Are you REALLY living for the Lord?

By Ray Gano

For the past several months the topic of living for the Lord has been at the front of my mind.

Often I conduct what I call a spiritual “check up from the neck up.” In this self examination I look at my life and I ask “who do I serve?”

More and more this is very important to me. You see time is very short.

Everywhere I turn; one feels that the air is so “thick” that it can be cut with a knife. The Middle East, The EU, Global Warming (yea right) Asteroids, World Hunger, Terrorists, Nukes, ect

Recently I was listening to Israeli Radio (http://www.israelnationalradio.com) and even here they were stating almost the exact same things found in Matthew 24.

So no matter where we go, Bible prophecy surrounds us, so much so that even those who do not know the Lord see the obvious and claim “the last days.”

So this isn’t just another point in time. We are the last generation.

What We See Today

Matthew 24:37 – 39 (KJV) But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

This is what we see today; the debauchery, the carelessness, the goings on in life and not caring about the Lord.

I am not talking about the world either. I see this with so called Christians.

Mattew 25:1-13 (KJV) Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

How many of us are not ready for the Lord’s return?

How many just claim the title and perform the works, but they are not a true follower of Christ?

How many people are falling for a false, feel good, worldly doctrine and are to ignorant to know better?

How many false teachers are out there and no one is speaking up because they don’t want to “judge” another man for their actions or name names?

How many people have the “hearts of the simple” and truly do not know the Lord and will be left behind?

Romans 16:17-18 (KJV) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

After asking these questions, can you see that many can be left behind when the Lord returns?

Well what about Eternal Security Ray?

How many people have only paid lip service?

Accepting Christ is not some cute little prayer or a checked box on some visitor card.

It is life changing. Over and over again scripture states that we will know one another.

Matthew 7:20 (KJV) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

In fact this is rather eye opening when you read Matthew 7:20-23. The Lord himself identifies people who perform good works and do wonderful things in His name, and still He knows them not. They claimed the title, but did not have Christ living in their hearts.

Mat 7:20 -23 (KJV) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Look again at the parable of the virgins; although some were part of the wedding party, they were not looking for the bridegroom. His final answer “I know you not.”

They claimed the title, but missed the boat.

Over and over again we are called to not have a love for this world…

John 15:19 (KJV) 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.

Romans 12:2 (KJV)"and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of god."

Ephesians 5:11 (KJV)"and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV)"abstain from all appearance of evil."

James 4:4 (KJV) ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with god? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of god.

1 John 2:15-17 (KJV)"love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of god abideth for ever."

But what are we doing? We have one foot in and one foot out. We maintain our pious “Sunday Morning Christian” attitude and sin like hell the rest of the week. We are playing “Hokie Pokie” with God.

The days of playing games with God are over. Again, if you do not believe me look around, wake up and smell the coffee. As I pointed out before, even the world in their ignorance can see that His time is at hand.

I challenge all of you to conduct a “Check up from the neck up” and determine who you really serve.

Are you just claiming the title and doing all the good works for your own recognition?

Or do you truly know the one and only Son of God, Jesus Christ?

Who Do You Serve?

Jesus stated the following…

John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If you do not have Christ in your life, you will spend eternity in hell. This is a fact. It does not matter if you believe this or not, it is the truth spoken by Jesus himself. If your name is not written in the Lambs Book of Life you will go to hell for what you have not done and that is accepting Christ as your personal savior. To be placed in the Lamb Book of Life, you need to turn your life completely over to Him. Having “head” knowledge or “just believing in Christ” is not the same as having “heart” knowledge with Christ living in your heart. We know that even the devils believe in Him, where are they spending eternity?

James 2:19 (KJV) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

We work hard at Prophezine to show that Bible Prophecy is coming to pass. Because of this fact, the Bible is true. Since the Bible is the true and inerrant word of God, there is a heaven and there is a hell.

If you claim the title of “Christian” then take account of yourself this day. Many claim the title, but we read in God’s Word that the title does not get you into heaven.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Who you serve will determine where you will spend eternity. If you are not serving Christ and a true child of God, then you are serving Satan and a child of the enemy.

If you are not 110% sure, then take account of yourself, your very life depends upon it.

1John 1:9 (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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About the Author:

Ray & Tracye Gano are the Executive Directors of Prophezine. Prophezine deals with Bible Prophecy and World Events from a Pre-trib, pre-millennial, dispensationalist stand point. They currently serve close to 70,000+ (and growing) people world wide with a weekly newsletters, daily news updates, community based website and Internet radio shows. Ray recently released his latest project “Escape The End Time Money Snare – The CD a multimedia CD co-authored with Wilfred Hahn focusing on how to escape the trappings of mammon and learning how to live simply in God’s abundance.

Please visit Prophezine by going to http://www.prophezine.com

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