Saturday, November 28, 2015

"If the World Hates You"


“If the World Hates You”

 

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.”               John 15:18-19

 

Throughout the ages, Christians have been hated, persecuted, debased, threatened, tormented, tortured, and put to death, all because of their FAITH in Jesus Christ.  In these verses, Christ tells us that the world hates those that belong to Him, because of our relationship with Him, and mostly, the fact that it hated Him first.

 

Back during the days when His disciples were spreading the gospel.  The Romans and the religious leaders hated the followers of Christ, and would round the believers up and have them beaten, stoned to death, or fed to the lions, only because of their belief in Jesus Christ.  The Romans and the religious leaders were threatened by the teachings of Christ and feared that they would lose their power and control over the people.  It is getting almost that bad today, with the execution of Christians in the Middle East and worse yet in our own supposedly civilized country. 

 

Jesus said, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.”  In 1st John 2:15-17, we are told; “Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  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.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”  We are in the world, but we are to NOT be a part of the world in our heart and mind.  We are to be a peculiar people.  A people set apart for God’s own will.  We are to be God-pleasers and NOT people-pleasers.  We, who are TRUE believers are to honor Christ and not this old, wretched, sin-laden world. 

 

We cannot compromise or try to fit in with worldly ways, but we SHOULD remain TRUE to our FAITH.  We are at RISK of losing our Christian values, because of the ruler of this world, the devil, and his wicked schemes.  The great deceiver of mankind, the one who destroys the very soul of mankind and hurls it headlong into the depths of Hell for ALL of eternity.  Sin lasts but for a season, but its wages are eternal. 

 

Christianity is being attacked every day and every day we see God being removed from our nation.  And many, who claim to be Christian are more concerned about “fitting in” then they are about defending their FAITH.  Where do you stand?  Are you a TRUE believer following Jesus Christ and being hated by the world?  Or are you too busy trying to fit into the world and its lifestyle? 

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are a part of the world, and the world and its desires will pass away, and where will that leave you?  It will put you in Hell, the place of ETERNAL torment, torture, pain, agony and despair with NO way of escape.  However, you NOW have the opportunity to turn away from the worldly desires and turn to Jesus Christ, who can release you from your sins and give you eternal life in Heaven, by:  CONFESSING your sins to God, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and even though you will be hated by the world, you will be LOVED by Father God and you will possess the HOPE of Heaven.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!

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