26 | August | 2018 | End Times Prophecy Report

August 26, 2018 • 09:00 0

Hope Misplaced: Trusting to Man’s Better Nature

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”
–Romans 3:23

The culture/media regularly refers to man’s better nature–currently the favored phrase is “the better angels of our nature.”

While uplifting and encouraging, such talk of man’s better nature contradicts the many warnings the Bible sounds about the true, genuine nature of unrepentant man.

“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”
–Ecclesiastes 7:20

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
–Jeremiah 17:9

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
–Psalm 51:5

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
–Romans 3:10-12

Who is one to believe: the chatter (from man) about the innate goodness of man OR the Bible’s warnings that there are NO good men; that all men are born wicked?

Should we put our faith, hope and trust in “man’s better nature“?

One clue: even the worldly know better than to trust man’s better nature.

“Never appeal to a man’s better nature. He may not have one. Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage.”
—Robert Heinlein

The Bible also has many warnings about trusting in man OR in one’s own self, for that matter.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
–Proverbs 14:12

“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”
–Proverbs 28:26

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
–Proverbs 3:5

As Jesus Christ Himself once said:

“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
–Luke 17:9-14

So, again, who is one to believe: those who insist that man has a “better nature” OR the Bible, which clearly states that there is no one that is good “no, not one“?

IF the reader truthfully and diligently searches his memory about the times appeals have been made to “man’s better nature” (and the results of those appeals), perhaps that might be the best evidence for the true answer to this question.

DOES the reader believe the Word of God?

DOES the reader believe the words of man?

It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: August 22, 2018.]

RELATED ARTICLES

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: Stuart Miles, FreeDigitalPhotos.net

© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-18. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Link Disclaimer: inclusion of links to other blogs/websites is not necessarily an endorsement of all content posted in those blogs/website.

Filed under: Biblical Teachings, End Time Deception, END TIMES PREPARATION, LIFE, man's better nature, misplaced hope, the better angels of man's nature

August 26, 2018 • 07:30 0

What Most Men Find Most Valuable

A recent, spirited discussion centered on the question, “What is it that man values most?”

The answers were varied and sundry, but they seemed to fall into two rough groupings: tangible and intangible.

The answers in the Tangible group included

Money
The things of the world (lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, pride of life)
Specifically, the things money can buy: cars, trucks, houses, estates, gasoline (!?!)…
Family and friends

Contrast this to the INTANGIBLE side, where one even ventured “the fruit of the Spirit.”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
–Galatians 5:22-23

But there were MANY other responses which could be said to be Intangible:

Fame
True Love
Respect
Good fortune or luck
Wisdom
Popularity
Truth
Knowledge
Talent
Intelligence

Tangible or Intangible, ALL these choices are temporary and fleeting: here today, gone tomorrow.

“I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed”
–Psalm 102: 24-26

“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away”
–1Peter 1:24

“For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.”
–1Chronicles 29:15

HOWEVER, regardless of whether one believes in the benefits of the Tangible or Intangible, the argument could be made that what most men value above all other things is THEIR COMFORT.

To maintain a desired comfort level, most men will turn their backs on the truth, true love and wisdom–and the many times man has betrayed family and friends to ensure his own comfort is recorded countless times throughout history.

There is even an argument to be made that most men will forsake wealth–if holding onto that wealth requires them to be uncomfortable for any extended length of time.

So, a person will put their own comfort ahead of practically anything.

Something for the reader to think about the next time he hears the argument, “It’s all about the money!”

Not always.

WHAT is it that the reader finds most valuable?

DOES the reader find himself choosing among those things from this present, temporary life?

It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: August 22, 2018.]

RELATED ARTICLES

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: pat138241, FreeDigitalPhotos.net/

Link Disclaimer: inclusion of links to other blogs/websites is not necessarily an endorsement of all content posted in those blogs/website.

Filed under: Biblical Teachings, END TIMES PREPARATION, LIFE, life is temporary, what is it that most men find most valuable?

August 26, 2018 • 06:00 0

Christianity: The Ultimate in Delayed Gratification

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”
–2Corinthians 4:17

Most Americans want instant gratification.

“I want what I want and I want it NOW!”

America is the Land of Impulse Buying Opportunity, testified by the candy, gum, mints, cigarette lighters and trashy magazines which decorate check-outs everywhere in the Land of the Free.

The United States is the place where there is literally nothing which stands in the way between an American and whatever trifle he covets.

“No money? No problem!”

“90 days same as cash!”

“Take it home today! No payments for the next six months!”

Which makes Christianity–which is the ULTIMATE in delayed gratification–a poor fit for America.

The Christian foregoes the pleasures, appetites and quick fix rewards of this world for the much greater reward of the kingdom of heaven.

That makes Christianity a hard sell in a country which celebrates the latest impulse of the world.

Because the Christian’s reward cannot be seen, heard or held in one’s hands, most cannot understand the basic concept of waiting for a reward beyond this present sense-based world.

To the present, wicked world, such an idea is senseless.

But when fallen man takes the time to reflect, he intuitively grasps that there is something not quite right about instant gratification.

So, even the world knows that living by impulse is a loser.

“Don’t give up what you want most for what you want now.”
—Richard G. Scott

The non-believer wonders, “I’m not hurting anybody. I’m just having a little fun! Why shouldn’t the pleasures, sin, sensations, appetites and lusts of the world be indulged?”

The believer KNOWS that the pleasures of this world are fleeting and temporary.

“Why not wait and enjoy eternity?”

Once more: Christianity is the ultimate in delayed gratification.

Which makes it a poor fit indeed for the those who live in a country which constantly chatters: “Don’t wait! Don’t delay! Have it, have it today, have it NOW!”

DOES the reader ever wonder, “Is this all there is?”

DOES the reader then forget about all of that to indulge his latest, greatest desire of the last 5 minutes?

It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven–and live!

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: August 20, 2018.]

RELATED ARTICLES

by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: Wikimedia Commons/pd

Link Disclaimer: inclusion of links to other blogs/websites is not necessarily an endorsement of all content posted in those blogs/website.

Filed under: Biblical Teachings, Eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ, LIFE, Christianity: the ultimate in delayed gratification, delayed gratification, impulse buying, impulse buying mentality vs the rewards of delayed gratification

August 26, 2018 • 02:00 0

Selling Fear

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
–2Timothy 1:7

It has been mentioned in these parts more than once that the world uses the foundations of sin to sell the things of the world.

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
–1John 2:16

“…the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life…”

These three items are the basis of almost every advertising campaign conceived.

MORE: MODERN LIFE: Modern Life and the Things of the World

Lest the reader think that 1John 2:16 covers ALL the tools at advertising’s disposal, here is one more.

Fear.

How does advertising utilize fear?

Fear of becoming unpopular or unsanitary; fear of losing or not meeting the right girl or guy because the reader is not driving the right car; fear of not meeting the right people–or if you do, fear that they won’t like you; fear of not eating healthy and the bad things that can happen because of this; fear of losing your material possessions; fear of not being prepared for the future; fear of ending up in retirement with not enough money; and the list goes on and on and on and…

Fear.

Hard to believe that fear gushes out of smartphones, TVs and computers every hour on the hour.

But it does.

MORE: Forget Satan: Fear God

IS the reader ever motivated by fear?

HOW does the reader know?

It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16