Well it would appear, that the Word of God─in reference to the “last days” is definitely coming to pass. I look around and watch people when I’m out and about and I wait to see how they act and the things they say, to whomever, and I am never disappointed. Well, except for the topic of their conversation or reason for some of their actions.

I loathe what they say and do, as the Word of God declares their SIN. I must admit though, I am saddened as I observe these people because they are creating problems for themselves, and possibly forever marking the minds of those closest to them (a child for example).

Proverbs 22.15: “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”

Proverbs 13.24: “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”

It would appear that there are many parents who either do not love their children, or they lack the wisdom of the Lord to know how to raise them correctly. I am not judging them, there is but one Judge and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. I do believe that everyone should consult the Word of God when raising children. It’s either that or you can spend those 18 years pulling out your hair.

Please take careful note that someday, these same children will be voting and taking or NOT taking responsibility for thier actions. In short, they will be molding the world into which we grow old and feeble. “The apple does not fall far from the tree” is a saying that comes to mind and one that should be remembered during those formative years.

There are other things as well, such as the actions we witness across the globe, allowed by God Almighty. We watch with a quasi-normal attitude as governments and nations fall and change─as people seek a difference that will matter in their individual lives. I can think of none more significant than the “Arab Spring.”

I am mostly amazed by the plight of Russia or better yet, the former USSR─at one time a mighty and fearsome communist nation with hopes of toppling the U.S.A., by whatever means available. As I look back, it is most unusual to me how the USSR was created and in the timeframe given. Since we already know, “Hindsight is 20/20,” we see the seams and exposed threads that held that nation together.

What may be even more unusual, the average citizen in the USSR was poor at best, while the governing group lived “Fat off the hog.” We watched with bated breath as the Berlin Wall fell and a few years later the fall of USSR. Then came the “Democracy” of Russia and yet the people of that nation were no better off than before the fall, they were still poor and ruling class was still eating “Pork.”

This is nothing more than evidence that a nation cannot go from infancy to adulthood. There must be the wisdom found in growth over time. They wanted to be a second USA, but it never happened.

As we watch the Arab countries, we see they too, want the prosperity the USA once held. It is again unfortunate for them because that will never be. SO what is the answer? The USA was originally born with “Judeo-Christian” values by our Founding Fathers. Not necessarily all of them, but by the majority of them. In the early years of this nation, our ancestors sought the Lord God to follow and thus this nation was blessed beyond compare.

This is what the other nations─especially the Arab nations─have not done, nor will they ever seek any God, but their Allah. The question is, “Where did this “Islam” come from and why does it remain today when it stands in direct conflict to the Word of God? We already know these things from what is written continuously about Muslims and their Koran.

The biggest point to know is this: Their children were raised with this religion, with the same veracity as our children were raised with Christianity. Again, “The apple does not fall far from the tree.”

Simply because your parents believed one way, does not make it the truth. Problem is, this has been done over a span of many, many, years. If for one moment, these same Muslims were willing to look at the USA and its prosperity across the years and then look around themselves, they might ask the question (In their mind, never outloud!) IF this USA was onto something here, religiously? (Comparatively that is.)

Then again, they would have comitted a great SIN against Allah if they had, but…I would venture to guess, some have thought these things. Propoganda and brainwashing have been around for a really long time; this must be taken into consideration. The truth is in─how many have moved here to the USA─as compared to how many are willing to stay in their ancestorial country, right? You don’t leave when you’re having a great time and everything is going well for you.

Consider this for a moment: Immigrants are still coming here to the USA, despite the fact that jobs are almost non-existent, the state of affairs of the USA is in GREAT Flux. Yet…their existence is better here than in their home country…that is saying a whole lot!

Numbers 32.23: “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.”

Hmm! That’s new, right? Wrong! It’s been in the Bible for better than 3000 years. Today we see this everywhere, the “politically correct and tolerant” people of this country have crossed the line with our God. We don’t want to, “Offend anyone!” Even when we KNOW it is wrong! Incredible! As children we learned that everytime we did something wrong, what happened? We were punished, right? Evidently, far too many have forgotten, “Spare the rod, spoil the child.”

Now we have the youth of the USA asking why a righteous and just God would allow cancer, birth defects, starvation, disease, etc., etc. It is evident they do not read the Bible, otherwise they would understand that the causitive reason for all these things…is SIN!! Our SIN, which we have not brought before the Lord God and asked for HIS forgiveness for, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary! The people that SHOULD have a handle on the reason for everything going to hell in a handbasket, have lost thier moral compass. The reason we call them “Lost.”

We have the greatest number of born-again Christian followers of Jesus Christ in the world, and yet the majority of the world is so lost. We are presently living in the “Last Days” waiting for our Lord and Savior to come for us and keep us from the clutches of the Tribulation. We have the evidence for the world to see. It’s found in the Bible, yet how many are reading these prophecies? What’s even worse, the prophecies from the Bible, concerning the time we are living in─are OLD─yet coming true everyday!

