Dy 98 "Know your God well enough to spot a fake."

Day 98

Matthew 11:12-15 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

While this passage can be somewhat confusing, there are some great lessons to be learned that truly apply to us today. You see, the great story here is that Jesus came to fulfill exactly what had been spoken of by the prophets of old, the arrival of the Messiah, the end of the law and the beginning of the new covenant. However, the Jewish religious leaders had another agenda, another plan, one that would allow them to stay in power. They resisted the Messiah and violently rejected the plan of God, attempting to change the outcome, and they sought to take heaven by force. John prepared the way; he fulfilled the role that Elijah, Malachi, and others prophesied long before; however, they rejected his message. Why? Because they weren't ready. You see, they were the generation alive and in power, and they were not about to give up their earthly power; after all, in their minds they deserved it.

Last week, I watched literally in horror as people worshiped the pontiff of the Catholic Church upon his arrival in the United States. I heard words used to describe him such as Holy Father and God on earth. This is true blasphemy and idolatry. If I offend some, I confess there will be no apology, for there is only one God and one Jesus and He has not returned to this earth to claim His bride, though He will. For those who participate in such worship, we pray for their eyes to be opened and the scales to be removed, and for those who are leading this frenzy, we pray for confession and repentance. They and many other so-called religious leaders in our world are attempting to set up for themselves their own pathway to God. They are, as well, attempting to take heaven by force; however, heaven will not be conquered, and the plan of God will not be changed by any man!

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 is one of many scriptures that warn us of people who will preach another Jesus or offer another gospel. We are not to listen, support, or associate with these people; as a matter of fact, we are to expose them. Let's not get complacent in these latter days confusing our need to be gracious with our call to confront heretics and false prophets. Complacency will send a lot of people to hell, and I, for one, don't want their blood on my hands, do you?

Daily Prayer: Father, help us to be wise, gracious, loving, and merciful, and allow us, Lord, to know when to confront those who have another agenda besides the one You have prescribed. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

"Know your God well enough to spot a fake."

Pastor Gene Burroughs