A Wise Builder In Uncertain Times

Towards the end of His earthly ministry Jesus told a parable of ten virgins. (Matt 25:1-13). The context of this parable is the teaching of Jesus on the end times events leading up to His return. The purpose is to promote watchfulness among His followers.

In this parable we see several things. Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. The foolish took their lamps, but no extra oil, while the wise had extra oil along with their lamps.

It is interesting to note that as the bridegroom tarried they all became drowsy and slept. This was true for the wise as well as the foolish virgins.

When the cry went out at midnight, "The bridegroom is coming, go out to meet Him", they woke up and trimmed their lamps. Unfortunately the lamps belonging to the foolish virgins had gone out, and they had no extra oil.  Asking the wise to share oil with them, they were told to go and buy some, as there was not enough to share. 

While they went out to buy more oil, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in to the feast, and the door was shut. It was too late for the foolish virgins who were not prepared 

What can we learn from this parable? As I have recently shared, I believe that the Church is about to be blindsided by end times events. It is as though we are for the most part asleep. In a previous post which can be read here, I elaborate on this briefly. 

Although there are many end times teachers, and just as many end times theories, it seems like for most of us the last days and the return of Jesus Christ are something seen as far down the road. I believe the Church to some degree is asleep. Far too many of us are unconcerned about future events. Perhaps many of us have been burned out by all of the "Left Behind books"  and end times movies that we have been inundated with for the last several decades or so. There has been a lot of hype and a lot of failed date settings, and that just turns people off I'm afraid.

Anyway we find that the wise as well as the foolish both fell asleep as the bridegroom delayed His coming.

There is a day coming upon the whole world as a trap (Luke 21:35). Someday these events will be upon us and we will all be forced out of slumber. Whether or not we have a sufficient supply of oil then will be a matter of spiritual life and death.

One can know all of the end times events, the signs and timelines, but to know these things is no guarantee that one will survive spiritually. We need to cultivate our relationship with Jesus, and we need to be doing that now.

I believe that this is the difference between the wise and foolish virgins referenced in this parable. Oil is used symbolically of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. To be lacking "oil" in this sense when we reach the point of no return in the last days will be tragic. 

A saving relationship with Jesus is more than correct understanding of biblical doctrine. While studying the scriptures and discovering the doctrines found therein is fun and exciting, head knowledge by itself is insufficient. If what we learn does not transform our lives it is all in vain.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;

even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you.

John 14:15-17 KJV

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself unto him.

John 14:21 KJV

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come into him, and make our abode with him.

He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

John 14:23-24 KJV

Here we see it, or rather hear it in the very words of Jesus. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is dependent in a large measure upon our obedience. Don't misunderstand this. This is not about a checklist that we can cross off every time we have obeyed a commandment, as if we can somehow earn the presence of the Holy Spirit. We receive the Spirit by faith, not by the works of the law (Gal 3:1-3, 14), yet salvation is a deliverance from sinning. We must take these words of God to heart as well,

     We are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Acts 5:32

Obedience flows out of our love for Christ. It is the outflow of our faith (Gal 5:6). 

Through a careless, disobedient lifestyle we can grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30). Think of the example of Sampson in the Old Testament. He flirted with sin, presuming that his strength would always be there. One day he woke up, only to discover that the LORD had departed from him, and his strength was gone ( see Judges 16:4-20). 

Jesus questioned if He would find faith on the earth at His return (Luke 18:8). He gives this warning in His Olivet discourse,

     "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved."

(Matt 24:12-13)

Days are coming when the deception and treachery will be unparalleled.  The Bible warns of a great falling away in the last days (2 Thess 2:3-12). It will take everything to stand firm in our faith. We do not want to wake up like Sampson, and find out our strength is gone. If it is imperative that we are filled with the Holy Spirit in our lives today, how much more when that day arrives.

I firmly believe that scripture interprets scripture. Earlier in His ministry Jesus spoke of another pair of men (see Matt 7:23-27). One was wise, and the other foolish. They both built houses, the wise man built upon a rock, and the foolish man built his house on sand. When disaster struck we can guess what happened. The wise man's house stood firm, while the house of the foolish man collapsed.

Jesus likened the wise man to one who hears His teaching and puts it into practice, while the foolish man is one who does not obey. We can see by this that obedience to Jesus is foundational to maintaining our relationship with Him. An open channel allows the "oil" of the Spirit to flow through our lives and give light to those around us. Sin in the life of a believer will block this flow, hinder our fellowship, and weaken our faith. Confession and repentance is the way to restoration. 

Keep the channels open. Do not allow disobedience to block the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life. The day will come when there will be no time to "buy" more oil. The bridegroom will come and the door will be shut. When disaster comes will your house stand?

 

 

     

Recovering a Theology of Martyrdom

Here in America we have things pretty easy concerning our freedom to practice our faith. We have easy access to Bibles, Churches on every corner, and the ability to meet in any of those Churches without fear of persecution. While this makes it easier for us to gather to worship freely, and we count it a blessing, it also has it's downside as well.

