Pounding the Pulpit

“If you refrain from delivering those being led away to death, those about to die; if you say, Behold, we did not know it; does not He who ponders the heart consider it? And the Keeper of your soul, does He not know it? And shall He not repay to a man according to his deeds?”  Proverbs 24:11-12

 

Here we are in the end of 2017, a year that in my opinion that seemed to go by quite quickly.  Yet, as the remainder of the year plays out and the next year begins, I realize just how horrible of times we really live in, as a nation, as a world.  Why? 

 

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”  Jeremiah 8:20

 

We live in a time where bible prophecy has clearly been fulfilled.  What else has to be fulfilled before Christ appears to take Home His bride, prior to the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7)…nothing.  That’s right, nothing.  Nothing else has to happen on the prophetic timeline. 

 

We live in a time where people, so-called evangelical christians, often from fully apostate churches are pleased to see Jerusalem recognized as the capital of Israel.  While I am also happy that finally someone did what should have always been done, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital, the very thought that people are pushing so hard for Israel and peace, without realizing that the fulfillment of that very peace deal might as well be the beginning of the Tribulation. 

 

While it is certainly possible that a peace treaty could be signed that is not the prophetic one that is signed by the Antichrist, it is also possible that it is.  Most of these deals are done in secret, agreed upon prior to being publicly released.  Is not a deal often complete upon an agreement, even before the ink is placed on the paper?  I don’t think that those who truly know Christ will witness such an event, I believe that the Rapture will have taken place.

 

“And he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week.”  Daniel 9:27a

 

“And then the lawless one will be unveiled, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.”  2nd Thessalonians 2:8

 

We live in a time where preachers, true men called by God to preach His Word, should be pounding the pulpit, speaking His Truth.  They should be pounding the pulpit, reminding those who are Saved to get busy in some regard of doing the Lord’s work.  They should be pounding the pulpit, warning those who are not saved, that time is running out! 

 

Instead, what do we often see?  Compromise and more compromise, apostasy full blown, blowing it’s false doctrine at those who refuse to compromise, those who are truly separated and serving Jesus Christ, their Lord and Savior.  We have preachers who preach a prosperity doctrine, a self doctrine, indeed doctrines of demons.

 

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, being devoted to corrupting spirits and doctrines of demons”…  1st Timothy 4:1

 

For those who are true Christians, for those who have truly repented and by faith believed into the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, are you watching and ready?

 

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord comes.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief comes, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be dug through.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man comes at an hour you do not expect.”  Matthew 24:42-44

 

Has the Lord laid upon your heart to speak to some individuals?  Have you done so?  Has the Lord given you something else to do?  Have you done it?  Have you told your neighbors, your family and your friends the Gospel?  Do you continue to support your pastor and help with biblical ministry projects and missionary support that you Church is involved in?  Certainly we all should consider the following verses:

 

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also become holy in all conduct, because it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.”  1st Peter 1:13-16

 

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”  Mark 12:30-31

 

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”  1st Corinthians 9:24

 

Now for those who have been sitting on the fence, not having actually repented and believed into Jesus Christ, just how long can you wait?  What will you do if the Trumpet sounds (1st Cor. 15:52) and you are Left Behind?  What will you do if you die in your sins before you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior?  What will you do when you stand before your Creator, not having been washed in the blood of Christ (1st Cor. 6:11), not having your name written in the Book of Life (Rev. 20:11-15) and you are condemned for eternity to the Lake of Fire?  This is serious stuff, certainly should not be taken lightly! 

 

Whatever it is that seems to stand in your way, consider this and consider it carefully…

 

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”  Mark 8:36-37

 

Plus also consider this one thing, for those who have been sitting on the fence and assume to become Saved after the Rapture takes place:

 

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who are perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”  2nd Thessalonians 2:9-12

 

Not a chance, if you fully knew the Gospel and denied accepting it. 

 

“For this let everyone who is godly pray unto You, in a time when You may be found; surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come near him.”  Psalms 32:6

 

“Seek Jehovah while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Jehovah, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”  Isaiah 55:6-7

 

While the world looks towards Israel, mostly with disdain, understand this:

 

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the peoples all around, and it shall also be against Judah in the siege against Jerusalem.”  Zechariah 12:2

 

In all reality, if you, dear reader, are not Saved, then you should be trembling for your soul.  Knowing that without Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are lost, doomed and without hope. 

 

It does not have to be like that, you can certainly seek God, you can believe the Gospel, you can repent and by faith accept the free gift of Salvation.  But will you, before it is too late?

 

“For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  2nd Corinthians 6:2

 

Amen!