They Took The Bait

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unyielding, slanderers, without self-control, savage, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away.”  2nd Timothy 3:1-5

 

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who leads the whole world astray; he was cast out onto the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”  Revelation 12:9

 

It’s high noon in any city in America, lunch is being served at restaurants throughout the town.  Walk into any hip joint and you will observe a vast majority of occupants, whether alone at a table or with others, staring at a phone with a blank expression on their face.  Most, if you were to approach, are keeping up with their social media contacts throughout the day.

 

Walk into nearly any American home and observe the television flickering as programming is displayed on the large screen.  Whether there are actively people watching the shows or the television is just being used for background noise, it is on, in most homes over 40 hours per week.

 

Drive on the highway, particularly on a hot summer day with your window down and at a stop light you can hear the noise of the radios blaring with a variety of tunes, many coming off of a connected phone. 

 

Stop in a your local Walmart, Target, Kmart, mall or other major retailer and you can see the rush of people picking up some of the latest fashion or some other trinkets to make their home or themselves more lovely. 

 

On Sunday morning the social rush begins for a percentage of Americans who are conversing, while dressed as if prepared to walk a runway, getting ready to attend their obligatory church service, part of their social status.  Afterwards whatever the preacher may have taught, they continue to the social meeting at the predetermined restaurant, the beginning of another work week.

 

At home the children are actively pursuing video games, social media and other activities.  All over people are pursuing pleasure, rather it is what the eyes see, the ears hear, the mouth tastes or the body feels, they are focused on it.  Yet do they stop and ponder about their Creator, their eternal future, truly walking with the Lord, willing to do so, even at a great expense to their social, economic and political lives?

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own lusts, desiring to hear pleasant things, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to myths.”  2nd Timothy 4:3-4

 

“Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into the ditch.”  Matthew 15:14

 

They may ponder, but our so-called churches are telling them what they desire to hear.  What will come of this, what will the end be for these people?

 

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life on account of Me will find it.”  Matthew 10:37-38

 

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many entering in through it.  Because narrow is the gate and distressing is the way which leads unto life, and there are few who find it.  Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You will know them from their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  Even so, every good tree produces excellent fruit, but a corrupt tree produces evil fruit.  A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, nor is a corrupt tree able to produce excellent fruit.  Every tree that does not produce excellent fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore from their fruits you will know them.  Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many works of power in Your name?  And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who work out lawlessness!”  Matthew 7:13-23

 

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, prostitutes, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”  Revelation 21:8

 

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I would that you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.  Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing; and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked;  I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”  Revelation 3:15-21

 

Take heed!  It is no joke that without Jesus Christ as your Savior, you will spend eternity in Hell.  Without repenting and believing into Jesus Christ, there is NO HOPE WHATSOEVER!  Do not be deceived! 

 

“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”  Luke 18:8b

 

You can not look to the majority to determine what is correct, but most look towards God and do what is correct. 

 

“You shall not follow the majority in doing evil…”  Exodus 23:2a

 

If you fill your life with all of these distractions, if you try hard to keep up on the trends, social media, the latest entertainment, where is your time for God?  If you only go to church to be socially acceptable with your family and friends or refuse to attend a pulpit that preaches God’s truth because it is no longer trendy or old-fashioned, what will you do when you stand before the Almighty God? 

 

“For I, Jehovah, change not.”  Malachi 3:6a

 

There are no excuses at that point, you will either have your name written in the Book of Life or not, you will either have repented and believed into Jesus or be doomed to the Lake of Fire for eternity (Rev. 20:15), there is NO gray area, it is cut and dry, the Holy Scriptures provides God’s truth to all of mankind. 

 

If your reading this, there is still time to consider these truths.  Please do so.

 

“For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  2nd Corinthians 6:2

 

Amen!