We are living in a time where the days are dark and growing darker still. It seems as though wherever you turn there is some degree of evil, destruction or calamity occurring. As Children of God, these things should not alarm us, but rather alert us to the time that we are living.
Scripture warns us to stay alert and to keep watch for the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night to those who slumber. If we are not spiritually awake, then we can and will be easily caught off guard by the schemes of the devil seeking to devour the faith of believers.
1 Peter 5:8
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
There are countless ploys that our adversary can utilize when we are spiritually dull; but one of the major ways he will seek to carry many away from the faith is through false prophets and teachings.
Matthew 7:15
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
1 John 4:1-3
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
Jude 3-4
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible says that these individuals will corrupt the message of the Gospel of Jesus insomuch as even deny Him. As we near the return of Christ, these men will “grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).
But, there’s hope for us. Paul writes in the same letter to Timothy,
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:14-17).
In the following chapter Paul says,
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Now is that time, and it will only continue. Our instruction is to “continue in the things which we have been taught” and “earnestly contend for the faith.”
Jude 20-23
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
And the promise that follows is most encouraging,
Jude 24-25
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever.
Amen.
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