From the Bible we learn how to obey God and not do things that dishonor Him. More specifically, Exodus 22, refers to three different things that disobey God and the different consequences thereof. For example, the practice of stealing, witchcraft, and idolatry is mentioned. Know that God hates these sins and that is why He spoke unto Moses and then to the children of Israel about them. These teachings were important to understand, in order to grow in the Lord and walk in obedience to His commands and not the world. Even now, what is taught here by God is useful to us now. Think about what happens today when a person is caught stealing a car or something else. Many times they will have to go before a judge and even be sentenced to prison for a few years, because of this. However, if they were to read and understand God’s Word, then they would already know how bad stealing is and not do it at all. For example, God makes it known to the people how stealing causes a thief to have to pay for what they have done in interest. He said, “If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.” (Exodus 22:1) Now let us compare this to jail bonds, of which I hope you’ve heard of before. Based on the crime, there is money to be paid back plus interest, if the person is in jail. So, when God said that there would be interest involved for those that steal, He was not kidding around, but warning us.
When it comes to witchcraft and idolatry, people should immediately know how wrong these things are, if they were familiar with the teachings of the Bible. Just like stealing, such people that are considered sorcerers, idolaters and thief’s will not go to heaven when they die, lest they repent and come to Jesus. God spoke about these witches and has warned us not to be in their company or become one ourselves. Evil company in our lives makes God feel that you don’t care about Him. In teaching us how evil witchcraft is, He even said, “thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” (Exodus 22:18) This may seem extreme, but in death, these people will be cast into the lake of fire, which burns forever, unless Jesus has come to rescue them. The same can be said for those that bow down to idols. This is because every idolater will also be excluded from entering heaven. Since they chose to bow down to other gods, statues, or pictures, including Mary, their outcome after death will not be pleasant. And not only is this the first and second commandment to not have any other gods or bow down to any graven image, these people that do such things will be cast into hell when they die, lest Jesus has saved them. God said, “he that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.” (Exodus 22:20) Therefore, don’t worship any other god but the Lord only.
Let us read what the New Testament also says about thief’s, sorcerers and idolaters. Paul said, “know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9,10) As you can see here, there are a long list of wicked people described here. These people are called out by their sins, because they do what is described often and have not repented of it. Among these people are the idolaters and thieves, who will not inherit God’s kingdom. John also taught, “but the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8) One thing common in the two verses are that idolaters are listed, in order to teach us how bad that evil practice really is. Therefore, every person from any religion should learn to worship God alone and cast aside all their idols. Now, in addition to idolaters we have sorcerers mentioned. This is important to know, since we are warned that all these wicked people will not enter heaven. They will surely go to hell when they die, lest their life is changed through Christ.
The Bible is clear on what God calls sin and the consequences of living in any willful sin. Doing such things, gives us the proper name for that sin at hand and we become a fighter against God, an unbeliever in God’s holy ways, and no longer a person that God calls His son or daughter. This is terrible indeed, and can kill our chance at salvation, lest a person takes a moment, and reflects at their lives, and comes to God with their confessions. Surely, He can help a person change their lives, but they must let Him first. Jesus needs to be their Savior, in order to be delivered from their addictions or evil practices in their lives. Nobody can forgive them as sinners, but only Christ the Lord can. So come unto Him today in prayer, if you are on the list of people going to hell. Lift up your voices to Him and cry out for help. Tell God sorry for the things you have done. He will then answer your prayers and lift you up. He will give you hope that you have never experienced before and His love will poor into You. This new outlook in life will make you become an overcomer of sin, until you find freedom from it. You will be that person that John said, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:7) And also be the person that Paul spoke of, “and such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11). Our life in Christ is the good option we have. So do as God said and be “ye shall be holy men unto me.” (Exodus 22:31)
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that people will wake up to their sins and become right before You today. I know that I am not perfect and need Your forgiveness now in my life. I am truly sorry for the things I have done wrong. You know my heart and how I have wronged You. These things I confess to You now. Hear my cries and help me to overcome these sins in my life. I ask for Your armor to protect me from the enemy. I am truly a sitting duck to bad thoughts and actions when I am alone. And I know that it is my fault if the Holy Spirit is not present. Surely, I have walked away from You in those moments. I know in my heart that You are still there waiting for my return, and that it is only my pride and the lusts of my heart that keeps me away. So I ask Lord, that You lead me from temptations. Help me to always make the best decisions in life, though there may be consequences. I would rather be truthful, then to be found living a lie and walking apart from You. From scripture I know what is right and what is wrong, so keep me in line with Your commands and help me to stay away from even the appearance of evil. May my choices be for You, that Your good works will be in my life. And Lord, I wish that You would always be the King of my life. Take away any idols that I have put up, that come before You. My intention is to give You all my worship, so cut out of my heart anything that is coming before You now. You are my God and I will worship You alone. Have my heart Lord. I am Yours. I love You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Exodus 22 (KJV)
1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4 If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
5 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
6 If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
7 If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.
8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods.
9 For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.
10 If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:
11 Then shall an oath of the Lord be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.
12 And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.
13 If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.
14 And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.
15 But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.
16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.
17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
19 Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.
20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
25 If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
26 If thou at all take thy neighbour’s raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:
27 For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
29 Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.
30 Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
31 And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
21 Corinthians 6:9-20 (KJV)
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
3Revelation 21:1-8 (KJV)
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
