What Keeps Us From God's Blessings?

Would you rather read the Psalms or Revelation? I’d rather read the Psalms, but I’ve also been reading Revelation. Did you know it opens with two promised blessings? One is to those who read this book aloud, and the other is to those who hear and obey what they read (Revelation 1:3).

I am seeing clarity in some things, but I was surprised that Psalm 95 came to mind when reading Revelation 9:20-21.

Great destruction had come upon the earth as seven seals were broken and six trumpets sounded (Revelation 6-9). Earth, sky, sea, and all that were in them had suffered death and great loss. You would think people would be calling to God for mercy.

Instead, we read that people still did not repent of the works of their hands, worship of demons and idols, murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and theft (Revelation 9:20-21). In Ephesians 5:3-12, Paul also says God’s wrath comes upon such disobedience.

There’s the answer. What keeps us from God’s blessings? Disobedience. In the Bible we read God’s will, yet many harden their hearts against it. Not many would call God a liar to His face, but John says, “Whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar” (I John 5:10).

The promise of eternal life in God’s Presence (heaven) is given to us through Jesus, God’s Son (John 3:16-18; I John 5:11-12). But the clincher is having faith, choosing to believe God’s good news (Hebrews 4:1-2). Hell is a real place, too, and hardened hearts are labeled “wicked” (Hebrews 3:12). 

Psalm 95 says there are three things we can do to be blessed of God. By faith (trust), we:

• Enter His Presence with thanksgiving and joyful song (v. 2)
• Humble ourselves to worship Him (v.6; Isaiah 66:2b).
• Do not harden our hearts when we hear His voice (v. 8)

The opposite of these keeps us from God’s blessings. By unbelief (mistrust), we:

• Have ungrateful hearts
• Choose not to worship or submit to Him
• Harden our hearts against His truth

Which category applies to you? If you are in category two, you can move to category one by asking God for fresh hope and a fresh start, as David did in Psalm 51:10-12. 

Where you will spend eternity is a personal choice.