Matthew 23:27 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”

No one likes to be called a hypocrite, but let’s be real for a moment, shall we? The plain fact of the matter is that everyone can be a hypocrite at times and in one way or another! Now that it can be said that we can all be hypocrites sometimes, let’s delve into the attitudes and behaviors of both the lost and saved people we come in contact with throughout our lives.

Oftentimes, the mindset is that lost people are the rude, unfriendly, inconsiderate and unkind ones, while the saved people are the nicer, friendlier, more thoughtful and considerate ones. From a biblical standpoint, this aspect should ring true, but when it comes to many of our real-life interactions and experiences, the truth, more often than not, seems to be somewhat of the opposite!

Why did Jesus call the Pharisees whitewashed tombs in Matthew 23:27? | GotQuestions.org

As of this writing, I have 2 unsaved friends/acquaintances, one of whom I have known for a long time and another who I have just met in recent months. Then, there are several ‘Christian’ families, friends, and acquaintances who we have known for longer than that and who should be relied on for not being more hypocritical but… (Insert mind-blown emoticon face).

Therefore, you wanna know who are the ones that reach out on their own, who reciprocate emails, gifts, and cards, who let us know that they’re thinking of us too, who invite us to places, and the list of considerations goes on…. It sure isn’t the latter group; I’ll tell ya that!

You wanna guess who are the ones that give unsolicited opinions, advice, and condemnations concerning tough life situations, who show lack of support and instead start online arguments and fights, who go around doing ‘smear campaigns’ to try and make one feel bad about things they cannot help or control, and who don’t reciprocate in sending cards, letters, gifts, and the list of inconsiderateness goes on…. It, more often than not, hasn’t been the former group; I’ll tell ya that too!

Just recently, we were at a car lot trying to purchase a new vehicle, and the dealer there was so open, honest, friendly, and upfront and really tried to help us with everything, so I assumed him to be a Christian. To that, he went on to tell us that he did not believe in ‘hellfire and brimstone but that he believed it is all about being good to people.’ My heart sank…. Once again, the idea that ‘it’s all about being a good person’ is the mindset that seems to prevail in this modern-day culture! (((Sigh)))

There’s a saying that ‘there will be a lot of bad people in heaven and a lot of good people in hell.’ I think what that could mean from one perspective is that the ‘nicer people’ to us in this life will end up in hell because they, unfortunately, trusted in their own good works, and the ‘not so nice people’ to us in this life will end up in heaven because they, fortunately, trusted in Jesus instead!

I don’t want either group to end up in hell, but unless they get this one thing straight, they will! We cannot ever be a ‘good enough person’ by what we do or don’t do to enter into heaven! It is by God’s grace through faith that we are saved and that not of ourselves, so no one can boast!

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

We can’t do enough good stuff, be nice to enough people, give enough money, and the list of good works can go on and on! It is only by what Jesus did on the cross to save us; only His blood can wash away our sins, only by His righteousness and holiness, not ours! Please wake up… especially those who think otherwise!

What is the meaning of Ephesians 2:8–9? | GotQuestions.org

Speaking of ‘whitewashed tombs,’ ever since we moved down to this part of the state, we’ve noticed it being ‘spiritually darker’ around here than from where we moved. From seeing young people at the supermarket with Baphomet and pentagram tattoos on their necks, arms and legs, to a young man walking down the street with a jacket that reads on the back, ‘You keep on praying and I’ll keep on evolving,’ to witchcraft/taxidermy/apothecary antique shops downtown, to churches that we’ve visited once or twice and subsequently decided not to go back, which held ‘Ecumenical bible studies,’ and another with a current sign by the highway which blasts, ‘Global Christmas’ (one that will be held there next weekend, by the way)! Umm… talk about being ‘full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness’! Mortifying, isn’t it?!

(Paraphrasing one late comedian, “We can’t do Jack Squat!”) Seriously, we can’t or don’t even amount to a ‘hill of beans or jack squat’ in and of ourselves or through our own merit; we all need Jesus and His righteousness! For even Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Now, not all the lost are ‘particularly nicer’ than the saved…. Just in recent weeks, during an online meeting for families dealing with estrangement, one person quoted in the comment section that ‘religion shouldn’t be allowed to come in the way of relationships.’ To that, I’d like to say that for a true believer, it is ‘not about religion but about relationship’!

(Anonymous Quote: ‘Religion’ is a man in church thinking about going fishing, and ‘Relationship’ is a man going fishing thinking about God.)

Therefore, being a Christian becomes who you are, and you can’t just stop being who you are! If family members choose to reject you because of that, then it is not your fault, for even Jesus said that “You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake” (Matthew 10:22). He also said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).

What did Jesus mean by coming to bring a sword in Matthew 10:34-36? | GotQuestions.org

Just recently, an example of a ‘toxic hypocrite’ came to me in a dream. In this dream were some people who had a house on a septic system but, for some reason, did not have their tank cleaned out for many years! Along came a visitor to their house for a few days, and, subsequently, one thing led to another. Somehow, this visitor was blamed for the whole septic tank stinking!

The moral of the story/dream is that these people were ‘toxic hypocrites’ because they refused to acknowledge or own up to their long-term accumulation to the septic system’s contents but instead chose to blame the many years’ worth of sludge, goo, grime, filth, and fumes on the visitor’s measly few days of contributions! Umm… talk about ‘major toxic hypocrites’!

Matthew 7:3-5 “Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”

This is why Jesus did not hold back when it came to admonishing the ‘hypocritical Pharisees,’ and He will not hold back on Judgment Day at the Great White Throne Judgment either! Even for us at the Bema Seat Judgment, may we not be found wanting, but instead, may we be found ‘faithful and true’ just as Jesus is faithful and true!

