Have you noticed that when someone touted as a pastor or minister fails, it brings joy to the world?
I’m not saying that when people are unjust they don’t deserve justice. God has a way of dealing with His own or with those impersonating someone who is one of his own. I’m talking when a believer slips and is down. The world absolutely loves it.
Why?
The world loves its own. The world wants to set the rules. It doesn’t have any standards right now for anything, except for intolerance. To be successful in bringing a one world order together it must have everyone respecting everyone else’s ideas or beliefs. Are we to participate in this?
John 15:18-21 – 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.
The world hated Jesus. If the church wants to be loved by the world, and there are many out there trying to be loved by it, they aren’t following in the footsteps of our Lord. Jesus wasn’t spewing hate like the media today is trying to accuse (narrow-mindedness). He was spreading truth and the Word of God. He wasn’t going to walk on eggshells and tell people that He was the Son of God, but you go ahead and believe however you want, I wouldn’t want to offend you. No He was direct.
John 14:6 – 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
On one side you got the world. On the other you have Jesus. In the middle you have the third group. Who are they?
Let’s start with the third group in the parable of the sower.
Matthew 13:22- 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
Then there is the Church of Laodicea.
Revelation 3:15-18 – 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
The world loves its own. Christ wants us to follow Him, which is the way to eternal life. You can’t be part of both. Choose the One who loves you and was willing to die for you. Choose Christ.