If Thine Eye Offend Thee

As I write this morning, the topic is one that I can relate to, personally, from a "don't let this happen to you" perspective. Proverbs 4:23 reads "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" I quote this verse often because we are in an age of unparalleled deception and many are in grave danger of being overcome by temptation. In an E-mail sent out by Millenial Voice Ministry, Pastor Pretlow spoke about the hour of temptation and how so many are toying with disaster. They do this by allowing little "thoughts" and "images" to linger in their minds. They will "entertain" wicked desires for a brief moment before casting them down. As time goes by, those "moments" will become gradually longer until, finally, discernment is obscured and sin, that was once a thing of the past, comes roaring back with a vengance. I was in a miserable backsliddeen state for over thirteen years because I began to entertain thoughts and eventualy, sexual sin became manifest. There was a time in which I was so "sure of myself" concerning spiritual matters, that the very idea of falling into sin was a danger that I didn't really take seriously. When opportunities arose, I tumbled. I praise God that I've been married for over fourteen years and I love my wife very much, but being "afar off" from the Lord Jesus for such a long time was depressing beyond description. It's SO IMPORTANT to not give any place to the devil. It's so important to keep our thoughts pure; to cast down imaginations, no matter how benign they may seem to be, that serve only to exhalt flesh. This is SO URGENT; I cannot stress it enough. The great falling away is currently ongoing and iniquity abounds. The very airwaves all around us are saturated with pornograghy, hatred, envy, sorcery, pride, and every form of evil imaginable. Pastor Pretlow mentioned the string of school shootings that have taken place over the past two weeks. People are going nuts; demonic posession is far more rampant than most of us can imagine. PLEASE SAINTS of the MOST HIGH GOD; diligently do the things that you know to do. Pray fervently, fast, and stay in the word of God. Jesus Christ is the True Vine; we are the branches, and if we don't abide in him, WE WILL DIE. There's no "maybe" about that. Here's some very familiar verses that need to be revisited.

Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

I Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Matthew Chapters 24 and 25 (please read them over again)

Ephesians 5:11-12 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done in secret.

Hebrews 3:12-13 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try nthe reins, and give to every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

James 1:14-15 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their own lives unto the death.

I know how familiar these scriptures are to those who spend time in the bible and the list could go on. We live in an age where prosperity and success in this life are dominate issues in much of the teaching that goes on. Sin is rampant in the church and we must all keep our guard up. I praise God for granting me a space of repentance when I went into rebellion. We dare not get so overly confident in our spirituality that we let our guard down for a second. Trials are going to come; temptation will always be lying in wait, the devil will continuously walk about as a roaring lion, this battle will be waged as long as we have another law working in our members. I pray that as this age comes to a close, we would all have a testimony like the apostle Paul in II Timothy 4:7-8 which reads:

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Jesus is returning for a bride without spot and blameless. I pray that this would be consistantly in our hearts and that we would look to him as we are going to be together for all of the ages before us; world without end.