If you see and do not recognize the signs then perhaps you do not know what God told us will swiftly come to pass. Don’t you want to know so you can either ignore or be prepared?
Either the Bible is true in its entirety or it is dispensable. Most and I repeat Most Christians face the Bible with an eisegetic perspective. That is, they have a behavior, concept or idea that they want to be true and scour Bible Verse for validation. These same people will continually fail to read the Bible from cover to cover, for that would invalidate their excuse in painted negligence. If I don’t know about it then I will not have to honor its direction is their cry as they approach life in direct disobedience to God’s Second Commandment. It must be noted that this argument neither works with God nor when confronted by judge or jury in the court of law. What then is the cost for my never having read or heard the Bible?
How do I know God if not but by reading, comprehending and making decision to depend upon the Word He has given? If I don’t know what He wants us to do, how can I safely and truthfully state that I believe? How may I have a relationship with someone I do not know? Knowledge provides data leading to belief. Belief is based upon conscious determination resulting in demonstrable action reliant upon a foundation of faith that something is, in fact, to each of us, real. Do each of us know the parameters of salvation? Do we know that salvation is based entirely upon faith, faith in the redemptive price paid to buy back each of our souls from slavery, a fee paid by Jesus Christ upon the Cross. Salvation may not be found in good behavior or deeds, it does not matter how good each of us is, only that we believe in the Works of Jesus Christ Himself. Additionally, salvation is not based on how bad each of us is or was, again sin is forgiven for all mankind when they believe in the redemptive Work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. How may I know this without having been heard God’s Word preached or having read the Word of God regarding this issue within the Bible? And may I simply overlook, escape or correctively re-interpret God’s Word to my own liking to avoid the consequence or rationalize any action I feel like taking?
Do I know God’s Word or am I putting on a front hoping that no one will notice? I am an effective thespian, I may put on the guise of a true believer when mingling. Does that free me from the reality to which I am consigned, that I neither know God’s Word or truly have relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, the only Way, Door and Light? I ask this because the reality found in asking myself this question brought me to the beginning of wisdom where I truly began to fear God. This is the one place in our lives where our acting ability is a detriment and perhaps our greatest and most deceptive enemy or obstacle. For each of us must be entirely true before God where our self-centered works will be incinerated when first we meet. Each of is known fully, totally, entirely by God. Nothing of my life is concealed from His omniscience. Negligence in this circumstance does not effectively explain away my continued deception or lack of initiative to know and follow His Word. With God there is no excuse it either is or isn’t for He is the Great I AM.
So how do you look upon the Bible? Do you know what I mean when I speak of New Jerusalem and if not are you willing to take off the mask of your rebellion and admit that you do not know the Bible and therefore are limited in your relationship to God? Do you know the intention of the Ten Commandments as the law given to show us our sin so that we might know the need for salvation? Are you depending upon anything that you have done or will do in this life to earn you access or permission to enter God’s Presence? Do you lack the power of conviction in your life, have you ignored your calling to tell others about Jesus? Is there evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life and if there isn’t are you willing to face the fact that you may not have ever been saved? Do you know Jesus or does He just know you? Read the Bible, Listen to its preaching, discuss it with other believers and stay connected with God through the Holy Spirit by belief in Jesus Christ. That is the only way to Truth. Any other path is one you’ve paved yourself and leads to the broad road of destruction. In Jesus’ Name.
awrkhakhaya 