33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
What is the curse of the Lord?
When our habitation is ruled by ungodly men of murderous intent, unjust judgment, who are blinded by their pride, what will result? Is the result not the curse of God? Is the result not death?
Those who oppress the upright and mock the ways of uprightness—those who hate Jesus and His ways—will receive nothing in the end but the curse of death.
In their worldly wisdom they are as fools. In their wrathfulness and mocking of those who love righteousness they are mocked of God and receive His wrath. The oppressors will be the oppressed as they fall into the traps they lay.
As Jesus said: “Those who lead into captivity must go into captivity; those who kill with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the faith and patience of the saints.”
Our habitation might be our world, our nation, our city, our home, our person. In any measure, when our habitation is the house of wickedness, death will follow along with all that proceeds it.
We may not be able to stop the death of a world, a nation, or a city, and sometimes our greatest enemies are those of our own household. However, we can do something about our individual habitation. In so doing, we might have a positive effect on our household, our city, our nation, and our world.
However, the Lord’s will cannot be undone, and we know that all things will perish—but He will not perish. His words will not perish. His righteousness is everlasting, and those who live thereby are forgiven of their sin and pardoned from the punishment of death.
Some people love death. Have we not all loved death at some point in our lives? Have we not all loved sin in some measure? Without the love of God in us through Jesus, we would find ourselves hopelessly bound to dead things, and death would be our end just as God ordained from the beginning of creation. Without the sacrifice of Jesus, we would have no forgiveness for our sins. No other Christ will do.
As Jesus said: “Many false Christs and false prophets shall rise and show signs and wonders to seduce if it were possible even the chosen.”
The “end times” are not yet, but I do believe we are in living in a type of those times. Who are our false Christs if not the Christ of Social Ideologies, the Christ of Politics, the Christ of Economics, the Christ of Worldly Christianity, and the Christ of Self-Worship—to name a few?
These “Christs” have their prophets. They have their “signs and wonders.” They call down “fire from their heaven in the sight of man”—metaphorically speaking—therewith deceiving many and destroying any who stand in their way. What good are they doing for us? What life do they bring? Who do they serve but their own false god and ideals of a man-made utopia?
Let us not get wrapped up in this. Are we not a separate people?
There is a time to do our part as responsible citizens of our nation and of our world. There is a time to speak out against social injustice, participate in politics, work to maintain a prosperous country (without robbery and slavery of others domestically and abroad), and so forth.
However, when these things are corrupted by the wickedness of man because we have forsaken the ways of Jesus, we are doomed. When the individuals of our nation create false images of themselves, worship themselves, and seek to justify their wickedness instead of repenting of it, we are doomed.
When these things become our god, we are doomed. Why? Because we “worship the work of our own hands.” We think that we can establish heaven on earth. We might even carry the name of Jesus on our lips as we do so.
God is not mocked, and it is possible to partake of the blood of Jesus in a shameful and unworthy manner.
1 Corinthians 11:27-32
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
When Paul the apostle wrote this, he was writing about their inappropriate feasting during their Christian gatherings. Some were fat and drunken, while others walked away starving. Do not think this has no applicable meaning today in spirit. When we are fed with the fatness of this world and become spiritually intoxicated by the riches of this world, power, and murder (even that which is done in the heart), then how can we carry the name of Jesus? How can we carry His name when our sheep are starving to death, “not a famine of bread, but of hearing the word of God?”
How can we expect to stand before God with the blood of His Son upon us in such a manner?
As Paul the apostle also wrote: “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”
If we commune with this world and are “unequally yoked” with this world, then we are going to be corrupted by it. It does not matter how much we honor Jesus with our lips if our hearts are far from Him. If our hearts are far from Him, then our hearts are resting in the habitation of the wicked and the curse of God—which is death—will be our reward. Professing ourselves wise with our false Christs and false prophets we become fools.
Do not be foolish. Be as “wise virgins” who are ready for the bridegroom to come. Seek Jesus with all your heart. He alone can show you the way. If we seek Him together, then we can help build one another up as He would have us to do.
Jesus Alone 