TIME

To say I have been apprehensive about this election would be an understatement. For I love this country, it is my home, and a place of freedoms and prosperity unknown to any other nation in the world. However, I also know that both this country and the American Church have been on a slippery slope to judgment. Thus I desired, and asked the Lord for mercy; for a little more time. Time that this country and the Church would have a little more time to repent, that judgment’s hand would be stayed. For as the prophet Amos saith, “Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! To what end is it for you? The day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?” (Amos 5:18-20) I desired a little more time.

And as I, like many, tracked the election results hoping in numb anticipation for a result that I knew in my heart would not be, desiring a little more time, a word came to me. “What would a little more time do? Would it awaken them, or would they continue to slumber? Perhaps it is time.” And although not a joyful word, my spirit found comfort. Yes, comfort. Comfort because although my flesh would rather not see such days, my spirit knows that such days are inevitable. I, like most, do not take pleasure in suffering; I have an aversion to suffering. Neither do I take joy in observing others suffer or participating in suffering. But I also know that true Christianity is birthed in persecution, in suffering. If refines and defines us, and it is an absolute necessity.

As for time, it is not our friend. Christ declared that unless He shorted the days, no flesh would be saved, but for the elects sake He shorted the days. (Mark 13:20) I’m reminded of a parable that the Master gave concerning ten virgins; five wise and five foolish. Five took oil for their lamps, the other five neglected too. They were given but one task, to watch and wait for the bridegrooms coming. Yet, because the bridegroom tarried, they all fell to slumbering, and slept. And only did they arise from there sleeping at the bridegrooms coming as someone yelled with a loud voice, “AWAKE, for the bridegroom cometh.” Still, five where unprepared, for they had neglected to take oil. And as the five foolish went about to seek the oil the bridegroom came. (Matthew 25:1-13) A little more time; a little more time to slumber and sleep.

My friend time is not our friend. It is high time we awake out of our slumbering, “for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” (Romans 13:11) For whether we are ready or not, judgment is coming. For “judgment [shall] run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.” (Amos 5:24, my brackets) What we are currently feeling is but the birthing pains of a world in travail. The days ahead are dark indeed, but we who know the Lord God shall be strong and do exploits, but we need to awake. We need to remember that this world is not our home, and we should not be getting comfortable; after all we are just passing through. And if we are a little too comfortable, discomfort is a good thing. Because although the world goes on continuing as she always has, we need to be very aware that a little more time, we do not have.

In His Service,

~ Jason Olvera

Too Late

I have a four year old daughter, and as most children her age she knows to use the bathroom when her body “tells” her she has to go. And as my wife is a teacher she often offers our children a reward incentive for doing as they’re told. And so, as my daughter is only four, she often decides to “listen” to her body to late as she is involved in the moment, and we have what we call an “accident.” And as a direct result of her “accident” she does not and is not allowed the reward. My daughter gets mad, yells, kicks, and screams that, “It’s not fair!” and that we are not, “Being nice.” And though she is only four years of age, she understands the logic and reason for such a turn of affairs; however, she still wants the reward despite this fact.

As Christians we relish the blessings, promises, and the future rewards of Heaven. Yet, we often ignore, set aside, or reject God and His Word. And despite this fact we still want it all. We want all that God has promised, and this world, and all our desires. Even though we know that our Heavenly Father has told us that such is a spiritual impossibility. (Matt 6:24; John 12:25-26; Romans 6:5; Romans 7:5-6) And likewise as a child we throw a fit when we are unable to reap the rewards; knowing full well why. We say, “It’s not fair!” “Why?” “How dare He!” and, “If God was ‘just!’ ” Yes, we do all these things and more. We question, argue, and debate The Almighty. We do this all hoping, wishing, and justifying our way; despite the fact that we know why.

