article by site founder, Connie Rice
The move of our culture in recent years has been to basically shake our fist at God and rebel against Him and His Word. What He has called good is said to be bad and what He has called sin is said to be good. This comes as no shock to those who know God’s Word – it was prophesied in the Bible. However, the speed at which this is taking place is rather shocking. There are many who unfortunately do not have the eyes to see where this will lead – sadly, to their own peril. This story has played out numerous times throughout the history of mankind, but unfortunately recent generations have not had the benefit of being taught a fact-based history. Ignorance of factual history and the lessons that can learned through it combined with not knowing the Bible (unfortunately, biblical illiteracy is rampant even among many church-goers and self-proclaiming Christians) makes people quite vulnerable to deceptions and lies.
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
2 Timothy 4:1-4
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
Isaiah 5:20-21
who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!”
Most people are aware that they can be deceived by others, so many are skeptical to a degree of what others say. Another form of deception may not be as well-recognized. Self-deception is quite common because our sinful and selfish nature can cause us to rationalize or justify ungodly attitudes and/or behavior that separates us from the Lord. This can limit or block God’s blessings in our lives. Perhaps some are focused on seeking ambition, security, fame, or money instead of a close relationship with their Creator. Feelings of discouragement, disappointment, grief, physical or emotional pain, rejection, confusion, betrayal, or misunderstandings can result in our reacting poorly to people and circumstances. Others may struggle with arrogance or pride, or a host of other things that can blind us to the truth and lead us away from Jesus Christ, who is the source of all truth. Even if we are doing all the things a “good” Christian is supposed to do, our hearts may not really be with God. That becomes fertile ground for self-deception. That’s when we begin to do what is “right in our own eyes” instead of seeking the Lord in His Word with our whole heart, mind, strength, and soul.
“This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us.”
1 John 1:5-10
“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.”
Proverbs 21:30
God is sovereign. He will not be mocked. His plan will succeed – it’s an honor and a privilege to be part of God’s Kingdom work, but He will accomplish His purposes with or without any of us. We know that Jesus will win in the end and that evil will be dealt with once and for all by a just and holy God. He created each person in His image and so values every human life, wanting that none should perish. He has been and continues to be patient so more and more people can be saved from the penalty of their sin. He warns us in His Word what happens when we reject Him and rebel against Him. God does not send anyone to hell, but gives us all the freedom to choose – but like all choices, there are consequences. Where we spend eternity should deserve our utmost attention because. well – eternity is a long time. Our time on earth, even for those with long lives here, is but a drop in the bucket compared to eternity. God wants us to admit that we fall short and for us to seek Him, asking for His help to live the life He has created for each of us. Discover the purpose for which you were made. As you follow Him, depend on Him, serve Him, and share what He has done in your life, God meets your needs and guides you. True soul satisfaction is found through Jesus. He fills our deepest needs.
“You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit that He has made to dwell in us’? But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
James 4:2b-8
2 Pet 3:9: “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance”.
This verse tells of God’s great love and mercy. It is God’s desire that all be saved. But again, we know from what He has revealed to us that only those who come to Jesus in faith will be saved:
Rom 10:9-10: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
“There is a human responsibility in salvation. It is not a work. Rather it is a response to Jesus’ offer to forgive, save, and restore sinners.”
excerpt from article, “Will All People Be Saved?” by Shari Abbott of “Reasons for Hope* Jesus”
The death rate is 100% – it comes to everyone. We will all stand before the Lord and give an account of our lives – to either welcome our long-awaited Savior and receive our promised rewards in heaven or to stand in judgment for our sins. Without the intercession of our Savior, we will be separated from the loving God who created us and from His goodness eternally. Check out the article, “Going to Heaven – How Can I Guarantee My Eternal Destination?” by “Got Questions”
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:7
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.”
Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:13-16a
The Bible is God’s message to us for who He is, who we are, how things came to be, how He has worked in people’s lives throughout human history, and what to expect in the future – including how Jesus is going to come for those who trust in Him and will destroy evil. Much of what we’ve seen in the form of natural disasters, evil, sickness, conflict, disrespect, cultural immorality, rebellion against God, etc. was prophesied for the end times. Time may be very short – “today is the day of salvation”. The article from “Got Questions” answers, “What Does it Mean That Today is the Day of Salvation?”. Jesus offers the hope of salvation from our sins and even offers each of us a part to play in the perfect tapestry He is weaving. It took me a long time because I was stubborn, but I finally got to end of myself in a time of desperation. I surrendered my life to Him and have experienced true soul satisfaction and meaning in this life. His amazing love, mercy, faithfulness, and patience along with His peace that the world cannot provide, His joy, and His supernatural strength are incredible. If you let Him, He will make all things new.
“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:17-24
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” [emphasis by site founder]
Philippians 2:5-11
The choice is yours. I hope you will choose to seek the Lord with your whole heart, mind, strength, and soul and begin (or continue) your relationship with your Creator. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. May He reveal Himself to you as He has to so many before you who surrendered their lives to Him. When you keep Him first in your life and choose to obey Him and trust in the truth of His Word, you will experience His blessings. This life has troubles, but He will never leave you nor forsake you, so you will never be alone. Let the adventure begin!
© Constance Rice 2022
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