It's Getting Lonesome Out There!

If what we believe and preach, in serving God, is correct, most people will see it and agree.

Right? No! Not if we believe the Bible.

Matt. 7:13-29 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the
way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because
narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who
find it. 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but
inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men
gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree
bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad
fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit
is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know
them.21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in
that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in
Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to
them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who 24 “Therefore whoever hears
these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his
house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds
blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be
like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the
floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was
its fall.” 28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people
were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and
not as the scribes. This is the infamous chapter, verse 1, that also includes the gospel
mantra. “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” How interesting that they don’t mention
these other verses. This is because a narrow way, and having to obey all of God’s
commands, are not part of their belief system.

Should we all just join together and become one, happy family?2 Cor 6:15-20 And
what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple
of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I
will be their God, And they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore “Come out from among
them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive
you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the
Lord Almighty. Come out from among them. “Don’t you mean, Lord, that you want
us to join them, compromise with them, change God’s Word to what is the acceptable
standard of the time to keep peace and love everyone?” Christianity has always been
a narrow way. That’s why Christians have been imprisoned, persecuted, fed to the lions,
impaled, and used as lanterns to light up streets.

Christianity is about love, saving grace, good news, eternal life, healing, blessing,
peace, and joy. There is no doubt about that. However, to enter into it, requires
total commitment, laying our lives down, taking up our cross, and giving up the
lordship of our lives to Christ. For many, that is too great of a price.
Hence, a new gospel is birthed. It is one of “let’s have our cake and eat it too.
Let’s lay claim to all of His benefits without those old-fashioned Biblical
responsibilities. I want eternal life, my way. I want to have what He died to give
me, without any allegiance to His word, well, at least the parts I don’t like or agree
with.” Yet, it’s not really new at all. Paul, and even Jesus warned us that it would
be like that in the last days.

Jesus said in Matt 24:9-14 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you,
and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be
offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false
prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound,
the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to
all the nations, and then the end will come.

I have a responsibility to guard what has been committed to my trust.
I Tim 6:20-21 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the
profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—
21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.

Paul speaks many times of several abandoning him and their faith. He admonishes
Timothy to remember what his mother & grandmother believed and taught. He
says over and over that in the last days people will be deceived and that we are to
be faithful to the end, no matter the cost.

2 Tim 3:12-17 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer
persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving
and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned
and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from
childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work.

2 Tim 4:1-5 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will
judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word!
Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all
longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears,
they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from
the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure
afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Notice that verse 2 gives instructions to the preacher. Two thirds of our preaching
is to be rebuking and reproving (KJV). Most are saying that we should just be
cheerleaders and telling everyone that it’s o.k. to stay in your sin because we all
have some.

Is everyone going to join us or agree with us? Absolutely not. I dare say, most will
not, but will choose the broad way. Could there be even physical persecution
ahead? Very possibly. I see it looming on the horizon. Will our families all stick
with us? Unfortunately the Bible also says in Matthew 10:34-35 . 34 “Do not think
that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;”

We are in that hour. We may have to stand almost alone. Do not be shocked and
disappointed as you see this happening more and more. However, there will always
be a remnant of true believers who will pay the price to endure to the end. Let’s
pray for one another, encourage one another, not shrink back, refuse to
compromise, and have one another’s backs in the body of Christ. We are up
against enough out there, without quarreling over the color of the church carpet.