Jesus had this to say, and much more, to the religious leaders of His day.

“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.” (Matthew 23:27)

I wonder what He would say to us today. My guess is He could use the same words and still be right on target.

Even as Christians, none of us are perfect, but just how many who are in leadership positions today are truly Christians? Let me put it this way. Knowing what we know about the scribes and Pharisees, were they saved? What did Jesus say concerning this?

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

So Jesus cut right to the chase. With their attitude of self-righteousness, they were not saved. They were as lost as a feather in a strong wind out over the ocean. To get the full flavor of those Jesus was addressing, or dressing down, in Matthew 23, read the entire chapter. If these guys didn’t get their heart right before God through Jesus before they died, and some did, they must have a made a big splash when they landed in the fires of hell.

It is very tragic that today we too have church leaders who are playing church on their way to hell. Not only that, they are leading so many others along with them.

Satan is throwing every lie he can at people in these last days, because time is running out for him, and so many people are buying his false gospel. Apostasy seems to be growing rapidly in these final days before Christ’s return, as Jesus said it would.

Is it really easier to believe a lie than a truth? I suppose it is when that is what you really want to hear, and someone is pulling you in that direction, that someone being Satan’s henchmen of course.

Some denominations that were actually founded by strong Christians are now nothing more than spiritual graveyards pulling people away from God’s Truth. Schools of learning such as Harvard and Yale, once Biblically based are now nothing more than bastions of evil thought.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

The airwaves are saturated with religious teachers, preachers, evangelists, and pastors, who are wolves in sheep’s clothing, bilking the life blood from innocent people who are searching for the Truth. What do they get in place of the Truth? Instead of steak and potatoes they get watered down worm infested soup not fit to feed to swine.

Are there any men and women of God left who stand with God? Are there any left who aren’t trying to fleece the innocent? Yes there are, but if you don’t know the original, you may very well be taken in by the counterfeit. I’m referring to God’s Word in comparison to man’s word of course.

Why isn’t there a fire in the soul of self-professing Christians? Could it be that they have accepted the teaching of those who are nothing more than white washed sepulchres?

“1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. [Emphasis mine] 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7)

Notice verse five again in the above passage. If you don’t know the Word of God for yourself, you will in all likelihood be taken in by those false leaders who appear to be righteous, but are not.

According to Jesus, they have put on a veneer of righteousness that looks good and sounds good, but they are phony. They are rotten inside.

I was listening to a minister yesterday, not by choice, that was spewing some of the most outlandish dribble I’ve heard for a while, and out in his audience were those innocent souls soaking it all up. Why? They did so because very few Christians are like the Bereans of Paul’s day who searched the Scriptures daily.

“10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:10-11)

Why are there so many white washed sepulchres with such large followings today? The answer lies in the laziness and gullibility of those who claim to be a Christian. All they can see is the glitter. They don’t have enough Biblical sense to discern real gold from fool’s gold. Again, why? They want to be spoon fed the Gospel and often accept a false gospel. I am convinced that the charlatans who prey upon others know this. They know that few will actually search the Scriptures for the Truth. Instead of reading and studying for themselves what God has to say, they depend on others to tell them. Bad idea!

Every Christian should have a “Berean” attitude about the Scriptures. When we have that attitude, we are blessed beyond measure because we actually get the Truth, not opinions of others or out-right lies. In addition, when we hear the false gospel of man, we smell the stench of “dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”

Whether people gather in a small poorly constructed building on a country lane, or a grand cathedral on Main Street, they need to know that what they are hearing is the Truth. When you turn on your television or radio to listen to your favorite ministers, are they providing you with the Truth or their opinion or a lie? If searching God’s Word is not part of your day, you will never know.

Behind the pulpits, on the radio and by the television are God’s men who preach the Truth. These are usually the guys who will encourage you to check out what they say by comparing it with the Scriptures. Unfortunately, there are many, many more who will either lie to you or are just plain ignorant of the Word. How are you going to know which is which? How are you going to know that what you are hearing is the Truth?

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

There is no thrill like knowing God’s Word, the Bible, for yourself. It is a rich, rewarding and humbling experience. It is communication between you and the Lord that can’t be topped.

Watch out for the white washed sepulchres though. They are abundant. They look good. They sound good. They tell you just what you want to hear, and that’s fine, if it’s the Truth. Is it? Find out for yourself. Get in the Bible today.

On November 6, 2012, the death knell officially sounded across the United States of America. This once great country, having been previously kept “alive” by artificial intravenous politically correct politics, lay bleeding and more dead than alive. The last reflexive twitch joined the expulsion of air from the lungs and death ensued.

