And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. (Luke 10:27)
The Bible pictures in the last days a small group of people, out of the billions that inhabit the earth, who live in harmony with the above verse which is a summary of God's ten commandments. They make up the remnant of the church in the last days.
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17)
On the other hand we have another church coming into prominence whose members come from all walks of life and are on the broad road to destruction which Jesus spoke of.
One of the sure indications that we are living in the last days is the widespread love of self and its varied manifestations. According to the Bible this is what makes the last days so dangerous...
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves....(2 Timothy 3:1,2)
Notice what makes the last days so perilous - self love - and all the other resulting character traits that follow in the verses. This self love or selfishness is not the same thing as self respect and conscious dignity of character which God encourages and supports. Selfishness is the root principle of sin revealed in the breaking of God's commandments.
There are even homes and churches set up which are devoted to the worship and indulgence of self like - "The House of Self Worship" - http://houseofselfworship.org/ and the church of Satan - http://www.churchofsatan.com/home.html
What is happening to human beings and where are the role models for the youngest members of society ? It requires the grace of God to reveal the love of God demonstrated through consistently reflecting the character of Christ by self-control and self-sacrifice. Instead of wisely instructing those whose understanding and maturity have not been developed to comprehend the purpose of life, many adults (ages 18 - 100 years old) are strengthening a love of this world by their own indulgences and general preference for the things of this world.
Lacking the courage to be different, many adults try to impress the young with the idea that they are on their level by adopting their communication slang, or latest "cool" fashion, music and leisure activities.
As the youth go out into the world to encounter its allurements to sin--the passion for money getting, for amusement and indulgence, for display, luxury, and extravagance, the overreaching, fraud, robbery, and ruin--what are the teachings there to be met ? Spiritualism asserts that men are unfallen demigods; that "each mind will judge itself"; that "true knowledge places men above all law"; that "all sins committed are innocent"; for "whatever is, is right," and "God doth not condemn." The basest of human beings it represents as in heaven, and highly exalted there. Thus it declares to all men, "It matters not what you do; live as you please, heaven is your home." Multitudes are thus led to believe that desire is the highest law, that license is liberty, and that man is accountable
only to himself.
With such teaching given at the very outset of life, when impulse is strongest, and the demand for self-restraint and purity is most urgent, where are the safeguards of virtue ? what is to prevent the world from becoming a second Sodom ? All the same time anarchy is seeking to sweep away all law, not only divine, but human. The centralizing of wealth and power; the vast combinations for the enriching of the few at the expense of the many; the combinations of the poorer classes for the defense of their interests and claims; . . . the world-wide dissemination of the same teachings that led to the French Revolution--all are tending to involve the whole world in a struggle similar to that which convulsed France.
Such are the influences to be met by the youth of today. To stand amidst such upheavals they are now to lay the foundations of character. In every generation and in every land the true foundation and pattern for character building have been the same. The divine law, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself" (Luke 10:27), the great principle made manifest in the character and life of our Saviour, is the only secure foundation and the only sure guide.
What can be done ?
1. Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind - Romans 12:2
2. Be very selective with regard to the things you allow into your mind - Philippians 4:8
3. Be Christ minded - thinking of Him and like Him - Philippians 2:5
Please...if you are pretending to be a Christian or you are someone who has not yet accepted the character transforming love of God...please surrender your heart to Christ while there is still time; surrender your thoughts and feelings to Jesus Christ the one who loves you and died in order for you and I to be able to obtain victory over all sin and selfishness in our lives...God loves you..God wants you...Not just to be forgiven...Not to play church..But to truly become Christ-like before you die.
A Christlike person is the only kind of person that could enjoy heaven and the only kind of person that could be trusted in heaven.Pray like this - Father in heaven, I am a sinner and I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior right now and I ask you to give me a new heart. New motives, new desires and new purposes that will be in harmony with your law of 10 commandments. I thank you and praise you for the forgiveness of my sins and for causing me to be born again right now, In Jesus, name, amen.
The Bible pictures in the last days a small group of people, out of the billions that inhabit the earth, who live in harmony with the above verse which is a summary of God's ten commandments. They make up the remnant of the church in the last days.
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17)
On the other hand we have another church coming into prominence whose members come from all walks of life and are on the broad road to destruction which Jesus spoke of.
One of the sure indications that we are living in the last days is the widespread love of self and its varied manifestations. According to the Bible this is what makes the last days so dangerous...
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves....(2 Timothy 3:1,2)
Notice what makes the last days so perilous - self love - and all the other resulting character traits that follow in the verses. This self love or selfishness is not the same thing as self respect and conscious dignity of character which God encourages and supports. Selfishness is the root principle of sin revealed in the breaking of God's commandments.
There are even homes and churches set up which are devoted to the worship and indulgence of self like - "The House of Self Worship" - http://houseofselfworship.org/ and the church of Satan - http://www.churchofsatan.com/home.html
What is happening to human beings and where are the role models for the youngest members of society ? It requires the grace of God to reveal the love of God demonstrated through consistently reflecting the character of Christ by self-control and self-sacrifice. Instead of wisely instructing those whose understanding and maturity have not been developed to comprehend the purpose of life, many adults (ages 18 - 100 years old) are strengthening a love of this world by their own indulgences and general preference for the things of this world.
Lacking the courage to be different, many adults try to impress the young with the idea that they are on their level by adopting their communication slang, or latest "cool" fashion, music and leisure activities.
As the youth go out into the world to encounter its allurements to sin--the passion for money getting, for amusement and indulgence, for display, luxury, and extravagance, the overreaching, fraud, robbery, and ruin--what are the teachings there to be met ? Spiritualism asserts that men are unfallen demigods; that "each mind will judge itself"; that "true knowledge places men above all law"; that "all sins committed are innocent"; for "whatever is, is right," and "God doth not condemn." The basest of human beings it represents as in heaven, and highly exalted there. Thus it declares to all men, "It matters not what you do; live as you please, heaven is your home." Multitudes are thus led to believe that desire is the highest law, that license is liberty, and that man is accountable
only to himself.
With such teaching given at the very outset of life, when impulse is strongest, and the demand for self-restraint and purity is most urgent, where are the safeguards of virtue ? what is to prevent the world from becoming a second Sodom ? All the same time anarchy is seeking to sweep away all law, not only divine, but human. The centralizing of wealth and power; the vast combinations for the enriching of the few at the expense of the many; the combinations of the poorer classes for the defense of their interests and claims; . . . the world-wide dissemination of the same teachings that led to the French Revolution--all are tending to involve the whole world in a struggle similar to that which convulsed France.
Such are the influences to be met by the youth of today. To stand amidst such upheavals they are now to lay the foundations of character. In every generation and in every land the true foundation and pattern for character building have been the same. The divine law, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself" (Luke 10:27), the great principle made manifest in the character and life of our Saviour, is the only secure foundation and the only sure guide.
What can be done ?
1. Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind - Romans 12:2
2. Be very selective with regard to the things you allow into your mind - Philippians 4:8
3. Be Christ minded - thinking of Him and like Him - Philippians 2:5
Please...if you are pretending to be a Christian or you are someone who has not yet accepted the character transforming love of God...please surrender your heart to Christ while there is still time; surrender your thoughts and feelings to Jesus Christ the one who loves you and died in order for you and I to be able to obtain victory over all sin and selfishness in our lives...God loves you..God wants you...Not just to be forgiven...Not to play church..But to truly become Christ-like before you die.
A Christlike person is the only kind of person that could enjoy heaven and the only kind of person that could be trusted in heaven.