It has always been this way, but it becomes more evident as we move further from Philadelphia and deeper into Laodicea.
Though we live our lives with our feet on the ground, our hearts and minds must be set on heaven. This world is becoming more deluded by Satan and more antagonistic to God everyday. The darkness is spreading more rapidly than ever before. Christian values and the Christian message are not even considered as viable options in our modern, Christ-less society.
Though I want to reach my anti-Bible friends, it is nearly impossible, because the anti-Christ forces have so thoroughly blinded them that it may be impossible to reason with them. The liberal (theological, social and political) mindset has captured the minds and hearts of an entire generation and invaded every bastion of society. We truly are in the Laodicean Period.
While we were in Philadelphia, we had an Open Door of opportunity. In Laodicea the door is closed, and Christ is knocking to get in. It is up to the individual to open the door and allow Christ to come in, contrary to the prevailing resistance, rejection and ridicule raised against Biblical Christianity.
LIKE DAYS OF NOAH AND LOT
Jesus said that these days would be like the days of Noah, and the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. (see Luke passage below)
In Noah's day, his efforts were directed to (1) communicating the righteousness of God (not by political action) and (2) providing a safety for his family. We are not called to save this world's political, academic, economic, social system. We are called to tell the good news and to lead our families in the light of the gospel. Trying to save this world's political system is like trying to keep the Titanic from sinking by bailing with a cracked thimble.
In Lot's day, his efforts to salvage the wicked community were over. In fact, even God abandoned that evil and perverted society. But Lot could still lead his family to safety, if they would listen and obey.
Of course, Noah and Lot provided temporary deliverance from earthly suffering. (see 2 Peter passsage below) Our responsibility is greater. We must lift up Jesus, in hope that the unsaved will look and live, but we are not called to save the sinking Ship of State. We must make an ark and lead our families in the way of escape.
Don't waste your time trying to raise a garden on a rock of resistance, instead, build your life and your family on the Rock, Jesus Christ.
Revelation 3:14-22
(14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
(15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
(16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
(17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
(18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
(19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
(20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
(21) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
(22) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
also...
Luke 17:26-30
(26) And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
(27) They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
(28) Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
(29) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
(30) Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
2 Peter 2:4-10
(4) For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
(5) And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
(6) And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
(7) And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
(8) (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
(9) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
(10) But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
In Noah's day, his efforts were directed to (1) communicating the righteousness of God (not by political action) and (2) providing a safety for his family. We are not called to save this world's political, academic, economic, social system. We are called to tell the good news and to lead our families in the light of the gospel. Trying to save this world's political system is like trying to keep the Titanic from sinking by bailing with a cracked thimble.
In Lot's day, his efforts to salvage the wicked community were over. In fact, even God abandoned that evil and perverted society. But Lot could still lead his family to safety, if they would listen and obey.
Of course, Noah and Lot provided temporary deliverance from earthly suffering. (see 2 Peter passsage below) Our responsibility is greater. We must lift up Jesus, in hope that the unsaved will look and live, but we are not called to save the sinking Ship of State. We must make an ark and lead our families in the way of escape.
Don't waste your time trying to raise a garden on a rock of resistance, instead, build your life and your family on the Rock, Jesus Christ.
Revelation 3:14-22
(14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
(15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
(16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
(17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
(18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
(19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
(20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
(21) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
(22) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
also...
Luke 17:26-30
(26) And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
(27) They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
(28) Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
(29) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
(30) Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
2 Peter 2:4-10
(4) For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
(5) And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
(6) And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
(7) And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
(8) (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
(9) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
(10) But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
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