Thursday, August 14,
2014, 7:00 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put in mind the song “His Tender Mercies.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Matthew 24:1-35 (NASB). I will quote
only some sections of this passage as it is quite long.
Do You Not See?
Jesus
came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point
out the temple buildings to Him. And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone
here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” ~ vv. 1-2
The temple of God today is the Body of Christ, the church. Yet,
mostly it meets in edifices built by human hands throughout the world, but
particularly here in America. Using the term “church” in our culture today can
be somewhat confusing, because most people associate church with a physical
building, or a denomination, or a specific not-for-profit corporation of the
federal government of the U.S.A., or with a social and religious organizational
structure called “church.” Yet, the body of Christ is not a physical entity but
a spiritual one. God does not dwell in buildings built by human hands. Those
buildings are therefore not the house of God. Our Lord dwells in the hearts and
lives of those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives,
so there is a distinct difference between the true church, the Body of Christ,
and the institutional church built by human beings.
In one, Christ is the head. In the other, human beings and the
government are the head. One is being built by Jesus Christ. The other is being
built by human beings. One is spiritual, the other is physical. One is “built
on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,” with “Christ Jesus Himself
being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is
growing into a holy temple in the Lord” (See Eph. 2:20-21). The other is built
on the foundation of the teachings and philosophies of human beings, with human
business marketing schemes leading the way in how to grow their churches (i.e.
businesses).
Notice with me that it was the disciples who were pointing
out the physical structure of the temple to Jesus. Yet, also notice with me
here that Jesus then responded by saying to them, “Do you not see all these
things?” Obviously the disciples could see the temple with their physical eyes,
but obviously, as well, they were missing something. There was something about
the temple Jesus wanted them to see that they were not seeing. I believe that
is true of his temple, the church, today, only also including these physical
structures and business organizations of humans called “church.” He wants his
followers to see that there is a distinction and a huge difference between what
God calls church and what humans call church. He wants his followers to see
that those man-made structures, with their physical buildings and organizations,
are not of God. He is not in them. This is not to say that his true church does
not meet with them, but that he is not in these man-made organizations and
buildings which are being built on human standards, philosophies and teachings.
Going along with that, not only does he want his followers
to see that not all that is called “church” is really church; and that many,
many of these “churches” are being founded in and run, directed and led by
humanistic teachings, philosophies and marketing schemes; and that he is not in
these; but he wants his followers to see that they need to be discerning about
what is of him and what is not of him.
So many professing Christians do not bother to check out
what they hear and see, either within the institutional church, or in the news
media, or in what is coming from the mouths of our government leaders. They are
like blinded sheep being led to the slaughter because they lack discernment,
good common sense and reason, and because they refuse or just don’t bother to
test what they hear, read and see, and because they fail to call upon God in
prayer asking him to show them what is true and what is false.
The disciples were looking only on the surface of things.
They only saw how things were presented outwardly. They were looking at
appearance only, it seems. Yet, Jesus wanted them to see beyond what lies on
the surface to what lies underneath. He wanted them to see the heart of the
issue he had with institutional religion of that time. He wanted them to see
that not everything is what it appears to be. Many are deceived. And, that is
what he went on to talk about as recorded in this chapter. He told his
disciples about deception and of false christs and of fake miracles, signs and
wonders.
Don’t Be Misled
And
Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many
will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. You
will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened,
for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will
rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there
will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning
of birth pangs.
“Then
they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated
by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will
betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and
will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will
grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of
the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the
nations, and then the end will come. ~ vv. 4-14
All throughout the New Testament we are warned against
deception and manipulation of truth. We are also warned against antichrists and
wolves in sheep’s clothing. We are instructed to test everything, to hold on to
the good and to forsake the bad. So, why do so many Christians today just
believe everything they hear and see coming from the media, from our government,
and from the institutional church? Just because someone says it is true does
not make it true. Just because we see it on TV does not mean it is real or that
it really happened or that it happened the way that they said it did. They can
fake anything. As well, just because someone wrote a book does not mean what
they are teaching is true. Just because someone stands behind a podium or a
stand of some kind in a church meeting and implies they are teaching scripture
does not mean they are teaching scripture.
