Thomas Paine at the beginning of the Revolutionary War wrote, ‘these are the times that try men’s souls.’ The deluge of pressures converging during these times raises questions within the heart and soul. Here the bravery of men is addressed; those who fought in the war even at the expense of possibly losing their lives. Yet he contrasted their bravery with the summertime soldiers who would only engage in the battle if conditions were convenient. We are currently at war. The battle is for the souls of individuals and the soul of this generation. The crisis today is the unbelief in Christ and those who are misguided by and through the philosophies of men. The tragedy of our day is that many do not realize it. As it was in the days of Noah before the Flood, business goes on as usual. Nothing about their routine has changed. Spiritual apathy has defined this generation. As we engage in a global crisis, the simple minded are only capable of seeing the effect of it from day to day. The contributing factors are not given any consideration. As ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ our primary assignment is the preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Only through preaching God’s Truth which transcends human wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, will people be prepared to take the right stand and defend the right causes. The minister must first be called or recruited by God. Then the minister must answer the call by abandoning self and permitting his life to be hidden in Christ. Only then would he meet the criteria to speak as the oracle of God. His message is the message of God’s Kingdom. God’s rule and reign over all His creation. 

The battle is the cataclysmic collision between two opposing kingdoms, the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of Light. The deceptive strategy of the devil camouflages his agenda thus causing individuals to interpret all things as the kingdom of self. Self-image, self-gratification, self-awareness has become to many their primary focus while he comes to steal, kill, and destroy their souls. The disruptive nature of spiritual light exposes the character of those that would otherwise operate with their motives undetected. The closer we come to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ the more turbulence will be experienced within the culture. As it was when Christ came to earth as the Holy Child, Simeon prophesied, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34-35

The closer we come to the return of the Lord, a higher price must be paid by the faithful as evidence of their loyalty to His standard of righteousness. The devil knows that his time is short therefore he is using every arsenal at his exposal. Yet there will be faithful servants standing who have set their sights on things above. They will not grow weary even if the whole world stands against them.

“that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head –Christ- Ephesians 4:14 & 15

One of the primary responsibilities of a priest is to lead people to Christ while leading them away from deception. The Holy Scripture states that the “whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). Satan is a dealmaker whose devious plans were creatively constructed to camouflage his real intent while appealing to your interests. Spiritual discernment is necessary and exists among mature leaders who have a track record of making wise decisions. Even Satan transforms himself into an angel of light since the name Lucifer means “Lightbearer.” Although things are not always as they appear to be, God alone knows the end from the beginning and He reveals His plans to His servants, the prophets.

The prophet Ezekiel spoke of this day and the outcome of the decisions made by our modern dealmakers:

Ezek 28:16: “Your business brought you many riches. But they also put cruelty inside you, and you sinned. So, I treated you like something unclean and threw you off the mountain of God.” (Easy to Read Version) 

“You traded with other nations and became more and more cruel and evil. So I forced you to leave my mountain, and the creature that had been your protector now chased you away from the gems.” (Contemporary English Version) 

When making the deal becomes the objective and overrides loving care for the people involved, the chosen path will lead to severe judgment. The question that Jesus asked is still being asked today, “what would a man give for his soul, and what would a man profit even if he gained the whole world but was to lose his soul?”

Secret deals are being made behind closed doors, and negotiations are taking place in private. The stakes are high, and unfortunately, the unsuspecting and misinformed will become the victims. Some people do not care what they may have to sacrifice if they appear to be winning. Count the cost and consider the source, for what may appear as winning may be losing and what may appear as losing may be winning.

Luke 8:16-18 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.  17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.  18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”  

While Jesus spoke to those who knew the truth by revelation and spiritual insight, He hid it from the eyes of the uninformed and the misinformed. For the underinformed, half-truths are the most dangerous of them all. The Bible warns that those who know the truth but refuse to practice what they know are sinning against God and themselves. The experience gained through practically applied wisdom increases their capacity and allows them to see significant information left unexplored. Some people merely have enough of the truth as a vaccination from receiving further spiritual instructions, where if they were to hear and receive a message preached under the anointing of God, it would change the trajectory of their lives. 

Since their ears are more attuned to incomplete instructions, they remain incomplete and never converted by the Holy Spirit. They spend their time defending the issues of life while remaining ignorant of the things that pertain to life and godliness. It is like the fox that stands guard in front of the chicken coup. Moreover, “Lampshade Christians” are willing to ignore the obvious for the sake of accommodating their constituents, while others place their light underneath where dreams occur. As they sleep in the dark, they bury their light beneath them. The dream that Dr. M.L. King spoke of is then reduced to conversations where the original intentions of God are subordinated by whatever is politically popular. Each political party has the same references while conveying conflicting messages. They both speak of life issues and how to save lives and reinforce the quality of life, yet how do they define life?   

God is the Giver of life. Life is sacred, and therefore, life ought to be lived with respect to God’s original design. The conflicting views on life lead to its demise. The murderers are among us, even though they see themselves as the champions of their cause. However, what they seem to know will be exposed as a lie when the whole truth is revealed. There is an internal life and an external life, and if it is to be fulfilling, life must include peace within the heart and soul. The psyche of the person is more important than the trappings of success attained in this life. If he does not have peace within, he cannot fully enjoy what he manages. Also, what is inside of a man eats away his insides and causes ruin to his body. Thankfully, God offers us Whole Life and not just Term Life. He will expose the secrets of those who speak of life but whose hearts are set on bringing about destruction. Those who are born of God and enlightened in their understanding of spiritual truth must let their lights shine brightly among mankind so that all may see their good works and glory the Father who is in Heaven.