February 20, 2002
The Deceivers
The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth-and not I only, but also all who know the truth-because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.
It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father, commanded us. And now, deal lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love; that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God: whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his work. 2 John 1-11 (NIV)
Love is to walk in his commands. Well, that is not what I thought love was. I thought love was tolerance and things such as that. There are wolves in sheep’s clothing today. They come to steal and kill. The word says that we are to be careful whom we allow into our homes. We are to be on the lookout for those who are not what they say they are. If there is one who does not acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, they are not of God. We are warned to be wary lest we loose the prize we are working for.
Today, these wolves have taken many forms and some of them claim to believe in Jesus. However, we must look at the Jesus they teach. It is not the same Jesus as the Bible. For the Jesus of the Bible, the one who lives today, was born of a virgin, died on the cross and rose in a new body. He was not a vapor or a spirit. He rose in body form. There is no other name under heaven by which man can be saved. Buddha is dead. Mohammed is dead. There is not such thing as “white” witchcraft. There is no such thing as being one with the universe. There is no such thing as saving yourself through works. We serve a jealous God who will not share his children with another god.
Now what are we to do if we know someone who practices these other “religions?” The word here says it quite plainly; we are not to allow them into our homes. We are not to welcome them, for to do so is to share in their evil work. These are strong words and most of us do not want to believe our God would truly expect us to live up to this. However, his word says it and I believe it. So what is to be had from this? We must realize that our homes are the dwelling places of God and he will not share his dwelling place with the antichrist. As for me, I want my Lord to be pleased with me and I shall learn to walk in his commands, even when I don’t necessarily like them. What about you?
Father, it is not easy having to turn those away from my home who teach a different “gospel.” However, Lord, I shall do as your word says and I shall guard who is invited in. Father, in Jesus name, you give each one discernment to know what is of you and what is not. Father, reveal the wolves in sheep’s clothing that are around us. Let us not be fooled or pulled away. Father, in Jesus name you give each one the strength to do as your word commands and to walk in the love of you, in Jesus name, amen!
All rights reserved: Amy Seelbach
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