Good Day, Meetpastordan Readers…As I was writing last week’s blog entitled, “The Power of Prophecy”, I was struggling with staying within the parameters that I have established for myself. I have had many suggestions from our microwave culture to shorten the length of my blogs, but I have landed on a usable format that allows me to introduce the “truths” that I believe I am led to address, without watering down the “truth” to mere “pablum”. No doubt, books have been written that address the “truths” I have chosen to spotlight, but my hope is that these blogs will spark an interest, or further questions that cause the reader to want to delve further into the subject. When I do have more to say, I have taken to writing a series of blogs on that subject, such as the series to Unbelievers, “Don’t Miss the Great Feast: All Are Invited!”, or today’s blog, which revisits last week’s blog. I have been doing this for seven years now, and I’m still trying to improve this offering. Your feedback is encouraged and appreciated.
In last weeks blog, I closed with these statements: “These times will be more horrific than any time before, or any time to follow. But the ones who endure to the end will be saved.” Therefore, “watch and listen.” This week, I want to expand these statements. The topic that I consciously left out of last week’s presentation was the very real battle of “good” vs “evil’.
The Truth is, (and I have said this in previous writings: when I talk about Truth, I am referring to The Truth found in the Word of God) it is impossible to get to the root of our cultures malaise without talking in very real terms about “good” vs “evil”. Unbeknownst to anyone who doesn’t know The Truth, we were/are born into an eternal morality play entitled, “Good” vs “Evil”. This was God’s plan even before He created the world. (Ref. Ephesians 1:4-12)
God molded His “proudest creation” Man(kind) in His image, and for an eternal relationship. But, because He is omniscient, He knew we were going to yield to our sin-nature and follow a path that would make it impossible for us to enter into that all important relationship. Therefore, His plan was always to provide, at just the right time, a Savior to save us from ourselves. And what was “just the right time”, you ask? Roman’s 5:6 proclaims this Good News: “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came, at just the right time, and died for us sinners!” So, when was “just the right time?” When we were utterly helpless to save ourselves! The simple truth is, Man(kind) could not overcome Sin!
God provided the stage for Man’s audition for eternal life. The original spiritual connection that existed between God and Man(kind) was severed in the Garden when sin entered the world. Therefore, we were born into this fallen world without a connection to our Creator. But God, in His ultimate display of unconditional, unending and unfailing love for us, provided a way for that connection to be restored. He provided, through Jesus Christ, the sacrifice that was required for forgiveness of Sin. When we accept Jesus’ payment for OUR sin, that original spiritual connection is restored and we are now in Christ! Our sins are forgiven and we have inherited eternal life. John 3:16 confirms this: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son. Whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life!
When we are born into this world, we all, unbeknownst to us, become actors in this morality play. The role that we play depends on the choices we make. If we are not in Christ, we are controlled by our sin-nature, and the puppeteer pulling our proverbial strings is none other than “the father of lies”, satan. If your life is defined by these characteristics, you reside in the domain of darkness: “sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, fear, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, lying, cheating, stealing, and violence.” (Galatians 5: 19-21) You are in the domain of light if your life is defined by these characteristics: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5: 22-23) If you have the courage, take a silent self-evaluation right now.
We must remember that when this world was created, it was paradise; the first inhabitants communed with God, and everything they wanted or needed was provided. But all of that came to an end when Sin entered the world. “And what exactly is Sin”, you ask? It can be defined as Man(kind) living separated from God, disobedient to His Word and His Will, but with a focus on serving self. This is what keep’s Man(kind) separated from God; God hates sin, and we are ALL are stained with sin. “Why does He hate sin”, you ask? Because sin spreads, contaminates, kills and destroys! Look at what sin has done to this world. Would you describe today’s world as paradise? It was paradise before The Fall.
God set a very high standard for getting into His New Jerusalem (His new, recreated heaven). 1 Peter 1:16 defines the criteria: “You must be holy because I am holy.” Holy means to be sin-free; to be set aside for a sacred purpose. In other words, if you are stained with sin, you will not get in. God has witnessed what Sin did to His first paradise; it won’t happen in the New Jerusalem, because “only those who’s names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life may enter.” Revelation 21:27)
God does not grade on the curve. His standard is perfection, and there is only one way to meet that standard. When we accept His Gift of Grace (Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior) we are immediately “justified” (made right) in His eyes. We are now sin-free. We now qualify for eternal life!
The world you see today is Man’s best effort at playing god. Worldly teaching and “New Age” enlightenments have been exalted, and God’s Word has been marginalized, ridiculed, and slandered. The reason these times will be worse than before is because sin will reign, and satan will use every diabolical scheme in his arsenal to destroy God’s children. This is his vengeance against God, because he knows his own fate, and he knows that his time is nigh.
To stand strong against what is sure to be a horrific assault on Christians, and Christianity itself, will be our ultimate challenge. Our faith must be rock solid, and we MUST count on the Holy Spirit to guide our steps. But as Jesus told His followers, “Those who endure to the end will be saved.” Therefore, we must “watch and listen”, and compare -and discern – every new enlightenment, practice and revelation to The Truth of God’s Word. As the Scriptures say, “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My Words will NEVER pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) Amen!
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May God Bless You abundantly,
Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)
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