nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.___ 2 Timothy 2:19″
This particular verse points out a people with a role,
responsibility or a norm and that is those that call upon the name of the LORD. They are a people with a particular distinction and this verse points out this specific people,it pulls them out and separate them from the rest and points a warning that Those who call upon the name of the LORD must turn away from INIQUITY!!!
Meaning that this verse embeds a responsibility upon these particular people that even though you may be calling upon the name of the LORD, there is a possibility of calling upon the name of the Lord but still be in sin. The fact that this name is called,doesn’t guarantee or puts one on a safe zone,only if you call the name and shun iniquity that’s when you are safe. This verse pulls out some facts that there is a possibility of backsliding or professing Christianity but still be in sin. It’s obvious that those who call upon the name of the LORD are christians.
You can realise now that this verse pulls out some characteristics and some distinctions thereby goes far by regrouping christianity as a whole into two groups,that is those who call upon the Lord without iniquity and those who call upon the Lord but still iniquity but let us focus on those the warning goes to and the solution so that they join those who call upon the Lord genuinely.
“15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked___ Revelations 3:15-17.
This verse also stresses on a point that it is either you be hot or called but never be lukewarm because as it seems,being in this position is detestable, unacceptable and has no place. There are only two positions acceptable and it is being either cold or hot,both traits has their positions.
There is only obligation here that,you either be cold or hot but never lukewarm. Many christians are lukewarm to a point that it has become impossible to realize Christianity in them. They fit in everywhere,in church affairs and the worldly affairs. It has become a norm among many christians to a point they have learnt to cope up with it without including the true Christian virtues as stated in the Bible and even coming up with their own phrase, “once saved,always saved.”
This is actually a fall in the church, because it was the church that was to transform the world. Everything that the church does was meant to be a rebuke to the world and shine her light on how things ought to be done but sadly it is the world that has transformed the church from observing holiness to worldliness.
“ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him for everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever____ 1 John 2:15-17
This verse throws a direct warning to the same category and puts it plainly clear that whoever loves the world,the love of the Father is not in him. Many want to love the father and at the same time love the world but this has been disqualified. Beloved Jesus Is coming back for a holy,spotless, wrinkles,perfect,mature bride but look at what the church has done,she has gone back to the world and engage herself in its affairs and has defiled,filthified herself and this is classified as spiritual adultery, her garments are dirty from worldly affairs but Christ is not coming for an adultress.
“Because of this, God gave them overto shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them_____ Romans 1:26-32
These verses mentions the worldly affairs that the church has defiled herself with and because the church did engage herself in all these things with acknowledgement that they are detestable in his sight he gave them up to their vile affections.
V 32 brings it out that all these have been done willingly and thereby being a mockery unto God. It is far much worse to an extent that not only have they done but also have pleasure in them that do so.
This is why every institution,governmental positions and anywhere leadership is embedded has become rotten and has become the devil’s platform to push forward his agenda on earth. This is why corruption is there,abortion is being legalised,the LGBTQ abomination is being legalised,a push to ban the Bible is also underway.
” But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited,lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
The character of the church of today has been mentioned in verse five. People are going to church and engage in every activity in the church but the sacrifice being offered is detestable and unacceptable before the LORD,their hearts are far away from Him,they have a form of godliness but denying the power no wonder immorality, impurity and every kind of filthiness in the church. The condition of the church is very much wanting.
“What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them_____ Math 15:11″
Beloved,it is only what is embedded in your heart that will manifest in the outside by your actions,behavior and how you carry out yourself. The source of all these abominations happening in the world today are embedded deeply in the hearts of many and therefore the heart has a problem. Even a car depends on the engine to work well but when the engine is faulty,it won’t function as required and so your heart will be where your treasure is but it’s unfortunate that the church has treasure the world.
The question then becomes what is the solution to all these?
“Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.The LORD,full of compassion and slow to anger is calling for Repentance and turning away from sin…… Isaiah 1:16-18
“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel?….. Ezekiel 18:30-32
Beloved,will you continue sinning? For how long will the LORD continue to plead with you? Repent and turn away from iniquity and be ye holy so as to be ready for Christ’s return!
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