As a youngster growing up in church, I regularly sang in the adult church choir along with a half dozen or so of my friends during those days. From about twelve to fourteen years of age until we graduated from high school, we were regular participants in the choir. I think we all enjoyed those times, and during those four to six years in the choir, our voices even improved to the point that some of us would sing specials.

There was one guy our age however who was tone deaf. He sang off key. He was not in tune … ever. Even though I hated to be the one who might occasionally have to stand beside him (because he would pull me off key), I admired him for being faithful. He really stuck with it. Amazingly, to me anyway, by the time we were seniors in high school, he actually became a decent singer, rarely off key. Now you had to be there to appreciate what I’m saying. He really came a long way in his singing.

By this time you probably think that I am going to write about harmonizing. We should all be in harmony with each other in other words. Nope. I’m going the other direction. We need to sing off key.

When it comes to our Christian witness before a fallen world we have been in harmony with the world far, far too long. Actually, in my humble opinion, we crossed the line with God years ago in harmonizing with the world. We picked our spot on the musical cleft of life, whether soprano, alto, tenor or bass, and have blended in nicely with the music the world chooses for us to sing. Maybe if we had been singing off key the past sixty years or so, we would not be in the spiritual mess we are in today in this immoral quagmire we find ourselves in today.

The world doesn’t want any waves in the waters of life. It longs for smooth sailing. Well, by and large, we have appeased the world. We haven’t even caused a ripple. Occasionally, there have been lone voices speaking out for God over the years, but they have largely been drowned out by others who have followed the pied piper down the broad road of destruction.

As a former President was prone to say, “Let me make this perfectly clear,” I am not implying that Christians should behave in an un-Christian manner, overtly trying to cause dissention. We can stand up for Jesus Christ and His Word in a calm, loving manner without reciprocating in kind. The point is, no matter how lovingly we may stand by the Truth, it is going to cause friction with those who are not of Christ. To them, we will not be in harmony with their beliefs and I assure you the Truth of God does not sing in harmony with the world. It will most certainly be off key, as far as the world is concerned.

Jesus had this to say:

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39)

As I indicated earlier, we don’t need to be antagonistically inclined. We can be compassionate and loving, but firm in our stance for Jesus Christ. That alone will cause us to be hated, vilified and mocked. Why? Jesus tells us why.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19)

Most of us who call ourselves Christians have kowtowed to the ways of the world without even a whimper of, “Thus saith the Lord.” As I previously noted, I believe it is too late now for this world to avoid judgment from God, and it is coming. At least though, before Jesus removes His Church, we the Church (the bride) need to grow a backbone and stand up for the Word of God while there is still time to do so. I don’t know when Jesus is coming, but I do know He can come any day. We need to make use of the time remaining and warn those around us of one very important message; i.e. we are sinners, we need to be saved, and Jesus is the only way to be saved.

The Lord tells us in His Word, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) I believe with all my heart that if we just share His Word with those who are willing to listen, the Holy Spirit will do the rest. It isn’t up to us to persuade. It is only up to us to share.

The world around us is rapidly disintegrating and becoming quite hostile toward anyone who would dare speak the Truth. It hates Jesus and all He stands for, and that includes His followers … Christians. Just as a person singing off key grates the nerves of those close by, so the world will be offended in our relaying the message of the cross, but can we do any less if we are a true disciple of Jesus Christ?

Think about this simply as an example of harmonizing with the world. The world has taken the word “love” and made all the instruments and all the voices join in harmony. It sounds beautiful, but there’s a problem. Jesus spoke of “love” too, but His Greek word “love” is “agape.” The world chooses the Greek word “eros.” “Agape” refers to a selfless love as per John 3:16. “Eros” is a sexual love, which is supposed to be between a husband and wife (male and female).

So what’s the problem you say? The problem is that the world uses “eros” to condone homosexuality, sex outside marriage, etc. as “lifestyles” that should be accepted because “God is love.” However, God’s Word does not condone these acts and His love is “agape” not “eros.”

