It’s May 22nd…And We’re Still Here

But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark (Matthew 24:36-38).

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits…(Matthew 7:15-16). When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him (Deuteronomy 18:22).

And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch (Genesis 6:12-14). Then the men (angels) said to Lot, "Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it." (Genesis 19:12-13).

Recently a fellow devout Christian friend and myself were driving down the road and we had noticed a billboard that read “God’s Judgment Day: May 21, 2011”. I had been seeing these billboards for a very long time, but paid it no mind. My friend had never seen them (he is from out of town). This time I paid mind to the date. “Oh my, that is just a couple of weeks away” I thought to myself. So my wife and I decided to research this theory and the man or organization who is behind it.

Harold Camping. Who is this? If you haven’t heard by now he is the false prophet who is behind the billboards that actually are part of a worldwide movement. Although, many Christians and non-Christians are laughing at his ridiculous notions. He does have a following. I know of a family just minutes away who are swept up in this phenomenon and have a giant sign on their front lawn with this message and have the date scrawled all over their minivan.

But as we see from Matthew 24 above, it is impossible for any man to know the date of Christ’s return, because He Himself doesn’t even know. Not even the angels know. Only God knows. To say that you know something that only God knows is to say that you have the same knowledge as God. Even above The One who came to save you by His death on the cross. The last time I remember, Lucifer got cast down to Hell for trying to be equal with God. Mr. Camping is not anymore special than a fallen angel.

There are two noted stories in the Bible of destruction by God’s wrath. The world by the great flood, and Sodom by fire. In both accounts, God or angels of God came to Noah and Lot to warn them of what was to come. Mr. Camping did not receive his information from God, but from his own calculations by adding and subtracting things in the Bible that either do not exist, or mean nothing to Mr. Camping’s formula. God is the beginning and the end. He created, and will destroy. He knew that Harold Camping would mislead the world someday. To you honestly think God would have put a formula in the Bible that would give a date for the end? That would defeat the purpose of why God is keeping the date secret and would make Christ look like a liar for saying that He doesn’t even know.

Mr. Camping predicted the end was to come back in 1994 when the “Church Age” ended. What this basically means is that God stopped accepting people being saved in 1994, therefore anyone who was saved after that time is truly not saved and is hell bound. Do what??? Nowhere in the Bible does it say anything about this or that there will be an appointed time that people’s true salvation will be denied by He who saved us. From what I have read and understand, once the “elect” has been saved, that is when Jesus will return. Only God knows who is the elect. Not Mr. Camping.

Mr. Camping also said that this will all take place at 6PM on May 21, 2011. Which time zone? If there is something that will take place that will effect the entire world, you cannot put a time on it. How can California be caught by surprise when the east coast gets God’s judgment first? They will have three hours to prepare! Some countries are not even in the same day at 6PM across the globe. Notice Christ said “that day and hour no one knows”.

And the final nail in the coffin of Mr. Camping’s theory…today is May 22nd…and we’re still here.

Christian, please do not fall for false prophets. You need to look at the fruits of these people and compare them to God’s word. Do they contradict? No man knows more than God, so therefore no man can “debunk” God’s word or promises. I am not going to get into any doomsday theories or discuss the book of Revelations at this time. It is sad that not just are some Christian followers going to be let down and possibly question God, but many anti-Christians are going to have a field day with Mr. Camping being wrong. If Camping’s followers and other Christians would read their Bibles, they would know the truth and would not fall for the lies of false prophets. There is nothing more that we “truth knowing” Christians can do than to pray for Mr. Camping and his followers. May their eyes be opened to the truth.

Love In Christ

For more information on this I urge you to read the Bible, and to see Mr. Camping’s theory visit his website:
http://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/judgment/judgment.html

Walk The Line

In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices (Colossians 3:7-9).

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good (1 Peter 2:1-3).

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:9-11). Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life…(Philippians 2:14-16). Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen (Jude 1:24-25).

There are many “diseases” that run rampant in the world of Christianity. Throughout the life of my blog I will touch on some of these “diseases”. But one of the major diseases are Christians who profess to be Christians, but act like heathens. Why do I consider this a disease?

As we all know, a disease begins when something negative permeates something that is positive. When germs enter into an otherwise healthy body, causing sickness. The body then becomes infected with the disease, which can sometimes overwhelm it. Although some diseases can be treated or even cured with medication, some become terminal and death is certain.

