By Ray Gano
Joshua 24:14 -15 (KJV) Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Why did Joshua make this statement?
He feared for Israel.
He started to see Israel become lazy and they were choosing the apostate ways of the Canaanites, the false ways, the ways of the world.
Israel was become complacent.
Fast forward to today and what do we see? The same thing, people making excuses so that they can indulge in their pet sins. They wallow in the ways of the Canaanites, the ways of the world, the ways God has told us to stay clear of.
Like Joshua, we too must choose this day, whom we are going to serve.
But that is just the beginning.
Once we have chosen, we must take action on it.
Christ said in John 14:15 (KJV) If ye love me, keep my commandments.
But have we?
I don’t think so. I believe we are moving in the opposite direction instead of living how Scripture tells us.
We are driven by self interest
Scripture says… Matthew 5:44
Matthew 5:44 (KJV) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
We are consumed about Material Things
But scripture says… Matthew 6:31-33
Matthew 6:31 (KJV) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or, What shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Matthew 6:32 (KJV) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Matthew 6:33 (KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We worry about what tomorrow brings-
Scripture says… Philippians 4:6
Philippians 4:6 (KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
We are a nation of self-indulgence and debauchery -
Scripture says… 1 Corinthians 10:7-8
1 Corinthians 10:7 (KJV) Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1 Corinthians 10:8 (KJV) Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
Wanting what the “Jones” have and keeping up with the Jones is all important -
Scripture says.. Exodus 20:17
Exodus 20:17 (KJV) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.
Legalistic?
Judgmental?
Jesus Christ The Word says… If ye love me, keep my commandments.
But are we doing that?
But more than that, do we really care what the bible says anymore anyways?
Do we really love Christ?
If we do, why don’t we heed His word?
One of the most common questions I get is the following… Is America in Bible Prophecy?
Are we?
Look around and what do you see?
2 Timothy 3:2 (KJV) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2 Timothy 3:3 (KJV) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2 Timothy 3:4 (KJV) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2 Timothy 3:5 (KJV) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 3:6 (KJV) For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2 Timothy 3:7 (KJV) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Sounds like today
Sounds like America
It may even sound like some of us sitting here right now.
Ouch!
Have you really committed your life to Jesus Christ or are you just paying lip service?
I keep hearing the same petty excuses from many Christian folks.
Oh we go to church on Sunday mornings…
Keep the Ten Commandments…
I am a good person; I even give to the poor…
But I ask, does He live within your heart?
1John 2:4 (KJV) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Isaiah 8:20 (KJV) to the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
1 Corinthians 10:21 (KJV) Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
Man is spiraling out of control through the lust of the flesh and his rebellion to God.
If you are reading this I ask, are you truly born again or are you paying a bunch of lip service?
Are self interest, material things and keeping up with the Jones more important?
Who do you really serve?
We opened this with Joshua asking Israel to make the choice.
He said “Choose you this day whom you will serve.”
Is America in Bible Prophecy?
Figuratively yes she is, you will find her in Isaiah 5:8-23, Romans 1:18 – 32 and as I have shown, 2 Tim 3:1-7.
But we find her in yet another scripture.
Revelation 3:15-16 (KJV) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.
But here is another question; do you see yourself in this?
Have you chosen this day whom you will serve and if so are you doing it with all your heart, soul and mind?
Christ says… If you love me, keep my commandments.
Do you love Him?
Really or is it just lip service?
Who Do You Serve?
Jesus stated the following…
John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If you do not have Christ in your life, you will spend eternity in hell. This is a fact. It does not matter if you believe this or not, it is the truth spoken by Jesus himself. If your name is not written in the Lambs Book of Life you will go to hell for what you have not done and that is accepting Christ as your personal savior. To be placed in the Lamb Book of Life, you need to turn your life completely over to Him. Having “head” knowledge or “just believing in Christ” is not the same as having “heart” knowledge with Christ living in your heart. We know that even the devils believe in Him, where are they spending eternity?
James 2:19 (KJV) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
We work hard at Prophezine to show that Bible Prophecy is coming to pass. Because of this fact, the Bible is true. Since the Bible is the true and inerrant word of God, there is a heaven and there is a hell.
If you claim the title of “Christian” then take account of yourself this day. Many claim the title, but we read in God’s Word that the title does not get you into heaven.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Who you serve will determine where you will spend eternity. If you are not serving Christ and a true child of God, then you are serving Satan and a child of the enemy.
If you are not 110% sure, then take account of yourself, your very life depends upon it.
