United We Stand. 2nd Peter 3:3-11 “In the end days there will be many scoffers...” In a world filled with hate, we as christians can do only one thing, Stand together. The world is starting to show its true colors, when the image of Jesus on the cross can be used as an action figure and children are allowed to dress up a doll of Jesus as a woman, homosexual, a drug dealer, and the parents think its funny, there’s something bad wrong with our society. You say it cant happen, well, its on the market today and also on the internet.There has been a lot of discussion lately about the movie, “The Passion of The Christ” Most comments have been favorable but there is areas of our society that consider it a target of jokes and ridicule. They are saying that it is an infringement on their civil rights. Christianity and Christians are an open target for a society of unbelievers. Jesus is being put to an open shame and being crucified again in the media. Jesus told us in no uncertain terms, “ Come out from among them and be ye a separate people” We cannot be part of this world. In my younger days there was a since of pride in being a christian, a since of security and piece. There were many revivles and it seemed that every saturday, my family and I were always down at the creek bank watching someone getting baptized. to day the creek runs ,alone. i see very few revivles and even less people being saved. This world has gained a hold on the younger generation, and the older don’t seem to worry much about their soul. The christian of yesterday were a close nit people. Sunday meetings broke out into an all day afaire, with dinner, songs on the lawn and a comorodery that seemed to last a life time. When someone was in need, everyone at the church pitched in and the need was met. When there was a death in a family, the women came together, cooked food for the family and the everyday business of running the house was taken over by the church members, to alleviate any stress off the family. They all stood together as a family. We never met a stranger and the joy of serving the Lord was not just on service nights, but was a life style that seemed to be normal. Foot washing and communion were the highlight of the year and Easter sunrise service was a celebration not to be missed. Why are the christian community’s being targeted so much now? The spirit of anti-christ, knows that we are getting close to the second coming of Jesus and, he wants to stop or at least slow the spread of the gospel. To discredit the word of God is his goal and purpose. Scoffers lack the wisdom and knowledge that God grants all believers and they are willing to refuse the truth. The anti-christian is willing to believe a lie, to remain in the pleasures of sin for a season. They prefer to accept what Satan has to offer rather than to come into the light of a new order of righteousness, instead of choosing life they choose death, instead of light they prefer the darkness, thinking that the darkness will hide their sins. Some will actually be friendly to christians and try very slowly to turn them away from Christ. Doubt, is the biggest enemy that a christian has and scoffers will try to introduce doubt into your life to see if you are who you say you are. We cant run and hide from these people, but we can stand together and be strengthened by each other. The church must awaken from its sleep, Jesus told us and warned us, not to sleep.In the garden, Jesus told the deciples about sleep, Luke 22:46 ,”Why Sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye inter into temptation.” Jesus was not only telling the deciples to wake up but us also. Romans 13:11., 1Th 5:4-7. Lets look at these verses for a moment.1Thessalonians 5:4-8, verse 7, “For they that sleep ,sleep in the night..” Sleeping here represents a carelessness of believers, allowing the darkness of the world to come upon them and lulling them into a sense of security. Romans 13:11 ,”And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than we believed.” If we stand together we can endure the attacks upon christianity and be able to give an answer to those that ask ,why we still believe in Christ. The battle lines have been drawn and the battle is near. The battle for ,not only our souls, but the souls of those that are still lost. Its not a time to scatter but to gather in around the Master.No matter what church we come from, no matter what the name is on the door, we should be able with the Love of Jesus, enter into the sanctuary of God and worship together, as one family. Baptist, Nazerine, Pentecost,Church of Christ,Prodestent, ect. Coming together under one banner, one God, One Christ, one Holy Ghost, and one family. United we stand and divided we fall. Hold on to one another children of light, our redeemer draweth nigh. ars.
