Tomorrow may be too late

 

All we like sheep have gone astray

Isaiah 53, The suffering Servant. I have read this chapter in the Old Testament many times. I get chills thinking how accurately Isaiah prophesied the coming Messiah so long before the Lord came to this earth. But last night it was different. As I read the words, an overwhelming sense of guilt and shame came apun me. Suddenly, this wasn't just an amazing OT prophecy, it was a testament to my guilt and shame. Verse 6 says All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Yes, my iniquity was laid on Him. The innocent punished and sacrificed for the guilty. You see, it became more real and more clear to me than ever before. I put Him there. Every curse word, every nasty movie, every satanic song, every adulterous thought, everything I ever stole, every lie, and on and on. This is what my Lord suffered and died for. I may as well have been holding the hammer.
The Lord has been dealing with my heart the last few weeks and He has made me realize how truly wretched I am. I think reading this chapter in Isaiah last night was no coincidence. Maybe I wasn't ready to honestly accept the truth until now. All of the things I have done in Christian "liberty" are the very same things that nailed my Savior to the cross. My entertainment and pleasures cost my Savior His life. I heard Paul Washer say in a sermon one time the people living in the Bible belt of America, know just enough about Christianity to send themselves straight to hell. I didn't really know what he meant. Now it is crystal clear. You see, true Christianity has been replaced by churchianity in my opinion. We are taught that going to church and paying our tithes while being a "good" person will get us to Heaven. Yes, before you even start, We are told we must accept Jesus into our hearts to be saved. If you've said that sinners prayer, welcome to the family! I totally agree with Paul Washer that that single "prayer" is going to send more people to hell than all the bars, drugs, and brothels in this country combined. I know you're asking how can I possibly say that? The Bible clearly says if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that you will be saved. This is true. However, most peoples confession is worthless. Jeremiah says the heart is wicked and deceitful among all things, who can know it? Do you see where I'm going here? Your profession means nothing. The evidence of salvation will come from a renewed spirit. If You truly love the Lord your life will show it. You will love what He loves and hate what He hates. Many of you who know me may be saying I'm a hypocrite right about now. I will agree, up until just days ago you would have been correct. I can say these things because I have lived it. I have sat at a bar in Myrtle Beach drinking a beer telling someone I had just met how I was a Christian. I have been to J Michaels in Florence, where I sat and drank beer eating wings thinking this is so much fun. Hypocrite! Yes, that was me. Claiming to love my Lord and spitting in His face at the same time. I was living proof of the new religion of churchianity. Praise be to the glory of God that He opened my eyes. I praise Him for showing me I was only pretending. I read somewhere recently that said if satan can convince you that you aren't saved, then couldn't he also convince you that you are? Oh you who read this ask yourself that question. Do you love the Lord, or do you just love yourself? Do you love your sin too much to give it up? Do you say things like "I'm only human" or "nobody's perfect"? Do you use these saying to justify trampling in the blood of our Savior? Most southerners are taught to believe that these "little" sins they indulge in will only cost them some rewards in Heaven. I tell you, if this is you, do not find it shocking when you hear these words: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ You see Jesus makes it clear that: wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Few will find this narrow gate. If you live your life in willful unrepentant sin, though you call Jesus Lord, you will not enter the gates of Heaven. It's not too late to change. If I can, anyone can. Don't continue living a lie. Don't be deceived that Jesus accepts just any old thing. He gave His life for us, and in return we must give our life to Him. Jesus asks the question in Luke 6:46: “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Easy answer. You don't know Him. You give good lip service, but your heart is far away. Turn away from sin and throw yourself at Jesus' feet before it's too late. Stop playing church and find your Savior. Put away the mess of this fallen world and set your mind on eternity. Pray that God will be mercifull and remove the scales from your eyes that you may see the truth and be set free. Don't be a slave to sin. Examine your life with the Word of God to see if you're in the faith. Just because you say you're something doesn't mean you really are. Luke 9:²³ Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. ²⁴ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. ²⁵ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? ²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. Throw down the things that you lust after in this world and pick up your cross. Time is running out. We are in the final minutes of time as we know it. Revelation 22: 12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Notice the end of verse 15 where it says "whoever loves and practices a lie". I beg anyone who reads this to be sure they are not living and believing a lie. Don't worship a false god contrived in your mind to suit your lifestyle. Seek the true and living God of the Bible. In Him alone can you be saved. Thank you Lord Jesus for opening my eyes.