Yesterday morning while in the shower, I was considering the Lord. In my spirit, I heard very distinctly, "The love of many will wax cold." I know we have considered this scripture and we have heard it repeated, but the Lord would not let it leave me all morning. Then, when I was able to go and separate myself unto the Lord during lunch, I began to pray and could not think on anything except what the Lord spoke to me early that morning. I found the scripture in Matthew where this was spoken, by our Lord Jesus, and read:
Matthew 24:12-13 - 12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
After I read this scripture and considered it in its entirety, many things began to go through my spirit. Because of iniquity in the church today, because so many people love to do their own will rather than living a life of obedience to God, because many Christians know to do right but willingly choose to do whatever pleases themselves, the love of many (what love of the Truth they did have, if any) will wax cold. And because God takes no pleasure in disobedience, strong delusion will come and overtake them. The kingdom of God came nigh unto them, but they are condemned already because they loved the darkness more than the light. God has given the people of this nation, and of the world, more than enough time to turn, call upon Him, and be saved. Truly none can say that He has not extended mercy time and time again (I am living proof). However, if we have not made it real within ourselves, that to live is Christ and to die is gain, than we cannot honestly say to the Lord, "everything I have, everything I am is Yours."
Yesterday, I came across a forum that was completely dedicated to speaking about the love of God and the "catching up" of the Church before tribulation starts (a.k.a. pre-trib rapture). As I read a couple of the comments discussed by members of the forum, I was saddened by their unwillingness to hear the truth of God's word. They even had a rule that there would be no debate/discussion on pre-trib vs post-trib, although the pre-trib rapture could be discussed along with the love of God. At one point there was even a discussion regarding Dumitru Duduman's visions and words, and they were trying to persuade themselves that a few of the words he received were proof that the coming of the Lord would happen before judgment is poured out. The love of the truth is not in them. They love to believe the lie, to live their lives everyday in such a way that they can have a little of God and a little of the world, ever seeking but never coming to the knowledge of truth. This is the one of the very reasons why the scripture below is true:
Hosea 4:6 - My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
We must understand and accept the truth that the Lord does not take pleasure in those who choose to be willfully ignorant. If we choose to be ignorant of truth, how can the love of the Truth be found in us? As the scripture says, if we do not obey we will die without knowledge (Job 36:12). But he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved. If only people would hear these words and allow the Spirit to minister truth to them accordingly. God is pleased with those who are obedient, even unto the end. There will be a great falling away, but only those who truly know the voice of God, their Saviour and Deliverer, will not be deceived (Satan would fool the very elect if it were possible) because the love of the Truth is found in them.
As the Lord showed Dave a short time back, the time of slippery walking has ended. Those who know truth and allow themselves to backslide may not be given the opportunity to repent any longer. For even as Esau sold his birthright for one morsel of meat (one taste of the world), he found no place of repentance even though he sought it carefully with tears. We have to put on the mind of Christ (never thinking anything outside of God's will) and be determined to nothing but Him crucified. He is the way to the Father. Any other way, and we will be numbered with the thief, the robber, the disobedient. Love God (truth, righteousness, wisdom) and let everything else pale in comparison. This is the true mark of those who know the Lord and are known of Him.
God give us ears to hear,
Ryan
Thursday, December 13, 2007
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4 comments:
True Ryan,
Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. The body is not for fornication with the world, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. On the other hand as you obey, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
L,J,P&HG
Dave
I loved this word, Ryan. Thank you. It is true, and I also feel saddened by the state of the church in this world, that so many will be and already are in deception. There are few to have fellowship with in these days. Sometimes I meet up with others who call themselves Christians, and come away thinking 'I don't think we worship the same God'. Their god is a strange god. I do not even know many outside my own little church, who are aware, or want to be aware, of the imminence of the Lord's return or the signs of His coming. Many believe in a great revival rather than a great falling away.
It is our love for the brethren which will endure and set us apart. The lawlessness and self-preservation of those in the world will cause love and selflessness to disappear in all but true believers I think.
God bless,
Bonny
Bonny,
You know, the truth is that many will be looking, expecting the Lord to come and sweep them up before the wrath of God is poured out. They say, surely our God is a loving God and surely He will not let any harm come to us. But what they do not understand is that the gods they serve (their own opinions and beliefs become lifted up within them so much that they can no longer hear truth, and no longer care to) is not the one true God, not to mention going on to the point of serving Him in Spirit and in Truth.
Do people forget how much God loved the Israelites and all of the miraculous things He did to deliver them from the land of Egypt. But there came a time when God looked and saw that the Israelites loved to worship idols, were quick to forget all that the Lord had done for them, and He was so angry that He wanted to kill them all. If not for Moses standing in the gap, there may have been 2 million people that were put to death that day, by the hand of God.
This is serious stuff. God takes NO pleasure in disobedience. This is the very reason why we must make Him everything in our lives, every single day—dieing to ourselves every day, taking up our cross everyday, and following Him.
If any many comes preaching another gospel, we are not to accept them. I would say trying to fool the masses into believing that they can do whatever they want in this life and still have salvation, they will just be caught up (that God will ALWAYS forgive them) is another gospel.
Let us serve God in Spirit and in Truth. If we do not care enough, now, to wait on Him for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, to love more than anything to hear His voice and obey His instruction (My sheep know My voice and another's they WILL NOT follow), we will end up like Esau, selling our birthright (our God given right to spend eternity with Him) for one morsel of meat( taste of the world).
God give us wisdom and understanding, and put within us a heart that loves only to do Your will.
God bless,
Ryan
Yes and Amen. Thanks brother.
Bonny
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