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For the majority of my life, I have claimed Christianity even if it meant nothing more than wearing a Christian t-shirt or only listening to the clean version of 50 Cent. I remember in high school, though, I reached a standstill. Due to my dedication to football, along with a lack of commitment to academics, my grades suffered.
I remember most of my friends on the football team would cheat on every test, but my so-called "values" didn’t allow me to do that. However, my so-called "values" didn’t make me study either. So I was just on the fence. I felt like I was too good of a person to cheat, but I was also too lazy to actually study.
This lukewarmness led me to getting a "C" on multiple tests in a row. That's when my friend looked at me and said, "Why don’t you just cheat and get an A like me?"
I responded, "Nah, I can’t do that."
And he said, "So you're not going to study and you're too much of a “Christian“ to cheat? That sounds stupid. Just pick a side and live with it."
I didn't understand at the time, but he was actually right. Me being lukewarm doesn’t lead to Heaven. I would just arrive in hell with below average test scores.
"15 I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!" - Revelation 3:15-16 AMPC
Coming to Christ, I see the same thing. No one really cares about God enough to adjust their schedule. But, when countries threaten NUCLEAR WAR we're covered because we're "Christian"?
"4 And the Lord said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in the midst of it. 5 And to the others He said in my hearing, Follow [the man with the ink bottle] through the city and smite; let not your eye spare, neither have any pity. 6 Slay outright the elderly, the young man and the virgin, the infant and the women; but do not touch or go near anyone on whom is the mark. Begin at My sanctuary. So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple [who did not have the Lord’s mark on their foreheads]. 7 And He said to [the executioners], Defile the temple and fill its courts with the slain. Go forth! And they went forth and slew in the city. 8 And while they were slaying them and I was left, I fell upon my face and cried, Ah, Lord God! Will You destroy all that is left of Israel in Your pouring out of Your wrath and indignation upon Jerusalem? 9 Then said He to me, The iniquity and guilt of the house of Israel and Judah are exceedingly great; the land is full of blood and the city full of injustice and perverseness; for they say, The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see [what we are doing]." - Ezekiel 9:4-9 AMPC
Meanwhile, the people who aren’t relying on God are actually taking everything seriously and trying to prepare themselves.
In the bible, the people who were saved during times of disaster never had a life outside of God. Unlike us, who confess with our lips but still live our lives doing whatever we want, they actually surrendered every day to God. They didn't just use God as a good luck charm in case of disaster. We do see in the Bible where children of God are saved, but those people are actually imitating Christ daily, not just claiming Him when it’s convenient.
"9 This is the history of the generations of Noah. Noah was a just and righteous man, blameless in his [evil] generation; Noah walked [in habitual fellowship] with God." - Genesis 6:9 AMPC
"29 When God ravaged and destroyed the cities of the plain [of Siddim], He [earnestly] remembered Abraham [imprinted and fixed him indelibly on His mind], and He sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when He overthrew the cities where Lot lived." - Genesis 19:29 AMPC
"8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” - Job 1:8 AMPC
The Question of the Day: Has your false sense of religious security blinded you from reality?