Stumbling Block

Romans 14:1-4, “Now, accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One man has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. Let not him who eats regard with contempt him who does not eat, and let him who does not eat, judge him who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he will for the Lord is able to make him stand.” Verse 13, tells us, “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this – not to put an obstacle or stumbling block in a brother’s way.” When you are admitted into a hospital one of the questions asked is “What is your religion?” I always found this an odd question. The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” So many “identify” as a religion. It is no wonder that there become stumbling blocks as described in Romans 14. I identify as a child of God. If you believe there are lines when you get to heaven with signs that say “Baptist, Pentecostal, Catholic, and many other choices, you are sadly mistaken. Romans 14:10-12 tells us, “But you why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we all shall stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” So, then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.” The scripture goes on to say in Romans 14:17-19, “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” There will not be a question, “What is your religion” when you stand before the judgment seat of God to be admitted into heaven. There is only a book of Life opened to the page with your name in it. God alone is the one who guides our hearts in His ways. To our own master we stand or fall and stand we will for the Lord is able to make us stand. John 14:23 says, “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”