Knowing how evil the world is, and how few days I have left to warn others, I want my friends and family to find peace with God while it is day. For the night of death will come when we can work no more. This is not a fearful thing for me. To have the eternal promise of life with Christ my Lord is a great comfort. But knowing so many people who walk in darkness is a great sorrow to me in this present life. If I could, I would take them by the hand and lead them to the Lord.
Let’s look at the question about the truth not being taken from you. Once the word is established in your heart, manmade doctrine, trials, persecution, mockers, or any deceiving spirit can’t take it away from you. Powers of Satan and the world can never take it from you. “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:39) All things from the beginning of time are subject to almighty God. Things seen and unseen answer to him. All spirits in heaven and earth are his to command. But it is the will of the Father that you keep the truth and obey it. The Lord God gives, and he takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord. He alone has all power in heaven and earth. He alone can cast us away.
In Matthew 13:11, the disciples asked Jesus why he spoke to the people in parables. He said, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” To you who have received the spirit of truth. To you who hunger and thirst after righteousness. To you who keep my commandments. It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. The mysteries are contained in the written word of God, as Paul said, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7) To his people he says, “But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.” (Matthew 13:16)
You, my people, see the parable and understand that I speak of spiritual things that are hid from the deceived and unrepentant. You my people, hear the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive. Your eyes are opened and your hearing restored. “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.” (Matthew 13:12)
If we have sincere love for the word of God and we obey it from our heart, we will continue to grow in the knowledge of the Lord. More abundance in understanding and attaining the promises of the Lord. But many in religion who should be able to guide new converts, do not have sufficient knowledge of the mysteries of God to show them the way. Having only a carnal understanding of Jesus’ words, the spiritual is taken away. The apostle Luke said, “from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.” (Luke 8:18)
Divided religion seems to have the word of God. They hear (read) the words of the New Testament but over and over we hear the leaders assign them to a future time when they will see these events unfold. Waiting for the revelation to come in earthly events, ignoring the words of Jesus that say the kingdom of God does not come with observation; look, the kingdom of God is within you. These stand in the door (the kingdom of God is at hand). They do not enter themselves, and for lack of knowledge they hinder their followers.
“Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.” (Luke 11:52)
I have said to you before, most people in religion are capable of reading the words of the New Testament. Many have a good knowledge of the scriptures, able to quote much of it from memory. But without spiritual understanding, they only hear the “parable” and are unable to connect it to the kingdom of God, today. Since they haven’t yet seen the mysteries of the word revealed, they can only put them in the future, telling people to watch for all these things that will soon come to pass. The word of God is and was current for each passing generation.
Grow in the word of God by reading, studying, and obeying God’s word. Always having prayer in your heart and always keeping the will of the Lord first in all things.
Think about how you plant and care for a garden. The ground must first be prepared (repent and turn from sin). Then, you must have good seed to plant (incorruptible word of God). The ground must be cultivated (read, study, pray, and do good works). Weeds (sin, neglect, and idleness) cannot be allowed to grow; they will choke out seedlings. In time, the seeds you planted will bear fruit. (In time, with good care, the word in your heart will produce fruit. You will be able to plant new seed in the hearts of others.) And God, in due time will gather all his harvest.
If we have a job, there are certain things we must do to keep it. Whether or not we want to, we must get up, get ready, and get there on time. We compel our body to obey our mind. After we get there, we must do our jobs according to the wishes of our supervisor. We must make ourselves listen and carry out his or her instructions. Even though at times we would rather be doing something else, we compel our body to obey our mind and stay on the job. We do this day after day, making our body stay in line and obey what we know is the right thing to do. Repentance and serving God is no different. We compel our body to obey our mind. It is our duty to keep his commandments. If we are faithful to our earthly masters, let us be even more faithful to our heavenly master. Their reward is temporal, his is eternal.
Physical strength and endurance must be maintained by exercising our body. Spiritual strength and endurance must be maintained by exercising our mind and spirit in the things of the Lord. Each act of obedience makes us stronger and prepares us for the next test of our faith. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Hold fast to what you have heard. Stand firm upon the promises of God. Pray, study, and do the works of the Lord.
May our Lord strengthen you and keep you by his word.
