When we read of end of Age of Man in Scriptures, we find a time comes when prudent action is to run and hide. 11 September, 2001, servants of God destroyed two chief symbols of Mystery Babylon Great. The servants did not destroy power of Mystery Babylon, only symbols. The world is warned. The foolish ignore warning. The wise retreat and prepare to survive greatest upheaval since Noah’s flood.

End time Scripture points to a global population reduction of two thirds. This is good news for all who are sure we are too many today. They will not be required to decide who lives and who dies. Millions believe they will be removed a safe distance from these events because they have been deceived. Hence, there is no reason for them to prepare for Armageddon. I have long seen story of Three Little Pigs as story of prophetic fulfillment. Except I do not believe for a moment, that many survivors will survive in comfort. Only best prepared are likely to do so.

There is and never will be such a thing as national security. Men at war will say peace and safety and many will take comfort in their words even as they intuitively know promise to be false. Scriptures are clear. There is only personal security. A man of personal wealth might provide survival security for a hundred or a thousand for a year or two and what then happens if provision is required for six or seven years as it was in Egypt? Where will you turn for security and comfort? This is not a time for risk taking. This is THE time for minimizing risks. What are we willing to do without over next twenty two years?

“Beware of Debtor’s Ethic”

“Good deeds do not pay back grace; they borrow more grace.” John Piper

Can a bad motive spoil a good deed? Should we, Body of Christ, be concerned regarding motives in which we conduct ministry? Let me give you something to think about. I’ll refrain from offering my opinion so you won’t be influenced by my thoughts. How do we reconcile ostensible contradiction of Paul’s words in Philippians 1:14-19 and his words in first Corinthians 13:3?

Listen to Paul’s words written in a Roman prison, addressed to church at Philippi. “It’s true that some here preach Christ because with me out of way, they think they’ll step right into spotlight. But others do it with best heart in world. One group is motivated by pure love, knowing that I am here defending Message, wanting to help. The others, now that I’m out of picture, are merely greedy, hoping to get something out of it for themselves. Their motives are bad. They see me as their competition, and so worse it goes for me, better—they think—for them. So how am I to respond? I’ve decided that I really don’t care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed so I just cheer them on!” (The Message New Testament, Philippians 1:14-19) Now listen to Paul’s words written from Ephesus and sent to Corinthians as a letter. “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing” (I Corinthians 13:3). Paul says here that any religious work done without a true motive of love is like doing nothing. How do we reconcile these two writings? (I’d like to hear your answer in a return mailing).

Since I brought up subject of motives, I’m going to relate it to another topic that I call “debtor’s ethic.” First, let me define term, “debtor’s ethic.” The debtor’s ethic has a deadly appeal to immature Christians. It comes packaged as a gratitude ethic and says things like: “God has done so much for you; now what will you do for Him? The Christian life is pictured as an effort to pay back debt we owe to God. The admission is made that we will never fully pay it off, but debtor’s ethic demands that we work at it. Good deeds and religious acts are installment payments we make on unending debt we owe God.