Friday, November 27, 2015

Have You Grown Cold?

My heart is breaking because of things I see going on around me.  The world is infiltrating our churches, the hearts of christians are turning cold, just as the Bible said it would.  It's one thing to read about it, it's another to see it happening right before your eyes and to people you care about.  To all of you, not just blood family, not just family at all, not just friends but everyone, I love you too much not to pass this on and if any of it applies then just know I am writing what God has laid on my heart.
You may or may not realize but if you are a christian and have read the Bible, (and even those who do not claim to be christian have read the Bible and believe, the Bible says even the demons believe and tremble), you are starting to see a lot of prophecy come true.  Much more than our parents, grandparents etc.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO TURN AWAY FROM GOD, or to let your guard down.  Nothing in and of this world is worth going to hell for.  There is so much that God has laid on my heart I am having trouble even writing it all down.  The first verse HE gave me was this one:
Matthew 15:8, NASB
8‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.
      9‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”
Many claim to love the Lord, many spread the verses they read around to others in a semblance of spreading the gospel, while their lives and their actions are far from it.  If the world sees you acting like them WHY would they want to change anything, all they have to say is "I believe" and continue living in sin.  NOW if YOU are the one they are watching and you are the one they are patterning their christian life after, YOU are responsible for them, their blood WILL be on your hands come judgement day.  One of the saddest things I witnessed one time was a young man in his 30's give his life to Christ, and then leave the church mentored by one "friend" who continued to tell him dirty jokes, cuss like a sailor and try to entice him to go to the bars and into other things.  This friend was "supposed" to be a christian.  This friend had worked on him for months and months to come to church, to give his life to God, to become a "new" man.  Then this same friend led him out the door and right back down the same path.  He ended up as lost when he walked out as when he walked in.  No one else could get through to this young man because he had so much respect for the friend that "led him to Christ".  He had never been to church, knew nothing about how your life is supposed to change, yet he felt something wasn't right, he felt that continuing to do the things of the world after confessing his sins was wrong, but he wasn't seeing a change in anyone else so he thought he had this christianity thing all wrong and he wondered what took him so long to confess because he wasn't having to give anything up.  Surely this friend of his, who had been a christian for so long would know how a christian is supposed to act?  He tried talking to his friend but the friend told him, he was okay that God didn't expect him to be so "clean cut and straight laced".  That was old fashioned. He wanted to talk to the pastor but didn't want to make his friend feel like he didn't trust him.  He ended up feeling like he was just being to hard and judgmental and eventually he ended up back on the streets and ultimately in prison.  I realize the friend wasn't the only one in the wrong here.  Someone else should have tried to step up, some did, and yes I was one of those.  We tried to talk to him, to show him Christ's love, tried to teach him but with his friends on the other side saying those older people don't know, that is the old way etc. etc. it only left him more confused.
I have said all that to say this.  I see many many people who have been in church most if not all of their lives, who have claimed to be Christians, taught church classes, sang in the choir, appeared to be following God and know the truths of God.  I've heard them quote scripture, say "I would never do this, or never do that" and I see them now only honoring God with their lips.  Their hearts are turning cold, just as the Bible foretold.
The witness they are presenting is far removed from the witness they were.  There are things of this world that have NO place in the life of a Child of God.  There was a time when these same people would have been appalled if you tried to tell them that they would do the things they are doing now.  God will not be mocked.  What HE says HE means.  His promises AND HIS warnings.  He says stay away from ALL appearance of evil.  1 Thessalonians 5:22.   That means stay away from witchcraft or ALL appearance of witchcraft.  Stay away from discerning the stars (horoscopes), stay away from filthy lewd talk and actions, stay away from bars, strip clubs, other peoples husbands and wives!  I'm not going to tell you that you cannot drink a glass of wine etc that is between you and God, however, when you promote liquor and drinking you are destroying your witness.  Facebook is a good venue to witness, but what kind of witness are we being.  People know we are Christians and yet they see horoscopes, Jack Daniels advertisements, jokes about getting drunk or getting "laid", cussing, sexual innuendos, half dressed men and women, lustful comments.  ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL.  God says what HE means and means what HE says.  Don't let the devil destroy you.  You've run a good race so far, don't quit, the finish line is too close.
Galatians 5:1
1It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:7-8
7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 
8 This  persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.
TO ALL OF YOU:  God knows when I say I love you and I pray for you that I truly mean it, whether you are family, friend or acquaintance.  If I did not tell you the truth of God's word then I would only be honoring that love with my lips and not with my actions and it would be meaningless.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!"then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 7For thosewho sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of [the] day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
You know yourself how your witness has changed, how you have changed.  I beseech you, get back on course, don't just talk the talk, get back on the path and walk the walk.  HE wanted you to read this, HE wanted you to know that HE'S noticed and that HE'S waiting.  The Bible says he would leave the 99 to find the one lost lamb, are you the lamb HE is talking to?  I pray you aren't but if you are, please turn back, right now, don't come this far to lose it all over "worldly" fun.  Being a child of the most High God is the greatest honor and privilege there is.  There is nothing that feels better or more worth doing than serving God and making it into eternity.  You might not have another chance.  HE loves you, I love you.  Come home.
Originally written January 16, 2014 at 10:54pm

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