Rend Your Hearts

In my 28 years of knowing the Lord, I have seen many other believers fall by the wayside, and it has been so grievous. Naively, from the time that I first said "I choose you, Lord," I didn't really know that others would leave Him, and stood amazed and confused, when I saw that happening. I mean, it was till death do us part, wasn't it? And why would the Bride leave her Groom; the only One who had the words of eternal life? Peter wondered that too, when Jesus asked him, after many had quit following Him, if he (Peter) was going to leave, too. (John 6:67,68)

We have got to hold onto our faith, saints, through thick and thin, by running to Him when things get scary; when the cares of this world are weighing us down so bad that we can't take another ounce of it; when the evil in this world encroaches upon us, and when traumatic things happen and they do and they will. Processing all of this in hope (knowing that He will rescue, keep and get us through) is the only way to maintain it. (our faith)

And, don't worry, I have been tried beyond my ability to endure within myself, but all these things happen so that we will learn to depend on God and not ourselves, as we draw closer to Him in our peril, and even in our unbelief sometimes. (2 Cor. 1:9, Mark 9;24)

The world and our own devices (yes, sometimes suggested and fueled by satan, but also by our self-indulgence and sufficiency) holds nothing for us. We've done that already before we came to Him. Didn't we reach the end of ourselves at that time? Why try again to get ourselves out of our circumstances without Him, for He only is the Savior, and knows what's best for us, if we listen and DO what He is telling us, no matter if it feels wrong, or even more threatening than the circumstance itself. We walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Cor. 5:7)

The most awful thing about doing this repeatedly, is that we will eventually lose our faith (actually, we are throwing it aside) and lose Him in our lives; for now and eternity. The consequences are serious! (Read 2 Peter 2, if interested.)

At this time, I can see the majority of those who call themselves "christian", just acknowledging Him with their mouth, but in their actions, they are following their own wills, and they have chosen to be both in the world, and OF it. They have left the sojourn of "looking for a city, whose Kingdom and maker is God." They have thrown away their inheritance and exchanged it for a bowl of stew as Esau did, or for things they can touch, see, smell, and feel over the Kingdom of God. I don't know if the Great Falling away happens in different parts of the world, at different times, but American "christians" here have so bonded with this present world, and seem to love it like Demas did, that they have chosen Mammon over God. And He has already told us that if we do this, that we don't have a love for Him!!!!! It really is clear in His Word.

If you recognize yourself, then there is still time to repent, or change your mind (I don't want my will, but I want God's) and turn back to Him. Sadly, though, most who need to see themselves, through their willful lives, by fulfilling their own lusts, have become blind.

Time is running out with each passing day! I join with the prophet, Joel, in proclaiming-"So, rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing...." Joel 2:13, 14a
We rest our hope on the grace of God only.