And so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart’—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober.
Deuteronomy 29:19
These words were spoken because some would be tempted and convinced that by taking the oath and joining into the covenant with God that they would be bestowed with all the blessings and avoid the judgment for disobedience. It was vital that all who would be joined into covenant with the Lord understand that there was a cost. It was a covenant of grace, but there were real and dire consequences for turning away from God and following the urges of their own hearts.
There is a great majority of believers today who walk around with the same deception in their hearts. They desire all the blessings of God without any of the sacrifice and obedience, they believe they will avoid judgment because they are under a covenant of grace. They claim that the Lord is a God of love but refuse to turn the page and see that He is also a God of justice, judgment, and retribution. There will certainly be blessing for some, and for others judgment if they do not return to Him fully.
Whoever does not bear their cross cannot be His disciple, have you lost sight of this? The path to heaven is not a road of convenience and prosperity, it cannot be found by following your own desires and doing as you please. “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it” (Luke 14:28). Far too many preach love and blessing from the pulpit but fail to warn their flock of the cost and consequence. Far too many prophets prophesy blessing in exchange for popularity and fail to warn the flock of the dangers of their lack of repentance. Even the Bible itself is being re-written in new translations to better conform to the desires of men. Do you have eyes to see and ears to hear?
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Revelation 2:5