The citizens of this land chose lies over truth, hand-outs over hard work, socialism over democracy, a religion of hatred and lies over the faith of our forefathers, enemies over friends, bloody hands over holy ones, murder over sanctity of life, sexual perversion over righteousness, party time over worship, maniacal spending over thrift, no future over hope, and last, but not least, God’s judgment over God’s forgiveness.

As Ishmael, we sold our birthright to keep the umbilical cord of the federal government intact, not realizing the consequences ahead.

Warnings have come our way by floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, drought, disease, enemy attacks, etc. and particularly the Word of God. We have ignored them all. Could it be that even our current administration has been a warning to give us a taste of the evil to come? Will there be any more warnings? I don’t know.

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27)

In my opinion, our country has turned the corner, and there is no turning back. We have bared our soul, and it isn’t pretty.

What bothers me most is the final and clear revelation of our heart. Everything the party stands for that remains in power is an anathema to God Almighty. Even though the opposing party is nothing to write home about either, the party in power hates everything God stands for.

I have been trying, over the last few months, to get the message across that this battle isn’t about one political party over another. It is about good versus evil. Too many of the voters have continued to think that this has been about Democrats and Republics as it has always been in the past. That is clearly not the case. Because of our stupidity and greed we, as a nation, have elected the most evil group of “leaders” this country has ever had. Satan has been even fiercer in these last days than he has in the past, because he knows his days are few.

Further, we have proclaimed as citizens that we are a self-serving people who will walk over the backs of others to support our own laziness. We say we are entitled, even if our entitlement comes from the pockets of others. We ignore atrocities against God and our fellow man to feed at the hog trough of Satan’s minions. We believe the lies of evil men over the truth of God.

Bottom line … we have turned our backs on God as a nation, something God knew all along, but was made clear to one and all on November 6, 2012. Even though the majority of the voters in this country want nothing more to do with God, or are just plain ignorant, there are millions of others who are sickened at what we have revealed ourselves to be as a nation.

It has been known all along by Biblically cognizant Christians that our country is suffering from a cancer of the soul, but did we actually realize just how far this malignancy had progressed? Until last night, I’m not sure we did, but when the scalpel made its cut at the election booths across America, and the results were displayed on the television monitors in our homes, a gut-wrenching sight was revealed. This sickness had spread much further than we thought. From what I saw, it is terminal.

Our self-centeredness and perversions know no limits. As we shake our fists toward the heavens, we cry “Long live the king!” and dance naked to the drumbeats of rebellion toward God Almighty. As we bow before Aaron’s golden calf, we long for the revelry of Egypt to soothe our lust, forgetting the slavery that comes with it.

The question is asked, “Why did God allow this?” Briefly stated, He allowed this because He has given us up (2 Chronicles 30:7; Psalms 81:12; Acts 7:42; Romans 1:24, 26) and is right on schedule with His plan. He has chosen to allow us to indulge ourselves in rebellion, thereby “making our own bed,” and I accept that because I know it is His will. The writing is on the wall (Daniel 5:5ff).

What do we do now? We take the same stance as Joshua; we continue to stand on the Lord’s side.

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood [emphasis mine], or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

Last days prophecy fulfillment has been moving along noticeably since 1948. Actually, it has been exponentially increasing through today. It is my opinion that we have now switched gears and will be moving at an even greater speed and fierceness toward the end.

Could it be that over the next period of time until our Lord comes for His Church, that events may take place that will separate the wheat from the chaff? By that I mean, will the pressure towards Christians be increased to the point of showing who will stand with Jesus Christ and who will keep silent. Many today who say they are Christian talk the talk but do not walk the walk. Perhaps now it will be shown who will and who won’t.

In all likelihood we are in for some very rough times ahead. It isn’t going to be easy being a true Christian. How much we may have to endure as Christians prior to the Rapture of the Church is something I do not know. No one knows but God, but whatever we have to go through will be worth it. The Apostle Paul stated,

“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)

May the Lord lead us to that same determination.

Notice in Joshua 24:15 (above) the words I emphasized, “on the other side of the flood.” Joshua was referring to gods worshipped in Noah’s day just prior to the flood. Jesus said,

“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” (Luke 17:26)

We are behaving exactly as they were just before the flood of Noah’s day, and our god is the god of self-indulgence.

“There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.” (Proverbs 30:12)

Is God ready to shut the door to the Ark? We’ll see. One thing is certain; each day is one day closer to our Lord’s return.