I personally know supervisors who belittle and insult the intelligence of their employees; men who curse, tell dirty jokes, and get drunk right before the eyes of their children; women who fornicate with live-in boyfriends; married couples who have an open marriage and knowingly cheat on each other; people who lie and bring drama into their lives for attention; and others who have hearts of hate and spite for one another. All of which publicly profess to be Christians. If this isn’t a disease among the body of Christ, then I don’t know what is.

If you profess to know Christ, shout praises in the streets before men, then turn and live in disobedience to His word by blatantly sinning before the same men, then you are doing nothing more than slapping Jesus in the face over and over again. How can your lips shout His praises, then give way to the devil’s speech? How can you profess that you are His, then give your body to another out of wedlock? How can you be joined to another before Him in marriage, and then have date night with the gifts of Satan? How can you open the gates to recklessness in your life and allow the flood waters to consume you, all the while saying that your life is His and you are saved? How can you say “love thy neighbor”, while your love for your neighbor is as black as death?

Not just is your hypocrisy a death sentence to your soul, but your disease is like a cancer that can spread to the rest of the body of Christ-other Christians. When you say “I am a Christian” and publicly live a life of self gratification, debauchery, and malice, you are saying to new believers, or those who are weak in their walk, that it is OK to live this way. Then they are deceived into thinking that there needs to be no change in their lives if they choose to walk with Christ. No repentance, no sanctifying, no obedience. Nothing. They can live as a member of the body of the world, not of Christ, and all is well. This becomes a stumbling block. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD (Leviticus 19:14).

Also you are helping the anti-Christians and atheists out too. How common do we hear the voices of these groups saying that Christians are hypocrites. You know what you do when you DO live like a hypocrite? You prove them right, weaken the power of The Lord, destroy proof of His existence by making His presence void in your life, and make His hallowed name hollow. Now, I am not talking about hidden sins here. I am not bringing out skeletons in the closet or monsters from under the bed. However, your sins will find you out and your darkness will become public (Numbers 32:23). I am not picking on Christians who are at war with the darkness in their hearts, constantly praying for deliverance with a broken heart. I commend you for fighting. Keep praying and keep the faith. I am talking about people who publicly live in contrast to the teachings and commandments of Jesus Christ, while praising His name and professing to know Him personally and intimately. Those who plant the flag of lawlessness right into the ground of righteousness and proudly wave it for all to see. This is what misleads the weaker brother and gives ammunition to the enemy.

As you can tell from the scriptures quoted at the beginning of this post, there is a common theme in the third paragraph. The word “blameless”. Can Christians be perfect? No. But can they live a life that is blameless? Yes. And this is the goal that every Christian needs to strive for. Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree (Mark 14:55-56). “And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." (Luke 23:41).

What do we notice here during Jesus’ trial and crucifixion? No one could find any charges, or blame, against him. The thief knew that Christ had done no wrong. The accusers could not find any blame before Pilate. They just looked at each other saying “I can’t find anything wrong. Can you?”. They eventually had to bring false accusations in order to see Him to the cross. We are to follow Christ. Every Christian has been taught this. I would quote scriptures to back this up, but then this post would become a novel. But how great it would be to stand before God on Judgment Day, and to hear Jesus say on your behalf “Father, I find no charges against him. ‘Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your master.'(Matthew 25:21)“ You walked blamelessly as your Savior. Now enter The Kingdom. Wow!

However, can you say the same? Or when you stand before God, will Christ say “Although he said ‘Lord, Lord’, I find many charges against him. He and his wife found their love had grown cold. So he failed miserably as the spiritual leader when he allowed Satan to convince them that committing adultery with other married couples would bring their love back” or “She claimed to know your love and truth Father, but this was overshadowed by her slanderous tongue and lies in order to get pity from her loved ones. Many innocent men were proclaimed guilty so that she could get what she wanted” or maybe “How he walked in your light Father! Or did he? As he praised you at one time, another time the devil’s speech came from his lips. Spite, hate, filth. Do I need say more?” And you will say “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” and Jesus will say “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:22-23). What a shame! You knew of Him and heard His truths, yet you chose to slap Him in the face.

When you live like this you don’t walk a line, you straddle it as you walk. One foot on the side of righteousness, the other foot on the side of lawlessness. You will trip over your own stumbling block trying to enter God’s kingdom walking like this, as you see in Matthew 7:22-23. You need to have both feet on the side of righteousness and walk on the path of Christ. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Matthew 7:13-14). I pray that you will ask in prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24). Live blamelessly like Christ, because you never know who is watching and who you may take down with you when you fall. Not just will it be your blood on your hands, but the blood of those who you deceived with your life. That’s too many lives to be accountable for when you stand before God, isn’t it?

