GODLY OR UNGODLY

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalms one describes two classes of people. One is blessed the other will perish. Those who will be blessed are so because their delight is in the law of the Lord. Those who will perish are ungodly, and will not stand in the judgment. Paul said when Jesus returns it will be in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God (ungodly), and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Thess. 1:8). Other scriptures make like statements.

The world is filled with ungodly people, who perform ungodly acts. It has been that way from the beginning. Enoch prophesied "Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have ungodly wrought, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. (Jude 1:14,15)

Each person has the choice to be godly or ungodly, but he cannot be some of each. We live in a nation who boast hundreds of different forms of religion. All claim to be godly. In light of the scriptures, is that even close to being a possibility? It is unreasonable to think all can be godly when each one teaches a different gospel. Their doctrines are fraught with teachings of man which came from various sources. Jesus told the Pharisees " Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Mt. 15:7-9), and to those who listened to the sermon on the mount he said "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Mt. 7:21) Saying and doing are two different things. God requires obedience, not lip service. As the psalms say the godly "delight in the law of the Lord", not doctrines of men.

The lack of respect for God and his word has led our nation (and many others) toward ruin. We are a people who do not delight in his word. Although we say we are godly, many of our actions say differently. We think we can toss God out and still call on him in times of difficulty, trouble or disaster. Oh, how we deceive ourselves.

Remember the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. Peter said "For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?" (I Pet. 4:17,18)

The reward is to the godly.

Jack