I was just shuffling through the music on my computer when the song <a "http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books /product?sku=CD207-8&event=AFF&p=1009253&g t;"Last Daze"</a> by Petra came on. If this isn't a gut punch for anyone who's disobeying the Lord, then they must already be dead: <b>somewhere in the darkest night a stranger has lost the way
cold wind and a distant light has carried his heart away
some say he was one of us, a prodigal gone astray
but inside he's as cold as ice to the truth that he won't obey
he won't discern - the point of no return
CHORUS
in the last daze - the final haze
there was strong delusion to believe a lie
in the last daze before the blaze
they couldn't see beyond their misty trance
to grab the truth and have a fighting chance
in the last daze
cold chills when the Spirit speaks that some shall depart from the faith
all ends in calamity just when they thought it was safe
they followed the lies - the fables men devised
Chorus
some say it's a certainty, a sign of the times I am told
but I weep for the souls of those who will never return to the fold
</b> What did Jesus say in Luke 6:46-49?<b>"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."</b> Yet how many among us just warm the pews--if we even do that--yet do absolutely nothing to tell others about Christ, even though He has commanded us to do so? (Matthew 28:19) What else are we not doing? I think the laundry list of what we ARE doing shows why there's nothing left in our lives to give to Him:
* We waste several hours a day watching TV or in other leisure activities, yet we claim we have no time to read our Bible or spend time in prayer. We find time to do the things we really want to do.
* We spend exorbitant amounts of money on absolutely nothing, and we give God absolutely nothing. And among those who do give to help fund ministry activities, the amounts are absolutely pitiful on average. (See <a "http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Barn aUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=187" target="_blank">"Americans Donate Billions to Charity, But Giving to Churches Has Declined"</a> by <a "http://www.barna.org">The Barna Group</a>.)
* Partly because of Christians' stinginess in giving back to God what's His anyway, more people are turning to government for food and other assistance because churches and parachurch ministries lack the funds. Yet Jesus told us to feed the hungry, tend to the sick, clothe those who don't have any and visit those in prison. (<a "http://www.biblegateway.com" target="_blank">Matthew 25:31-46</a>)
* Because Christians aren't reading the Word or spending time in prayer despite having ample time to do so, they're not discerning what God wants because they aren't giving Him a second thought in the first place. And it goes downhill from there.
Paul was writing about the Antichrist in <a "http://www.biblegateway.com" target="_blank">2 Thessalonians 2:9-12</a>, but the spiritual mindset of "those who are perishing" applies to anyone who refuses to love God and His truth:<b>
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. <font color="#FF0000">They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.</font> For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.</b>
Think about it: We rail about the evil of the world, but we've got a greater evil among those of us who claim the name of Christ but spit in His face when He tells us to take up our cross and follow Him. You call yourself a Christian but refuse to do what He says? Then you're not a Christian at all. You're a traitor, just like Judas--until you decide to return to Him on His terms and acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior, not as your divinely appointed waterboy you'll call on whenever it's convenient.
Are you perishing because you refuse to love the truth? Or would you even know if you were? If you call yourself a Christian but you're not obeying Christ, you're on pretty thin ice. Do something about it while you still have a chance. Because too late comes when you least expect it.
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My site: <a "http://www.jesusfreak.com>Jesus</a> <a "http://www.jesusfreak.com>Freak.com</a >
