Looking at how morality is drastically changing in the world, I think of a very important word for the Christian community: URGENCY!

 

We are experiencing apocalyptic times and global upheaval: a generation where truth is rejected and wrong approved, lies are praised and the truth despised, iniquity is loved, and justice hated. As Jesus said, we are going back to the days of Sodom and Gomorrah ─ sexual aberrations such as homosexuality, child abuse, pedophilia, bestiality and the worldwide pandemic of enslavement to pornography. Family values are bombarded daily by a media controlled by Satan, which annihilates everything related to Christian morality and beliefs. Children rebel against parents, and parents despise their children. Thousands of unborn babies are murdered at abortion clinics every day. The hetero couples in this age opt for contracts; therefore separation is easier, meanwhile, homosexuals are “marrying” by thousands all over the world (It is crazy! Professing to be wise, they became fools). Some Christians are under persecution for speaking up against the immoral LGBT agenda and against the immoral demonic media with their unscrupulous puppets.

 

Jesus also said that it would be like in Noah's day. The earth would be full of violence. The drug cartels are daily killing thousands of young people in the Americas, Europe and Asia. This generation is using narcotics as an escape from their problems (which is nothing, but another weapon that the devil uses to annihilate millions of drug addicts annually).

 

The nations are on the alert. Israel is threatened by radical Islamic groups from Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, with the support of Russia and Iran. Bloody battles are being fought in some Islamic nations to depose their leaders. Syria portrays in our days, a little of what the great tribulation mentioned by the Lord will be like over the whole world. Many are killed on the streets: victims of bombs and parents are crying in despair seeking shelter and bread for their starving families. There are many dangerously corrupted, proud, violent, and hypocritical leaders in the nations. Tensions are growing between China and Hong Kong while nuclear power North Korea is a constant threat to their southern neighbors. In South America, revolutions have claimed the lives of hundreds in various nations. It seems that the cauldron is about to explode at any moment. It is important to mention that in our days, the world's military arsenal is no longer the outdated tanks, warships and aircraft of World War II. The bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki are a fraction of the destructive nuclear power currently in the hands of the Communists, Socialists, Muslims, and Westerners. Altogether, there is great chaos of political and ideological powers. And to make matters worse, the Scriptures tell about the spiritual conditions of the vast majority of world leaders who hold this power today. It is written: “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God", (II Timothy 1: 1-4).

 

How are the western churches responding to the situation?

 

Obviously, is it known of thousands of Christians under severe persecution among Muslims, Hindus, Communists and as mentioned above anti-Christian organizations are right in our backyards. Christianity is the most persecuted religion in our days. According to studies, just in 2016 90,000 Christians ‒ or one Christian every six minutes - was killed in 2016.1 However, what about the North American Christians? How are they responding to the sad reality of our present situation? How are they responding to the commandments of our Lord to his church? If we call ourselves Christians and all these prophetic turmoils would not speak to us, something is not right with our spiritual life.

 

There is an even greater danger in our days. It is happening inside of many churches in the USA, Canada, Australia and dozens of nations worldwide.

 

Turn on your TV and most of the time you will hear dozens of preachers, preaching about prosperity, how to make more money, how to be happy and live life at ease, yet rarely you will hear a sermon on missions, evangelism, holiness, or repentance. Ask yourself: When was the last time you heard a message about the return of Jesus or on the subjects mentioned above?

 

We are buying the latest iPod; set up satellites to access five hundred television channels, and spend hours on social media, nevertheless, our spiritual life is a disaster. As marriage-contracts, we make our friendships through electronic devices, so we don't have to bother with someone else's problems. Individualism reigns. God's Word says that the first-century church had all things in common. No one owned anything.

 

Are we living this reality today in our churches? Unfortunately, many of us have become apathetic, wishy-washy and lukewarm Christians; therefore, blindness has covered our eyes resembling the Laodicea church conduct. We could spend five hours in front of our TV, computer and talking over the phone, but we don't spend fifteen minutes in prayer.

 

God have mercy on us! Forgive our lack of love for Him! God help us to see the deceitfulness of our hearts and to repent! Many of us abandoned our first love many years ago. God help us to remember where we have fallen; therefore, we can repent and do the first works.

 

The last prayer in the Bible states: “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

 

HE IS COMING AT ANY TIME.

 

I conclude by mentioning the words of Peter to the churches of all generations: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be [d]burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You, therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." II Peter 3: 10-18

 

To Him be the glory!

 

Notes:

1Over 900,000 Christians have been martyred in the last 10 years, a Christian research firm affiliated with Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts estimates. (https://www.foxnews.com/world/nearly-1-million-christians-reportedly-martyred-fortheir-faith-in-last-decade)