The place where I am employed serves no eternal value whatsoever, not one thing related to the operation of the tasks that are done there either on a daily basis or since the time of its inception can be counted as worthy towards the furtherance of the Kingdom of God, it has since it began all been counted as wood, hay, and stubble. (1 Cor. 3:12-13) I am at this present time the only follower, the only servant of Christ, that is employed by this company, and so I can cry out as Elijah did when he thought he was alone, but was informed by our Lord that there were 7,000 who had not bent the knee to Baal. (1 Kings 19:18) If you think on that verse for a few moments you will be astounded, only 7,000 out of the entire population of the planet at that time that called God their Master and Lord.
Now, how do I know for a fact that I am the only Christian where I work, especially when you come to the knowledge that some that I work around attend a church on a fairly regular basis? By their works my friends, you shall know them by their works. (Matt. 7:20) Showing up to a building each weekend, putting some money in the plate and being polite to people most of the time does not a Christian make, no matter what the world or the one behind the pulpit preaches, the “church” is so far removed today from what it is meant to be that it is unrecognizable as servants of Christ anymore.
One of the individuals where I work is at this time being treated for a form of cancer that requires him to miss four hours of each workday because of traveling issues to receive this treatment. He has as a result of this used up his sick time, and so is requesting that sick time hours be donated towards his account from fellow employees through the main office. The supervisor of our particular branch at his bi-monthly meeting made this known to us, and suggested that we let our conscience guide us to whether that would be something that each of us should do, using the words “compassion” and “fellow co-workers” as the base for this request. “For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.” (Luke 6:32) I have worked around this individual who has made the request for several years, and over the years thru small talk, know him to be a person who has six-figures of retirement money at his disposal, he just doesn’t want to use it. Allow me here to use the analogy that came into my mind when I heard of this request, a man in an expensive three-piece suit is standing on the sidewalk next to his very expensive automobile, holding a sign asking for donations, for money, so that he can fill his car with fuel because it only has half a tanks worth in it at the moment. Such is the cause of the lost, even what they have will be taken from them. (Matt. 25:29)
It does not bother some who think they have to ask for more, for what they already own they do not want to part with, holding on to all till the last possible moment. Such is the way with many who call themselves Christians today, they have, but they have no desire to share what they have. I am not speaking here of the material wealth that the Lord has blessed them with, whether it be great or small, but of the spiritual. My lovely wife knows an individual who has attended a church in the community for over fifty-years, yet when she brings up a topic that revolves around the Word of God with him, and another approaches within hearing distance, he will either cease speaking, attempt to change the conversation to the secular, or simply leave and go about his business. This is the so-called church today, for this is not a rare occurrence, it has become the normal, the standard is to keep Christ where He belongs, in the church, not out in the world. “You will know them by their works.”
Works apparently for many who call themselves Christians today means church and all that goes along with it, the testing of one’s faith apparently can be found in the church attendance records, in the amount of giving, by how loudly they sing, and the rapt attention that is given to the one behind the pulpit. Verses are highlighted in Bibles, notes are taken during the service, smiles and handshakes abound, and then when all is said and done they walk thru the erasers, the doors of the building, into a world that they have no intention of speaking to any about the mercies and grace of a Risen Savior. How do I know when I am speaking to someone who also has the Holy Spirit within them? They love to hear and speak of Him, their words revolve around His Word, what He is doing in their lives, their care and concern for you are real, never feigned, it takes very little time to recognize them, but sometimes a very long time to leave their presence. Why? Because these are the ones you meet out in the world, not in a building that is called a church, these are they that unless there is a dire emergency pressing upon them for their time, will not stop speaking with you until all that the Holy Spirit has to say to the one they are speaking to has been said. Time stands still, as it were, nothing else matters but the words that are being blessed upon them by the Holy Spirit of God, it doesn’t matter if it is Tuesday morning or Thursday afternoon this is a time of joy, “for where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matt. 18:20)
How many times does this happen, even in those buildings that are called churches, where two or more are continuing to speak of Christ’ Glory long after the cleaning crew has finished, how many stand outside in the parking lot hours after the service is over, unknowing and uncaring of the time, finding joy in true fellowship, not the rote routine of the Sunday morning so-called obligation. I know in my heart that there are more than 7,000 of us in the world today my friends, but I believe the true number of the obedient servants of Christ is much lower than many would like to admit, there are a lot of hearers of the Word, but not as many doers as we might like to think. (James 1:22)
Will the Son of man find faith on the earth when He returns?” (Luke 18:8) Our Lord would not have made this statement if the answer was a resounding yes. There is no revival mentioned in the Scriptures before the rapture of the church, His body of believers, happens, there is only the apostacy. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.” (Joel 2 :28) This word apostacy is only meant for those who are hearing only, for those who are part of the churchianity group, the ones who are pretending to know Christ, but their hearts are far from Him. The lost do not have a clue as to what is coming upon this planet, those whose hearts are far from Him are quoting 2 Peter 3:4 “And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation,” in many different ways, for they have deceived themselves, and as long as their ears are scratched, (2 Tim. 4:3) everything is fine, the pretense and perception of Christianity is enough.
For us, our responsibilities are seen, and obeyed, warn the lost, reprove and correct them who are pretending only, serve diligently for we are loved without measure, it is our rightful honor, privilege and duty to do so. And by the way, I am not going to be giving any money to the guy with the fancy car, he can fill his own tank up, I know some people that are truly in need, both materialistically and spiritually.
