In Ephesians 5:20 the Apostle Paul, who received his gospel by revelation from Jesus Christ, told the people in the church at Ephesus to follow God as His dear children, to walk in love (1:1,2) and to “GIVE THANKS ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Note that Paul was addressing those in the Ephesian Church who were truly God’s people.  Jesus, speaking concerning the church He would establish in 31 A.D., predicted that few of those who would call themselves by His name would actually become His people through obedience to His Word.  Many, He lamented, would be Christians in name only (Mat. 7:13,14).  To the few who would become His friends and spiritual brethren–the ONLY ONES for whom He would die (Jn. 15:13,14/ Mat. 12:46-50)–He issued the command to GIVE THANKS FOR ALL THINGS.  Does anyone do that?  Not if what we see on the evening news is any indication.

As far back as I can remember (I am 79) I cannot recall hearing anyone who was experiencing or had experienced a terrible ordeal, giving thanks to God for causing it.  This is called heresy by those who believe in God but do not believe His Word.  Let us understand that when God says “all things” that includes the tragedies that befall those who call Him their Lord.  Yet we do not hear thanks directed toward God coming from those who are suffering or have survived deadly diseases, or who have lost homes or businesses to an “act of nature,” fire, etc.,  or who have had loved ones killed by various means, or who have had serious accidents, etc.  Why not?  Does not God command His people to THANK HIM FOR ALL THINGS?  Indeed, He does.  Again the question: who does that?  The answer: I do.  Why?  Because I believe God’s Word.

In the Holy Word spoken by the Holy God we find a statement made by the Son of God Himself which is recorded in red letters in my Holy Bible concerning those seeking salvation.  Such men “… must live (now) by EVERY WORD THAT PROCEDES FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD” (Mat. 4:4).   Again, who does that?  The man called Jesus of Nazareth did that.  He had to in order to qualify to be the Savior of mankind and to fulfill His Messiah commission.  He is the example which God seekers must emulate.  In order to receive the promises of God the salvation seeker is commanded to “walk as He walked” (1 Jn. 2:6), to “purify himself even as He is pure” (1 Jn. 3:3) and to “overcome (temptations) as He overcame (them)” (Rev. 3:21).  Only by doing so can the seeker qualify to live with Him in paradise, and with Him, rule the universe for ever.  Read God’s Very Elect: Future Caretakers of the Universe.  Use “Caretakers” as your key word.  Now back to the subject of thankfulness.

I believe I was in my early teens when Ephesians 5:20 became a reality to me.  It was at that time that I came to understand that God’s Law of Sowing and Reaping applied to every aspect of my life.  At that point I began to take note of the fact that every time something negative happened to me, which was often, I could trace the problem’s appearance back to a sin I had committed, which were many.  For example, when a sickness (a curse from God) came on me I could trace its arrival to a time immediately following a specific sin I had committed.  The Law of Sowing and Reaping never failed.  I came to understand why God told me in His Holy Scriptures to thank Him when He put a curse on me, for it taught me not to do that which had brought on the curse.  He showed me another verse that applied directly to the sowing and reaping Law: “There is no curse without a cause” (Prov. 26:2).  In the Western World we refer to this truth as the law of Cause and Effect in which an act (cause) brings about another act (effect).  In the spiritual realm sin (cause) brings about a curse (effect).  The Law of Sowing and Reaping also holds true for walking in holiness–a holy life (cause) produces blessings (effect).  This is all laid out in simple terms in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 which I call the “Sowing and Reaping Chapters.”  When something negative happens I immediately go to the Lord and ask why.  The answer is immediately forthcoming.  Jesus understood the S&R Law perfectly, which is why He sweated great drops of blood just  before His death.  He knew that He would be tortured as would no other man.  He would be tempted to give in and give up in order to end the pain.  He knew that without the power of God’s Holy Spirit He would yield to Satan and fail to fulfill His commission.  Stress caused by His fear of failure caused the blood vessels in His face to burst, which caused Him to sweat blood.  We should all have such fear of failing God.

By teaching His true holiness seekers this lesson, God is blessing them with a vital Truth–sin causes curses.  For this reason we should thank Him for the curse because it reveals sin in our lives.  But how many people know this Bible Truth?  And how many who know it, believe it?  And how many who know it and believe it apply it to their lives?  Few, Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:13,14.  Many, He tells us, are called to know, believe and react in holiness in reaction to this Truth.  Few are chosen for kingdom living for having answered His call.

Because so few (a few thousand at most) understand, believe and react appropriately to this Law, we hear no one suffering from COVIS-19, or who has lost their home to a tornado or hurricane, or whose crops were ruined by flooding or drought can be heard praising God for what has happened to them.  Though they are quick to thank God for protecting them in the midst of the ordeal, they refuse to thank Him for causing it.  Why?  Because they are taught lies by their religious leaders who reject God’s Truths in favor of Satan’s lies which keep the pay checks and “love offerings” coming.  These false prophets can be seen and heard 24-7 on t.v., the radio, the internet and in thousands of pulpits on Sunday morning.  The message is always the same: “Believe what I say and do what I tell you to do and all will be well with you.”  Sound familiar?  Think about the Garden of Eden.  Satan’s message has not changed.  Why would he change it?  You can’t argue with success.

Religious man continues to be cursed by God.  But the lessons embedded in those curses are never learned.  Satan has deceived church people into believing that, because they have been supposedly saved, sanctified and born again, they are right with God.  And because He would never curse one of His saved, sanctified and born again children, the disaster they are experiencing had to come from the devil, who smiles as his perverted “truths” are passed on to the next generation.  L.J.