Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, - Philippians 1:27 (ESV)
That is a tough question for us all today. Is our life worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? That is our measuring stick. It is what we must hold everything up against. That brings us to the fourth possibility and that is moving but being misled in the wrong direction. I differentiate between this and backsliding because this is not a return to the things of the world as much as it is believing false doctrine. When describing the end times the Bible says:
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 2Timothy 3: 1-5
Having a form of Godliness but denying its power. There are too many Gospels being preached that do not line up with the Word of God. Jesus never preached about prosperity measured by the things of this world. He never preached about gemstones, gold dust, holy laughter, or reforming the Apostles. There are too many false prophets and if what they speak does not line up with the Word of God then kick them to the curb. The time is too short to be messing around. How serious is this?
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matthew 7: 21-23
There are many would-be preachers who are saying "Lord-Lord" every day. They claim to prophesy and drive out demons; and even perform miracles. These verses should be frightening to us all. There will be many who feel that they are serving God but who do not even know Him at all. Do not be tricked into following man when you are supposed to be following God. That is the difference. A true man of God will lead you to follow God and God only. A charlatan will be more about the "miracle" than the miracle-maker.
That leaves us with the final option moving in the correct direction toward God. Our key verse from Hebrews implores us to throw off everything that hinders us such as strongholds and falling for false gospels. It demands that we cast off the sin which so easily entangles us as it once entangled Achan. Pride, lust, greed, selfishness whatever is entangling us today cast it off. Instead, we are to run the race set out before us with perseverance. God understands these obstacles exit in our paths He expects us to persevere in Him and through Him. He has that next level for us we just need to be moving toward it in zeal, passionate about moving in the direction of God.
Reverend Anthony Wade February 23, 2010
