On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. But the word of God increased and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.
Acts 12:21–25, ESV
What are the dangers of blaspheming God? A few times in Acts, we see things like what occurs to Herod, but the real rot comes on the inside of the blasphemer. When people speak against God and twist His Word and promises or place themselves above God, their soul rots as the sin that is within them consumes them. God is not deceived, nor is He blind to the heart of any person in His glorious creation. There is always a cost to unbelief and the blaspheming of God. Yet, when the Word of God is proclaimed in its purity, and the truth of Christ is shared, there is always an increase. People hunger for the Truth, and many are moved when the Holy Spirit moves among them. The haters of God will try to use fear and threats to silence the Word, but when we walk in the fulness of God’s most Holy Word and proclaim His Truth, there is much to be won, and strength will be found with Him. Just as Barnabas and Saul spoke with John Mark after his supernatural release of Peter from his imprisonment, so He speaks through us to show His supernatural protection from the eternal deception of the evil one and the eternal life that is promised to us all. We may not see a blasphemer fall dead in their lies and deception to be eaten by worms, but we know the rot that resides within them and pray against the eternal punishment that they will receive if they do not repent. We never wish this harm to any but proclaim God’s Word to all who will hear and trust in His promise until He calls us home. We know the Truth that sets us free and the chains of sin that have fallen away from our souls because of the peace of Christ and His glorious promise.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.