By Anthony Smith As in the days of Christ, where many rejected His words of Salvation and warning, we see ourselves in the same condition today. The more the Gospel is preached the more the people reject the word of truth. They become transfixed with the cares of this world and cannot see the destruction that is upon them. They run to and fro, ever learning and never able to come unto the knowledge of the truth. They seek out other religions that are more permissive to their life style and reject the purity of the Laws of God. Come with us, we have found a better way, we can sin and still be pure. This is their motto, this is their creed, this is their cry. When the people hear,Thou Shalt Not, they say ,Why Not. They become offended by the word and everything that deals with the truth. They become offended by prophecy, not only of the old days but also of these end times. Curses that God has placed on nations will be fulfilled before the curses are lifted. Sin is sin, no matter what we think. We were all in the bondage of sin and Satan at one time or another, but we that believed that the only way was thru Jesus, came into the knowledge of truth and accepted it. Acts 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves = (This expression here denotes, preserve yourselves from the influence, opinions, and fate of this generation) from this untoward = (1. Froward; perverse; refractory; not easily guided or taught. 2. Awkward; ungraceful.) generation. It means perverse, willful, crooked, and is so translated in Revised Version: this crooked generation Why do many become offended by the truth, why do many reject the idea that there is a judgment coming upon all that refuse to believe, why do you think that mankind cannot see the death and destruction all about them. We are seeing the blind leading the blind, in government and in religion. Its in other places, we have food, we have shelter, we have money, we have all we need. Leave us alone to our life, we are not hurting anyone. The state of this world was developed by mankind in his search for a utopia. Man had two choices, especially in these end days, 1. To Become Rich and 2. Feed the poor and helpless. They have chosen to become rich. The thought that they must give so that others could live is beyond reason for many. Mans Idea of helping, is to wait for a cause then step out and give, Jesus told us not to wait but seek out those that were hungry and poor and destitute. The corruption of many charitable organizations is obvious and the countries that are receiving the aid are squandering it, and the poor still suffer. 1John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? We have become a world of watered down religion. Seeking all the good things in this life and not wanting to recognize all the bad that comes alone with it. Gods word is not a word of compromise, it never has been and never will be. Many are offended by its truths and graphic depiction of the end days. Fire, Flood, Petulance, Famines, Earthquakes, War. In Matthew 16:3-4, Jesus stated; And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. People once said of World War 1, This is the end Days. They said it about World War 2, They said it about the black plague and other events, but this was only the beginning. All these events from our past and present are bringing in the end times. Ask yourself this question, How much food is left that will be able to be eaten, how much more will this earth be able to produce with its bounding population, how much longer will the air be fit to breath or the water be fit to drink, how much longer will the oil or coal last before it runs out, 100, 200, or 300 years? How many more diseases will mankind face without a cure? How much longer will it be before terrorist have a Nuclear weapon and start using it? Then what? Its not one individual incident that brings out the truth of prophecy, as it is not one event that brings out the truth of a curse. It a combination of prophecy, a combination of events, actions, times and hafe times, that brings out the truth. As all these things begin to happen, out comes the scoffers, the skeptics, here comes the scientist. To the Christians I say, Prophecy must be Fulfilled. To the un-believer I say, Prophecy will catch you asleep. Prophecy of future events? {Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?} and what about { Rev 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.} Can we stop, persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword(War), hatred? No. But we must prepare ourselves and others. For in the end, no man will be with excuse, not to have known what was approaching. There laughter will be turned to tears and joy to anguish. Do we forget about compassion on those that suffer? No. If we did, then how could the Love of God dwell within us? Can we help all men who suffer? No. Why? Bible Prophecy, Gods word of future events will take place. Then you ask, Is then not God unrighteous, in allowing these things to occur? No. For it is not God that is causing these things to take place but mankind is the unrighteous. Gods prophets are just reporting the future state of mans compassion on his fellow man. Man desired, and still does, to have a freedom of choice and God allows him to have his desire. 2Pe 3:3-4; Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. Heb 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. [Heb 5:2 Who can(Greek, being able; not pleasing himself ) have compassion(Greek, estimate mildly, feel leniently, or moderately towards; to make allowance for) on the ignorant(sins not committed in resistance of light and knowledge), and on them that are out of the way(not deliberately and altogether willfully erring, but deluded through the fraud of Satan and their own carnal frailty and thoughtlessness. jfb); for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity(The Preacher).] Look at the world around us, Famines all about, Africa, Nigeria, India, Philippens, Aisa, Earthquakes, Japan, Pakistan, can we feed all that are in need, can we have compassion one toward another, can we save the lives of countless children dieing each day? No. Mankind is not able to do any of these things, for it was mankinds rejection of the truth and of righteousness that was the centering cause of all this. Acts 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Is society today become an untoward generation, or , A wicked and adulterous generation ? Yes. Order? this untoward generation? - Untoward: Perverse, refractory, not easily guided or taught (Webster). The same character our Saviour had given of that generation in Mat-11:16-19. This character they had shown uniformly. this is the same character that this world is displaying today, nation against nation, peoples against peoples, sons and daughters rebelling against the parents. They are smooth, cunning, plausible; but they are corrupt in principle, and wicked in conduct. Our courts have become a play ground for special interest groups, turning the truth into a lie. Trying to justify themselves with the law. (Barnes states; The Pharisees had a vast hold on the people. To break away from them was to set at defiance all their power and doctrines; to alienate themselves from their teachers and friends; to brave the authority of those in office, and those who had long claimed the right of teaching and guiding the nation. The chief danger of those who were now awakened was from that generation; that they would deride, or denounce, or persecute them, and induce them to abandon their seriousness, and turn back to their sins. And hence, Peter exhorted them at once to break off from them (The world), and give themselves to Christ.) We may hence learn 1. This generation is becoming as those of the times of the Pharisees, wanting not to sway away from instruction of those that they deem are in full knowledge of Gods Laws for fear of being persecuted and alienated. 2. Following after every wind and doctrine that comes along, offering a better and easier way. You are not born saved, as you are not born into any religion, you must accept Christ and be born again. Hear the Word of God, take what Peter said to heart; Break off from them, and give themselves to Christ. Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministrieshttp://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Smith http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Must-I-Do-to-be-Heard!&id=125535 online pharmacy tramadol 24 hours order qoclick ultram cheapest prescription tramadol buy ultram online fast
