You are Wretched, Pitiable, Poor, Blind, and Naked Part 2

 The Pitiable

Yup, that is us right there. We are currently going through this passage. 

“For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:17

Last time we talked about the fact, God calls us the wretched. And without Jesus, we are the most wretched. Today, we will be talking about why we are also pitiable. And it is a good thing we are.

Pitiable- Deserving or arousing pity.

Pity- The feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others. A cause for regret or disappointment.

Let's start at the beginning. If you have been here for any amount of time you have probably heard or read this before. A brief history of mankind. Genesis.

“In the beginning, God” {God is here was there, and will forever be. He created all things.} “created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

He created all things. The whole wide universe and he then concentrated on all things here on earth, then He created us.

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26

So He did. He put Man {us, mankind} Man and Women by the way, in the middle of His creation and gave them domination over EVERYTHING on the earth. Including sickness and disease and even death. There was none of that. What did mankind do with this? He gave it away. You can read all about that in Genesis 3. Satan fell because of the original sin. Which was what? Pride, Greed, Envy, the quest for power, and a quest to become God. What did Satan tempt Adam and Eve with? Pride, Greed, Envy, the quest for power, and a quest to become God. When they fell, they in turn gave all their authority over to Satan.

Since that time, when Adam yielded his power and authority, in essence, knelt before Satan, Satan has become the lord of this world. The Word declares that the Devil is "prince of the power of the air" Ephesians 2:2. He is the "ruler of this world" John 12:31. Simply put, Satan is the major influence on the ideals, opinions, goals, hopes, and views of the people who reject Christ, and those that chose not to believe.

The sad truth is, this is the majority of people walking the earth today. Satan also influences the world’s philosophies, education system, thoughts, ideas, speculations, and of course, even religions of the world, which are under his control and have sprung from his lies and deceptions. Make no mistake about it, Satan is extremely powerful, and if you reject the truth, and or allow him to, he will destroy your life. More importantly, he will keep you from God’s salvation.

How does he operate? He will use pride to keep you from God. Look around today. Who needs God? Why would you want to go to church with those racist, hate-filled, homophobic, transphobic, chauvinistic, backwoods hicks? Do you really want others telling you what you can and can't do? The world says there is no God. Your neighbors do not believe. Your Family members do not believe. They are gonna think you are racist, hate-filled, homophobic, transphobic, chauvinistic, and weird. They are going to think you are stupid. Look around you, God is nothing but an outdated and false belief system. Religion is for stupid people. You are not stupid. Why waste your time?

However, he can also use your faith to tempt you. "Does it not say that you can do anything you want and God must forgive you? Think about that. That means you have a free ticket to do anything. All you have to do is say sorry, and all will be well."

If all else fails, Satan can and does, attempt to use the original sin. The desire for power and fame. The desire to be a god. So many people fall for any or all of these. This is why we are pitiable.

“For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence, he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.” Psalm 72:12-14

He does this because He has pity on us. Look what Paul warns us about here.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

Why? Because you have to make the choice. If you stay in the world, and you chose the world over God and His plan for your salvation, then you are condemned already, and you already belong to the devil and you will suffer the same fate as he.

See that is another lie you may have heard. You do not have to denounce God. You do not have to hate anyone, murder somebody, or become a serial killer. You do not have to dance naked around a fire and chant ancient chants to call up the devil. All you have to do is NOT accept Jesus.

That is it. That is how simple God made it.

“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” 1 John 5:12

There is no other way. Remember Jesus even told us this.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Simply put.

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:18

Jesus told us directly.

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”John 3:36

Jesus IS God. He is the Word of God. He laid down His Godhood and came to earth for the sole purpose of paying the price for YOUR sin. Yes. YOUR sin. You should be on your way to the same fate set up for the devil. However, God had pity on you. He made the way simple. All you have to do is accept His sacrifice for you. Allow His blood to be your blood. Allow His death to be a substitute for your death so that you may live. It does not matter who you are, where you came from, or how much fortune and fame you may have, you are wretched and pitiable. You are on your way to everlasting suffering and pain in a place called hell. The only thing that can save you from that, is a simple answer to one simple question. Will you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Yes and live? No, and live on until the day you go to hell?

There may be another misconception some have. If you say no, you do not have to duck. Lightening is not going to come and strike you down. The earth is not going to open up and swallow you whole. Although those things could happen, {Dramatic pause} Chances are pretty good that you will just continue on with your life. You may become rich and famous. You may have everything you could ever want. But then there will come a day. Look at this parable that Jesus teaches us.

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you, a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” Luke 16:19-31

We do have one that rose from the dead. The one that just told you this story of the rich man and Lazarus. All you have to do is accept Him. If no? You will be like that rich man. Then it will be too late. Look here again for a second.

“And besides all this, between us and you, a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.”

Once it is done, it is done. Once it is too late, it is too late. God even teaches us that we should not waste any time. Look here.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:6-9

What is the most pitiful? Someone who rejects the simplicity of their own salvation and chooses not to accept it. One of the reasons may be simple, they are blind and cannot see. More on that next time.

Do you know you are wretched? Do you know you are pitiable? Have you accepted Jesus? Say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!