“15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the Will of God abides forever.
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” 1 John 2:15-18
As we draw nearer and nearer to the coming of the Lord, those things which are of the world lose their value for the Believer. That which once seemed so important falls away as our spirit is quickened by the Scriptures being played out before us. The spirit of the antichrist is on the move both in the church and in the world. Those who do not love the Truth but care only about the things of this world and use Scripture to manipulate their doctrines will be sent a strong delusion. The lying signs and wonders captured their minds and destroyed their faith. Sadly, they will believe a lie and be damned.
“9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the Truth, that they might be Saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 These. 2:9-12
Still, there will remain a remnant…a holy remnant who will heed the warnings. These, as foolish as it seems, continue the fight daily to know nothing else except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Their faith, although weak at times, never waivered from it’s intended Object, namely the Cross of Christ. They are not swept to and fro by the lusts of the flesh but contend for the faith which was given unto them at Salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, they are truly peculiar. The world and the religious have many descriptions for them; legalism and/or hypocrite are often at the top of the list.
This holy remnant is certainly not perfect. The mortal coil of which we dwell will fail us. Our good intentions sometimes escape us. One thing is for sure though, we know in Whom we have believed and He has not failed us yet. We know that He is working all things together for our good. He paid a high price for us and He is more than able to keep us as long as we look unto Him. It may seem foolish to the world but to us it is the power of God.
“17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are Saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:17-18
All things will indeed pass away. Love not the world. Don’t worry if it seems foolish to believe in the Cross of Christ for all that you need. Be determined to know nothing else among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 