We need a Great Awakening – MAGA
“We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated” (D.A. Carson, “For the Love of God”).
“As a matter of fact, if you examined a hundred people who had lost their faith in Christianity, I wonder how many of them would turn out to have been reasoned out of it by honest argument? Do not most people simply drift away?” (C.S. Lewis, “Mere Christianity”).
Hebrews 2:1 warns us of the danger of drifting away from God: “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (NKJV). To “give earnest heed” is to “pay close attention” to the things we have learned in Scripture or we will drift away from it and from God. May I admonish you to “not grow weary in doing good,” as Galatians says, “for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” And what shall we reap? A recompence of reward for all who sincerely serve in doing well for God. This reward will certainly be given to us at the proper time — if not in this world, then undoubtedly in the next. – pastorwardclinton
For Bible background read Matthew 25:1-13
They all had some knowledge of and regard for the bridegroom.
They all had lamps that were burning/lit.
While the bridegroom tarried they all slept. Not until his coming was announced did the difference between them really reveal itself. In all outward things the wise and foolish virgins were alike; the difference between them was internal.
The foolish ones had a real regard for the bridegroom, they had gone far to meet him, and were disappointed at their exclusion. It is not that there were 5 believers and 5 unbelievers in this story that Jesus told; there were 10 believers waiting for His arrival in this illustration.
There was genuineness about them as far as they went; only they did not go far enough. They were not deliberate hypocrites (i.e. acting as though they had more religion than they actually did). No, my friend, they had some feeling of attachment to Christ. They had certain impulses Christ-ward which they did not resist, but they were not completely consecrated; they had a bit of the presence of the Holy Spirit but not at a full measure.
Character is confirmed by crisis. A man has only as much religion as he desires and can muster in the moment of trial. The minor surprises of life that come our way are to prepare us for the last emergency. Character is a personal thing and cannot be passed from one person to another, but must be acquired and manifested by each one for himself. I cannot give you my courage to fortify you for your duty. How perilous to leave preparation for the testing times till they have come upon us. Every time we perform duty the soul is made stronger. It is thereby the store of oil is obtained. 1 Peter 1:5,7
Right now is the time to be fully prepared. Certain lost opportunities cannot be recalled.
–Pastor Ward Clinton
pastorwardclinton 