It has been fascinating over the past 18 months to watch our world. As Covid-19 continues to have its way around the globe I have been amazed at how the western world has responded to this apparent crisis, and the affect that it has had on governments of supposedly Christian nations. I have been equally amazed at the response of Christians and the church during this time.
Now I am not saying that the days that we are living in are the days referenced in the book of Revelation however, one would be forgiven for asking the question of Jesus if this is it. Events, attitudes and worldly wisdom certainly do appear to be reflecting the warnings of the bible and if these days are playing out the prophecies spoken about by Jesus, we MUST be on guard, and we MUST stand firm.
In Isaiah 5:20 the prophet writes:
"Woe to those who call
evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their
own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!"
Isaiah 5:20
Friends we are certainly seeing this prophecy in action. Governments around the world beating their chests stating how clever they are, developing vaccines and promoting success while all the while calling man made decisions good and Godly wisdom evil. Political Correctness is the new truth. No longer is the bible and the teachings of Jesus the foundation on which our societies function. Left wing/ Woke ideology is becoming more and more popular as humankind moves further and further away from God. In fact these days if you're not woke, you go broke. Cancel culture and the fact checking police monitor everything we say, post and do. Freedom of speech is acceptable if it aligns with the narrative of the left. The ideas being promoted by many including our governments appear to be good, they appear to be right, they appear to give freedom; when in actual fact they are committing those that choose to follow them to a life of bondage and sin. Friends, these things that appear to be good are deceptive.
Even the church is being sucked in. We no longer teach biblical truth because we don't want to offend. We sing shallow songs in worship with weak theological grounding, our sermons are weak and are preached to make us feel good, because we don't want to risk offending anyone and losing them from the church. We even offer prizes and give aways to try and attract people to our churches. (I don't think there is anywhere in scripture that encourages us to do this by the way.) We are so focused on grace that we never preach truth. Sin is never confronted and dealt with, we preach self help messages and present entertainment and seeker sensitive services so that people will feel good in church. We have become so culturally relevant that we are not preaching the gospel anymore. I've even been to church services where Jesus is not even mentioned and scripture is never shared. And yet despite all this we brag about how big our churches are, the programs that we are running, the social holiness and the like; while all the while people are going to hell or are living a lie, believing that they are saved when they are not. Friends, if you leave church feeling happy and failing to feel convicted then the preacher simply has not done their job. I wonder, how many of us hear a sermon and check it against scripture (in context)? So often we speak our truth into the bible rather than the Truth of the bible speaking to us.
Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church and speaking in the context of false teachers writes:
"And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works."
2 Corinthians 11:14
Friends, in these last days do we know what is right and what is wrong? Do we know what is true and what is false? Jesus tells us that He "is the way, the Truth and the life..." John 14:6
Are we listening to God? or are we believing what the world tells us?
As I look at the response of Christians I am blown away with how easily people are falling for the deception of the world. The devil is smart and he knows us better than we know ourselves. People are being coerced into doing what the others want by accepting monetary gain and false promises of freedoms, freedoms which we already had. Fear is a powerful emotion and when people are living in fear they can be convinced to do anything.
In Matthew 24 Jesus warns His disciples and us of the events that will take place in the last days and Paul also reflects these thoughts to Timothy.
"For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"
2 Timothy 3:2-5
These words are certainly reflective of the division that is being caused throughout the world. Even believers are turning against each other. Jesus told us this in Matthew 24:10,12:
"...And then many will be offended, will betray one another,
and will hate one another...and because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
Friends, as a minister of the faith it breaks my heart to see so many followers of Jesus get sucked into the false teaching of our world. As followers of Christ our faith and trust should be in Jesus, not the world. Why do we worry? Why are we afraid of what is going on in the world right now? Do we truly trust Jesus? When we sing praises to God in our churches, when we declare that He is our provider and protector do we really believe this? Or do we just put on a mask so that we look good to those around us?
Friends, in these days I believe God is separating the sheep from the goats. What is going on right now is certainly giving a clear indication of the true followers of Jesus. Friends, don't be deceived. More than ever our world needs Jesus and as followers of Christ we have the best weapons as our defence. The bible is the our rule book, Jesus is our Truth, and prayer is the ammunition that we need to use to defeat and protect us from the lies and deception that the devil is throwing at us.
Friends, if you are a follower of Jesus today be encouraged; know that God has our backs and yes it may be tough, yes people will not understand and will ridicule and persecute us; but God promises that if we stand firm to the end we will be saved. (Matthew 24:13)
If you are reading this and you have not received Jesus into your life then I ask...why not? We are running out of time. It is not too late to give your life to Jesus so that you can experience true freedom, the freedom from sin and the promise of eternal life with Him.
Friends, deception is everywhere but the Truth (Jesus) will set you free. Look to God and not governments for Truth.
Don't be deceived!!
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:
but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 1:7
