Day 2975 of the 7 day Bible verse challenge.

1 Timothy 4:1 NIV

We should be wary of holding to what may well prove a deadly assumption.

Problem is that humanity doesn’t seem to see much danger in assumptions, let alone danger enough to potentially prove fatal. No, many live their lives as if everything will “come out in the wash.” Society has settled upon this outlook wherein there is no danger as there is nobody who would actually be so callous and cold-blooded so as to risk the eternal well-being of those who form the platform upon which they stand.

But the reality is that we may have actually arrived at these "later times" described here in the opening of 1 Timothy chapter 4. We may be walking through the very days foretold by those who somehow saw what we're seeing now. We might very well be the ones who witness things talked about in the Bible, things that were only considered as yet still to come whence they were written well before our generation came to be.

We might have indeed come upon the fulfillment of many a warning given unto us so that we may be prepared for what is tarrying just over the horizon.

One of our biggest issues is the way in which we view Scripture. We seem to treat the Bible as merely a book whose ending is far in the distance up ahead. We share verses and passages as if we’re looking through a looking glass into the past or so far into the future that we’ve no reason to really expect its impending arrival. We skim through the pages as if the stories are mere recounts of lives lived long ago and warnings given to those who will come long after our time has passed.

But, in truth, we don't know when that finale will begin, only that it will begin. And considering the times which have been described and that which is on the line, we should be unwilling to risk the severity of what's been promised to those who fail or fall short or forfeit their faith. As this faith, moreover the Savior in whom this faith is placed, is our only refuge in which we can shelter from the coming calamity.

Alas, as we've been discussing, we humans are a rather intriguing bunch. No matter the topic, we seem to be able to either twist it, turn it, fold it or fabricate a passable replica in order to afford us the ability to think we're holding to truth without coming anywhere close. We've such an affinity for all things personally placating that we seem to have lost our willingness to undergo the processes set forth for the betterment and deepening of our faith.

Instead, we hold tightly to this idea that we're somehow to be catered to, and that we expect God to simply agree. We live as if our personal preferences are things on which He will compromise simply because He just loves us so stinkin much that He can't bear to see us disappointed or dejected. We live like He's there to ensure our happiness, our success and our satisfaction. And as such, we're left to craft these false messages that both sound right but also feel right to the feelings we still live to please.

And, what's become incredibly scary is that this isn't just a personal mistake we each make within ourselves anymore. It's actually become a method used by many to form a platform from which they glean worldly acclaim and all the wonderful benefits that our worldly selves have grown so very fond of having. Money, fame, popularity, record breaking successes and roaring recognition are amongst the driving forces behind many a person, and sadly even many a preaching.

That's what we've discussed yesterday. It's this sad reality in which we've lost, or rather given away, the responsibility we have to test things. We've embraced this sissified yet oddly still socially acceptable mindset wherein all manner of judgement is simply rude, bigoted, unhelpful and unloving. We've agreed to forgo all semblance of judgement simply because so many have told us that it isn't okay. And that's what you get from listening to the chorus of voices seeking to speak only that which pleases ears and allows hearts to remain unchanged.

It's exactly what the world has become: a cesspool of false teachers spread false doctrines built on false ideologies aimed at pleasing people rather than serving our Savior. And that sad reality is exactly why we must judge. Because there's just too many things that sound and feel and look way too good to be true. And in the end, there is simply one truth by which we'll all be judged. So we had better start living our lives testing everything against the truth of God's Word, because it's God's Word that will testify against us.

Yet somehow, there seems to be this incredible swelling of souls searching for sermons that sound good. Even in light of the numerous warnings offered us in Scripture, much of humanity still finds no cause for concern within the many clearly false gospels that have been gaining ground and steaming through our society for some time now. Progressive Christianity, the Prosperity Gospel, the incredibly popular Meology based exclusively on God's love without an equal measure of God's divinity nor His righteousness nor His jealousy nor any warning of His impending wrath.

So much is being offered that caters clearly to man that we should all be scrambling to learn as much of Scripture as we possibly can. Not because all of humanity is out for themselves or following impure motives to meet the ends that they're so selfishly seeking to satisfy. But because God gave us His Bible to help us learn the lessons we need to learn, correct the things we need to correct and live lives that find us in Christ rather than comfortably at home within this dying world.