I would like to close with the morning May 17th passage from C.H. Spurgeon’s “Morning and Evening” daily devotional:
"So to walk even as He walked." --1 John 2:6
Why should Christians imitate Christ? They should do it for their own sakes. If they desire to be in a healthy state of soul--if they would escape the sickness of sin, and enjoy the vigour of growing grace, let Jesus be their model. For their own happiness' sake, if they would drink wine on the lees, well refined; if they would enjoy holy and happy communion with Jesus; if they would be lifted up above the cares and troubles of this world, let them walk even as He walked. There is nothing which can so assist you to walk towards heaven with good speed, as wearing the image of Jesus on your heart to rule all its motions. It is when, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you are enabled to walk with Jesus in His very footsteps, that you are most happy, and most known to be the sons of God. Peter afar off is both unsafe and uneasy. Next, for religion's sake, strive to be like Jesus. Ah! poor religion, thou hast been sorely shot at by cruel foes, but thou hast not been wounded one-half so dangerously by thy foes as by thy friends. Who made those wounds in the fair hand of Godliness? The professor who used the dagger of hypocrisy. The man who with pretences, enters the fold, being nought but a wolf in sheep's clothing, worries the flock more than the lion outside. There is no weapon half so deadly as a Judas-kiss. Inconsistent professors injure the gospel more than the sneering critic or the infidel. But, especially for Christ's own sake, imitate His example. Christian, lovest thou thy Saviour? Is His name precious to thee? Is His cause dear to thee? Wouldst thou see the kingdoms of the world become His? Is it thy desire that He should be glorified? Art thou longing that souls should be won to Him? If so, imitate Jesus; be an "epistle of Christ, known and read of all men."

Love In Christ!

When The Flesh Speaks

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30).

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7).

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:12-13).

There was once a man who stood before a storm. He knew the outcome as His eyes were fixed upon the blackened sky. Lightning flashed and He heard the thunder say “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?", and “Crucify Him!” as the spray of human saliva splashes against the face of The Rock. Lightning strikes the flesh again. Spitting, taunting, cursing, and beating. The storm was beginning to take shape.

He was led before the crowd as the jeering thunder continued to roar. Then a new sound was introduced. The sound of whips creating a division in the air around Him. His skin began to split like the air around Him. Again. Over and over. Again. Slice, split, crack. Blood splattered all over the earth beneath Him. All over the guards who enjoyed the punishing mockery. Some in the crowd even felt the crimson droplets. “No!” cried His flesh. “Not again!” it cried out. His flesh competed with the screams of His mother Mary. “No!” They would shout. Louder and louder, as if competing to see who could shout the loudest. “Please make them stop!” His flesh would shout. His back recognized no pure, untouched, unstained skin. His flesh cried “Enough already”. Then he fell on his back. It was over. Or was it?

“No! Father please make them stop!” The flesh would scream as they began tearing apart his chest. The air around would cower and make room for the whips as they cracked upon the ribs and the breast bone. The flesh begged for mercy, but they did not hear. Or maybe they did hear, and just wanted to hear the flesh scream for mercy. The sight of the crimson excited them. “Finally, He is ours. His pain is ours!” Both sides of His body were unrecognizable. No flesh should ever appear this way. Covered in His blood, and the tears of His damaged body. “No more! No more please!” His flesh cried.

“No more! I cannot take this anymore!” His flesh screamed as numerous thorns dug into the skin of his brow. More beating. The precious blood flowed. Exhaustion. The flesh was weakened. “I cannot go on!” His flesh said. “I’m done.”

Arise! Arise my Lord! The time has come to carry your cross. The flesh rolls its eyes into the back of it’s head, trying to muster the strength to go on. “I can’t do this. God, I just cannot do this.” But He knew the will of His Father. He, The Spirit, persuaded the flesh that this prophesy needed to be fulfilled. The world needed this. “Let us be going.” The Son thought to the flesh.

A blood curdling scream can be heard from the flesh. “How can this be?” it thought. “How can I go through this? I cannot possibly have the strength to survive this.” The flesh may have felt deceived by The One who loved Him. “My Father has forsaken me!” the flesh shouted. Shouted so loudly, that it permeated The Savior’s spirit and came from His lips as the nails were driven in. “How much more can I take? How much more will you put me through God? I cannot take this weight anymore! I cannot go on!” His flesh would say. Exit the spirit. It is finished. “I am dead. I am done.” the flesh spoke.