Luke 21.11: “And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”

We as born-again followers of Jesus Christ were told to be the “Watchmen on the Wall” scanning the horizon for any changes. To be preaching and teaching, seeking out the Lost and giving them the message of love and eternal life through Jesus Christ. If this is our job, why are so few coming to Christ? Remember now, if it’s wrong…it’s wrong! There are no two ways about it and Jesus Christ is taking note of what we do or do not do. Evidently, the apostasy of the church is more wide spread than we expected and is this not a “Sign of the Times” as well?

I am going to say it again and I will continue to say it over and over again…SIN is the reason the world is in such dire straights. SIN is the cause of all our problems and worst of all, it is the single reason our relationship with the Lord is at risk. This magnifies the problem with the “FEW on the NARROW path to heaven.”

I believe there will be fewer on that path than we think right now. So then the question is this: How are YOU and the LORD getting along nowdays? It a valid question! Simply look around yourself and you will see it for yourself…something…isn’t quite right!

I am a straightforward individual and as such, I choose to write, as I would speak, to an individual or a group. As the Bible is, straight and to the truth, there is a distinct Black Line with Jesus Christ on one side and Satan on the other side. It is then up to YOU, to decide which side you would wish to be on.

I am ex-Military and I was an NCO, which probably shows in just about everything I do and say. I do not cut the “mustard” in any manner, other than right down the middle. I believe in being truthful, I will NOT lie, cheat or steal, for ANY reason! I am a “stand-up” kind of guy, as the saying goes. The easiest way to loose your freedom is for “good men to do nothing!” My wife calls me the “First Shirt,” now and then and I am not ashamed of that. As we used to say overseas, “I will NOT give up, give in, or go away!” This stands for my family, my friends, but more than anything else, MY LORD!

The reason I am stating this, is a few have written and said, “Well, you shouldn’t be talking like you do, it can be termed offensive!” My reaction to this is to explain that I in no way wish to be offensive to anyone, but if the Truth stings a little, then maybe it’s for a good reason. Far too many people don’t like it when their “delicate sensibilities” are messed with, they don’t like it when SIN is brought up. They don’t like it when the Holy Spirit calls them on the rug, because they will be convicted of their SIN. So in essence, they are far too delicate to deal with someone who calls the Truth, exactly what it is: The Truth and so it goes with SIN.

To be honest, I can not find a single instance where our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, was anything but accepting of the cross at Calvary, which was HIS reason for being here in the first place. Our LORD and Savior took the beatings and whippings and HIS death on the cross for you and me, when you and I already know…we should have been there instead! It has always been our SIN, our failings, our mismanagement of everything, that placed Jesus Christ on that cross, so get over yourselves and thank HIM for HIS willing death for you and me!

It must be understood, that we are NOT to be “tolerant” of any SIN, I don’t care what it is. It must also be understood that we must love those who are lost, they do not understand that they are lost or that they are doing anything wrong in the first place. Such is the state of the Lost, they simply do not know or understand that it is their SIN that stands between them and a relationship with Jesus Christ. This is the exact spot we must work on, not name calling and definitely NOT turning our attention from them, wherever we may come across them. Far too many Christians, nowadays, are doing those exact things, even in the churches, of all places.

What may be even worse is they are being led by example, by the pastors! I read a story of a pastor that was going to a new church and he decided to see how the congregation really was. He decided to dress up as a bum from the streets. Unfortunately no one wanted to welcome this “bum” even when he asked some for their pocket change so he could get some food to eat. He saw how most would not have anything to do with him and he was told that he would have to sit in the back of the church. Then the Elders of the church asked for the new pastor to rise and come forward. Instead he watched the congregation and waited a moment or two. Then he rose to his feet and walked forward to the pulpit. As he looked out across the congregation, most had their heads down; they had been caught.

How sad and loathsome they must have felt, but the pastor got his message across to all. Everyone must be accepted and accepted wholeheartedly! No one is too lowly or underdressed, or too hungry and poor, to be left out of any congregation that truly follows Jesus Christ. Time after time, Jesus Christ sought these out and fed them, healed them and from the depths of HIS heart, HE loved them. How can we, the followers of Jesus Christ be any different? There is absolutely NO acceptable excuse for anyone to be this way, to anyone that is so in need!

Matthew 25.34-40: “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

I believe this passage of Scripture make the obvious, easy to see and shows how some of us have gone the other way. This is important! The opposite is true enough as well and must be considered. It becomes apparent to all, whom then, is following the Lord and whom is not.

Matthew 25.41-46: “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

As I have said before, the Bible is straightforward and truthful to the end, there are no two ways about it! The biggest problem with Christians, is that they choose NOT to read their Bibles and in failing to do so, they fall into the same traps as many others. We MUST ensure that we do not commit these same SINS, we must be vigilant and careful, always reassessing our relationship with Jesus Christ. When we start every day with devotions and prayer, we start listening to what the Holy Spirit has to say and then we don’t end up making these mistakes. I don’t know about you, but when I meet my Lord and Savior for the first time, I hope and pray, that he welcomes me home with a smile:

Matthew 25.23: “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”