Matthew 5:13; “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall the saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” Salt was, and is, used as a preservative for certain foods. When anyone presents the true word of the Gospel (good news), they are considered to be preserving the word of the Lord, and also following the Great Commission by spreading the true word without any false or incorrect messages. (any emphasis mine)
Matthew 24:24; “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (true believers)
2 Timothy 4:3-4; “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having “itching ears,” they will accumulate for themselves, teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth, and wander off into myths.”
We are seeing a lot of this today in numerous so-called evangelical churches. Entertainment sessions being performed rather than being given the true word.
2 Corinthians 11:12-15; “And what I am doing, I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claims of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission, they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles; deceitful workmen; disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder; for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants [and demons] also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” (In the Lake of Fire)
The other day, I read a message in an article that stated, “The Church cannot be the salt of the earth if we keep sugar-coating the Gospel.” One quick question here: has anyone noticed a shift away from the true word of God and toward messages meant to tickle ears and give listeners a feel-good atmosphere that isn’t biblical, at least not from a true translation of the Bible? People can attend these “church services” all they want, and if they’re convinced that the “feel good” words being given are proper, they may want to read God’s word for themselves.
Each person, at the end of their days here on earth, will give an account of the lives they lived while here. Each person will be responsible for where they spend their eternity. It will either be Heaven, or Hell, and no other option is on the table. There are more concerned about worldly things rather than what lies ahead for them in eternity. Satan is doing his part in drawing away souls from the truth, and leading them to destruction. Jesus said that more would accept Satan’s lies than those who would follow Him on the narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14).
There are those who believe they will end up in Heaven because they were “good” people. Being good doesn’t get anyone into paradise. Receiving and accepting Jesus is the only way. Romans 10:9-13 gives the process in very simple terms. First, confess that Jesus is Lord. Second, believe God raised Him from the dead to conquer sin and death for all of us, and you will be saved. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23) and need the Savior to be kept from being sent into the Lake of Fire as given in Revelation 20:11-15. God is no respecter of persons, and “all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
Anytime Jesus preached, He gave us hope through truth in a manner such as Peter told us in 1 Peter 3:15; “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as Holy; always prepared to make a defense for the Hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
Jesus always gave the word in a straightforward manner that showed His patience and love. He would get upset mostly with the pious religious leaders of His day, who thought they were to be worshiped first, and then God. They would never admit they had any sin in their lives.
There are “evangelical” groups that previously gave the true messages from God’s Holy word. Today, we see a shift toward false prophets teaching in these churches that there are many ways to Heaven without Jesus, and all previously condemned relationships are now acceptable. Thing is, the Bible I study doesn’t have these so-called new beliefs in it. God’s word means the same thing today as when He first gave it to us.
In fact, my chosen life verse still says, “Jesus said to him [Philip], I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). And then there is Acts 4:12; “And there is Salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved.” Then Romans 8:1 states, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
God’s word was and is meant to give true and solid instructions for all to be able to have eternal life in Heaven. He didn’t give it in a code that only certain people could understand, and He even sent His own Son, Jesus, to give the only sacrifice for our sins – my sins – that could be accepted (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
It is fitting and just that God requires each and every one of us to accept the sin-free blood sacrifice that was made willingly on a cruel cross at Calvary. After all, the person on it in fully human form was also one third of the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
He is fair and just and will force no one to accept Jesus, but for those who do not, they will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire with no chance of repentance there. He allows all persons right up to their last breath here to repent and be saved as given in 2 Peter 3:9, and through the example of the thief on the cross that was crucified with Jesus in Luke 23:40-43.
Joshua 24:25 gives us the proper answer with, “but for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Satan would love for all of us to listen to his antichrists and false prophets and be drawn away from the Savior. He knows his fate and knows it’s getting very close. There is no pathway to forgiveness for him or the angels that chose to follow him, as Jesus’ sacrifice was for all humans that would accept Him. With all the signs that are present today, and with all the attitudes that are getting more and more negative, the call of all true believers up to meet Jesus in the air (Rapture) is right at the doorstep. This will be to keep God’s promise to keep all of the Savior’s flock from going through the Wrath.
Choose today as Joshua did. Tomorrow, this world could be entering the tribulation/wrath period, which will be the worst and most miserable time this earth has ever seen. All the things taking place today do not come close to being as bad as this will be.
It’s totally your choice, and no one can make it for you. The best decision you can make is to ensure your reservation for eternity with the Savior by calling out for Him to forgive you and accept you as one of His own right now. The rapture will be over in less than a second – the twinkling of an eye – and after that, it will be difficult, to say the least, to come to the Lord. Hope to see you when we get there!
Maranatha!