« Fruitful Ground | Main | Crying in the Wilderness »
If Our Gospel Be Veiled…
By Watchman | September 14, 2009
“But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” (2 Corinthians4:2-4)
“Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I’m found;
Was blind, but now I see. ” (John Newton, 1725-1807)
In my last post, I commented on the parable of the sower and the seed, and we saw that the seed that fell by the wayside and was trampled down indicates those who hear the word of God; “then the devil comes and takes away the word out their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” Very few people nowadays have not had the opportunity to hear the word of God, and the Holy Spirit continues to beckon the unbeliever to God, yet never has there been a time in modern history when so many simply ridicule any idea that they are answerable to the Most High God. Many spue venomous curses and profanities at those who are called by His Name–and the majority of the scorn they pour out concerns the “blind” acceptance of a superstitious lie. Jesus’ parable takes on a new emphasis and a new urgency as we realize that, in these last days, the venom is (unbeknownst even to those who exhibit it) not really directed primarily towards those who believe in Christ, but at Christ Jesus Himself. Satan has come down “having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.” (Rev. 12:12) He is stopping eyes from seeing and ears from hearing how we can know for sure that God is God; that God loves us; and that God wants us to come to Him.
Satan knows that in the end-time battle that will take place soon, he will lose. His desire is to take as many of the people God loves down with him as possible since he knows that this will hurt God. He “veils” the gospel to those who are perishing by closing their minds and hearts to the very real, perceptable Voice that so many of us have heard in our hearts. With some, he “veils” the gospel by so watering it down that they believe that if they have a vague belief in a “higher power” that they will be saved. He “veils” the gospel by making many believe that a loving God would require nothing of them except that they not be ax murderers or child molesters. He veils the gospel with a lie. Satan is a liar and the father of lies. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2 that “we are not ignorant of his devices.” He comes only to steal, and to kill and to destroy (John 10:10). He veils people’s eyes to the wisdom and power and glory of God and convinces them that to believe is weakness.
Brothers and Sisters, my heart is so greatly burdened by those who are perishing for want of knowledge. Although I may sometimes burn with anger when I hear the name of God blasphemed or of His people being persecuted, I am most often filled with grief that these souls, so beloved by our God, may be lost for all eternity. I beg of you now–if you are one of these, please, PLEASE repent and open your heart to the love of Jesus. Time is growing so short. Can you not feel the battle to come on earth raging now inside of you? God loves you so much. He loves you so much that He sent His only Son to take your sins upon Himself, that if you live in and believe in Him, you will never have to pay the ultimate price for your wrongdoing. If you accept Him now, when you stand before God He will look at your soul and see the sinless purity of Jesus Himself. I understand the desire for proof–God will manifest Himself to you if you open up your heart and allow Him to do so. He will convict you of your sins, grant you unlimited forgiveness and love, and you will so feel His presence that you will never again doubt His existance. Your sins will be washed clean and removed from you “as far as the east is from the west.” If you haven’t yet taken that leap into eternity with your heavenly Father, do it now, before it is too late and you no longer have the opportunity. DO IT NOW! Do not let fear, or embarrassment about what your neighbor or your brother or your girlfriend will say stop you. Do not let sins that you aren’t sure you want to get rid of control where you spend eternity. Let go of anger, resentment, self-righteousness, pride and hatred and hand all of it over to Christ for destruction. It will not destroy you; it will cause you to be renewed and redeemed: remade in the image of Jesus our Christ! Accept Him now–please: you will not lose your personality, your intelligence, your skills, your talents or your free will. You will lose only your sins and iniquities, and gain life eternal. “Delight yourself also in the Lord; and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
Maranatha!
Topics: Kingdom Living, Salvation | No Comments »