I believe that after decades, centuries actually, of religious freedom in this country, we have lost a key part of what it means to follow Jesus. In his instructions to Timothy, Paul exhorts him to "Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (2 Tim:2:3) While most of us would agree that persecution and suffering for Jesus is a real thing, I believe that there are those who relegate it to believers in third world countries, or those living under oppressive regimes. Unable to relate to what so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ suffer around the world we envision persecution here as the advancement of "woke" policies or "attacks" on Christmas. The claim that we as Christians are losing our rights, and unless something happens we won't be able to be Christians here in America, has been "shouted from the rooftops" for some time now. But how does this reasoning line up with scripture? 

Persecution is promised.

"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

If you were of the world, then the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.

Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also  persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.....

These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling.

They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me."

John 15:19-22, 16:1-3 NASB

As followers of Jesus we are not exempt from persecution and even death for our testimony. Even now,  people throughout the world are suffering greatly for their faith. Of course here we have relative freedom to practice our faith openly with very little threat, but I believe the day is coming when that will change, and we need to get ready now.

Freedom of religion is not something that any laws can guarantee. However we don't need laws to protect our commitment to Jesus either. Absolutely no one can take that away from you. It might cost you something, but you are free to be a Christian anywhere in this world. As Nik Ripken states,

     Believers in persecution remind us of a possible lie inherent in Western Christian cultures. We sometimes thank God that we live in countries where we are "free to worship." It is interesting that public prayers are rarely uttered thanking God that we are "free to witness"! Significantly, witnessing to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has little to do with political freedom. Believers are as free to share Jesus in Saudi Arabia as they are in St. Louis. Believers are as free to share Jesus in Somalia as they are in Kentucky.

     Being a witness for Jesus has little to do with political freedom. On the contrary, our willingness to witness has everything to do with obedience and courage. 

( Nik Ripken

The insanity of Obedience ©2014

P 30)

This should step on toes. We do not have to go looking for persecution, if we are open with our witness, it will naturally come in one form or another. As we read in the verses above, we as believers are hated by the world in the same way the world hates Jesus. How long will that be "restrained" in America? 

What about my rights?

Here in this country we make a big deal about our rights. And to be sure, we have many rights that others do not have. But how far do we go to defend and fight for our rights? 

The call of Jesus is exacting. He says some very hard things. It is not about us at all, but His ultimate purpose for our lives.

     And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it."

Mark 8:34-35 NASB

"So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions."

Luke 14:33 NASB

A transaction is made when we make the decision to follow Christ. Ownership of our lives, our possessions, our plans and purposes, comforts and fears transfer from us and our control, to Christ. We are in a very real sense not our own. We have been bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20).

This is what the lordship of Jesus means. He is now our master, and we are his "bond slaves." This term is used throughout the epistles. Paul understood the concept well. You sold yourself into the service of another for economic survival. You now lived to serve your master. Your personal decisions didn't count for much anymore 

Jesus tells us to deny ourselves and come after Him with our crosses on our backs. This is the same principle explained in another graphic way.

Crucifixion, under the Roman occupation, was a common scene for most people of the time. It would have been a common sight to see beaten and bloodied individuals struggling under the weight of a heavy beam on their way to a excruciating death. These men were "dead men walking." literally, their lives were over. Their plans and purposes, possessions, comforts and fears, meant absolutely nothing to them at this point. They were about to be fastened on a cross, completely helpless, waiting only to die.

Jesus, Himself, experienced the very same thing, and He used this as a metaphor for us to follow Him in "death to ourselves." Our lives, plans, purposes, comforts and fears, are no longer in our control. Jesus is calling the shots at this point. Our lives belong to Him, our job is to follow in obedience, no matter the cost. And for many, the cost of that obedience ends in martyrdom, the ultimate price to follow Jesus.

But what about Paul's appeal to his rights?

There are three instances recorded in scripture where Paul mentions his rights as a Roman citizen. People bring these up on occasion as a justification of the need to fight for our rights as American Christians.

In Acts 16:16-39 Paul and Silas are beaten and thrown into prison, without a trial, for casting a demon out of a slave girl in the Roman province of Philippi. It was unlawful to beat an uncondemned Roman Citizen. The next day when they were about to be released, Paul made the magistrates aware of this, causing some consternation among them. They no doubt were afraid that it might come back on them.

In Acts 22:24-30 Paul again appeals to his Roman citizenship when he is about to be scourged to find out why a mob had broken out against him. He then brought up the fact that it was unlawful to beat an uncondemned Roman citizen. Once it was determined that he was indeed a Roman citizen he was immediately untied, and again, the commander was afraid of what might happen as a result.

