These Times!

        Persecution of God’s children by other children of His can be quite painful. Someone once remarked that it is impossible for children of God to persecute each other. On the contrary, it is possible to do so out of ignorance and fear. Major tactics employed by these persecutors are manipulation and intimidation. These persecutors are not interested in sound doctrine and they try to marry God’s word with the principles of the world. As a result of this error, the very foundation of Christendom is constantly questioned by them and their sympathizers. If we are not discerning in the face of such evil, even the very word “faith” will be explained away as a ‘chemical imbalance of the brain’! The word of God is very clear on this: “Adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy” (James 4:4). However, what is happening is not strange; the Bible clearly tells us that “For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will accumulate teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2Timothy 4:3-4). For instance, when some children of God declared that same sex relations and their likes are not the will of God Almighty for mankind, such were labeled “homophobes”. Thus, in a bid to keep their congregations (but in reality, the bottom-line at the end of the day), so many children of God renege their faith and say things that negate the Word of God. 

       The most amusing of some of the attacks against the Church of Christ is that ‘Jesus Christ died for everyone and no one has the right to judge another’! But do permit me to point out: Jesus Christ did die for everyone irrespective of their states because the Bible said so: “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This awesome gift becomes a reality in the life of anyone that believes and receives Jesus Christ. In spite of the fact that He died for the world, many still do not believe nor have they received Him. This love of God is a gift that must be appropriated by the recipient. For example, a cashier’s cheque may be given to you. It is not useful to you until you take it to the bank and exchange it for cash or paid into your account. Thus, the fact that Christ loves and died for the world is history, believing and receiving Him into one’s life this gift is salvation. That is why so many know that Jesus Christ did come into the world and died, some even agree that He may have risen; others believe He is the prophet to come! Without appropriating the foregoing information into their individual lives it is mere history and will profit such none! The truth is, once we believe and receive Him, we must repent by confessing our sins to Him and the Bible tells us that He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness (1John 1:9). The Bible equally went on to tell us “The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him’, without keeping His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not him…This is how we know we are in Him: the one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked” (1John 2:4&6). Friend, this is what differentiates a child of God from the world. You cannot claim to be a child of God and seek to rewrite His word to suit your conscience or validate your life style: “But who are you – anyone who talks back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” (Romans 9:20). God’s standard is not ambiguous, it is very clear for as many that desire to walk in Him. 

        Another terrible lie that is being spewed and urged on by such children of God is that God did not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of homosexuality. The Bible tells us that God told Abraham: “Then the Lord said, the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious. I will go down to see if what they have done justifies the cry that has come up to Me. If not I will find out” (Genesis 18:20-21). Of course, when the Angels arrived the cities, they were confronted by horny men that desired to rape them. The end result of that encounter was the destruction of the cities. To make it clear to us that the cities were destroyed for their sexual perversions, God reiterated: “In the same way Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them committed sexual immorality and practiced perversions, just as they did, and serve as example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire” (Jude 7). 

       All of these gimmicks and more are to pass a terrible lie across that God Almighty and true Christians hate homosexuals and the likes. This is a terrible lie and deceit from the kingdom of darkness. As children of God, we have not been called to hate but to love; and our Father, the Almighty God is the embodiment of LOVE. To demonstrate this love, as children of God, we are mandated to snatch as many as we can from the fires of perversion whilst being careful of compromising our faith in Christ Jesus! Beloved, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope at your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). Any other is a counterfeit from the pit of hell and must be resisted! Don’t compromise your stand because you don’t want to be labeled. Christ was labeled: The same people that celebrated Him where the same ones that shouted crucify Him. Therefore, we must be on our guards and contend for the faith: “But as for you, keep a clear head about everything, endure hardship, do the work of the evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2Timothy 4:5). Compromising our stands by being sympathetic will not win over those that are lost. But by actively demonstrating the true love of Christ in our speech and actions will do it! May His Grace help you to stand and remain standing in these times in Jesus Christ name. God bless you.