Falling Away?
When I read about there being a time when we will be persecuted for our faith my heart flutters and I feel a sense of dread coming on despite Matthew 5:10-12 saying “blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of 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.” Amen.
I read an article where a man was asked to leave the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota because he wore a “Jesus saves lives” tee-shirt. The security guard at Mall of America said the tee-shirt was offending people. *
However, it seems you are welcome to wear that tee-shirt with blood dripping from a decapitated head, two blunts, a fifth of Henny and a skeleton on the front and back of the shirt with the hat to match. Welcome! Come on in!
This is where we are, and it is scary!
I have read the Bible and believe all the events that the Bible says will come about. However, I never thought they would be playing out in my lifetime. You? My thought was, “Oh, this is crazy, but by this time I’ll be dead to this world.” Well, I am still here and things are coming about fast.
The question I ask myself is, “How much can I endure in Jesus’ name?” Keeping it real, it is one thing to defend God’s honor when being verbally attacked. It is an entirely different thing when you are, for example, being beaten, starved, and jailed like Paul and Silas. (See Acts 16:25-31)
Would I still sing the Lord’s praises?
Would doubt begin to creep in?
Then, I remembered that there is nowhere in this world where I can be put where I cannot talk to my Father. As a child of God, I know that the Lord will not put more on me than I can take. I might bend, but He will not let me break.
The Bible says many are going to lose faith for different reasons. First Timothy 4:1 says, “In later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” A false prophet will tell you what you want to hear. You will know the truth of his or her words by comparing them to what Jesus says, that is if you are being true to yourself. But many are going to lie to themselves for Satan’s temporary bling, bling. Or another reason is people seeing others “appearing” to profit from evil and wrong doing. But if you know our God you would know that the facade is going to come to an end. Everything will be laid bare. “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul.” Mark 8:36.
Prayer: Jesus I do not want to ever fall away; to have faith in you and then turn away for any reason at all. I do not want to be an apostate, one who has fallen away from my faith in you. Please strengthen me with more faith each day because I know that this battle is not mine, it is the Lord’s and through my faith, you will hold me through it. Amen.
GL
*https://www.snopes.com/news/2023/01/18/mall-of-america-jesus-saves-shirt-video/