The third instance is Paul's appeal to appear before Caesar (Acts 25:1-10). Wishing to appease the Jews, the Roman governor Festus asked Paul if he would stand trial before him in Jerusalem. Paul, knowing it was all a sham, appealed to stand before Caesar in Rome, where he ought to be tried as a Roman citizen. 

What we can draw from these passages is that there may be times when it is okay to take advantage of  certain rights conferred on one by the government. For example prayer in school. As far as I know, prayer is allowed in school as long as a teacher is not leading a class in prayer. What if a teacher was simply praying over his or her lunch, by themselves, and the school board threatened disciplinary action? Would it be alright to remind them that prayer in this instance is not a prohibited action? I would think this would be fine, and might put the issue to rest.

However, the belief  that we as Christians are called to fight for our rights cannot be found in the New Testament teachings. There were plenty of instances in the life and ministry of the apostle Paul where he did suffer wrong and did not pursue recourse. That night in the Philippian jail Paul and Silas were singing and praising God in spite of the beating they had just received. I find it hard to believe that they were planning to turn in those responsible for breaking the  Roman law that forbid beating an uncondemned citizen.

Jesus is the example of the opposite. He taught and lived humility. His message was one of forgiveness and turning the other cheek. Going the extra mile demanded a lot of grace from a people living under Roman occupation. And the mandate to make disciples in every nation is a huge undertaking itself. There is no time or energy to be spent on things that detract from that mission. While it may be fine to take advantage of freedoms we have, we have no guarantee that we will have those freedoms tomorrow. When that day comes our mission still remains the same, only now the consequences change. We are better off preparing now for when that time comes, than occupying our time and energy in a battle to maintain our rights.

Martyrdom has a purpose.

It has been said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. This is a true statement, that can be proven by history. 

Stephen is the first recorded martyr for Christ in the New Testament. The man holding the cloaks of those throwing the stones was named Saul. This began a severe persecution that scattered the believers throughout the known world. Saul was driven by his zeal, and was relentless in his pursuit of Christians. When he was divinely stopped on the road to Damascus we read that he had been kicking against the goads. In other words, something happened when he witnessed Stephen's death that haunted him on the inside. The conviction of the Holy Spirit was getting the best of him.  (Acts 7:54-8:1, 26:9-18). Saul, also known as Paul was saved and went on to be incredibly used by God in the establishment of His Kingdom.

Reformation history records the terrible persecution and death that the Anabaptist Christians suffered for their faith. The missionaries they sent out were quickly arrested, tortured, and killed in the most inhuman ways, only to be just as quickly replaced with more. They spread the gospel to hungry people desperate for the truth, with little regard for their own comfort. It was indeed a movement fueled by persecution, that could not be stopped. I recommend getting a copy of the Martyrs Mirror, which chronicles the suffering and martyrdom of these courageous people.

Or how about the five missionaries who were killed in 1956 trying to make contact with the Waodani tribesmen, a fierce, unreached people deep in the jungles of Ecuador. While the world might think that this was a tragic waste of life, it turned out quite the opposite. In a unforseen twist of events, the widows and families of these men ended up forgiving, befriending, and living among the very same people who had killed their husbands. People were saved, a Church was planted. A people group who were for all practical purposes unreachable, were brought to Christ as a result. The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church.

What Satan means for evil God can turn around for good. In fact God's kingdom can be referred to as an "upside down kingdom" as it operates on opposite principles than that of the world. While the world looks at suffering and death as a defeat, it is in reality a victory for those who follow Jesus.

     And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Revelation 12:11 NASB

Consider the words of Jesus found in John 12:23-26,

     And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.

If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Jesus is the ultimate example for us. By His death and resurrection He has truly born much fruit. He speaks in no uncertain terms. We must follow Him, even unto death. If our bearing fruit means martyrdom we dare not shrink back. If we seek to preserve our lives we will lose them in the end. Self preservation stands in opposition to the greater purpose of God. 

What is a martyr?

The Greek word translated witness, or witnesses is Martus. It is found 34 times in the King James New Testament. This word is used of people who give witness or testimony of something. A variant of the word, martureo is in verb form, to give testimony of something, and the word marturia refers to the testimony itself. This is where our word martyr comes from

While this testimony, or witness can be that of anything, it was often used in the witness of one's faith in Christ, the resurrected Lord. This witness often led to the death of the one giving this testimony of the truth of the gospel.

And when the blood of your witness (martus) Stephen was being shed....

Acts 21:20

And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness (martus), the first born of the dead, and the ruler of the Kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood...

Rev 1:5

I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness (martus), My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Rev 2:13

And I will grant authority to my two witnesses (martus), and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

Rev 11:3

And when they have finished their testimony (marturia), the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.

Rev 11:7

And I saw a woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses (martus) of Jesus. When I saw her I wondered greatly.

Rev 17:6

And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony (marturia) of Jesus and because of the word of God...

Rev 20:4

Robertson's word pictures state that by the third century this word, martus, had become synonymous with one who had paid for their witness with their lives.

