Dead bodies

Matthew 24:28 “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.”

     Jesus was talking about the end times.  He was warning  his disciples about deception; “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.” (Matthew 24:4,5)  At this time, the level of wickedness and deception will become great; “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24)

     The Apostle Paul tells us of the coming of the ‘lawless one’; “. . . the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved . . . ”  Without the love of the truth, people are in eternal danger; “For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:11,12)

     What is the only protection that can save us from being taken in by deceiving signs and wonders?  How can we see through the powerful delusion that kills?  The answer is simple; love the truth – Love God’s Word!  Jesus told us plainly that His Word is what washes us clean; “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you.” (John 15:3,4)  We can be safe if we abide in Him.   Jesus and the Word are one; “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

     Today, those who are deceived are gathering up in a dead body – a carnal body that rallies around a growing disrespect for God’s Word – the Holy Bible.  “Best-selling authors tell us the biblical text isn’t reliable, that the biblical manuscripts we have in our possession are hopelessly contradictory, and that we can know little or nothing about the real, historical Jesus. Other authors tell us that the Bible is no more than a collection of religious traditions and that God Himself is nothing more than a religious myth.” (Steve Hill)  This dead body is the church without His Word!

     The battle lines are drawn clearly.  His Banner (John 14:6) rallies those that are His; “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31,32) His Church will prevail over the devil and his carnal church;  “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” (Revelation 12:11)  It takes the sure and certain strength of His Word to face down the soul killing death of the carnal church.
   
     Make no mistake, even now we are at war; “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.” (Revelation 12:17) Satan along with his false prophets and priests, who would have your freedom and life, have been defeated by Jesus.

     We can only be destroyed by being deceived!  You can see the casualties in the distance by the circling vultures above the dead bodies of the carnal Wordless church.  Be warned – stay away from dead bodies!

     Praise the Lord!