From the ministry archive
Temptation and Truth
Jesus once made a very simplistic statement of truth that we are about to see fulfilled on a worldwide scale: "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much" (Lk. 16:10). We are about to find out exactly who and what we really want to be, and who everyone else is for that matter. Everyone is going to demonstrate in a very big way what they have been loving and practicing in small ways. We are now moving into the very end of this world and we are going to see things come about, the likes of which have never been seen before. Well, actually it has all been seen before, but not to the magnitude of which we are about to see it. What am I talking about? Everything. Natural disasters, economic collapses, wars, strife over civil, social, and religious issues; and spiritual power at the highest level on both sides of the stick. It's going to be like what God showed the prophet Amos: "Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more" (Amos 7:7,8). Just apply that to the whole world, and not just Israel, and you've got it. A plumbline is a line with a weight on it that is used in the construction of a building to measure perfectly whether the structure is being built on a level foundation or not. The things that are coming to this world are going to make a perfect measurement of every heart and soul among mankind. All of the proverbial "riding the fence" is going to be out the window. Truth is there's never been a fence to begin with. You are either all the way in Christ or you are not. If you are not then you are in sin, and in danger of hell fire and damnation.
Trust me when I tell you that what is coming on this world in every way is going to leave no place for anyone to hide or to pretend. Everyone is going to be forced into being what they desire to be in the bottom of their heart, and they're going to be it all the way. What we have conditioned ourselves to practice in small things is going to be magnified in our lives in a great way, whether for good or for bad. Jesus spoke some of the most sobering and fearful words ever spoken about the body of Christ at the end, and somehow we don't hear much about it: "And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And 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" (Mat. 24:10-13). Those among God's Spirit baptized people who do not learn to love the righteousness of God with all their hearts, will be deceived by the mass religious deception coming on the world, and will betray the elect to the death. You think not? Listen to what else Jesus said about this tragic reality: "And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved" (Mat. 10:21,22). Yeah, it really is that serious. Those who "endure to the end" are going to have to persevere through some of the greatest heartbreak and pain of betrayal in the history of the world. In the midst of unprecedented turmoil on earth, God will magnify the Gospel of his Son like never before, and there will be no excuse for anyone who rejects it and refuses to repent of their wickedness. All who love it will become "the mighty and the holy people" spoken of in the book of Daniel, and all who hate it will become the most vile and wicked people who have ever lived upon the earth (Dan. 8:23-25).
The devil's "man of sin," and his "false prophet" will be the heroes of all the children of wickedness who refuse the last outpouring of God's magnificent love and grace to this dying world (II Thess. 2:3; Rev. 16:13,14). Yes my friend, God is about to bring judgment on this entire world in every conceivable way, and those who recognize his judgment and submit themselves to him will be delivered, though in many cases by martyrdom (Rev. 13:15; Rev. 20:4). Those who refuse it will be destroyed, though it will not altogether appear that way immediately, as it is written: "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape" (I Thess.5:3). We need desperately to get any slack out our line now, lest we get swallowed up by the great deception that is coming, which is being worked into place even now by Satan. We should also be reminded of what Peter said about the judgment of God: "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God" (I Pet. 4:17). The wheat and the tares are about to be gathered into bundles, and what we are doing consistently in small things now will soon be vastly accelerated on a large scale (Mat. 13:30). And be assured that everyone who is not in love with Jesus Christ and the righteousness of his Spirit that he has provided for us to live in, will be gathered into the wrong bundle; and God is no respecter of persons. And to this agreed Peter: "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear" (I Pet. 1:13-17). "And all the congregation said, Amen."