History is filled with countless numbers of individuals who have paid the ultimate price for the testimony of Jesus. Even today there are thousands of Christians living in countries where persecution and martyrdom are everyday occurrences. Just because we live in a country where there is relative safety to be a Christian does not necessarily make us exempt. The New Testament teaches that persecution is a normal reaction of a hostile world to the testimony of Christ. Ultimately the time is coming when the world will face the greatest crisis it has ever seen. There will be no holding back the tide of evil when that day comes. Are we prepared for what is to come? Will you be a faithful martus?

Counting the cost.

"Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

Many false prophets will arise and mislead many.

Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved."

Matthew 24:9-13 NASB

Have we as Christians over the years made it too easy? Instead of a deep soul searching leading to a unwavering repentance, and commitment to follow Christ, we now can just slip up a hand with no one looking. I do not wish to offend anyone, but Jesus Himself sets a very hard standard for those who would follow Him. The reformation era Anabaptist Christians knew what the narrow gate meant (Matt 7:13-14). In reference to the terrible suffering they faced for their witness, they said that their skin was torn off as they went through the narrow gate 

Denying ourselves, taking up our crosses, living lives completely sold out to Jesus at all cost, following Him even in death, are the standards of the gospel. Yes, salvation is a free gift. You will not earn it by giving your body to be burned (see 1 Cor 13:3). But faith in Christ is more than believing things. It is living out the reality of what we believe. And if we believe that Jesus died and is now the risen Lord and calls us to follow Him, we must follow Him on His terms or not follow Him at all.

In Luke 14:25-34 Jesus repeats the demands required to be a disciple. He demands our allegiance over all other relationships. He calls on us to count the cost. We must be aware of what it means and what it requires to follow Him. He gives two examples. A man building a tower will calculate his expenses before he begins. If he does not, and he runs out of money after he has begun, he faces humiliation. Or a king going to war better be sure that he actually has the manpower to win. If not he better seek peace instead. 

It is imperative that we also count the cost. A man may begin to build a house and not be able to finish, but that is nothing compared to a person starting out to follow Jesus but falling away when unexpected difficulties arise. Now is the time to think long and hard about what it means to follow Jesus; about what He requires, and what it might cost us. Persecution is not a fun, uplifting subject to talk about, but it is a very real part of being a Christian. It is better to know what may come and be prepared beforehand, then to be taken by surprise and give up.

Blessed are the persecuted.

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the Prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:10-12 NASB

Therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgement so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His angels in flaming fire,

dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and be marvelled at among all who have believed - for our testimony to you was believed.

2 Thessalonians 1:4-10 NASB

Believe it or not, there is a reason to rejoice in the midst of suffering persecution. It is a sign that we are not of this evil world, but are citizens of a heavenly kingdom. We are to rejoice and be glad because our reward is great if we endure.

This can be compared to childbirth. The labor is hard and painful, but the birth of a child is the goal. Countless numbers of women have endured the pain of labor because they are looking forward to the end; the birth of a child. To them it is worth it all.

To be martyred is only a gateway into the presence of Jesus. The pain is only temporary. 

     For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NASB

In Revelation 7:9-17 we read of a great multitude from every tongue, tribe and nation standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They have come out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes in His blood.

     "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His Tabernacle over them.

They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;

for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Revelation 7:15-17 NASB

All that they have suffered will pale in comparison as they dwell in the very presence of God. All of the pain and suffering will be gone, every tear will be wiped away by God Himself. They will live in His presence for eternity, as opposed to those who have rejected Him in this life.

Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgement was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and in their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years 

Revelation 20:4 NASB

No one likes the idea of suffering. The idea of a great tribulation is a terrifying thought. Yet it must come before the return of Christ. As believers we must keep that in focus. To give up, to deny Christ in the face of death is to lose it all. 

So what do we do now?

It is hard to write out a checklist of everything we must do to prepare for possible martyrdom. No one knows how they will react until the moment arrives. We can be like Peter and make rash declarations of our willingness to die for Jesus only to fail miserably in the end.

To be sure we must count the cost and commit ourselves to following Jesus. Now is the time to cultivate our faith. If we cannot grow now while we have so much freedom how can we expect to stand when the evil day comes? 

Our love for Jesus must be unwavering. What parent wouldn't risk running into a burning house to rescue a missing child? In the same way, our love for Christ compels us to live and die for Him. To love Him is to long to be with Him. Unless you or I are alive and remain at His return, death is the doorway into His presence. And during the final great tribulation, martyrdom will be the primary way out. Pray now, be filled with His Spirit continually, and trust Him to give you what you need when you need it.

A common verse about peace is found in Isaiah 26:3.

     The steadfast of mind you will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.

It is interesting to note that the surrounding chapters are prophetic. It is talking about what is referred to as the great tribulation. God is able to give us peace, even in the midst of the severest trouble.

