our kids?" While every philosophy, teaching and theory of self appointed "experts" is promoted. At the same time the Bible is rejected as so much unnecessary garbage.

Thirdly, in verse 15 they don’t just say, "what is God, that we should SERVE Him?" but "what is the ALMIGHTY?" This shows the ultimate of their self sufficient contempt and arrogance by challenging the Most High God -- the Almighty, the All-Powerful One.

Then too, in the fourth place they say, "What profit should we have if we PRAY to him?" Self sufficiency needs no help. Why waste time in prayer to someone you have no need or want of?

We’ve come a long way since the 1963 Supreme Court ruling against prayer in our schools. Now guns, violence, fear and policemen walk the halls of learning. And too, Christians who used to attend church, who used to read the Bible, who used to pray now identify themselves with the world that says, "ALMIGHTY WHO?"

Job 21:13b says, "that they in a moment go down to the grave."

THEN WHAT?

In Hebrews (9:27) we read, ". . . it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement . . ." There is an accounting to God O man! What will you say then to the Almighty whom you didn’t need or want?

Why not repent of your pound sin and call upon the Lord while there is time because some plain ordinary day death will claim you.

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (II Cor. 6:2)

Heaven or Hell is at stake. Why not choose eternal life and heaven by asking Jesus, who died for you on Calvary, to save you?

". . . if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved . . . for whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved."? (Romans 10:9-13)

You can order this in tract form by sending a free will offering to FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, POST OFFICE BOX 278, LAFAYETTE, CO 80026. Please state how many you want.