May we also be graced with hearing these words from our Savior’s lips, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21).

May we always strive to be the ‘lesser hypocrite’ in all aspects of our lives by asking God to help us in all that we say and do every single day in Jesus Christ’s Name! Because, remember, without Jesus, we can do nothing!

Until next time… Maranatha!

Sincerely & In Christ,

Candy Austin

(I have no Accolades….
I am just a Nobody
trying to tell Everybody
about Somebody who
can save Anybody!)

https://youtu.be/_wCTQdmXkUg

My Mission is to be ‘Salt and Light’ to a lost and dying world.
To be an Ambassador for Jesus Christ.
All for Him and His Glory!

Jeremiah 31:33-34; “For this is the covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those days, declares the Lord; I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor, and each his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord’; for they shall all know Me from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (ESV – all emphasis mine)

It is interesting to note that the writer of Hebrews included the above verses in Hebrews 8:10-12, exactly as Jeremiah had written them. For anyone who believes that any church or some other religion has replaced God’s covenant with the Jewish people, they need to take note of these verses. God will never break a covenant.

Paul explains this in Romans 11:25-29; “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brethren; a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way, all Israel will be saved, as it is written, ‘the Deliverer will come from Zion; He will banish ungodliness from Jacob; and this will be My covenant with them when I take away their sins.’ As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

This follows Zechariah 13:8-9; “In the whole land, declares the Lord, two-thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one-third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon My name, and I will answer them. I will say they are My people; and they will say the Lord is my God.”

As would be said in Texas, “What’s fixin’ to take place won’t be purdy at all!” The time we’re told about as being the end of this era is drawing very near, and it could commence just about any day now.

First, God has not rejected Israel; much of Israel has turned its back on His Son. The absolute free gift that Jesus bought and paid for with His precious sinless shed blood was for all mankind everywhere. As with any gift, to enjoy the total benefits of what has been offered, it must first be received and then accepted. Sadly, more of this earth’s population has left the gift on the table unopened.

Of the over 15 million Jews worldwide, it’s estimated only 1% to possibly 3% of their total population are Messianic — believe Jesus is their true Messiah. Those who believe and who will be alive at the Rapture of all true believers will be taken up to be with Jesus to be kept from the coming wrath/tribulation (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, and Revelation 3:10).

All who have not accepted Jesus will go into the 7-year wrath, as told by Daniel and by John in Revelation. People will still be able to call on Jesus and be saved, but it will be much more difficult than right now. Yes, there are places today where if someone accepts Jesus, they are subject to persecution and martyrdom. During the reign of Satan’s ultimate antichrist, this action will be worldwide.

Sometimes we get the feeling that this evil will only get worse and we won’t see any change for the good. However, our Savior hasn’t forgotten us, nor has He forsaken us. We may still see terrible things before He calls, but the eternity for all who have called on Him will be absolutely miraculous.

A song written by Hank Williams (9/17/23 – 1/1/53) and his wife Audrey Williams (2/28/23 – 11/4/75) called “Jesus Remembered Me” is a joyful hymn that is full of hope for us all.

1.) I was all alone and drifting on a lonely sea of sin; nothing but darkness, no sunshine within. I lifted my eyes to the Lord in the sky, and Jesus remembered me.

Ref.) Jesus remembered me, and so He set me free. Once I was blinded, but now I can see; Glory to God, He remembered me.

2.) Now the sun is shining, I’m happy and free; no more sorrow, no more troubles to see. I’m going Home to Glory, my Savior to see; Glory to God, He remembered me. (ref)

3.) When He talked to His disciples at the Sea of Galilee, He said He’d remember a mortal like me. I asked for His blessing, down on my knees; and Glory to God, He remembered me!

No one can say when the Trumpet of God will sound and the shout will come from an archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). However, for anyone to believe they’ll have time to call on Jesus at that moment, they are terribly mistaken. The time to consider your eternity is right now.

The hardest part is believing it’s possible and that there must be more to it than is being told. Our Heavenly Father is a God of pure Love, and He wants no one to fail and end up in hell (2 Peter 3:9). He also knows that all of those who do call on Jesus to be their Savior will sin right up to the time they go Home. That’s why we have 1 John 1:8-10 to assure us we will be forgiven when we confess and ask Him for that forgiveness. Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, and Romans 6:23 all tell us that no one is free from sin. There was only one “human” that ever lived a sinless life here, and that was God’s own Son.

The good news, or gospel, is that even while we were still in our sin, Jesus came and died for us (Romans 5:8). As I stated earlier, for this wonderful gift of grace and mercy to apply, we must receive the gift and accept it. Each person must do this for themselves, as no one can do this for anyone else.

One more issue; no one has sinned so badly that they cannot be forgiven. This does not mean a person won’t be disciplined, just as any parent would do for their child to help them learn. However, for anyone to truly call out for Jesus to forgive and save them, they will be saved (Romans 10:9-13).

The unforgivable sin is to take your last breath here without Jesus as your Savior. During the tribulation, there is one more unforgivable sin, and that will be to take the mark of the beast. It doesn’t matter what false pastors, prophets, or antichrists might tell you; John 3:18 and 1 John 1:10-12 plainly state that without Jesus, no one has the Father.

My life verse is John 14:6, as given by Jesus Himself; “Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Just look at all the changes that have happened in the past couple of years and know all the end-of-this-age signs are here right now. The signs by themselves have always been here but not all together as they are in this day and age.

Just remember Jesus, and He Will Remember you!

Shalom!

huebshman46@gmail.com