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 NASB

This is a hard subject. People do not like to talk about these things. I'm often misunderstood. I do not wish for persecution, I'm not hoping it comes, but only trying to prepare people for the day it does. The Bible is quite clear on this subject, and it is only a matter of time when here in the West we also will experience what so many have already experienced. Will our generation be the ones? If not we must prepare the next one.

      

     

     

Will We be Ready?

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and stand before the Son of man.

                             Luke 21:34-36 KJV

Dark days are coming upon the earth. At some point in time, maybe sooner than we think, biblical prophecy will unfold, and the events of the final seven years of this age will occur. I believe multitudes of professing Christians will be caught by surprise. They will not be ready. 

I have noticed a lack of teaching on these subjects lately. I haven't heard any sermons geared towards preparing people for Earth's final days. These are things Christians are not talking about. One pastor that I recently had a casual conversation with admitted that he didn't know what he believed about the end times. He hadn't really looked into it. I have heard others share the same concerns. They have also noticed a strange silence in their churches as well. 

It's not as though there is a lack of end times information. Vast numbers of books have been written on the subject, the Internet is filled with videos and websites, some good, and others not so good. There are plenty of teachers out there promoting their version of how the last days will play out, and no doubt people are tuning in to see what they have to say. However, when I step into church, I'm not hearing conversations, I'm not hearing sermons, about world events that will someday be upon us.

 I believe we have been set up for failure. On the one hand there is the popular teaching that we will not be here when all hell breaks loose. The main thing is to make sure you are ready for the rapture. The rest, as concerns us as Christians, isn't anything that will affect us.

The other teaching, one, more common than I realized, is that there will be no actual end times tribulation. All of the last days events foretold in biblical prophecy are symbolic, an apocalyptic portrayal of the battle between good and evil. All we as Christians need to do is wait for Jesus to someday come. While persecution has been a real thing all along, an end times Antichrist orchestrating great tribulation is only symbolic. Again, why worry?

What if we are wrong? What if there is indeed a day coming when the events that so many  have spiritualized away into nothingness actually come to pass, and we as a Church are still here, contrary to popular belief?

I don't mean to offend anyone who may hold to any of these teachings. I understand that prophecy is not easy to understand, and a wide range of views are held by Christians throughout the world. I also understand that there are committed Christians who are looking into these things with the same interest and concern that I have. Therefore I am speaking in general terms when I voice my concerns. My intent is not to create heated debate between brothers and sisters, nor is it to belittle the beliefs of others. I write this out of a concern for the Church. I read the scriptures and see hard times coming, and a great falling away from the faith occuring at the same time. 

Speaking of the return of Christ to gather his elect, we read of a great falling away that will occur first, along with the revealing of the "Man of sin" who we know as the Antichrist (2 Thess 2:1-4). This passage that has commonly been used to teach a prettrib rapture event actually teaches quite the opposite. Before Jesus returns to gather His faithful, many professing Christianity, instead of being raptured, will actually apostasize from the faith. This verse is clear, Christians will see the revealing of the Antichrist, and many will not make it. This affirms the words of Jesus, who foretold that the "love of many will grow cold." He admonishes us that one must "endure to the end to be saved" (Matt 24:11-12).

This is what is so tragic. How can we be better prepared to face the future? And if we never live to experience these events, how can we ensure that the future generation who will, is adequately equipped to stand for Jesus during Earth's greatest trial?

I have a few thoughts that I will briefly share. I will put them down here, and perhaps go deeper into them in future posts. 

1. We must recapture the "Maranatha" cry.

The early Church looked for and longed for the return of Christ. It was not so much that they wanted to escape trials and trouble, but they had such an incredible love for Jesus Himself. I fear that many today have entrenched themselves into the affairs of this life. They have made a good life for themselves, and seek to keep up that standard. Like a child who spoils his appetite by eating a cookie before supper, many of us have got it so good here (at least here in America) that we no longer long for eternity with Jesus. We may give the idea of the return of Jesus some fleeting thoughts, but it is not a deep aching reality for a lot of us. We are too content here. At the close of his life the apostle Paul said this,

     Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:8 KJV).

Are we numbered with those who "eagerly await Him" (Hebrews 9:28)?

2. We must recover a theology of martyrdom and suffering.

The early Church suffered intense persecution, yet they turned their world upside down for the cause of Christ. To identify with Jesus, to be baptized into His death, took on a literal meaning for them. Countless others have paid the ultimate price for their devotion to Christ down through the centuries. Jesus Himself calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. To save our lives is to lose our lives, while to lose our lives for His sake and the gospel's is to save them in the end (Mark 8:34-35).

We live in a time where we consider it persecution when the cashier at Walmart won't wish us a Merry Christmas. How will we make it when this verse is a reality,

     And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death (Rev 12:11 KJV emphasis mine).

Martyrdom will be the primary way out of the great tribulation (see Rev 6:9-11, 7:9-17). Are we ready?

3. We need solid biblical teaching on the end times.

The Apostle Paul spent three weeks in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-4). During this time souls were saved and a Church was planted. Paul was forced to leave because of persecution. However, in that three week period this group of "baby" Christians were soundly taught enough to thrive in the midst of suffering themselves (1Thess 1:14). They were also taught about the last days (1Thess 5:1-11, 2 Thess 2:5). Can you imagine a class for new converts today, where the main topic is a deep dive into eschatology? Could it be that this enabled them to endure the suffering that they faced? 

Instead of running from prophecy because it is hard to understand, or scary to talk about, we must dig into it, learn it, and pass it on to others. The book of Revelation is perhaps the most misunderstood and therefore neglected book of the Bible. Yet we read this,

     Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near (Rev 1:3 NASB).

We need solid teaching based upon what the Bible actually says about the events surrounding the last days and the return of Christ. There is way more found throughout both Testaments than most of us realize. From the Prophets to Revelation an end times scenario unfolds. It is here that we learn why the events will unfold the way they do, who are the nations involved, where will the "Beast" come from, and at what point will Jesus return to establish His kingdom. 

There is a lot of prophecy teaching out there, some of it is sound, but so much of it is mere speculation. It must line up with the word of God. Beware of those who have to spiritualize things away to hold to a particular doctrine. Yes there are symbols found in prophecy, but these symbols represent real things. If something can be taken literally, then take it literally. Wading through so much of the stuff out there is like navigating a minefield. It will explode in the end, and take many adherents with it I'm afraid.

We are warned throughout scripture to avoid deception, especially as it concerns those who will go through the last days. We must know and understand the truth. There is no more time to remain ignorant of these things. The Church cannot afford to remain in the dark,

     But you brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober (1 Thess 5:4-6 NASB).

Paul wrote this to the Thessalonian Church. He knew that they had an understanding that went beyond a mere head knowledge, but had entered their hearts. Can we say the same today? 

There are many more things I could say here, but this must suffice for now. Perhaps, God willing, I can expand on this in future posts. There is a day coming when Jesus will return, but before He comes there will be tribulation. If we are the generation to see all of these things come to pass will we be ready?

Betrayed by Your Speech.

33 "Either make the tree good and it's fruit good, or make the tree bad and it's fruit bad; for the tree is known by it's fruit.

34 "You brood of vipers, how can you bring evil speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

35 "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.

36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgement.

37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matt 12:33-37 NASB)

Jesus, in His rebuke of the Pharisees, sets forth an important principle which is just as valid for us today as it was for the people in Jesus' day. We can claim to be godly, to even be a Christian, but the truth of our salvation will be ultimately be shown by our actions. In this case it is our speech which either confirms or denies our faith. 

What Jesus says here is true. A tree is known by the fruit it produces. Years ago we had an apple tree that produced wormy apples. We tried various things to fix this, but after a few years we cut it down and started over with a couple of new ones. It was an infested tree; it was no good, and the bad fruit was the proof.

Consider two individuals who both claim to be Christians. One of them speaks kindly of others, does not tell dirty jokes and use foul language. He avoids slandering others and is always truthful. The other one curses, is vulgar, and quite often seeks to make others look bad, even if he has to lie to do it. Whose faith is real? According to Jesus the mouth speaks out of the overflow of the heart. An evil person cannot speak what is good. It is sobering to consider that our words either justify or condemn us.

In his letter to the Ephesians the apostle Paul writes this,

29  Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

30  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed for the day of redemption.

31  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with malice.

32  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you. ( Ephesians 4:29-32 NASB)

We must guard our mouths! Our purpose is to build others up, not tear them down. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we speak out in anger or hatred, or when we slander someone else. Of course there are times when we need to be honest with someone who is in error, or perhaps has fallen into sin, but we must be careful to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) instead of in a judgemental way. The point is to give grace to those to whom we are speaking with.

So much of what we hear in everyday talk is evil. From dirty jokes and profanity laced tirades to juicy gossip and outright slander, what we are hearing tends to drag us down. I know it often grieves me, and the passage above affirms that it grieves the Holy Spirit. I understand that the world talks like this, this is what Jesus said comes out of their hearts. But to hear this from a professing Christian should not be. Let us all be careful to guard our hearts, and then our speech will be right also. One day we will answer for it.

    

The Marks of a Christian: Obedience

In the last several posts I have discussed several different marks or characteristics that identify one as a Christian. I identified love, true repentance, and faith in Christ, as indispensable qualities found in the lives of those who are born again. In this post I would like to look at  righteous living, a life of consistent obedience. I admit there is some overlap between these individual points, but I believe it is important to turn these things around in our minds and look at them from various aspects, to gain a thorough understanding of what it means to be a Christian.

We see a relationship between repentance, submission to Christ, and a faith that finds its expression in loving obedience. All of these points are necessary parts of the whole Christian life.

