A SIGN OF THE TIMES

We should never appease those who disagree with the gospel by compromising what it says. The gospel is going to offend people; I know this because it has offended me. Yet when I am willing to see truth as God sees it, it no longer is an offense to me but an act of mercy that brings me to see truth as it really is and not the radical hate gospel that satan would have us all believe it to be. The mainstream of Christian teachings for the past 2,000 years has not changed, only our culture has. This change that is taking place in our modern contemporary Christian thought today is radical and unrelenting and is happening because the scripture is once again unfolding before our very eyes, according to 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear”. Christians today are out of step with the growing majority of modern American thought if and when they go against the grain and stand firmly against doctrinal compromise.

I have seen in the past 10 years a rapid change in the world wide cooperate church itself. The scripture is clear, that in the end times there will be a culminating difference of doctrinal variations and you do not have to be a professing Christian to see that happening today. The prophet Daniel predicted thousands of years ago of the coming, of a great falling away of those who claim to be God’s children yet are not, as did John the revelator predict. Both predicted a time when the true believers will be separated from the false believers. God Himself will separate those who know about Christ intellectually, from those who know Christ personally, as their Lord and Savior. For satan himself has an ominous plan perpetuated by the think tankers of hell, seeking to undermine the working of the gospel. The purpose of course is to divert people away from the truth. I read once that the first casualty in the art of spiritual warfare is truth; and that is so true. For if the enemy can change what we think about truth then there is no need to defend it. Since satan was cast from his original position in heaven, his great strategy in trying to destroy the people of God has been by attacking the divinely inspired Word of God. For as he attempts to corrupts the Word of God in the hearts of mankind, it becomes more bearable for them to receive what satan wants man to believe; and once that happens, it’s power no longer has a regenerating effect on mankind, instead it sooths their sinful nature and allows them to remain as they are, “unredeemed flesh”. It is therefore the job of the child of God to be constantly alert of this hellish scheme to change the truth so that it will become watered down to the point that people feel they have no need for it, or they become confused as to what the scriptures really means and the scriptures themselves bear witness in I Cor. 14:33 that God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

These days that we are living in, truly are a sign of the times, whether you or I believe that or not! People have tried to stifle, distort and misuse the Word of God throughout the ages, because it cause them discomfort and offends their sin nature. It is the very reason that Herod’s adulteress sister in law Herodias whom he was having an affair with, wanted John the Baptist’s head on a silver platter. Because every time John opened his mouth to confront her that she was doing wrong, it cut her to the core. It was her conviction that enraged the sinful nature that was in her, causing her to desire one thing and that was to remove that which was causing her discomfort and it was not John my friend; but the truth that John was sharing with her. That truth was convicting her of her wrong doing and for that reason alone, she wanted to get rid of John, so that her misery would go away. Everyone wants to hear about the love of God, but they do not want to hear about Him being a righteous judge that deals with man’s wrong doing. Jesus said himself that He came not to condemn but to save, yet He was accused of that very thing, even by the clergy of His day. The only thing that condemns us, is the sin that is in us according to I John 3. Our very heart’s condemn us. For those who say that they are called into a ministry to preach about the love of God, yet refuse to confront sinners of their sin as God’s word instructs all believer’s to do, misrepresent the Word of God. For the Word of God itself says in Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. That simply means that it is sharp enough to cut deep into the marrow of man’s degenerated hearts to convict, reprove and to save them; if they will turn to God through that conviction.

The scripture ask us in Romans 10:15, how will people know unless we tell them. For this very reason God raises up prophets to go and to speak forth the truth to people in order that they may be saved, because not all are willing to be the bearer of such great a news. People cannot be saved a part from their understanding why they are lost. Often times when people hear the Word of God it stirs their heart and compels them as did King Agrippa’s heart in Act 26 when the Apostle Paul had almost persuaded him to receive the gospel message. You see the Jewish king, Agrippa knew the promises made in the Old Testament that a Savior would come, and could clearly see that Jesus was that Savior. That conviction led him to say to Paul, "Almost thou persuaded me to be a Christian." yet he loved sin more than his willingness to see things in light of the truth, which proves John 3:19 to be truth, that the Light has come into the world and the children of men loved darkness more than light. Agrippa like so very many others, allowed satan to take away what truth that was planted in his heart, by Paul placing it there. The church will never conquer the whole world for Christ, but if we stand God’s ground and not wavier in spreading the truth no matter the cost to us, we will be able to spread the gospel so that it may be offered to the world, and yes, even to those who will reject it! Let us keep striving to make Him proud of us and may we never stop showing love and compassion no matter what the signs of the days may bring or what man may say or do to us!

Loving you today sweet friend,
Bren