Don’t Be a Fool

 Don’t Be a Fool - Nathele Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com “ The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” Psalm 14:1. It seems that in this day and age, people go out of their way to deny God. There’s always been people who cannot see the truth, and they have always made life difficult for true Christians.Today, we have television and social media that promote all manner of sin and evil. The entertainment industry is an instrument of Satan and reaches most people with its message of evil. Children are sent to public school where they are indoctrinated intobelieving lies. It seems that only the Bible is forbidden. If a parent stands up and protests the choice of books in the school library, they are made to look like fools. Thank God there are parents who arebrave enough to stand up and protest the filth being taught. Thank God for parents who are able to homeschool their children. In many cases, pastors have dropped the ball. Instead of using God’s word as authority, many pastors have compromised truth and joinedwith the world. Instead of studying Scripture in seminary, psychological studies tell them how to run their congregations. Psychology does not bring salvation. All Scripture was directly spoken to the man who held the pen; it is directly from God. If you are ashamed to follow God’s teachings, then you need to take a hard look at your faith. Are youashamed of Jesus Christ? “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16. Paul wasn’t ashamed, and neither am I. The Apostle Paul wrote God-breathed letters to the men whom he trusted to be pastors. He encouraged them in the ways of choosing leaders, and how to deal with problems within the congregation.He never told these men to be more seeker friendly or use psychology to build up the congregation. No name-it-and-claim-it lies, or New Age heresy. Timothy was one such pastor to receive letters. Paul encouraged him to stand firm in the faith. “But thou, Oman of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness, Fight the Good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:11-12. These words should be burned upon the heart of every pastor. They should be burned upon the heart of every Christian. Paul had a lot to say to Timothy that all pastors should pay attention to. “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in theliving God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternallife.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19. That sort of shoots down the “name-it-and-claim-it” preachers, and those who are getting rich from compromising God’s word to be “seeker friendly”. If God has blessed you with wealth in thisworld, be sure to use it for His glory. If He has not given you much money, praise Him. He has given you other blessings to be used for His glory. Too many TV preachers or those who run very large churches, all seem to encourage the listeners to “Get theirbest life now”, “Tell God what you want and He will be sure you get it”. There’s nothing in this life that can come close to the eternal life we have with Jesus. That’s where our riches need to be stored. If you’ve been blessed with money in this life, look aroundyou and you’ll find brothers and sisters in Christ who have needs that you can help with. The kindness you show to fellow Christians in Christ’s name will be priceless when you step into eternity. If you aren’t so rich, you can share the Gospel with friendsand family who haven’t yet come to salvation in Christ. Timothy was young, but was mentored by Paul, who encouraged him to stick to Scripture. “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositionsof science falsely so called; which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.” 1 Tomothy 6:20-21. Here’s where many, many pastors fail. What is called “science” today is often opposed to Scripture. Scripture says. “In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. That’s fact. Here’s the fiction: Billions (or trillions) of years ago nothing came together and created everything. Not only that, but “science” has proved itself wrong. The discovery of DNAshould have sent those who believe evolution, into Bible study to learn facts. Instead, they keep adding millions of years to evolution and pretend they have the answers. It amazes me how “science” keeps changing their “facts” and people just keep believingtheir “…science falsely so called”. So-called “science” is also trying to convince us that males can really be females, and females can really be males (only males carry the Y chromosome). This is a delusion that will only getworse as schools conspire to push the agenda of brainwashing young children. Here’s the truth as Jesus told the Pharisees “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cleaveto his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.” Mark 10:6-8. What a mess this world is in because humans are trying to corrupt God’s creation and deny His existence. There are consequences to everything we do. Some are good, but some are bad. Sin brings bad consequences. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through JesusChrist our Lord.” Romans 6:23. Adam found out the hard way that disobedience to God brings death. His sin had huge consequences. Not only did it ruin his life., but it has affected every human being since then. God-breathedScripture is very clear in telling us the consequences of sin. It’s death. That’s pretty blunt, and leaves no “wiggle room”. Unfortunately, people keep on sinning. Do they not believe God? Do they think they are “special” and exempt from the wages of sin?You have to be very stubborn to deny God. Trees just didn’t happen. Flowers didn’t just happen. Dogs and cats didn’t just happen. God created everything. We understand that a painting doesn’t just pop into existence, but someone had to paint it, but we think that the amazing things in this world just happened. That is a strong delusion. Believingthis fairytale has consequences. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, andchanged the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” Romans 1:21-23. God will not be mocked. Don’t worship the earth or make idols of any created thing. The wages of the sin of rejecting God as the Creator is seen all around us. Even in Christian congregations. “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their ownhearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Romans 1:24-25. God doesn’t want anybody to face eternal death, but if a person insists upon believing lies and rejecting the God of all creation, then they have chosen their own punishment for their choices.As a society, we have chosen to reject God, and have to pay the penalty. “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the naturaluse of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” Romans 1:26-27. God will always forgive the truly repentant person, but if you continue to reject Him and embrace sin, your wages are death. You have to remember that God has given Scripture to teach us what He considers sin and how to turn from it. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave themover to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful,proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, convenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:” Romans 1:28-31. That’s quite a list. Remember, these people are those who mocked and denied God, so why shouldn’t He turn them over to the wages of their own choices? You may smugly think that you don’t joinin with the homosexual community, so you don’t have to worry about the wages of that sin. Think again. Do you happen to be a liberal “Christian” who thinks Scripture should be changed to keep up with modern times? Do you think it’s more important to be politicallycorrect than Biblically correct? Are you so afraid of being accused of being judgmental that you invite those who embrace the homosexual agenda to be a part of your denomination? “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthyof death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Romans 1:32. Remember the judgment which God poured out on Sodom and Gomorrah? Brothers and sisters, we must stand firm upon God’s truth. Scripture will never change because God never changes. If you choose to stand firm on God’s truth and against the way of the world, you will face persecution. Generations of strong Christians have faced persecution and were thrown to lions, boiledin oil, beheaded, and much more heinous means of torcher. These martyrs are the true heroes of history. They put God above their own security. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” John 15:18. The world still hates Jesus, and more and more it seems as if “Christians” hate Him too. It might cost you a lot in order to reject worldly ways and follow Jesus. Friends and even family willmake fun of you and may not want to be around you. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:19. It’s Satan who is the ruler of this world, so if you follow worldly ways, you follow Satan. Don’t be a fool. Follow Jesus. There is hope. Faith in Jesus Christ brings salvation. You must repent of your sin. Truly repent and turn from the sin that separates you from God. Remember religion won’t save you. You cansay all the hail Mary’s you want, but salvation comes by no other means than faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. No matter what denomination you belong to, you cannot be saved by sitting in a pew or just by being baptized. You mustunderstand that you are a sinner and only Christ can save you. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. So many of us are yearning for the Rapture, and it will happen soon. Why does God wait? Well, He may be waiting for you to come to saving faith “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. Turn to Him now. Whatever lifestyle you embrace now, repent, turn from your sin, and put your faith in Jesus. No sin is too big that Jesus won’t forgive you. The decision must be made on this side of Heaven.If you wait, death or the Rapture could happen at any moment which will leave you to face Hell on Earth. Eternity is a long time to be thinking “Oops”. Don’t be a fool. God bless you all, Nathele Graham twotug@embarqmail.com Recommended prophecy sites: www.raptureready.com www.prophecyupdate.com www.raptureforums.com