     And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 

     The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 

     but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 

     the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:3-6 NASB)

That is pretty simple to understand. If we know Christ in a salvific way, if we have a relationship with Him, we will keep His commandments. The one who abides in Christ will walk in the same way Jesus walked. This is what a disciple, or one who follows Jesus does. As it states above, one who claims to know Jesus, who says that they are a Christian, yet they live in disobedience, is a liar. That is not my statement, it is taken right out of this scripture passage. 

Again we read this,

     Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. 

     And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 

     Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 

     And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 

     No one who abides in Him sins;  no one who sins has seen Him or known Him.

     Little children, let no one decieve you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;

     the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

     No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in Him; and he cannot sin because He is born of God.

     By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

     For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 

(1 John 3:2-11 NASB)

As children of God, we have a hope of an eternity with Jesus. When He appears we will be transformed. The cares and burdens of this life will be over. Every tear will be wiped away. As Christians we should long to see Jesus, the one we love and follow (2 Timothy 4:8). This being the case, a true child of God purifies themselves now in this lifetime in preparation of the day we see Jesus face to face.

Like a bride dressed in beautiful white dress gets ready to meet her groom, a Christian keeps themselves from spiritual defilement. Anything that would bring shame on that day we meet Jesus must go (see 1 John 2:28). 

Jesus came to take away sins. Not only did He provide an atonement for sin, but He also destroyed the power sin holds over our lives. We don't have to sin if we are in Christ. An inner transformation has taken place in one who has been born again. The Holy Spirit abides within us, the power behind the New Covenant ( Jeremiah 31:33). He whom the Son sets free is free indeed (John 8:36). This is why John can say that no one born of God sins. He is not implying some form of sinless perfection, but a consistent obedience as opposed to habitual sin. The Greek construction of these verses is speaking of an ongoing practice of either sin, or righteousness. A Christian may fail under temptation, but he will get up and confess that sin and keep moving forward with Christ. On the other hand, someone who claims to be a Christian but shows no real life change has no real assurance of their salvation at all. You are known by your fruits. The children of God and the children of the devil are known by how they live. That is the proof of whom you follow. 

If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. (1John 2:29)

The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. (1 John 3:24)

This is not something we do to earn our salvation. No amount of obedience or righteous acts will ever tip the scales in our favor. As I have previously written, this obedience flows out of our salvation in Christ. When we turn from our sinful lives and embrace the call to follow Jesus we will, by His grace and strength, obey Him. Righteousness is much more than being right with God, it is also doing what is right as well. If our repentance is real and our commitment to follow Christ is real, then our obedience will be real as well. It will be selfless, an outflow of love for God, and our fellow man.

The Marks of a Christian: Faith

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NASB)

My previous post dealt with the idea of repentance. In short, repentance is a change from one course of life to another. Something is the driving force behind this change. Biblical repentance is a change of mind and action brought about by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. In repentance then, we turn from our unbelief and sin to submission to God. 

This is where faith comes in. Theologians differ on the question of what comes first: repentance or faith?

Regardless of what their opinions might be, they are basically two sides of the same coin. Again, we turn from sin to God. If one is not moved by a godly sorrow to confess and renounce sin and self it is impossible to exercise faith in Christ. Jesus died to set us free from a sinful lifestyle. Discipleship demands His Lordship over our lives. This we embrace in and by faith. To believe in Jesus is to follow Jesus. It cannot be anything less.

In the above verse we read that we cannot please God apart from faith. If you do not believe in His existence you will see no need to submit to or obey Him. You will not seek after Him.

This seeking after God is vital. A half hearted pursuit is no pursuit at all. Jeremiah called Israel back to God during their captivity in Babylon. He prophesied this,

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:12-13 NASB)

This is just as pertinent to us today as it was to Israel in the days of her captivity. It's all or nothing. Do we kind of want God, or are we all in? Are we committed with all of our heart, or is our allegiance divided?

To seek God in the sense of these verses is to seek Him. We often seek God in prayer to meet a need, but what we see here not that. God Himself is the object of our seeking. We must believe that He rewards those who, as the KJV puts it, diligently seek Him. Our reward is the presence of God in our lives. A relationship with Him is what we must be after. And it involves the whole heart, a sincere passion to know and have God.

Faith is more than an intellectual knowledge of God. Many individuals have a head knowledge of biblical things.They believe historical facts about Jesus, but that's as far as they go. That is not faith. Faith is a confident belief in God that moves us into action. A person who has a firm conviction that Jesus indeed has died for him or her, and has been raised from the dead and sits at the right hand of God, will embrace the Lordship of Christ over their lives and yield to Him in loving obedience. 

Jesus said that those who love him will obey Him (John 14:21-24). Faith expresses itself in love (Gal 5:6), so if we are not obedient to the words of Christ our faith is dead. James tells us that faith without works is a dead faith (James 2:14-26). It is useless.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Col 2:6-7 ESV)

So, just as we began in faith, we are to continue our walk with Christ in the same way. We are to grow and become established in the faith. Christ is to be our lives, the one we live for on a daily basis. This is what faith is. A vibrant and growing faith is a mark of a Christian.

