04/25/17 WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...

04/25/17 WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...

I kinda like documentaries about, "Whatever happened to...?" The subject can be a person, a community, a movement, a business, a ship. Far too often the "whatever" turns out to be a negative or a sad story.

(I know we still see the following realities, but my point is, we don't see them as often or as boldly, and there is a reason.)

"Old Time Salvation"
I often wonder WHATEVER HAPPENED TO, "Old Time Salvation," like when sinners quit sinning and started living Christlike lives, like when people were delivered from the power of alcohol, tobacco, gambling, womanizing, drugging, sexual looseness and perversion, profane language, deceit, greed, lust, anger, violence. When people did not lay down one sin, only to focus on another sin. When people unashamedly professed the power of God to save them from sin.

Yes, I know it still happens, but far too seldom, in fact, almost never at all. Of course, we have seen the rise and spread of sinning religion, which fallaciously puts God's seal of approval on sin and condemns the idea that a person can live righteously in this present evil world.

Praise
I often wonder WHATEVER HAPPENED TO, praise, real praise of God; soul stirring praise, life changing praise, God honoring praise, roof raising praise, hell shaking praise, praise from a pure heart.

Holy Ghost Conviction and Basic Christian Living
I often wonder WHATEVER HAPPENED TO, basic Christian living, including Holy Ghost conviction, when sin was understood to be repulsive, hell was understood to be eternal torment, salvation was understood to be deliverance from sin, commitment to the church was understood to be part of conversion, standing strong and tall for Jesus was understood to be the normal response to the call of God, rejection by family and friends was expected to be the cost of following Jesus.

Joy, Peace, Love
I often wonder WHATEVER HAPPENED TO, joy unspeakable and full of glory, peace that passes understanding, loving God with the whole heart and mind and soul and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves, and loving our enemies.

Mercy and Other Christlike Qualities
I often wonder WHATEVER HAPPENED TO, the lives of believers being defined by mercy, kindness, gentleness, self denial, modesty, patience, sweetness, determination, compassion, loyalty, courage, humility, strength.

They Are Rare
Yes, these qualities can still be seen in the lives of totally dedicated, fully trusting believers and churches, but they are rarer today. There are several reasons for this, such as a watered down gospel, a politically correct mentality, Biblical ignorance, selfish desires, fear of rejection, love of the world, doctrines of demons.

Here are some passages that indicate that these things have been abandoned in the end times, and that their absence is not simply or erroneously perceived.

2 Timothy 3:1-5
(1) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
(2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
(3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
(4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
(5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

1 Timothy 4:1-3
(1) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
(2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
(3) Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

2 Peter 3:3-4
(3) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
(4) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.