Christian, what is the state of your flesh? Is the weight of fear causing your flesh to crush your spirit? Are you crying out “I cannot take this anymore! Please God make this stop.”?
What is it that is whipping you?

Is it divorce? Is the preceding your judgment? Is the judge your Pontius Pilate? Every accusation another lashing with the whip? Every demand another beating with a reed? Is your head hurting from the thorns? Is the custody battle of the children the nails that hang you up on your cross? “Please God make this stop! I cannot take this anymore!” your flesh cries.

Is it illness? As you stand before the doctor, what judgment will he give your flesh? What will the fate be? Medications, visits, injections, bills…are all your whips. The mental anguish of your illness and the financial blows surrounds your head like a crown of thorns. Has the progress been your nails? Getting worse are you? Have you been condemned to death? “Please God make this stop! I cannot take this anymore!” your flesh cries.

Is it finances? Bills upon bills are coming in. You don’t even want to check your mail anymore. The phone is ringing off the hook. It is them. The accusers. The bill collectors. They hound and insult you. You can almost hear them shouting “Crucify him”. Your flesh cries “Please stop! No more, please!”. But all you hear is the cracks of the whips as your flesh fights a losing battle. Bills come in, but there is no money to match. Then things start disappearing. You feel the pressure of the thorns as they tow away your car. You feel the nails being driven in as your lights go out. Then it is finished…you no longer have a home. “Please God make this stop! I cannot take this anymore!” your flesh cries.

Is it your past mistakes? Or current sins? When you sleep at night, do you sleep lightly? Do you sleep at all? Do you toss and turn, only to look down and see the monsters peering up at you from under your bed? Do the skeletons come out of your closet to play? These beasts, or demons, are they tormenting your every thought and shortening your every breath? Are they whipping you? Alcohol? Drugs? Abortion? Fornication? Adultery? Abuse? Can you not move past regrets and forgive yourself? “Crucify him” they shout. The pressure is mounting as the crown is beat down over your head. As your life shatters, you may feel like you are being crucified. Like the weight of your body is being suspended by only three nails. “Please God make this stop! I cannot take this anymore!” your flesh cries.

I am not even going to inquire about the condition of your spirit. If you feel this way and your flesh is begging for mercy, then your spirit has been grieved. It has been overrun by the pressures of the world, and therefore welcoming the power of the flesh. Christ Himself even said "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). I am sure this cry has left your lips during the time of trial and suffering. But what can you do to turn this around? Your situation? No. Because this trial is not guaranteed to get any better. And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39). This is not according to your will, but The Father’s will. It is up to Him whether or not your trial shall pass. I am talking about turning around your outlook. Getting your spirit to silence the flesh. So what are you to do? As the song says:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
(“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”, Helen H. Lemmel)

If your whips belong to finances, illness, and trial, understand that some cases may be by God’s hand, some are by our own. But the fire is by His will. To refine and strengthen us in our relationship with Him, as we will learn to rely on Him. If you are saved, but cannot escape your past trespasses, you need to forgive yourself as you have been forgiven. If you are being punished by current sins, then you need to repent and nail them to the cross.

Compare yourself to what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ endured during the last moments of His life. He knew the storm. He knew the outcome. He faced it with the diligence that pushed Him to carry His cross upon His back up the mountain to Calvary, even in the state of weakened flesh. Punishing whipping crashed upon His flesh amidst insults and jeers. To the extent that He inquired as to why God had forsaken Him. But He knew that this was God’s will, and that His Father knew what He was doing. God’s glory was the purpose for this, along with saving the world from sin. You may ask, “What I am going through won’t save anyone from their sins.” My friend, if you hold to God’s promises, you will praise His name when you make it through. This will be a testimony before fallen men and sinners. Your story could very well cause a non-believer who is going through a storm to repent and accept Christ as his savior. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Even though He endured this storm, and His flesh cried out against the lashings of the whips, He managed to utter “It is finished.” (John 19:30). But not as an end all death. Remember my friends, Christ has risen. He came back to life for the glory of God. So it is not over until God gets the glory. There is a reason why you must drink from this cup. He knows the reason, and all you can do is rely on Him and lean on Him. It will soon be finished. Look upon Jesus Christ to strengthen your spirit when the flesh speaks.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7).


Love In Christ!

If your flesh is crying out, and you do not have a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, and would like to know Him, then you are ready for salvation. You must deny yourself and confess your sins, repent of your sins, and ask for forgiveness.

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23).…because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:9-13). For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).

Please pray the following prayer:

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”