The Marks of a Christian: Repentance

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10 NASB)

This passage mentions two kinds of sorrow. Godly sorrow, and worldly sorrow. One leads to salvation, while the other leads to death. It is vital that we understand the difference between the two. Our salvation depends upon it. 

Jesus exhorts us to enter by the narrow gate. This is a narrow path that few find, while the majority find and travel upon the broad path to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). I'm afraid many miss the narrow gate because of an insincere repentance.

Our text above mentions the sorrow of the world. Two things come to mind when I think about this.

1. The sorrow at being caught 

2. The dread of punishment 

Many individuals who have come to "repentance" are sorry because they were caught in some type of sin. Their sin might have been hidden from everyone around them, and now it has come to light, bringing perhaps shame or embarrassment. This type of person now has a change of mind about their sin. They give it up because it has come to light, but they would never have stopped if they still could have gotten away with it. They are not really sorry, they just want to save face.

Then there are those who fear the consequences of their sin. Perhaps their sin might lead to jail time, or a divorce. Of course all sin leads to eternal separation from God, ultimately spent in torment. That should strike fear in all of our hearts. But to give up our sin to avoid prison, avoid divorce, or even avoid eternal torment in the lake of fire is a selfish repentance that does not touch upon the hurt and offence our sin has brought upon God, and the individual we have sinned against. 

Think about it. You have been caught shoplifting. It's embarrassing, you are afraid of going to jail, so you give your word that you will never do it again. Deep inside however you are not sorry about your crime, and you would still do it if you could get away with it. Is that real sorrow? Is this true repentance? 

Or you feel guilty about sin in your life. You know you are a sinner, and you know that someday you must give an account to God for your sin. You know hell awaits you and you are terrified. Understand, it is wise to know and understand that sin has consequences, and that should cause us to think about sin and our standing before God. However, if our motivation for repentance is the avoidance of punishment we fall short. How does it sound when we tell God we are sorry for our sin, and we will now obey Him, when deep inside we are not concerned as much about God's honor and our offense against Him, as we are about avoiding punishment?

A man says some mean things to his wife. She is very hurt, and now things are strained in their relationship. After a few painful days he goes out and buys some flowers and a nice necklace. He gives her these things with an abstract apology hoping that somehow things will smooth over and go back to how they were. He has only made things worse. Now his wife feels deeper pain, a wedge is driven deeper into the separation between them. 

This is worldly sorrow. Trying to fix things and patch things up between man and God without a heartfelt grief over our sin because it is sin. Worldly sorrow actually leaves God out, we only want Him for what He can do for us. There is no sorrow for what we have done to Him. This kind of repentance is selfish, it still leaves us on the throne. We might give up something sinful, and pick up some moral habits, but it is all for us and our well being, not for the honor of God.

To confess our sin (1 John 1:9) is to agree with God about our sin. Daniel confessed his sin and the national sin of Israel while they were held captive in Babylon,

     "We have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly, and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. Moreover, we have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land. Righteousness belongs to you, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day -to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. (Daniel 9:5-7)

Daniel takes God's side in the matter. As does Ezra (Ezra 9:4-15). The Jews had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, but now it was discovered that they had began to intermarry with the foreigners living among them, in violation of God's command. Ezra was ashamed. He confesses that they had been given into captivity justly, on account of their sin, yet now God had shown them mercy in allowing a remnant to return to rebuild the temple. Now they had fallen into sin once again. He is grieved, not because they were caught, he prays, not to avoid punishment, but he confesses the unfaithfulness of his people to God because it was a grievous offense against a holy, yet gracious God.

This is what godly sorrow looks like. This sorrow at sinning against God causes us to be ashamed of ourselves, our sin, and admit we deserve the penalty due us for our sin. We must take God's side against us, and see ourselves and our sin as He does.

Repentance is a change of mind. This is not a fickle change of mind such as what may be produced by a worldly type of sorrow, but a change of mind brought about by a view of ourselves through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. When we see sin for what it is we will give it up.

Repentance also carries with it the idea of restitution. A thief will return what he has taken, a wrong will be righted as far as possible. Restoration between God and man is not possible without an honest attempt at restoration between the offender and the party offended. In other words, a thief who does not restore what he has taken is a thief still. One who will not go to an offended brother with a sincere confession shows that he has not yet experienced that godly sorrow that leads to repentance. Sadly, many relationships are never truly mended because true restoration has never been attempted. Often people go on like nothing has happened, but deep inside a disconnect remains.

Repentance is a turning point. We turn from sin to obedience. It carries the idea of surrender and commitment. We give up our right to control our lives, and in an act of faith we transfer control to God. In the next post I would like to look at another mark of a Christian, which is faith.