jcnr@mpinet.net

Notice the fear, suspicion, and self-protective effort that results from the terroristic activities of only a few people. America’s very founding was based on giving individuals as much freedom as politically and ethically possible. Sometimes we fail by over-valuing freedom for some at the expense of allowing injustices to occur to others. But isn’t it better to error on the side of freedom than to live in a fascist, dictator run country? Yes, our unbalanced love of freedom does need to be corrected at certain points to protect innocent life and the rights of the politically weak among us, but responsible freedom is a good thing. Without it there cannot be genuine charity and virtue. The Preamble to our Constitution reads: “We the people of the United States of America, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” And the last few lines of Emma Lazarus’ poem that is inscribed on a tablet placed on the Statue of Liberty are: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” In many ways, America is the greatest nation to ever exist. Citizens of America have done more to further the gospel of Christ, general freedom, and promote charitable giving than any other citizens worldwide. Religious liberty has reaped such benefits. Freedom of the Press has made it harder for tyrants to do their evils behind closed doors by ferreting out the truth of their activities. Freedom has its advantages. But like everything else political there are always unintended consequences.

Despite all the good freedom has allowed, there are some downfalls. I remember a political carton I saw some time ago that pictured Lady Liberty standing on the eastern shore with her arms stretched out inviting the needy and suffering to come to our great nation to find the peace and happiness that they naturally long after. The problem is, the criminal , the gangster, and the terrorist also comes. They take advantage of our ideals to enrich themselves at our expense. One source said that there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of Al-Qaeda or terror-linked individuals in this country at the present time. They are here not to better themselves, as is the American ideal, but to destroy us and our way of life. The freedom we so love requires each individual to restrain himself. We are so vulnerable! You and I freely move about our daily activities often not giving a second thought to our vulnerability. Remember the national panic that resulted when two men decided for selfish personal reasons that it was a good idea to start shooting at innocent and unaware individuals. Such people are correctly and rightly removed from contact with society. Civilized individuals need to be protected from the predators among us. If there were no jails, prisons, or corrective institutions there could be no free America! This may sound strange but it is true, sadly true, but indeed true.

And so it is with God’s eternal plan for a good, just, and strife-free future for all the citizens of His kingdom. God is not content with the present state of affairs on planet earth. We are experiencing only a temporary time where evil with be exposed for all it is, where all mouths will be shut, and all questioning of God’s goodness will be answered. Revelation 21 and 22 speak of a future time, a time that is in accordance with God’s desired will, not just His permissive will. It is a time when God will be able to rest in His people and they will be able to rest in Him. But notice who will not be there. Look at the list. Those who are excluded are those who would destroy the holy city if they ever got near it. Those who could not tolerate the glory and righteous demands of God Almighty. All trusters of God throughout time from every nation that ever existed will be there, and God will remake them to be lovers of Him. He will remake them because that is what they want Him to do. The cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars that do not want to be remade will not be remade. After death they will remain what they are for all eternity (Rev. 22:11). And they cannot, must not, be allowed to enter the holy city!  

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21:1-8, NKJV).’”  

“’He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the Rend, the First and the Last.’ Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie (Revelation 22:11-15, NKJV).” 

Could you imagine the damage and destruction one committed sinner could do to all the unsuspecting, trusting souls in the New Jerusalem? Or, the unholy contempt for the gentle qualities of the Lamb of God, our great Shepherd, that would spit out such a corrupted heart. God would never allow such a thing to occur, nor could He. The times in which the meek are exploited (Psalm 37:10-13, 37-40) and God is vilified and misrepresented (1 Corinthians 15:24-28) will come to an end. He has promised such a time and place to His children--hence, the necessity for the eternal separation of all who continue to reside in their sinful nature. 

 Copyright 2003 by James W. Skeen