Heading towards 50 years ago, the Bible teacher said to his class, “There is only one thing worse than not getting your own way with God and that is when He gives you your own way.” I wonder if his students embraced the seriousness of what they heard that day. Perhaps not given the dead spiritual state of Bible Colleges, Seminaries and Churches in general throughout today’s Christian world. When homosexual and lesbian and transgender people start to become ordained elders, ministers and bishops, clearly that means God has given them their own way!
The same applies to preachers and leaders who remain half-hearted or even silent when it comes to same-sex marriage; which is what some of them have been doing for the past few years here in Australia. God has certainly given them their own way. On Wednesday, November 15, 2017, it was announced 61.8% of the nation voted in favor for this “marriage” to become legalized. Something else about such a high percentage of people voting in favor of it; it confirms just how non-influential the Australian church is in society with the things of God that ought to matter, such as the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the blessing upon people who embrace it and the curse upon people who reject it.
Why so non-influential? One needs the anointing of the Holy Spirit to effectively proclaim the things of God. Such an anointing is impossible for those willing to deny, change or compromise true meanings of Scripture. If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination…… Leviticus 20:13. It takes a spiritually dead person to play games with a Scripture so clear in its meaning as that one; don’t for a moment be fooled into thinking otherwise. People who do so are on the highway to hell! For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature Romans 1:26. Do you see it? Lesbian practice is against nature; it is not natural! Therein lies a root cause for their deep emotional and mental pains.
Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful…… Romans 1:27. Not only does it take spiritually dead people to tamper with these (and others similar) meanings, it also takes heartless people – no heart for God and no heart for people! And although this heartless crowd will deny to the death what has been written here, their Day of Judgment will declare it to be true. That’s the day they will discover God gave them their own way. God also gave them up to uncleanness…. God gave them up to vile passions…. God gave them over to a debased mind to do those things which are not fitting Romans 1:24, 26, 28. God has the last say, always.
When God gives people their own way, it is because He knows they have preference for the voice of human reasoning or psychology, or politics, the voice of religion – and even worse, the voice of the devil himself! All of these are contrary to the will and plan of God, but they are strong voices in the church today not only in pulpits, but also in pews. For decades there has been a push to soften the Scriptures of God, but now the pressure is on in earnest. Jesus Christ is not popular. Jesus has never been popular regardless of how “cool” preachers speak, dress, act and artificially project themselves, strutting back and forth across the stage or standing behind transparent lecterns delivering 20-minute, 4-point, power-point “sermons.”
So where to now, for Bible Christians who voted ‘No” for same-sex marriage? What can we expect to face in the near future? Answer? Accelerated persecution! We’ve already experienced it in large measures by spiritually dead people in the church and out of it. Take the media for example. The television crowd certainly showed their true colors – sniggering, sneering, insulting, bad-mannered and self-righteous. The Muslims voted “No” too but not a word did we hear from the same crowd against them for their stand. Like schoolyard bullies, media cowards know which targets to pick and which to leave alone. The same can be said for the mindless, protesting Leftist/Cultural Marxist foot-soldiers. Not an original thought or word did/do I discern or hear from any one of them.
We can expect accelerated persecution from Federal and State Government leaders, Opposition leaders, politicians representing them and politicians not representing them. I praise God for the (too few) true Christians among them who did speak up, but a more godless, Christ-despising bunch of people this country has not seen until now; wait until this thing is legislated! The Communist and global elitists among them will rule the day until the day of the Lord comes to overrule! Too, while they may not themselves persecute us, Federal and State Police forces will carry out any instructions given by which ever Government, as will judges and magistrates in the courts of law. I praise God too, for those among us He has already prepared for such a time.
Important note: Those God has already prepared for persecution, fully know same-sex marriage is not the primary reason for such persecution; it goes much deeper than that. TRUTH is the primary reason; this is an attack on TRUTH! Muslim people don’t convict truth-haters of their deep, indwelling sin and lawlessness towards God and neither do any others representing any other religion. This applies to Roman Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons too, for the Bible is not the Final Authority in all matters of doctrine for them. That’s why when each of them preaches Jesus Christ it is another Jesus whom we have not preached 2 Corinthians 11:4, not the biblical Jesus revealed to us in the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation.
Accelerated persecution will come from immediate family members, even from so-called Christians among them! Truth can separate the best of families at any time, but with this “marriage” soon to be legislated it has the potential to separate like nothing before it. Example: A family member is a practicing lesbian or homosexual; she or he has set the date for marriage. The Bible Christian in the family is invited but doesn’t accept the invitation. Not only is that family member upset but every other member is upset too, from parents, siblings and grandparents, to aunts, uncles and cousins. Perhaps “upset” is too kind a word. It’s more likely they will curse, insult, abuse and accuse! And at the end of all that, ostracism will follow.
A timely reminder from Jesus for such times: Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also…… John 15:20. Accelerated persecution will come from friends, associates, work colleagues and bosses. For some Bible Christians it may mean a loss of all of these a few years out from now. It’s important to consider this a great possibility because the same-sex marriage victors are not going to stop there. Their intention is to press on with all things sexually perverted, but especially the “Safe Schools Program” which is promoted as anti-bullying. However, the sexualization of our young children is a major form of bullying in itself. Communists/Marxists/Socialists are the ultimate bullies!
Again, accelerated persecution will come to Bible Christians from within the church. I don’t know how many times I have declared that on this blog, but I take the example of Peter, the apostle. Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth 2 Peter 1:12. Right on until the Lord’s return there will be those sitting in churches who will not be satisfied until God gives them their own way. Presently they show all signs of being compliant, holy and righteous people, but they are not. This coming “marriage” legislation will give witness to where they are at spiritually. When the test comes they will be exposed for what they are in reality – spiritually dead people.
What to do then? Prepare for accelerated persecution if you’re not doing so already. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…… Matthew 6:33. Seek God’s will, ways, words, thoughts, mind, commands, statutes, precepts, laws, wisdom, discernment, insight and understanding. Make it your business to do so in prayer every day and soon you will know you have the presence of God with you even when it feels He is a million miles away! When God gives His word, He gives Himself with it, always. That is one of the grand payoffs for not getting wanting your own way with God. Our persecutors will witness that reality; some of them may even turn to Jesus Christ as a result. That’s my prayer! Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven Matthew 5:10.