As I look at the hour we’re living in, I’d ask the question, are we keeping the faith?  Have we been shaken at all in our minds and in our hearts?  Is there any earth-dwelling spirit in us to where this world has a hold on us?  Are we walking in the Spirit with the mind of the Spirit?  That we would have our hearts renewed, that we could teach our children and our children’s children the importance of laying up treasures in heaven, of ripping off every tentacle of this world, the cares of this world, the cares of this world!  Ask yourself the question today.  “Well, I’m not really caught up with the cares of this world.”  Let me ask you.  If God determined, today, to reduce you to daily bread, to one change of clothes.  If Chapter 11 of Hebrews became a reality where you’re living in caves and clothed with animal skins, will you keep the faith?  Let me ask you.  If Mom and Dad defect, will you keep the faith?  If husband or wife defect, if children defect, will you keep the faith?  I’ve fought a good fight.  I kept the faith.  Without faith it’s impossible to please God.  

True belief in the doctrine of the Blessed Hope should keep our eyes off this world if you really believe that.  So, to say we’re not influenced, but not living as though we are looking up, not living as though, this passage says, that we are loving His appearing.  Oh, the terror of the millstone around the neck of those who would offend the little ones.  When Jesus said in His teaching on the Sermon on the Mount, “Hear, and not do, and teach others, woe!”  Are we, as a community, spreading contentment?  Are we, as a community, spreading thankfulness of heart?  Are we, as a community, spreading to one another, “Rethink!  Look up, praise God!”  If you knew you had 30 days left, what would be the decision?  If you knew Jesus was coming back in 30 days, what would be the decision?  If we believe in imminence, it doesn’t even give us 30 days, does it, if our hearts are so moved?  In that way you say with Paul, for me to live, today, is Christ and to die is gain.

So, we look and we see that trials are going to be coming and tests are going to be coming.  Paul says, “Greet them with thanksgiving, rejoice, I’ve kept the faith.  There’s laid up for me a crown, and not for me only, but all of those that love His appearing.”  So, we’re being admonished.  Yes, tough times are going to come.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us out of them all; amen?  But there will be no temptation, test, or trial take you but such as is common to man; hallelujah!  That commonness, brothers and sisters are going through it.  It’s common, it’s necessary.  Oh yes, God has called us to life and that more abundantly, but he goes on in that same verse in John 10:10 and he says, there is an enemy of our souls out there, Satan, who has come to make sure that your life is anything but peaceful, healthy, or prosperous.  He has a full-time job.  You’ve got a target on your back.  He’s here to kill you and your children, to steal, and to destroy.  We cannot walk through this life as though Satan were neutral or ineffectual.  So, in his genius he’s allowed mankind to present himself as a myth, this creature with a pitchfork.  Let me remind you, Satan, Lucifer, is an angel of light.  He’s beautiful, he’s enticing, he’s seductive!  If you don’t believe it, ask Elvis Presley.  Raised in Pentecostal church, seduced by the music into the damnation of his soul, fame for a moment to eternal damnation.