But, somewhere along the way people got it in their minds that they couldn't do it. They accepted this sort of spiritual defeat that has them now convinced that they need a leader, they need a pastor, they need a friend who has more experience and more knowledge and more wisdom and is therefore able to guide them peacefully along the right path without them actually having to do anything, learn anything, change anything.

Rather than accept the underserved opportunity to be sanctified through a Spirit guiding us in wisdom and in truth, we’ve opted for the more modernly convenient idea of a drive-thru. Just roll up to a church, tell them what you want God to give you and proceed to the stained-glass window to receive your order in a timely fashion wrapped up all nice and neat in a little brown bag ready for you to head back out on your merry way.

But, what about our faith should be rushed? Why must we insist on this hurried theology that affords us exactly what we want but does so at such bargain prices that we don’t need to consider the cost? Is not a cheap and easy religion but a mere belief system aimed entirely inward so that we can tweak the rules when we inevitably prove unable to uphold them whilst still holding to the expectation of some reward we’ve not once strove for?

Friends, that's exactly what God calls us to do: To live lives anew now that we’ve found our knees bowed before a cross begging for a new way as our old proved hollow and meaningless. He calls us to take up our crosses, to embrace our responsibility in this story of our salvation and to live like we care about what He’s done to give us the chance at eternal peace rather than the misery we’ve always chased. He beckons us to refuse to settle back into our complacent realities wherein nothing changes, nothing grows, nothing improves, nothing works.

And as we discussed a day or two ago, He has given us so much to help us do this. His Word, His Son, His Spirit, so much has been in fact that we ought to be able to take up our responsibilities and uphold them as if they were more precious than rubies and more priceless than gold. But we don't, not because we can't, just because we won't. We won't invest. We won't devote time to study, to prayer, to fasting and honesty that leads to repentance that helps us grow.

We just keep settling for standing at a distance hoping that another human will help bridge the gap we're unwilling to cross.

Because we’re too busy. We’re too distracted. We’re too worried about all manner of worldly consideration to lay it all down and spend the rest of our time looking ahead to what’s still to come. We just trust all the big stuff to someone who wears a three-piece and speaks eloquently. We assume that our bodies sitting in church is enough to please God, even if the souls those bodies embody care little about what’s being taught.

We cling to our idols and trust that ears present at a sermon make up for hearts that aren’t.

Why is it that we're willing to place such a massive wager on someone else? Why do we esteem so highly those who are not at all very different from us? Why do we place our trust in humans when we know full well that humans have motives and agendas and weaknesses and proclivities which offer to topple their priorities at any given moment?

Why are we willing to risk eternity on this hope that someone who wears the best looking suit and has the biggest building and the most followers and the furthest reach is genuinely concerned about the state of our souls and the trajectory upon which they're traveling?

Again, He made it simple, but in our seeking to make it easy, we turned our attention away from Christ and placed it on humans we can see so that we can feel as if we're doing our part. But in reality, our part is to follow Jesus, not some big name on social media. Not some famous preacher or pastor. Not some group of talented musicians that make music that drops a little groove in our lives for us to dance to along this journey.

There is one Name under Heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. And so, if we're giving any other name any fraction of our attention or trust or hope or devotion, then we're opening ourselves up to being led astray, not because they're not also trying their best to live by faith, but because their name isn't Jesus. And if they're not Jesus, then they're not able to save us. It's again, just that simple.

My point is that we have to stop looking in every direction other than the cross. Those pieces of wood testify and teach that we shouldn't expect this path to be easy. We shouldn't expect someone else do it all for us. We shouldn't cast off our burden to walk by faith onto another so that we can avoid the personal hardship of trying to step in footsteps leading us away from all that everyone else is running toward. We shouldn't be willing to lay down our responsibility, because Jesus didn't.

Friends, it's game time. It's time to get real. Time to get serious. Time to actually actively anticipate the unfolding and unraveling of all the final displays still to be seen which precede the fireworks.

There is absolutely no denying that there are false teachers, false gospels, false hopes being taken for granted and souls being lost because of it. Like it not, every human is just that, human. Even the ones who seem to live perfect lives and share perfect messages and garner this amazing wave of support and success, they're imperfect. We're all imperfect. And we simply cannot wager our eternal peace on the imperfection of humanity.

