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Seriously? What???? One Step Closer to Home

One Step Closer

Seriously? What???? The latest notable Christian who is leaving the faith made his de-profession today. If it wasn’t so sad it would almost seem comical, a proud parade of the self-condemned, a revolving door of sad surprises, a steady stream of those who were deceived, some a bit too famous for their own soul’s good. Jesus said we should expect this. Many will fall away from the faith (Matt. 24:10). I’ve seen it happen to the well-known and the little-known, far away and close to home. Brace yourself and guard your heart.

The latest trend? Unwinding it all on social media. Feels eerily sinister, like dropping bombs from an overpass. The latest to reject being a bond servant of Jesus is now letting people know he feels freer than he ever has before. But of course. If you can unshackle yourself from the Word of God and resist the Spirit of God, there will be the illusion of peace and freedom, but it is the way that seems right to a man that ends in death.

In today’s headline, I did not recognize the person’s name. He was a songwriter for some very notable Christian groups. I grieve, and I want to weep but the tears have momentarily run dry, and I’m just bone-weary with the self-focus of so many, knowing my own propensity to wander and wallow in selfishness and sin. Thank you Jesus for grace! And mercy! And the Word! And Your presence! And the indwelling Holy Spirit!

True Christians repent, and only God knows those who truly belong to Him. Jesus said the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart, and this latest man is now saying that Christianity is just another religion. He is now saying that science is piercing the Bible. He has thrown away his lyrics and has jettisoned the Bible for his own mind and the spirit of the age. He is saying he’s not “in” anymore. Seriously? What is going on? What is happening?

What is this moment we are in right here? It does feel like it’s reaching some sort of fever pitch of confusion and dissension. Your ordinary church might be a really humble, kind, uncool, loving place and you might just want to make sure you’re not wanting more than that. Humble and quiet is good. Just loving your family and neighbors and reaching your community with the Gospel is just fine. Do that while Christians are waging Twitter wars and formerly professing Christians are veering off into nowhere land.

Is this something Christians should be fearful of? Might some of us fall off the unbelieving cliff too? Remember the truth and don’t make up your own. Go with God’s truth. Cling to the Bible and don’t twist it. Remind yourself often. We preach Christ crucified, risen, and coming again. Jesus died in the place of lost sinners. We must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved from the wrath of God. Jesus saves people. God chooses who will be saved. All the elect will come to Jesus and stay with Jesus, because of Jesus.

What is happening right now is what the Bible said would happen. Evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse,  deceiving and being deceived (2 Tim. 3:12-13). Many will fall away from the faith, with the hypocrisy of liars, seared in conscience, believing deception (1 Tim. 4:2). Do not believe them. Keep clinging to Christ. Keep confessing your sins. Every person who wonders if they really are a Christian, wonders if they’re really forgiven, because they want to be forgiven, and they want to be right with God, will be. God is winnowing out the wheat from the chaff.

The Bible says this is what will happen in the last days. Men will be lovers of self and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Tim. 3:1-5). Apostasy will happen. We must walk very close with Jesus and live in active repentance. We must cling to the Word of God and just keep our noses in the Bible with one eye on the horizon. We must stay in active, loving, accountable, local churches that do not twist the Scriptures and are faithful to and honest about Biblical truth. Remain in honest, supportive, grace and truth-drenched Christian fellowship; the sword of the Spirit in one hand and a trowel in the other, doing the work that God has given us to do.

Nothing escapes God. Apostasy is a travesty. Jesus will not lose any that the Father gave Him. The Word is powerful. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation. Rest assured, His sovereign hand and providential orchestration are in control. Stay on your knees and bow your heart before the Lord. Weep and lament, rejoice and forbear. The end is drawing near. We do not know the day or the hour, but rest assured, we are one day, one hour, one moment, one step, closer to Home.