As wave after wave of evil washes through our world, most pulpits are silent. Why? The explanation is really very simple. Fear. Our pastors, as our politicians, professors, scientists, journalists, leaders in every field fear for their jobs, their positions, their pensions. Truth is dangerous to them. We are living in the era when evil is called good and good evil – and so many leaders say nothing.
This sort of thing happened when the Lord Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead after four days. He cried in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ And Lazarus stumbled out of the cave, wrapped in stinking grave clothes, with one wrapped around his head.
Many Jews were there and saw it and believed in Jesus, the Son of God, the promised Messiah (anointed one). But some of them were sneaky rats who ran off to the religious rascals, the Pharisees who hated Jesus.
What was their reaction to this stupendous news? ‘What do we do? For this man does many miracles. If we let Him alone, all men will believe in Him: and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.’
So their precious religious jobs were more important to them than truth. Just like today. Read it in John’s gospel chapter 11. Fear is a great motivator.
Say nothing today when you hear lies, and keep your job, stay in your pulpit.
In his teaching on John chapter 11, Dr J Vernon McGee, one of my favorite Bible teachers, says:
‘Even in our churches with their little cliques there are some without the intestinal fortitude to stand on their two feet for what is right and for Jesus Christ, and for those who teach the word of God.
‘They just sit there like a dumb dog, my friend. They don’t even bark to warn at all.
‘This brought the bloodhounds of hate on His (Jesus') trail.’
We have the bloodhounds of hate now, for sure. Dare to disagree about climate change, women’s issues, same sex marriage, gender issues etc and here come the bloodhounds baying after you.
These are the last days, folks; we are the final generation. Truth has fallen. Reasoned debate is no longer allowed, but some brave men and women are standing against this tyranny.
The signs Jesus gave us to watch for are all here, and He is most definitely coming soon. The important thing is to be ready, to make sure you are one of His sheep.
For the Good Shepherd will soon be calling His sheep by name and leading them out (John chapter 10).
Jesus tells us in John chapter 3 how to be ready – ‘You must be born again.’
This means you must be reborn spiritually. This is a supernatural event which happens when you put your trust in Jesus, and believing three things: that He died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day according to the scriptures.
Won’t you put your trust in Jesus today and ask Him to forgive your sins? He shed His blood as a sacrifice for our sins. Only faith in His sacrifice of Himself on the cross saves us from Hell. And please don't think you are such a good person that you don't need Jesus. The Bible says all have sinned.
And never think that you are too bad for Jesus to forgive you. He said there would be joy in heaven among the angels when bad people repent (turn away from their sins and put their trust in Him).
He died for sinners! He wants to make of you a new creation, born again spiritually, old things passed away, made completely new so that you can serve Him.
The greatest job in the world is to be a servant of the Lord Jesus and that job is open to you today.
And by the way, not every pulpil is silent. Darkness is coming when no man can work, as the Lord warned us, but there are lights still shining. Not many in Europe, but some. How I wish there were some in every town, like the Calvary Chapel I have read of in Reno, Nevada. What a brilliant shining light that is. It makes me want to move to Reno!
Dr McGee's teachings all all freely available on www.ttb.org
Time to get serious about all this, folks.