Bible Ballistics: BBs #302 Days Of Decision & Difficulty???

 

“This know also,

that in the last days

perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be

lovers of their own selves,

covetous,

boasters,

proud,

blasphemers,

disobedient to parents,

unthankful,

unholy,

3 Without natural affection,

trucebreakers,

false accusers,

incontinent,

fierce,

despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors,

heady,

highminded,

lovers of pleasures

more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness,

but denying the power thereof:

from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

If I wrote nothing else, the picture is clear—the message is unmistakable—the truth is plain and unwavering, but will we receive it and take it to heart? That is a question that only you can answer! It is a question that I must answer! Will we awake from our slumbering stupor and “withstand in the evil day”? Go over that list and match it to our culture, to the daily news, to the political hoopla, to any field or arena of life that you choose—the likeness is unmistakable!!! And just as importantly, we need to examine our lives and make sure that we are not consumed with these traits of behavior. Remember, Jesus told us that behavior comes from the heart—what’s in our heart will come out!

My friends, we must awake from our drowsy state and fall on our faces and ask God to help us to reflect “HIS” light and glory rather than our own or the world’s idea of “glory”. We must stop ‘playing’ church and decide if we really belong to the Lord Jesus Christ or not. And if we do, we must dig into HIS Word and equip our hearts and minds with HIS truth, put on our Armor of God, and “stand”! We must get off of our “Blessed Assurance” and start marching “Onward Christian Soldiers”! We are called to be salt and light—that is light in the darkness around us as well as seasoning and a preservative to our world and culture. We can make a difference. We aren’t The Light of the world, but our Savior Jesus Christ IS, and we are to reflect HIS light, which is within us, in the darkness, and that does make a difference. Our job is to shine HIS light, and to be a seasoning and a preservative agent, and because we believers are failing to BE that preservative in our culture, the corruption has flourished. We have failed to proclaim “truth” as “truth” and we will give an account, but just as significant right now, is that we may be about to reap the consequences of our choices and our compromising ways!

“Ye are the salt of the earth:

but if the salt have lost his savour,

wherewith shall it be salted?

it is thenceforth good for nothing,

but to be cast out,

and to be trodden

under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill

cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel,

but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light

unto all

that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine

before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father

which is in heaven.”    Matthew 5:13-16

We can choose to reflect the Savior to the world, or we can choose to live like the world and shame our Lord. How are you living? What are your choices accomplishing in the Kingdom of God? Are you ready for the persecution that may lie ahead? And I can hear some of you saying, “What persecution?” The persecution that is already at work, the persecution of bakers and photographers who won’t cave to the politically correct thought police. The persecution that is even now coming against those who stand for biblical morality—the laws that say it’s “OK” for men to go into women’s bathrooms. The persecution that sends employees to “sensitivity training” because they won’t call wrong ‘right’ and right ‘wrong’! The persecution toward those who dare to stand for life and morality! Wake up my friends, we must wake up!

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” Matthew 24:9-10

Then seems to be here!

“Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Mark 13:12-13

And while these references are to the very last days, the persecution has been around since the beginning. Many who serve Almighty God and His Son Jesus Christ, have been put to death ever since sin entered into the world, we can expect no less. Why did Cain kill his brother? Cain killed his brother because Abel obeyed God and was accepted, while Cain came to God his own way and was not accepted, therefore he rose up and took Abel’s life. Jesus even spoke of the innocent, righteous blood that had been shed from Abel’s time on.

“That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.” Matthew 23:35

And persecution is going on today, from minor inconveniences to those who stand for truth, to the murder of those refuse to deny Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and understand this, it is coming to a home near you. Are you ready? Paul told Timothy this very thing!

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12

Friends, we are there. And regardless of what happens in November in America, the world is becoming more and more hostile toward biblical Christianity and Israel. We are both hated because we hold to the truths of God’s Word, because we won’t call wrong ‘right’, or right ‘wrong’! The question we must answer today is “Am I living ‘godly in Christ Jesus’ before a world of darkness and corruption, or have I lost my ‘saltiness’?” We must each answer that question in our own hearts and before God!!! And while God knows the answer already, do you? We must redeem the time that we have!

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17

Many are familiar with Chief Justice Roy Moore of Alabama, who has been embroiled with the government hierarchy for quite some time over his pursuit of real justice, truth and righteousness. After a recent ruling against his stand for “truth” and “right”, he made some statements that I would like to leave you with. My friends this truly is a day of decision!

“Welcome to the new world. It’s just changed for you Christians. You are going to be persecuted, according to the U.S Supreme Court dissents.”  

“Have we elevated immorality to morality? Do we call good, bad? What are we Christians to do? Are we exiles in our own country…?”

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

What’s your difficulty? What’s your decision?