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BEWARE LEST YOU FAIL GOD |
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Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. Heb. 12:15 It is one thing to start with God in victory and power and another thing to maintain faith and purity of heart as time rolls on! We are indeed in a pressing and fighting way and ONLY those who are faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10) and those who endure unto the end (Mat. 24:13) will be eternally saved. God said, Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Rev. 22:14) In order to have "the right" to heaven and immortal glory we must fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold on eternal life . . . . (1st. Tim. 6:12) It is easy for us to see the weakness in the life of our fellow man. It is quite easy for us to see that they might be headed for spiritual defeat unless they change their course. Has it ever occurred to YOU that YOU might fall too? Paul said, Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (1st. Cor. 10:12) It is true that so long as we live after the Spirit and walk according to the Spirit we will stand. However, the flesh is weak and the world is filled with Demon spirits awaiting an opportunity to lodge in your heart and life! There are spirits of jealousy, pride, hate, envy, adultery. God said, If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:19) In the face of these scriptures we are able to see the danger of becoming careless in our dedication to God and as a result fall from our steadfastness. (2nd. Pet. 3:17) Don't be deceived into thinking that you are infallible! If you will look into the scripture you will find numbers of men who knew God and were greatly used of Him but were lifted up in pride and by some act of disobedience fell or erred from the faith. The writer of the Hebrew letter warned Christians "lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Heb. 3:13) Sin is deceitful and will creep in the camp in some innocent and seemingly harmless manner, but be diligent lest you become weakened by the little "no harm and innocent things" that will sap you of your victory and in the end send your soul to a burning hell! We must watch that "spirit of unbelief" that will cause you to depart from the living God. (Heb. 3:12) This spirit of unbelief will cause you to overlook the importance of supporting the church with your tithe and offering. It will cause you to neglect the importance of assembling together (Heb. 10: 25); It will cause you to think that you can "dabble" in the things of the world and still be in holiness! These are danger signals and God's saints must not let the Devil "harden" your heart in unbelief so you cannot hear the voice of God as He speaks to you. Think of how poor Esau "for one morsel of meat sold his birthright" worldliness, backbiting and many, many, more . . . All of these are just waiting to take their place within you to weaken and eventually overthrow your faith in Jesus and render you helpless and lost in a world without end! The Bible teaches us to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. (Heb. 2:1-3)
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Paul has
warned us of a day of "falling away" . . . (2nd. Thess. 2:3) A
close study of this chapter will plainly teach you that Jesus will not
come for His church unless a falling away come first. Paul tells us that
evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being
deceived. (2nd. Tim. 3:13) In a day of "lukewarmness' and
compromise with the world it will pay the individual who desires to see
heaven after this life is over to check and double check your life in
the light of God's infallible word. Truly many are called but only a few
will be chosen. The road to hell and destruction is broad and the gate
is wide! The way to heaven is strait and narrow and only a few are going
to pay the price! The only way to heaven is a "highway" (Isa.
35:8) and only the holy will walk thereon. Heaven is a holy place and
only the over comers will live in the beautiful city (Jas. 1:12).God's
people aren't like other people! His people are holy in dress,
conversation, thought and deed. His people may be detected as to where
"they go" and where they 'don't go" . . . We are
separated from the world and must at all times listen to the words of
the Almighty when he said: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will
re. . . (Heb. 12:16-17). He later saw his mistake and found no place of
repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Don't let a
'morsel" (a small amount or piece of anything) rob your soul of
victory and bring you to the rocks of defeat!
Think of Samson a man of great physical strength as a gift from God. He proved unfaithful and as a result he lost his strength! The Lord departed from him and the enemy put out his eyes and bound him with fetters! (Judges 16) He failed God and died with the Philistines. I pray that not one reading these lines will ever be victimized by the hand of Satan. The Devil will show you a good time now but when you are in his grip, he will bring terror and destruction and laugh at you even as the Philistines laughed at Samson. Our text reads: "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God . . . " These are words of warning! Every day we must be on the watch. It is no wonder that Jesus so often advised His disciples to "Watch" . . . Yes, we must watch as well as pray; Satan is as a roaring lion and he is seeking whom he may devour. There is no escape if we neglect so great salvation, there is no place in God for those who live a defeated life. I thank God today because we need not be defeated because Jesus has provided a plan whereby we might have victory! (1st. Cor. 15:57) We need not fall because Jesus is able to keep us from falling if we will be obedient (Jude 24) We need not live a "half way" life, we can through Him live a life of complete victory over all the evil devices of sin and Satan. Look to Jesus and trust Him for direction in all the travels of this life.
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