Will You Be Offended?

Mar 14:29  But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. 

Most Christians would say something like Peter. Some might even profess their willingness to die, but almost all of them would be weeping after their denial.

We deny Him many times in our lives and do not realize. Every time we pass by an opportunity to witness and to help someone in need it is a form of denial. If we are not faithful in the little moments what makes us think we would be faithful if our life or liberty depended on it?

How many of us break the simplest command of going to church? Did He not die for the Church? We say He is coming back soon and we meet less and less when we are to meet even the more so as we see the day approaching. Do we really seek His will for our lives or just ask Him to bless what we have going on?

Have we become accustomed to sin and are loving this world? Most people hate adultery and yet James calls those of His who love the world adulterers and adulteresses. Is that not a form of denying Him before the world? Do we take the Word of God seriously or is it just a place to find comfort and encouragement while skipping the parts that rebuke and reprove us?

Yes, we would have to say that we are not ready to go to prison and die for Christ. The current prosperity gospel gives us sunshine prophets and soothsayers that promise us the best and we shall be the head and not the tail while the Word tells us that all who live godly SHALL suffer persecution and it is given unto us to not only believe, but suffer for Him.

We have people living high right now. False prophets are rich and deceiving people with their Ponzi schemes, but as the old song says, “change gonna come.” There is a great brewing of hatred for Christians and we are not the most persecuted faith on earth. Back in the 90’s on a web site where I answered questions I got a cryptic message saying, “When we take over, we are coming for guys like you.” I asked what I did to them, but got no reply. Just look at the videos being put out on social media and we can see hatred with violent threats.

Indeed, “change gonna come” and it might be a revival though Jesus asked if there would be faith on the earth when He returned or a persecution that will make the Inquisitions look like a party. Are we ready? No. Peter said that judgment starts at the house of God and while we may not go through the Tribulation it does not say that we will not go through a period of the wrath of man. God has mercy in wrath, but man does not so sober up and buckle up. Unlike a bull ride, it won’t last eight seconds. Just ask our brothers around the world who are experiencing it now and cannot understand our carnality.

“Must I be carried to the skies

On flow’ry beds of ease,

While others fought to win the prize,

And sailed through bloody seas?” Watts 1721

We think we will go on beds of ease, but unlikely. Will you be offended? Will I? May God help us to sail on whatever sea God uses to bring us to harbor. Maranatha!