We as Christians, as my daughter does, get caught in the moment. We see this life, all it has to offer, and despite that “warning” knowing what His Word declares; we “hold it.” We thing we have plenty of time to get it right or time to came back around. We convince and tell ourselves that it’s a minor issue or that God really is not concerned with such. And that we will be able to slip by.

It is perplexing and amazing. Why do we do all these things knowing full well the truth of the matter? As in the example of my daughter, she’s only four, and were only human. Is this a justifiable excuse? God’s Word declares the answer. Yes, we are only human, and we are sinful by nature, but it is no excuse. For He sent His only begotten Son as a ransom. Christ paid our debt in full. The Word of God declares that in times past he winked at our ignorance, but now commands all to repent; for He sent His Son to die in our place. (Acts 17:30-31; John 3:16) And He is very concerned in all aspects of our life.

I write this as I am concerned for The Church. I see and hear so many excuses. The deception, apathy, and soul-damming game playing; the Church cannot afford to ignore, set aside, and reject His Word any longer. The day will come when those who tinkered around with the Gospel will have waited too long. (Genesis 6:3; 1 Thess. 5:19) I urge you to search the scriptures to see if you be in the faith. (2 Cor. 13:5; John 5:3-9) That you try the spirits that you be not deceived, that you lay aside every sin and weight that does so easily entangle you, and that you awake unto righteousness to the saving of your soul; before it is too late. (1 John 4:1; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 15:34; Romans 13:11-12; Ephesians 5:14-18)

That Which He Seemeth To Have

God’s Word declares that, “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.” (Matthew 24:37-39) And thus it is today. The world goes on as it always has, for such is its nature and way, but unfortunately the Church in its apathy does much the same. While the signs of the times and seasons pass before her eyes; oblivious, for the most part, to that which has seeped into the church, at least that which has not been welcomed in with open arms, false doctrines and teachings, spirits, and manifestations, she slumbers. Thus, we find ourselves in the midst of the great falling away!

 
For the Church as a whole has fallen away from the truth. We have given heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. (Timothy 4:1) Yet, we have the audacity to declare, “I am a believer,” “I am Christian,” “I am a follower of Christ;” all the while rejecting God’s Word both in word and deed. And Christ will sadly declare unto many in judgment, “I never knew you.” God’s Word declares that they will protest in disagreement, and argue, “Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”  (Matthew 7:22) And yet again Christ will declare unto them, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23)

 
I state all this to declare a hard truth unto you, and that is this: There are many who profess Christianity. Who declare with sincerity that they are saved, but in the end they will discover that they were deceived, lost, and without God; bound for an eternity void of His presence. I say this to warn you; to caution you. I ask you to heed the parable of the sower. Hear how that the Word of God was sowed. Some sown on the way side, some on rocky ground, some among thorns, and some on good ground. (Luke 8:4-8)

 
“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:11-15)

Christ then declares and warns, “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.” (Luke 8:18) There are two very important phrases that I want to point out here. First, “take heed therefore how ye hear”. How ye hear… What kind of ground does your heart resemble? In hearing and receiving God’s Word have you good ground? Or is it rocky and unstable? Have you tossed the Word by way side of your life? Or perhaps it has been sown among the thorns of your life, and is fighting in competition for nourishment?

 

The second phrase, “from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.” That which he seemeth to have, implying that the individual thought that they had the Word, had salvation, and had the works; only to realize that they indeed had not! What a sad and fighting realization to have. I do hope I’m getting my point across. And if I’m not the point is this: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God.” (2 Timothy 2:15) “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12) Search the scriptures: for there is but, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all.” (Ephesians 4:5-6) For it is imperative that we be in the true faith and Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; lest we find ourselves having that which we seemeth to have taken from us! Let us not be counted among those who when standing before almighty God hear those dreadful words, “I never knew you, depart from me ye workers of iniquity,” but let us be found having the true faith.

I leave you with this one final admonishment, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Cor. 13:5) But it is my prayer and hope that you will not be found as such.

Grace be to you,
~Jason Olvera