1John 1:9 (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
________________________________________
About the Author:
Ray & Tracye Gano are the Executive Directors of Prophezine. Prophezine deals with Bible Prophecy and World Events from a Pre-trib, pre-millennial, dispensationalist stand point. They currently serve close to 70,000+ (and growing) people world wide with a weekly newsletters, daily news updates, community based website and Internet radio shows. Ray recently released his latest project “Escape The End Time Money Snare – The CD a multimedia CD co-authored with Wilfred Hahn focusing on how to escape the trappings of mammon and learning how to live simply in God’s abundance.
Please visit Prophezine by going to http://www.prophezine.com
visit their new daughter ministry Wisdom Farms at http://www.wisdomfarms.com
BBC News – US and France vow to push for new sanctions on Iran
BBC News reports: “The US and France have vowed to work together to push for new UN sanctions over Iran’s nuclear programme [...] In a joint news conference with Mr Sarkozy at the White House, Mr Obama said he was not interested in waiting months for new sanctions.”
My Way News – Vatican offers 3 reasons it's not liable for abuse
My Way News reports: “Court documents obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press show that Vatican lawyers plan to argue that the pope has immunity as head of state, that American bishops who oversaw abusive priests weren’t employees of the Vatican, and that a 1962 document is not the ’smoking gun’ that provides proof of a cover-up.”
My Way News – 2 detained for dead babies found along China river
My Way News reports: “The bodies of 21 babies, some with hospital identification tags around their tiny ankles, washed ashore on a river in eastern China and two mortuary workers were detained for allegedly dumping them.”
My Way News – Geneva atom smasher sets collision record
My Way News reports: “The world’s largest atom smasher conducted its first experiments at conditions nearing those after the Big Bang, breaking its own record for high-energy collisions with proton beams crashing into each other Tuesday at three times more force than ever before [...] The extra energy in Geneva is expected to reveal even more about the unanswered questions of particle physics, such as the existence of antimatter and the search for the Higgs boson, a hypothetical particle that scientists theorize gives mass to other particles and thus to other objects and creatures in the universe.”
Comment: Other creatures in the universe? Either this news service needs better editors or the reporter knows something we don’t about life in the universe.
Jerusalem Post – J’lem posters call for 3rd Temple
The Jerusalem Post reports: “While tensions continue to simmer around the Temple Mount after riots in and around the capital’s Old City earlier this month, a new campaign calling for the construction of the Third Temple atop the holy site has made its way to the sides of 200 Egged buses in the city, which now sport posters featuring a picture of a rebuilt temple on the Mount, and nothing else.”
My Way News – On Passover, Israel concerned over world standing
My Way News reports: “The holiday begins Monday night with a traditional seder meal. Extended families typically gather and retell the story of the exodus. The biblical story recounts that God killed the first-born of Egypt after the pharaoh refused to release the children of Israel from bondage, but ‘passed over’ the houses of the Hebrews. After that divine blow, the pharaoh gave in and let the Hebrews go. They were then given the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai and wandered in the desert for 40 years before arriving in the Land of Israel, according to the Bible.”
Comment: It’s ironic that they celebrate this holy feast while at the same time supporting a national policy to give to others the land that God gave them.
My Way News – Geneva atom smasher set for record collisions
My Way News reports: “The world’s largest atom smasher is ready to start a new era of science, colliding beams of protons to learn more about the make up of the universe and its smallest particles. [...] The European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, plans to start trying Tuesday morning to use the powerful superconducting magnets to force the two beams to cross, creating collisions and showers of particles. They could be successful immediately, but such huge machines can be so tricky to run that it could take days.”
My Way News – SKorean president orders military on alert
My Way News reports: “South Korea’s president ordered the military on alert Tuesday for any moves by rival North Korea after the defense minister said last week’s explosion and sinking of a South Korean ship may have been caused by a North Korean mine.”
My Way News – NKorea accuses South of psychological warfare
My Way News reports: “North Korea warned the U.S. and South Korea on Monday of deadly consequences for engaging in ‘psychological warfare’ by allowing journalists into the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas [...] The two Koreas remain in a state of war because they have never signed a formal peace treaty.”
My Way News – Christian militia accused of plotting to kill cops
My Way News reports: “Nine alleged members of a Christian militia group that was girding for battle with the Antichrist were charged Monday with plotting to kill a police officer and slaughter scores more by bombing the funeral – all in hopes of touching off an uprising against the U.S. government [...] The group quotes several Bible passages and declares: ‘We believe that one day, as prophecy says, there will be an Anti-Christ. … Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment.’”
Comment: I guess they skipped over the “He who lives by the sword dies by the sword,” part of Matthew 26:52. Sad that people can be so deluded and deceived.