If we agree with the world, we are in harmony with the world. Everything goes smoothly and we are accepted. However, if we agree with God, we’re singing off key and causing disruption. We are not accepted by the world. So what do we do?

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

Grant Phillips

Email: grantphillips@windstream.net

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

 

 

The most important thing any person can do is to make sure they know where they will spend eternity after their demise. I’m hearing more and more of people throughout the United States and in all walks of life claiming Heaven as their eternal destination after death, but having nothing to do with Christ and His Word while upon this earth.

Jesus Christ is God. He is the one and only way to Heaven. There is no other way, regardless what we may think or someone else says.

Jesus’ Word is the Bible. It is all about Him. Every word in the Bible is from Him and He means precisely every word He says. Luke tells us that Jesus explained to Cleopas and his friend on the road to Emmaus all the things about Himself from the Scriptures (the Bible).

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)

From “Moses and all the Prophets” includes all the Old Testament and it is more than obvious that the New Testament is also all about Jesus in its entirety.

Also the Apostle John tells us that the Word is Jesus and He is God. Therefore the Bible is the direct revelation of Jesus’ Word to mankind.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

However, many who claim to be a Christian do not live for Jesus; do not recognize Him as God; deny His virgin birth, deny His physical death, burial and resurrection; discard His Word the Bible as outdated fables; and that’s just the introduction. These same people emphasize that God is love, and attempt to use that as a pretense to deny His judgment. They masquerade as saints, but live for the Devil, embracing the filth that can only come from the minds of evil beings.

I say all this, not to be cruel, but to warn of the certain judgment on all who mistakenly identify with Christ but live for Satan. These folks reside in the halls of government, in front of the news prompter, on the cinematic screen, under the bright lights of sports, and let us not omit, even in the local churches, and the homes of everyday citizens. They come from all walks of life, thinking they can mouth a few magic platitudes and ignore the words of a holy God. All is lip service, but no heart service. They are mightily mistaken in thinking they stand tall before God, not accepting that only those who bow before God are His own.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23)

In my opinion, those who claim to speak on behalf of God, such as pastors, evangelists, and other speakers will receive the greater damnation because they are leading millions to hell while mispresenting a holy God. They are false prophets and their god is Baal.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)

The Lord tells us through the Apostle Paul to examine ourselves to make certain we are truly His.

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

The Scriptures tell us that “not all who are descended from Israel are Israel, and the same is true of professing Christians.

“It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.” (Romans 9:6)

Not all who claim they are a Christian are a Christian. They are no more a Christian than the Devil they serve. God knows who are His, and He will cull out the pretenders from the masses and keep only His own.

The Apostle John had this to say:

“They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” (1 John 2:19)

When John said, “They went out from us,” he isn’t just saying that they left the local church. I’m sure that was part of it, but there are many in the churches today who sit in the pews and stand behind the pulpits but they have not remained true to Jesus, no more so than Judas did who was in the inner circle of original disciples.

There are many like Judas today who claim to be a follower of Christ, but stab the Lord in the back at every opportunity that gratifies their own selfish desires. The putrid stink of sin is filling our land while the church sits back with laryngitis, cowering under the pews and behind the pulpits to the accusations of evil men.

“God is love,” they say! Yes! He most certainly is love, and He is also holy, pure, and righteous. He is God, and He is not to be mocked. Know this, He also sees past all the flimflam and looks into the deep recesses of the heart of man. From what I’m seeing going on all around us today, I’m afraid not many hearts are pure. Oh, we look good on the outside, but inside we are corrupt.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matthew 23:27-28)

“Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” (Luke 11:39)

Isn’t it worth the eternal destination of our soul to examine ourselves to see if we are really in the faith? Isn’t it important to know if we have mistaken our identity with Christ? If it is true that we have been pretending, isn’t it about time we right the wrong and come to Jesus for forgiveness and then really follow Him?

Don’t let Satan mess with you like he did with Judas. Judas is in hell.

Email: grantphillips@windstream.net

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html