We as Christians have been hearing about Judgement Day and eternal punishment. We were persuaded to believe in God and join a church so that we could be saved. Punishment accompanies the law. The law accompanies slavery. Christ will indeed come back and judge all people according to their deeds. Some will receive eternal life and others will receive eternal punishment. But Christianity is not about fear but hope. We, as reborn Christians, must look forward to the new world. Everything created is for our education. Once we, as the invisible church, are fully mature, this world will end. The new world will come.

The most pitiful among all people are those who are at ease. They have money, fame, and health. They have nothing to worry about. Their life looks ‘sorted’. But it is easy to see that God does not want these people to repent of their sins. They don’t put all their hope in the new kingdom.

And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them, Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:24-26)

Verse 26 is not about the rich people being saved. Here, Christ talks about salvation without works. Within the old covenant, salvation without works is impossible. One must do good deeds to earn righteousness. Christ came to teach us what God truly wanted from His people.

Now go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, RATHER THAN SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13)

Job was self-righteous. He even thought he was more righteous than God. But he learned through suffering. Can one be saved without works? It is impossible under the old covenant but God makes it possible through the new covenant. But churches around the world go after money and fame. They deny God’s absolute grace. They despise the cross of Christ. True Christians are mocked and ridiculed. However, God will restore His people.

Psalm 42

1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, God.
² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?
³ My tears have been my food day and night,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
⁴ I remember these things and pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go over with the multitude and walk them to the house of God,
With a voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude celebrating a festival.

⁵ Why are you in despair, my soul?
And why are you restless within me?
Wait for God, for I will again praise Him
For the help of His presence, my God.
⁶ My soul is in despair within me;
Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan
And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
⁷ Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have passed over me.
⁸ The Lord will send His goodness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me in the night,
A prayer to the God of my life.

⁹ I will say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
¹⁰ As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries taunt me,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
¹¹ Why are you in despair, my soul?
And why are you restless within me?
Wait for God, for I will again praise Him
For the help of His presence, my God.