“For the Time is Come”...the Wayfarer 4/14/14

“For the Time is Come”

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

(1 Peter 4:17)

I dedicate a large portion of these sermons to the need for Christians to actually be Christians. I am certain some would say, too much of that time.

The reason so much is devoted to this subject, is that the world around us continually progresses further toward the final judgment of God, and, like it, or not, we will also face that judgment. It is not reserved only to those making no profession of Christianity, not reserved to the confines of other religions, not confined to any single denomination or church that fails to meet the expectations demanded of us, but will be faced by ALL, to include as well, myself.

Knowing, both my own imperfection and that of ALL others as well, it would be more than negligent of me to fail to do so.

Before I face that final judgment, it is a requirement that I face a daily judgment, a daily realization of that imperfection and attempt to correct any and all of it of which I am capable, by means of that which I find in the scriptures that apply to all who have received the grace of God, while knowing all do not comply with the totality of His will, all either knowingly or unknowingly fail in some measure to meet the demands of perfection placed on us by God at the time of creation… In other words, ALL of humanity must face individual failings, but in particular those of us within the large group left to do Christ’s work until His return.  

It is far too easy to drift into the teachings of denomination, organization, nationality, social or economic group that takes only small bites of the teachings left us, only the things we find acceptable because those groups already honor and comply with those teachings, while disregarding the totality of those teachings, and the demand of repentance given by Christ for ANY failure to accept and comply with ALL of them.

Without that daily self-examination, that daily search of my own soul, that daily prayer, not just that others see the truth of Christ’s teachings and adhere to them, but my own as well, I would also fail to ever be able to reach or teach any of those, that all those other institutions, recognize quite easily, and unfortunately only, as “Sinners”.

It is only through that continual examination of self, as well as others, that I am able to truly view both myself and others through the eyes of my God, instead of through the eyes of any natural self-righteousness, that would deny the fact that I too am a sinner. I am a sinner saved by grace through faith, but cannot and will not be perfect until granted that perfection, until this corrupt body ceases to breathe and exist. It is only with that comprehension that I am able to strive DAILY to overcome that imperfection, with the knowledge that any grace shown me comes not from any worthiness of my own, but through the constant intercession of Christ when I fail to meet that perfection.

The only way that I may see or understand my own failings is by the constant and daily reading, and searching, for understanding of the scriptures, that give the basis of the perfection sought, and through prayer for that understanding; forgiveness each time I find I have failed to meet any of those things given though them that are demanded.

The Judgment must begin at the House of God. It must begin with each child of God…including ME!

The verses that follows the one with which I opened are quite clear on the imperfection found within ALL, and clearly gives guidance to both myself and all others as to the fact that in order to reach those still reachable and still teachable, the absolute first requirement is a long hard look in the mirror, and a look at whether we too pay attention to the commandment left us by Christ to love one another, only accomplished by showing others that love, and only through suffering through the reproach and denial of those who knowingly or unknowingly have no concept of that love, or what it entails.

“And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful creator.”

(1 Peter 18 &19)

Yes, I spend a great deal of time reminding all of the necessity of being who we say we are, doing what we know is to be done, praying what is meant, and meaning what we pray; not to present myself as more righteous than any other; not to present myself as more knowledgeable than any other; but truly praying that, others too, take that  long hard look in the mirror, and delve into the requirements, the true requirements given through the scriptures, put away denomination, organization and ALL teachings of men other than those given us through Christ Jesus so that that House and family of God be found to be in compliance with what is expected of us by Him, Christ Jesus, not the men of those associations, denominations, or any manmade group that would deny any portion of those teachings that does not meet their own version of the requirements.

The requirements are explicit and simple, and we were continually given them by Christ in the message He preached and in the commandment HE left us!

“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say,

 Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

(Matthew 4:17)

That repentance must be daily and continual for ALL!

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”
(John 15:12)

That love must also be shown daily both in what is said, and what is done, and must of a necessity include pointing out any failure to meet either requirement given, to either myself, or of others, to meet those requirements,  if we are ever to teach those teachable and reach those reachable.

I close in prayer, that all heed, not my words, because I am indeed imperfect and fallible no matter how hard I strive toward perfection, but heed His words, because He alone is perfect, He alone has the wisdom and ability to judge, and will begin that judgment with me, and those of the House of God.

I remain the same simple sinner, saved by His grace, through faith in Him, not in myself, and the soldier He called into His service able only to point the direction that leads to that perfection offered BY HIM, that eternal life guaranteed BY HIM, that eternal joy and communion with God only possible through HIM.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer