Written ~ 09-06-2023
Matthew 24:11-13
“And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
Please take the time to read the entire chapter of Matthew 24. Our verses for today touch on a very small part of what Jesus is telling us. Chapter 24 is a foretelling of events that will need to take place before Jesus Christ in all His Glory will return. I do not have the expertise to explain all these events, I just look at the words of Jesus and trust what He says, a particular timeline must take place before He returns. If you are interested in a more in-depth study of the Book of Revelation and end time events, I highly recommend reading the book by Pastor Greg Laurie, “Revelation – The Next Dimension.” Plus, to deepen your study include the workbook, “Revelation – The Next Dimension – BIBLE STUDY.” I purchased both books via Amazon. I couldn’t put it down! But I suggest taking your time and really dig in… with the help of these books I gained a much greater understanding of the end times timeline and events.
Anyway, let’s move on… As we look at the world today, it’s obvious that the sin of humanity is growing more rampant with each generation. But, where we see the bad, we also see great revival. In the end times, some look only at all the evil going on in the world and wonder why God is allowing, or even doing such things. As born-again believers we should concentrate on the revival we see taking place around the world and praise God when we see His Power moving.
So, let’s break down our verses for today.
Verse 24:11,
“And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.”
If we look back at verse 24:4 it says,
“Jesus told them, ‘Don’t let anyone mislead you.’”
We need to be on the lookout for those who would like to see the world turn their attention off Christ and follow them instead. They might even say the words they speak come from the Lord Himself. That’s why verse 24:11 says that many will be deceived. If you are looking, searching for something to fill an emptiness inside of you, if it isn’t the Lord Jesus Christ you are seeking, then an unhealthy falsity can fill that void instead. This could lead you down a path that drives a wedge even further away from the truth of Jesus Christ. So how do you find the truth? By getting into the Bible and learning about who Jesus is. Don’t have a Bible? Well, most of us have a phone with us everywhere we go, so you can have a Bible app at your fingertips. Don’t know where to begin? Ask! Start learning the truth for yourself, so when you hear something that sounds kinda good, check it against what you’re reading in the Bible, to make sure it is the truth.
Verse 24:12,
“Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.”
This verse saddens me, all of us sin, that’s a given, while on this earth none of us will be perfect, we will make mistakes. But in this verse, it speaks more of a deliberate sin, a turning away from the Lord. It will become harder to find a repentant heart. There will become a blanketed hatred across the world. Have you ever noticed how people, young and old, seem to have a deep seeded anger? They may not know what they are mad at, they are just angry at the world. The lack of love behind the eyes of some people is troubling. It maybe they have been deceived and now have great difficulty finding truth and trusting anything other than their anger. It’s particularly upsetting when a whole generation seems to be following the same deception, that anything goes, every belief system is acceptable and true. Jesus said, “Don’t let anyone mislead you.” If you find yourself contemplating the deception in the world as truth, might I nudge you toward the saving power of Jesus?
Recently, I read from the book “The Way of the Master,” questions to ask yourself, just to see where your beliefs are about Heaven and Hell, and if you think you will be going to Heaven or Hell when you die. (The following section – I am paraphrasing from this book)
“Do you consider yourself to be a good person?” Yes?
“Have you ever told a lie?” Yes? What does that make you? ~A liar~
“Have you ever stolen something?” Yes? What does that make you? ~A thief~
“Have you ever used God’s name in vain?” Yes? “That’s called blasphemy, and it’s a very serious sin – to use God’s name as a cuss word.”
“Jesus said, “Whoever looks with lust, has committed adultery in the heart.” Have you ever lusted after someone? Yes?
“So, by answering any or all of those questions with a “Yes,” means you are a lying, thieving, blasphemous adulterer at heart. When you face God on Judgement Day, do you think you will be innocent or guilty?”
“Guilty.”
“Because of that guilty verdict, will you go to Heaven or Hell?”
“Hell.”
“Does that concern you?” It should. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So, what does that short excerpt from that book tell you? Does it make you think about your own life? What if you ask yourself this next question. Do you want to go to Hell? No? Well, that’s why God sent His Son – Jesus Christ – to suffer and die on the cross for you. The penalty of sin is death (eternity in Hell), but Jesus paid the fine with His own blood so your sin could be forgiven once and for all. And by accepting what Jesus did on the cross ensures you will leave God’s courtroom knowing you have life eternal in Heaven. What you must do is repent and trust in the Lord. By admitting you are a sinner and asking God for forgiveness and by having a repentant heart means the blood that Jesus shed for you on the cross will cleanse you of your sin and you will be forgiven. Jesus will come into your life, and you will no longer be guilty of sin when you face God on Judgement Day. This is the only way you can be assured your life will be eternal in Heaven, if no decision is made and you do not repent and ask for forgiveness from the Almighty God, then, the other side of that assurance is that you will live eternally in Hell.
This world will continue to grow darker, we can either let our love grow cold or we can be saved and endure with Jesus by our side. The decision is yours.
~AMEN~