Dear Brethren,Brethren, Things are really getting bad – not only in the world – but in the Church of God as well. A week does not go by without major standards of right and truth being violated or removed completely. For many years I did not believe our demise would take place so rapidly. Time is very short – and yet there is a responsibility given us that must yet be accomplished. The Gospel must be preached.
“After John [the Baptist] was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.” (Mark 1:14)
“When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come... This Gospel of the Kingdom [of God] shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 10:23, 24:14)
The Church of God brethren are being scattered. But that does not relinquish the duty that each of us has to be a part of the end-time Gospel. There are no others to preach the Gospel Truth. The word “Gospel” simply means good news or good message. Jesus proclaimed the good news, and told us to believe it. Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
Do we truly believe the Gospel – the good news that Jesus will establish His Father’s Kingdom over all the earth? Jesus taught that God’s Kingdom would replace the kingdom of Satan that we find ourselves in. The Churches of God today are letting down. They are doing everything possible to be friends with this world. Do the Churches of God even remember that as long as God’s Kingdom has not been established over this earth – with Jesus Christ ruling as Messiah – that they reside in the kingdom of Satan.
Jesus taught what the Kingdom of God would be like, and how we must change in order to qualify for it. And He warned us, especially in this last day that there would be many traps and pitfalls competing with the True Gospel. He warned us:
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)
“Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:11)
“False Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” (Mark 13:22)
And with many more warnings Jesus cautioned us to be spiritually alert in these last days – because these are the days in which we find ourselves.
“The Kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, who made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come… For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:2-3, 14)
When Jesus, speaking of His own marriage to His Bride ends the parable with the warning “Many are called, but few are chosen” – that should shock us out of our complacency, spur us into action, and wake us up. Jesus issues these warnings to us because He knows that our generation possesses an inherent weakness – a proclivity to excuse and justify ourselves.
It seems that most of the Church of God brethren would rather think of themselves as faultless Philadelphians, rather than heed what the Spirit says to all the Churches – especially the Laodiceans. Without a doubt, many brethren in the last day will go into the tribulation because of their half-hearted approach to their faith.
Though they have been the recipients of bountiful peace, copious fellowship, and a wealth of doctrinal truth, they do not yet possess the full spirit of unity and brotherly love that Jesus requires of His wife – the Church (Revelation 3:17). “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3).
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