Stand Firm to the End
"Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:12-13)."
We are living in dark times where it looks like evil is winning. People everywhere are following their own ungodly desires. Many are turning away from the faith to follow a man-made religion that is worthless. Others are lovers of themselves and care about only what they can get. Still others are still trying to earn their salvation by what they do. The world is under the influence of the evil one and friend, if you aren't careful, you could be deceived as well. satan is the master of deception. The thing about deception is you don't realize it is happening. It is sort of a slow fade where something that was once black and white has now become grey. "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is (Jeremiah 17:9)?" You need to guard your heart with all diligence, not just some of the time, but all the time. So how do you guard your heart? You need to pay close attention to what you are meditating on, who you listen to, things you watch and things you read. You will either feed your flesh or feed your spirit. It is critical that you stay in God's word, now more than ever. His word is truth and it is the only thing that will counter all of the deception and lies that are in the world, in your home, in your church and in your mind.
While it is great to go to church, Bible studies, and fellowship with other believers don't just take someone else's word, dig in the Bible and study it for yourself so you will be able to test the spirits and stand firm when the enemy aims his fiery darts at you. When Jesus spoke about signs of the end of the age He said, "If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look here is the Christ!' or, 'There He is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive eve the elect-if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time (Matthew 24:22-25)."
You are either for God or against Him. There is no grey area when it comes to God. You are in the kingdom of light or in the kingdom of darkness. If you take a stand for Christ, you can expect opposition and persecution. People will insult you, say false things about you, make fun of you or leave you. But know my friend that when this happens, great is your reward in heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:11-12)." Be glad my friend because you are counted worthy of the kingdom of heaven and are a threat to the kingdom of darkness. "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you (1 Peter 4:12-14)."
If you are a follower of Christ, you overcome by His blood and the word of your testimony. Know that you are shielded by God's power until the coming of salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:5). God will strengthen you in your inner man. You have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of you~that same power that raised Jesus from the dead~ who will guide you into all truth.
Stand firm in Christ my friend! Hold fast to Him. He is coming back to take from the world His own. One day soon, we will see our beautiful Savior and Lord face to face and be with Him forever more.
"Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (Revelation 7:16-17)."
Amen! Come Lord Jesus!
We are living in dark times where it looks like evil is winning. People everywhere are following their own ungodly desires. Many are turning away from the faith to follow a man-made religion that is worthless. Others are lovers of themselves and care about only what they can get. Still others are still trying to earn their salvation by what they do. The world is under the influence of the evil one and friend, if you aren't careful, you could be deceived as well. satan is the master of deception. The thing about deception is you don't realize it is happening. It is sort of a slow fade where something that was once black and white has now become grey. "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is (Jeremiah 17:9)?" You need to guard your heart with all diligence, not just some of the time, but all the time. So how do you guard your heart? You need to pay close attention to what you are meditating on, who you listen to, things you watch and things you read. You will either feed your flesh or feed your spirit. It is critical that you stay in God's word, now more than ever. His word is truth and it is the only thing that will counter all of the deception and lies that are in the world, in your home, in your church and in your mind.
While it is great to go to church, Bible studies, and fellowship with other believers don't just take someone else's word, dig in the Bible and study it for yourself so you will be able to test the spirits and stand firm when the enemy aims his fiery darts at you. When Jesus spoke about signs of the end of the age He said, "If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look here is the Christ!' or, 'There He is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive eve the elect-if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time (Matthew 24:22-25)."
You are either for God or against Him. There is no grey area when it comes to God. You are in the kingdom of light or in the kingdom of darkness. If you take a stand for Christ, you can expect opposition and persecution. People will insult you, say false things about you, make fun of you or leave you. But know my friend that when this happens, great is your reward in heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:11-12)." Be glad my friend because you are counted worthy of the kingdom of heaven and are a threat to the kingdom of darkness. "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you (1 Peter 4:12-14)."
If you are a follower of Christ, you overcome by His blood and the word of your testimony. Know that you are shielded by God's power until the coming of salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:5). God will strengthen you in your inner man. You have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of you~that same power that raised Jesus from the dead~ who will guide you into all truth.
Stand firm in Christ my friend! Hold fast to Him. He is coming back to take from the world His own. One day soon, we will see our beautiful Savior and Lord face to face and be with Him forever more.
"Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (Revelation 7:16-17)."
Amen! Come Lord Jesus!
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