“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
Matthew 7:13-14
A supernatural, satanic scheme to conform is coming on the world. The forces of darkness are not holding back. Many people are going to hell where they’ll be permanently captive to the devil.
“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.”
Proverbs 29:25
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
Proverbs 9:10
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
James 4:8
“A loving God could never send anyone to hell forever, right Mark?” I hear this from time to time and realize that anyone who’d make such a comment has never considered the fact that God, even in His love for us, is just. That was the whole point for why God sent Christ as the only bridge, the only One (or Way) Who can restore our relationship with God (Matthew chapter 27).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
John 3:16-17
Every so often I come across something that makes me think, “Am I being as honest, truthful, and bold enough with others as I need to be about Heaven and hell? Am I showing them enough of the contrast between the two for them to stop and consider what they’re doing with their lives? Have I done everything I can to get them to take their lives seriously enough to prevent them from ending up with the devil in hell, forever?”
“Earth is as close to Heaven as unbelievers will ever get, and it’s as close to hell as Christians will ever be.”
There’s a very strong deception coming on the world. The Bible tells us it would happen in the end times.
For example, I’ve heard there’s a strong push to make it a hate crime to call boys “boys” and to call girls “girls.” What?
Yes, this is how weird it’s getting in our world, folks. Satan has already taken on God’s definition of marriage between a man and a woman. Now, the devil’s attempting to erase gender. It’s a scheme to further destroy trust in the Bible and God’s creation by getting us to question, even more severely, the very existence of a Creator. If satan can get us to swallow such lies, he’s got us right where he wants us (he knows people will believe almost anything now), and, in the end, he’ll be glad to take as many as he can with him to hell, forever.
The current, strong deception reminds me of the U.N.-type scene in the first “Left Behind” movie where the antichrist figure (Nicolae Carpathia) is telling everyone an outright lie. His powerful deception’s convincing the other people gathered around the table the he’s telling them the truth. The only person at the table who’s not deceived is Kirk Cameron’s character, Buck Williams. The only reason he’s not deceived is because he’s recently given his life to Jesus and the Holy Spirit’s keeping him from believing the lie.
Folks, we may think we could never be deceived due to our intellect, that we’d never conform to supernatural lies, that we’re way too smart to fall for satan’s tricks. What we need to be aware of is that we’re going to need to be very close to Jesus in these last days. Brain power, alone, will not be enough to keep us safe. The power in the deception behind satan’s lies (much of the power resides in, and will depend on, the degree of the fear of man we allow to operate in our lives – the pressure of what others think can make us do some things we know are against our (and God’s) will) is supernatural. Without maintaining a close relationship with Jesus, we’re no match for this type of powerful deception.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Galatians 6:7-9
My wife and I know that satan will do everything he can “to get a foot in the door” of our lives, and that he’s never satisfied with just that. For that reason, we choose Jesus, His ways, every day to maintain the kind of humility it takes today to not fall prey to satan’s deception, to keep us firmly grounded in Christ. We choose Jesus every day to make sure we’re waiting on Him, and listening for His directives in our lives, in our decision-making processes; to keep us taking thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ, to keep us praising Him in all things, to keep believing that Jesus is working all things together for our good; to maintain forgiving hearts and to continually extend grace to each other and others; to keep from becoming self-absorbed, self-centered and selfish; to help us to keep trusting Jesus; to protect our marriage and family; to love each other the way Christ loves us; to keep ourselves from letting this world’s condition discourage us; to keep us looking up, looking to Christ for His rest, love, wisdom, discernment, peace, and joy; to keep us in His Word that helps us in our everyday lives; to not give into sudden fear; to be anxious for nothing; to maintain our compassion for others; to be able to love our enemies; to continually dwell in the fruit of the Spirit; and to abide in the shadow of the Most High.
I want to strongly encourage each of you to stay close to God. Residing in Him is the only way we’re going to be able to discern and withstand the end times. Staying close to God will enable us to let the peace of God rule our hearts every day. It’s the way to keep our hearts from growing cold when lawlessness increases. We, desperately, need the Holy Spirit’s supernatural guidance as we navigate today’s world.
God will bless our lives, and every aspect of them, with His Presence, His peace, stillness, rest and joy as we choose Jesus every day,
Mark