re-post
One thing Jesus Himself talks of is that following Him will lead to persecution. In my personal experience this is all too real. People do not wish to hear the truth. Especially those that feel they are following the teachings of Jesus Christ when in reality they are not. This was a major reason the Pharisees hated Jesus so much. Because what He taught was truly Biblical and sound, while theirs was all show and left many going into damnation instead of salvation.
Matthew 23:13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.
This is true today. For many within the pulpits and upon the dais no longer teach the Bible, but man-made ideals and doctrines which are in reality causing many to think they are one with God, but in reality they are nowhere near Him.
But when people like myself say these things we are ridiculed, insulted, belittled or ignored and called crazy. In a way I feel honored, for this was how the prophets of the Old Testament were received in most cases to the dismay of the people of Israel who did not accept the words of the prophets until it was too late and their nation was subjugated multiple times due to their in part ignorance, but for the most part their arrogance.
Their attitude in both those to the prophets and the Pharisees to Christ Himself is how people for the most part have always been. This is why Christ said upon the Sermon on the Mount that it would be a blessing for those persecuted for remaining loyal to Him and the Bible.
Matthew 5:10 – Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
In another way I feel sorrow, for I truly do love my neighbors, and I wish all to see that glorious day of reward as we joyfully and happily stand before the throne of God in pure white garments. I know all too well though that this is the furthest thing from the truth.
I know that when the Rapture occurs it will be far smaller than many actually expect. Many thinking they will be going with God upon the day when the trumpet blows will find themselves still exactly where they are. As they turn to look at someone else and find that person gone. It will be a noticeable event. For many will go, but it will also be able to explained away because if will not be a significant event to cause the world to stop functioning as some say will happen.
1 Thessalonians 4: 14 – For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
But many, as I said above, will still be here. Thinking they should be with God, but instead they find themselves still here. Why? Because they did not read the Bible themselves. They took the words of others as true, but in reality they were the lies of humans, with no eternal value.
And even now as I type these words I know that some will again tune me out, shut me down and lock my words away from them, for they do not wish to hear these words. Why? Because it would mean that the sins they live within and accept over God are more important to them. Because they were not truly taught of Christ’s true love for them, but of a man-made “love” that equals nothing to Jesus.
They do not wish to hear Jesus say to them that their prayers were never heard for they never truly knew Him.
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
I would rather suffer rejection for my fellow humans than to ever reject my Savior.