Deceived

It really seems a shame that there are so many people in this world today who are so deceived that they can no longer see or understand the truth. Not too long ago, I had a conversation with a person who really thought it was a waste of time for him to actually accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He told me that as long as he goes to church and stays out of trouble he would be just fine. My response to him was, so in other words, you do not read the bible? To which he responded that he did not have to because the preacher is the one who gives him what he needs. I was shocked and then my thoughts turned to what kind of church do you go to that does not teach you, number one to read the bible, and number two that you need to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior or you are just as lost as the one who murders.

Is it so hard for churches today to realize that it is all about Jesus and nothing else? The goal of the church today is to point people to Jesus and to show them what they need to do to receive Him. It used to be that it was the job of the Evangelist, but the churches have gotten away from having them come into their church so the responsibility falls to them. If you don’t preach the gospel then there are going to be many lost souls thinking one thing when the bible is concise of what needs to take place to become a true Christian.

 I told this man I was speaking too that there is only one way to heaven and that way leads through Jesus. He said to me prove it! So, without delay I took him to John 14:6 where Jesus said, “I am the Way the Truth and the Life, NO ONE comes to the Father except through me. My friend seemed just a little put out and told me that he did not know that. He said the minister had never mentioned that. I told him that if you really want to know what to do and where to go, don’t go to mere man, go to the bible and also pray. I told him that there were many things in the word that would change his life and I made sure to let him know that if he truly wanted to be a Christian and know for a fact that he would go to heaven when he died that he needed to ask Jesus into his life, which he did.

People are deceived and for some reason they think if they do good and stay out of trouble it is a done deal, but it is not. Just because you walk into a garage, it does not make you a car is the same principle that applies to church, just because you walk into a church does not make you a Christian.

Let me leave you with a little story that changed my life and ministry. Since I had this dream it has prompted me to always give an altar call and to always give people an opportunity to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. One night as I dreamed, I seen myself ministering in a church and as I was speaking my eyes kept being drawn to my right at a little old lady in the front row. I continued to speak but my attention kept getting drawn to this little lady. Finally, I asked the Lord, “what does this little lady have to do with what is being ministered”? The Lord responded and told me that the little lady has been in church her entire life. She has always been there to help and has always given to help the church, but, when she dies she is going to hell. There was total shock on my part. What do you mean when she dies she will go to hell? The Lord told me that this little lady never asked for forgiveness and has never invited Jesus into her life. At that point, I decided that no matter what I will always give people an opportunity to receive Jesus. I never again want to see the face of that little lady again except in heaven. At that point I woke up sweating because I realized the importance of what Jesus wrote in John 14:6 and it is something I will always remember.

Don’t be deceived into thinking you are going to heaven, know that you are going by accepting Christ as you Savior right now. God loves you and I love you and my prayers are with you.

God bless!