Preparing for the last days – Part 2

Among the common vices in the world today, lust and licentiousness are tops. The times are typified by people who have burning desire, propensity and liking for evil. They are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”. They never appropriate what is learnt about salvation, holiness, the power of the Holy Spirit, the necessity of resisting the devil and the coming of the Lord. Instead of submitting and yielding to the Word of God, they resist the Word because they are of “corrupt minds [and] reprobate concerning the faith”.

But “they shall proceed no further” in their effort to influence others to be lost, as we remain firm in preaching about Jesus Christ, the Cornerstone of our lives. Through Him, we have genuine salvation, true conversion and solid foundation for spiritually secured lives. With entire sanctification and enduring consecration, our hearts are kept pure from the enticing influence of corruption and evil that is present in the world.

Christ, our Saviour and Sanctifier, has promised and provided us with the power and baptism in the Holy Ghost to strengthen and fortify our foundation, as well as grant us the power and courage to withstand this perverse world. As our Cornerstone, first, Christ saves us. He prevents, protects and preserves us from the corruption and the evil of the world. “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins” and “he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not”. Second, He sanctifies us. He purifies, cleanses and purges the heart. He takes the nature of Adam away and crucifies the old nature, “that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6). Third, He baptises us with the Holy Ghost and fire. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth”.

We live in a lukewarm world. “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” is a sign of lukewarmness. Although, most people go to church, what they hear from faithful preachers of the Word does not convict, convert, cleanse the heart and put them on the narrow path that leads to heaven. They are formal, carnal and merely religious.

Many churches, today, are lukewarm concerning spiritual things. Our Lord’s warning to the Church reveals the possibility of backsliding and the ignorance of people who peddle the doctrine of eternal or unconditional security. Christ says, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth”.

The Lord wants us to take positive action in our lives as the year begins to wind down, and as the end of time speeds closer. He wants us to examine our lives to know our current spiritual state or standing and repent, if we have become lukewarm. This is because, “many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved”. Only those who endure until the end shall be saved. “Remember Lot’s wife”. She looked back and became a pillar of salt. She did not get into the fullness and favour of God. Daniel knew the corruption and defilement of Babylon, but he purposed in his heart not to defile himself. Since no man shall see the Lord without holiness, we should remain firm in our consecration and continue to serve the Lord faithfully until the end.

Further Reading (King James Version): 2 Timothy 3:1; 1 Timothy 4:1,2; 2 Peter 3:3-5; 1 John 2:18; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; Matthew 1:21; 1 John 3:1-9; 5:18; Hebrews 2:11; 13:12,13;1 Thessalonians 5:22-24; Acts 1:4,5,8; 2 Timothy 3:5,7,10,11; 4:18; Revelation 3:15-19; Matthew 24:11-13; Luke 17:28-30,32; 1 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Daniel 1:8; Hebrews 12:1-4,14-17,28,29.