Have you ever tried to interfere in a relationship
difficulty or conflict in someone’s marriage relationship based upon hearing
only one side? Not a good idea, is it? Why? Because you don’t live with those
people, for one, so you don’t really know what goes on in their home or in
their relationship. You are not party to their conversations. You can’t see
their body language when they talk. A husband or a wife, if trying to gain
sympathy from others, can present whatever picture they want, which may or may
not be accurate or fair. And, it is the same thing within the church, the media
and the government. They can present whatever image they want to present, and
they are good at manipulating emotions to get people to support them, to
believe them, and to even come alongside them against the other party, i.e.
whom they are portraying as “the enemy.” And, the sad reality is that the “enemy”
is often those who are truly following Jesus Christ, and who are sharing the
true gospel.
Much of today’s institutional church today has gone the way
of the world. They work hard at attracting the world to their organizations.
They present an image for themselves of love, acceptance, tolerance, fun,
pleasure, and an improvement over the old church system. Yet, they often dilute
the gospel message, making it more appealing, acceptable and palatable to the
world so as not to offend, not to make anyone uncomfortable, and not to judge
anyone. As well, many of these churches also work hard to characterize the true
gospel of salvation as works-based, intolerant, unloving, unkind and
judgmental, as well as they do the same for its messengers. Many church leaders
and Christian authors downplay scripture and describe those who hold to its
truths as being fanatical and out-of-touch with reality and with today’s
culture. They try to make you believe that those who preach the true gospel of
salvation, as taught by Christ and the apostles, are not interested in what is
best for you, but that they just want to pass judgment on you. We are the “meanies”
while they are the “good guys.”
The Abomination
“Therefore
when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel
the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those
who are in Judea must flee to the mountains… For then there will be a great
tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until
now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have
been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if
anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not
believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show
great signs and wonders, so as to
mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance.”
~ vv. 15-25
There are many opinions as to what or who this “abomination”
is. Yet, let me point this one thing out here which I believe will help us with
the interpretation. The “holy place” is no longer physical Jerusalem. The temple
of God no longer dwells there. The “holy place” is in the hearts of believers
in Jesus Christ. It is his church; his temple; the Body of Christ. Physical
Jerusalem is of Hagar, the slave woman. To stand means to take a stance, or to
present and/or to hold to a particular attitude, viewpoint, and/or belief, etc.
An abomination is an outrage, disgrace, atrocity and is detestable and
disgusting to God Almighty.
This is taking place right now within the church. The true
church is being consumed by the institutional church, which is in turn being
consumed by the values, morals, culture, philosophies and teachings of this
sinful world. The lies of our enemy Satan are taking their stand within the
church of today so that what is false is advancing at a much faster rate than
what is truth, i.e. the true gospel of salvation. As a result, judgment will
come upon the institutional church of today, or most assuredly will take place here
in America. And, God is asking us and is warning us to flee “Babylon” so that
we do not share in any of her sins. He is saying to us, “Come out from her and
be separate.”
Yet, I believe this coming judgment of God against man-made
religion within his church, which denies Christ and his gospel in favor of
teachings and marketing schemes of humans, will be his mercy come running to
his church in order to revive her, renew and restore her to fellowship with
him. The temple of Jesus’ time was destroyed as a judgment of God on man-made
religion, which rejected Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior in exchange for
accepting the philosophies of human rules and regulations. And, I believe he is
going to destroy all these lies and deceptions now standing in his holy place,
too, in order to rescue his people whom he loves greatly.
His Tender Mercies
/ An Original Work / January 26, 2014
Fear not! I’m with
you.
Be not dismayed!
God watches o’er you.
Trust Him today.
He’ll lead and guide
you;
Give you His aid.
He’ll love and keep
you
With Him always.
Walk in His footsteps.
He’ll lead the way.
Trust in His love;
Believe that He cares.
He will not leave you.
Faithful He’ll be.
His tender mercies
Now you will see.
Fellowship with Him
Throughout the day.
Tell Him your
heartaches.
He’ll heal always.
Rest in His comfort.
He is your friend.
Your faith He’ll
strengthen,
True to the end.
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