Their Reward is in this Life Only!

Bloggers, when I was young I never gave the Bible much thought because I couldn't understand it. I did try to read it many times, especially when I was locked up in the Reform School and we didn't have much reading material available to us outside of the Bible. Later I tried again to read it but, it just didn't make sense because I couldn't relate to it. And as a result I remained Ignorant about who God of The Bible was until I ended up in prison in 1980 and 1982. And even then I didn't know the deep things of God that He requires all Believers in Him to Know and Understand about Him. And I have found out way after the prison experience, the value and critical importance in understanding the Meat Substance of His Word because that Knowledge will help us get through the most difficult trials that you will experience in this life. Therefore, Ignorance of His Word is deadly. I know that as one accepts Jesus Christ in their lives the very first time, the Believer will feel for the most part that going to Church and listening to sermons will be enough to get by. But that is not true. We have to read and read, and learn, the stories in the Bible and see what we can receive from those experiences. Because one day soon, we too will be going through those kind of circumstances and situations ourselves. And we need to know what was it that the Patriarchs of the Bible did to endure and persevere through their trials and afflictions so we can mimic them ourselves during our hard times. And we should learn also from their mistakes when they got ahead of God and wanted to do things their own way. I know that I am guilty of that kind of sin myself. And I know the consequences for doing those kind of actions. Life is extremely hard for some people. So it behooves Christians to learn God's Word. Especially Christians that are serious about wanting to Know God personally and walk closer to Him because there are great blessings and benefits for doing that. But that closeness to God will not exempt Christians from troubles or problems. And I don't understand why some Christians are more afflicted than others. And I don't understand why no matter how a Christian does everything God expects, yet never prospers like other Christians or non-Christians do. It's like I can be right here inside my Chicken tin can and a big Dust Devil will develop outside in a corn field to my north and attack my shack only! Or I can be outside and walking in that large corn field and a Dust Devil will develop to my east and attack me directly. These Vortex have a mind of their own. And like it says in the Bible, Winds and Waves will rage against us to destroy us if they can, but, we need to stay quiet and in confidence because in that is our strength. Have you read what the Apostle Paul went through on his journey of suffering? That is what I mean about the Meat of God's Word. And have you read what Moses went through during all those years of training and service to God? Oh, and what about King David and his life? I can go on and on about studying God's Word, and for over ten years now that is all I do. Yet, the afflictions never stop attacking me. And I feel that I am going through a life of hell on earth. But, I can't quit either. God will not let me even when I feel like throwing in the towel. And when I look at all the indifference and ignorance that many people live with today, and yet prosper beyond belief; especially people who cross the Border illegally, I have to shake my head unhappy with my efforts at trying to do the right thing. Why Ruben? Did you forget that God will test us all the way to our Home? Didn't you learn from the great Asaph and his complaint to God in Psalm 73 that you studied over and over years ago? With so many problems bombarding me constantly from all directions, Yes, I did forget. But God has shown me a scripture recently that lifted my spirit up in this respect. Because although Asaph was shown in The Sanctuary the final outcome of the boastful who prospers, I was shown something else from another point of view. It's the same outcome, but different way of looking at this End for the Sinners that prosper.  God told me to read Psalm 17. And when I came upon verse 14, I had to shut up! Asaph was right about God placing those boastful and proud blasphemers on a Slippery Slope. But then I saw how Good God is! And how Good He has been. When He states that He is all Good, Holy, and Merciful, I don't think that we understand the depth of this Statement. Why did God let these Evil people prosper? Because He Loves everybody Equally and wishes that no one goes to Hell. And at the End of every Human Beings life..., no one will ever be able to point the finger at God and say He discriminated against them, or Failed them in any way. No!, not one person will be able to accuse God of wronging them. And that is why God says in Psalm 17 verse 14, "Their reward is in this life only!" Why? Because they rejected Him for their Love of Money. It was the Sinners and the Proud... that put themselves in that Slippery Slope situation in the first place. They knew that Gold was a Trap, yet they neglected the signs that read "Do not Trespass! Their Fall is on them, not God! They are guilty for falling for the cheese. This is what I learned from God. So Let Us Sleep On That for now. Thanks again.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Respectfully,                                                                                                                                             Ruben N. Gutierrez