Without getting hung up too much on where we came from, the point today is how the Lord treats His children. If the Lord treated a mother in one way, would He treat the daughter differently? Yes and no. We have the New Covenant which comes with different rules however the point we are driving at today is that the Lord's nature does not change.
So if the Lord was displeased with something the Jews did years ago He would be displeased if the Church did the same things today. His nature does not change. Okay, so what? So, to the book of Isaiah:
Isaiah 6:9He said, “Go and tell this people:
“‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
10Make the heart of this people calloused;
make their ears dull
and close their eyes.a
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”
11Then I said, “For how long, O Lord?”
And he answered:
“Until the cities lie ruined
and without inhabitant,
until the houses are left deserted
and the fields ruined and ravaged,
12until the Lord has sent everyone far away
and the land is utterly forsaken.
13And though a tenth remains in the land,
it will again be laid waste.
But as the terebinth and oak
leave stumps when they are cut down,
so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”
This writer believes a strong case can be made that the above scripture does and will apply to Christians today and in the days ahead.
Does this appear to apply to today's Christians? “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;"
Does this appear to apply to today's Christians? "be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’"
Does this appear to apply to today's Christians? 10Make the heart of this people calloused;
make their ears dull
Does this appear to apply to today's Christians?
and close their eyes.a
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.
How many Christians today run about as if it were (it is) the days of Noah and Lot? What will the result be?
“Until the cities lie ruined
and without inhabitant,
until the houses are left deserted
and the fields ruined and ravaged,
12until the Lord has sent everyone far away
and the land is utterly forsaken.
13And though a tenth remains in the land,
it will again be laid waste.
But as the terebinth and oak
leave stumps when they are cut down,
so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”
I know, there is a strong tendency for denial, they say "this just can't be us!" But look around. Is darkness restrained or is darkness falling across the land? This is a true test that never fails because light always drives out darkness. It cannot fail to do so. If darkness moves into a land, it always means one thing: there is no light.
There is no argument that can prevail against this. If you walk into a room that is dark and turn on a light what must always happen? Darkness flees and it does so instantly. The Lord is not mocked, a people reaps what it sows. The people become complacent when their sins are not instantly punished so they think there will never be a price for their rebellion. That thinking results in eternal death.
Isaiah 57:11
| ... Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me? |
What's the point? For those who still tremble at the Word of the Lord, who have broken hearts made of clay not of stone, who have ears to hear and eyes to see, now is the time to repent. Now and every day is the time to ask for forgiveness for our sins and to ask the Lord to give us His mind, His heart and His Spirit so we may be like Him in every way. Why? Will the Lord punish a man whose mind, heart and spirit are just like the Lord?
Where is the fear of the Lord today? The Babylonian church has no place for the fear of the Lord. In their pride and arrogance they ask "why should we "fear" the Lord?" Soon they will find out why but it would be better for them to fear the Lord before His wrath and judgement show up. In repentance and rest is our salvation but they will have none of it...
Isaiah 30:15
15This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.
Why does the Church have eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear and why is their heart so calloused today? They have no wisdom. And why do they have no wisdom? Here's why:
| And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'" |
And what will the result of no wisdom, no fear of the Lord and no understanding be?
cities ruined
and without inhabitant,
houses left deserted
and the fields ruined and ravaged,
As it was, so it shall be again...
| What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. |
And so, America the daughter of Babylon will be brought low. Does America have a church building on every corner? Yes. And yet darkness invades the land. How can that be? If these churches are salt and light, how can darkness prevail? It can because they have no light.
Most agree that we are in the end days. In the end days the judgement and wrath of God are displayed against all the wickedness of man. And when judgement comes, where does it start?
1 Peter 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
The Word of God is overflowing with warnings. Over and over and over again Israel was in trouble with the Lord, they were destroyed by the Lord and only a remnant was saved. Over and over again, only a remnant was saved. As it was, so shall it be again. How many out of a world full of people were saved in Noah's day? How many out of a city were saved in Lot's day? A remnant was saved, very few and nobody stops to ask why?
Matt 7:13“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
When we read this ^^ shouldn't we tremble? Shouldn't we fear the Lord and repent in dust and ashes when we read these Words?
Luke 21 36 watch ye, then, in every season, praying that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are about to come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.'
Do people take the Word too lightly? Why do they not tremble? Pray that we may be accounted worthy? Why? Because few, only a few made it out in Noah's day. A few made it out in Lot's day. Few make it through the narrow gate that leads to life.
These are tough words and very hard to accept, I know. This writer trembles with you as I read the Words the Lord gave us.
This writer prays for you and with you and for myself and our families and all the brothers that our sins may be forgiven and that we may be counted worthy of the escape from all that is coming. I pray that we may be the few on that narrow path that makes it through the small gate that leads to life.
grace and peace
