It is astonishing, but true, that the majority of Christians claim to believe that we are living in "the last days," but they live as if they don't really believe it. They are not actively opposed to God and what God is doing, but then, neither are they totally in favor of God, God's word, God's plans and purposes. God Himself described this condition as being neither hot nor cold: lukewarmness. It is difficult to understand how anyone can view the present conditions in society, in politics and in the church and remain complacent and unmoved. So many significant changes have come about in the past few years, encroaching government policies, the wholesale spread of drug use, crime, and diseases. It is no mere coincidence that these conditions are on the increase. Yet people remain as stoical and impassive as ever. A recent national magazine featured a major article that told about the sudden ineffectiveness of antibiotics in fighting diseases. Bacteria and viruses have developed immunity to antibiotics in the fight against most of the diseases that are prevalent.

In 1990, our money underwent a drastic change, which many people are unaware of. In bills from $10.00 upward, a special tape has been placed between the two halves of the bill, about one inch from the left end (as you face the front of the bill). Older bills do not have this. Information we have gathered about this says that a special laser can "tune in" to this tape, or thread, and read both the size of the bill, the number of bills, and the place where the bills are stored or kept. The claim is made that the government uses this to track down drug dealers, a point which may be entirely true. However, the same tactic can be used to keep track of the whereabouts of suspected dissidents or others who may be considered unfavorable. It seems that there is no place left to hide. Add to this the fact that, as a nation, (over 90% of whom claim to believe in God), there is no longer a moral compass by which to steer our course through life (on a national level, that is).

It is unthinkable that in a nation that chooses to think of itself as Christian, we have "churches" which are made up of nearly 100% homosexuals. We heard a homosexual "pastor" boast that he has over 12,000 in his congregation! There was a time when people looked upon the White House as the paragon of good taste and dignity, but the gentility of a bygone era has been replaced with a sense of vulgarity, irresponsibility, and questionable character; a pall of organized chaos and disarray seems to hang over the entire operation of the affairs of state.

Nero may have "played his fiddle" while Rome burned, but we as a nation are playing religious games while this nation goes up in smoke. "Going to church" has become fun and exciting, whereas an assembly of saints was meant to be for the purpose of worship of a true and living God. Not that a service should not be enjoyable! It should be the most joyous occasion of a person's existence. To be in the presence of the Almighty One is an experience of the highest order, but He does not attend a rally of, for, nor by the flesh. People may have a good time at such a gathering, but that doesn't mean the Lord is there, nor that He approves.

All too many people are religious only when they go to a religious meeting. The other 166 hours of the week they spend pursuing the same goals as the people do who make no profession at all. We have been conditioned to believe that it is somehow wrong to be really serious about one's "religious" life. It is far safer to be neutral, non-committal, lukewarm. The lukewarm ones suffer from sore disillusionment: they know not that they are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Rev. 3:17) It is time for all of us to be "on fire" for God, to be heated to the point of yielding ourselves in total abandon to God and His service. Only then will we see the church begin to loosen itself from the self-imposed shackles of complacency.

(Reprinted from Number 367, June 1994 issue of "The Testimony of Truth" with permission from "People of the Living God")

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