The Apostles of the Lord took their ministry very seriously. Paul said, “The glorious Gospel of the blessed God was committed to my trust” (1 Timothy 1:11). He warned the Churches not to take this Divine Deposit lightly… “There are some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:7,8).
God told the false prophets of Ezekiel’s day… “Woe to the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! … You have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, ‘The Lord says!’ but the Lord has not sent them… Therefore, I am against you, saith the Lord… because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that they should not return from their wicked ways, by promising them life…” – (Ezekiel 13).
To Jeremiah, God gave the criteria for true prophets and pastors… “If they had stood in My counsel, and had caused My people to hear MY WORDS, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings” (Jeremiah 23:22). To Isaiah, the Lord said, “To the Law and to the Testimony (Bible), and if they speak not according to this Word, it is because they have no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). God’s Word is the Gold Standard for truth - then and now.
Jesus, The Living Word, stood before Pilate as He faced the Cross, and said, “I am a King. To this end I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, that I should bear witness to the Truth. Everyone that is of the Truth hears My voice” (John 18:37).
Our Great Commission is equally serious. We are to “hold fast” and “hold forth” these wonderful words of Life to a dying world - without adding to or taking from them to please our degenerate society - until Jesus returns. What a great Treasure we carry. Maranatha!
Comments