STOP CATERING TO PUBLIC opinion. I had a dream recently that I was on a long and narrow path. There were some easy parts, but most of the path was hard and difficult. There were other weary travelers on this path, but very few and most had lost things along the way, lost their shirts, had raggedy and torn pants, messy and overgrown hair, no one was carrying anything, no stuff, no earthly treasures; but they were still climbing up this path.
There was a homeless man sitting on the path and so I sat down to talk to him. He had a little yapper dog that he named “Jesus”. As soon as I heard him tell me his dog’s name, I began talking to him about Jesus and that He was returning soon as the lion of Judah to set up His kingdom. At this, the man stopped his ears from listening to me and another man came up and told me to “tone it down”, I was too loud about Jesus. Twice he told me to tone it down. I then spoke louder and more emphatic. “Jesus is returning soon! You better get ready!” Then I awoke.
Here’s what the Lord showed me, we are on a narrow and afflicted path and you will lose things and lose people along the way. Not everyone who starts with you will finish with you. It’s ok. The path is not an instant solution, it’s a process. God invites us to follow the ancient paths, and it’s a lifetime of staying on that path no matter the cost. You must stay on it until the end. The path is narrow and afflicted and there are few who find it.
Next, the world has made Jesus into what they want Him to be. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is God Almighty in the flesh and He is returning to reign over His kingdom and His obedient followers. People who have left the path, do not get the reward. A past confession is not a future promise. Those who continue to live a life of sin will not inherit eternal life. This is the truth.
You cannot separate Jesus from His Word- He is the Word incarnate. Scripture is forever binding. Jesus is not Eros the Greek God of love. He is returning as judge and jury. He is not what you want Him to be, He is who He says He is and He will either say, “Well done good and faithful servant” or “depart from Me you who work in iniquity”. He is holy, holy, holy; and the only wise and eternal King.
Lastly, stop catering to public opinion. People will tell you to “tone it down”, but the Word of God is needed to be raised now more than ever. There needs to be a return to Scripture and a reformation of the faith. Jude says to “contend for the faith”- this means the doctrines and tenets of Scriptural faith, not your “personal Jesus”. Contend for Scripture. Contend for the Word of God. Contend for a Biblical Jesus, who is holy and righteous and to be feared and held in reverence. Fight the good fight of faith. Don’t tone it down, raise your voice. Sure, people don’t hear cause they refuse to listen; tell them anyway.
He is returning soon. Even so, come Lord Jesus. “Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.”2 Timothy 4:2 AMPC“And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,”1 Peter 1:17 ESV#runyourrace
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