And we can't risk it on the hope that everyone we see and everything we hear is straight from the Bible. It isn't. Sorry. The devil hasn't stopped his deception, and the best way to deceive folks is by putting forth an image and offering a message that looks and sounds just close enough to being right that it causes us to let down our guards and blindly trust in it's being genuine.

Many false prophets have indeed gone into the world, and they're sharing messages that sound awesome. They say everything that seems right. They make people feel welcome and included and loved and accepted. Some likely even say the Name of Jesus and hold up a Bible to verify themselves. But, in case anyone has forgotten, looks can be deceiving. Words can be twisted. Context can be excluded. And lies can sound so amazing that they're accepted as truth.

We mustn't go easy into the storm approaching. And we mustn't assume that we'll have many upon which to lean when the winds pick up and things start to get sideways. We'd better prepare to stand alone, not because we can, but because we're going to have to. The only way we can make it through what's coming is with Christ going before us. Thank God that He's done just that. It's our job to follow Him. Not to follow someone else who claims to follow Him. But to follow Him alone.

We have to make this personal. Because at the end this line, it's just going to be us standing there. But if we're smart, we'll have found Christ before then. But we can only do that when we give this faith everything it deserves. And friends, it simply deserves more letting someone else do it all for us. Because like it or not, letting someone else take the lead is just too risky in this world of greed and fame and these immense pressures to fit in.

Jesus is our only hope, and so it's His Word that we should follow. Not someone who claims to be doing so, because they may only be claiming as such so as to make themselves look good without any concern for making those that listen any better for having heard whatever they're saying for whatever reason they're saying it.

Open the book people. Pray like your life depends on it. Test everything. Doubt everything in and of this world. We just can't risk not doing so. Too many lies for us to blindly assume otherwise.

Later times have come. Despite all the debate and confusion and efforts spent seeking to nail down a specific time and date, the fact is that we've been walking through the final days since Christ ascended. And, before we know it, these clouds of sinful depravity will indeed part and the fat lady known for closing out a show with some impressive singing will be nowhere to be found.

All that will be left is us and an unavoidable appointment to step before the throne and receive our just due.

Are we really willing to live under this assumption that we can call forth witnesses upon the day who will testify for us that we'd tried? Are we really willing to bet our eternal hope on whether or not God will be pleased with our willingness to listen to every voice instead of seeking to hear His alone? Are we really so foolish as to assume that we can arrive upon that day with a life spent adhering to all manner of human teaching and expect God to be content with our having allowed human religion to replace the relationship He sent Christ to die to offer us?

The bottom line that it’s becoming increasingly desirable to quit. It’s getting hard. It’s getting scary. It’s getting very real very fast and if we’re only able to look to another to help us figure out what to do then we’re in some serious trouble. We just can’t build something as important our faith on a foundation as flimsy and foolish as human beings. Humans are just that, human. We like to be entertained. We like to be comfortable. We like success and fame and glory and all the other things that stoke our egos and bolster our self-pride.

That’s why humans fall away. Because there are too many other things to be gained or found or alleviated from doing so. And nobody is above that risk. Nobody can make through what’s ahead all alone. Not even the most famous preacher or the singer who sells out night after night. The only ones who will make it are those who cling to the One who’s already made the way.

Friends, just step in. Invest in this thing called faith. Make it personal so that a personal relationship can be fostered with your Savior. Please just remember that nobody else can do it for you. No human can save you, but they can definitely hinder or prevent your salvation by sharing things that aren’t right, that aren’t true.

There is a resiliency inside each of us, a gift from God above called the Holy Spirit. We need to learn how to lean upon that Spirit and not this hope that another will suffice. It won’t because it can’t. Don’t risk falling away. Sadly enough, I’ve seen too many turn out to be nothing close to what they claimed to be. But if, under it all, it’s just us and Jesus then we’ll be fine. But if we’re banking on anyone else, then we’re risking more than we could possibly imagine. We know humans can fail because we’ve all done it. Don’t place your faith in a human, a religion, a message that leaves you comfort.

Seek what makes you better, what makes you stronger, and mostly, what helps you grow in Christ. He’s all we’ve got, and He had better be all we want and all we focus on. Otherwise, we’re just racing along with everyone else with no idea as to where we’re going.

#LeaveNoSoulUntold