Two men, two destinies

Introduction:

Why the life of a true Christian is different than the life of others? Is it worthy to follow the Lord? Why God blesses some and not others?

To those who do not know the Scriptures or to secular philosophers, those questions are not easy to answer.

There is a passage in the Bible that, I believe, answers those questions:

Read:

Background:

The psalms were written to the Lord Almighty but also to inspire us to live for Him.

The psalms were written to the Lord Almighty, but also to inspire us to live for Him.

Although and 3 are ascribed to David, this psalm does not mention its writer. We know who the author is: God.

Because of the style, and the way Solomon examined life, I would dare to guess that was written by him.

As in Song of Solomon, this psalm makes us see the importance of following the Lord.

We may say that this psalm answers the previous questions by telling us about two types of men and two destinies.

The misery of the unrighteous.

Does not know how to face adversity.

“like the chaff which the wind drives away” v. 4

Unstable, weightless, thrown up & down by any wind.

James 1:7–8 NASB95

For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:7–8 LBLA

No piense, pues, ese hombre, que recibirá cosa alguna del Señor, siendo hombre de doble ánimo, inestable en todos sus caminos.

This is the kind of people that loses the head when difficulties come.

8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

- This is the kind of people that loses the head when in difficulties.

They recur to cheating, fraud, and crime to solve their problems… Some even to suicide!

His ways are of death, but he denies it.

“the way of the wicked will perish.” v. 6

God gives us a choice, but He will not force our decisions:

Jeremiah 21:8 NASB95

“You shall also say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

We cannot expect life if we choose the way of death.

The Bible also tells us that the easy way is the one most people take

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.”

Matthew 7:13 NASB95

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

And His invitation is to enter into the narrow gate, the way of life.

They concentrate only on thing of temporary nature: money, possessions, pleasures, looks, etc.

The wicked and the fool focus only on things of temporary nature: money, possessions, pleasures, looks, etc.

If you ask them about their eternal destiny they answer: “Heaven because I have not killed anyone...”

They think they are right:

Illust. Indian not lost, house lost

He will not have a place in Heaven.

“the wicked will not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.” 5

The assembly does not refer to churches on earth where wolves may enter with sheep cloth….. It refers to the church in Heaven where only true believers will enter.

Illust. Judge with power to save or condemn

The blessings of a righteous man.

He takes God’s word seriously.

“his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law meditates day and night.” 2

Meditates means: “ruminate” “ponder, to read and have a dialog” “read to apply”

Meditates means: “ruminate” “ponder, to read and have a dialog” “read to apply”

- The Lord blessed Joshua and Samuel for that reason. He also instructed kings to write a copy of Scripture and meditate on them.

The Lord blessed Joshua and Samuel for that reason.

Joshua 1:8 NASB95

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

and Samuel for that reason.

He also instructed kings to write a copy of Scripture and meditate on them.

He also instructed kings to write a copy of Scripture and meditate on them.

Don’t you believe that for some reason God’s blessings are directly connected with your obedience to read, meditate, and practice His Word?

The Bible is the manual for life. As a result of following the instructions, man knows how to live.

He knows how to live.

“does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!” v. 1

Illust. Samuel to people

1 Samuel 12:2–4 NASB95

“Now, here is the king walking before you, but I am old and gray, and behold my sons are with you. And I have walked before you from my youth even to this day. “Here I am; bear witness against me before the Lord and His anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? I will restore it to you.” They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.”

In other words, Samuel is saying “I have lived with integrity”. Why? Because he knew and live according to the Word.

This is applicable to the people too:

,

1 Samuel 12:14–15 NASB95

“If you will fear the Lord and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the Lord, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God. “If you will not listen to the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the command of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.

He lives a happy and fruitful life.

“…yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither;” 3

Righteous are happy and content with what the Lord provides for them.

Their happiness does not depend on what they have, but on who they have.

What I am saying does not make sense to some that are hearing. I understand them because it did not make sense to me before I experienced it. I did not have Jesus in my heart, I was blind and ignorant.

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls.”

He will have a place in Heaven.

He will be part of the assembly of the righteous, those who have been justified or declared just by God.

Our Lord Jesus assured His true disciples that they should not be afraid because they would a place in Heaven:

John 14:2–3 NASB95

“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

How to become a righteous man?

First of all, you must understand that:

No one is righteous by nature or works.

Romans 3:10 NASB95

as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one;

and that a person cannot be saved by his works:

None is righteous by nature or by works. ,

,

Ephesians 2:8–9 NASB95

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

On the contrary,

We all deserve to go to Hell.

Romans 6:23 NASB95

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What should we do then?

First of all, we must repent...

We must repent and plead guilty before the judge.

c. We must repent and plead guilty before the judge.

Romans 2:5 NASB95

But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

And with a repentant heart...

We must ask for forgiveness.

Romans 10:13 NASB95

for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

And surrender and give ourselves to the Savior:

We must give our life to Jesus.

Revelation 3:20 NASB95

‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.