There are but few who realize the terrible wickedness of the fallen state of the professed Churches of Jesus Christ. If the facts were seen in their true light, many might be saved from the utter ruin which is impending; but because iniquity abounds, the love of many in the Church has grown cold; and the consequence is that the present state of things is not realized in its appalling enormity. Men are flattered with hopes of modern revivals, that are springing forth from the pits of Hell, and yet are asleep to the dreadful crisis that is coming like a whirlwind in the Church.
Open infidelity is growing bolder and determined each week in the Church. Some of its advocates build upon “science falsely so called;” others, on pretended revelations from the “spirit of God;” while still others build entire doctrines from an assumption born out of their wild imaginations. It is frequently the case that assaults upon the Bible are made from the pulpits of Churches dedicated to God, by men who have prefixed “Reverend” or “Pastor” to their names. Infidels, open or guised, and bold blasphemers of the worthy name by which Christians are called, go into the “sacred desk,” take a text from “the Holy Scriptures,” and then do their best to make it appear that the Bible supports their “new found revelation of truth,” which in reality is nothing more than attempting to prove the “Word” of God was not given by divine inspiration, and is not the word of God, but to prove some drummed up fanciful teaching of their own.
Amazingly this procedure is tolerated in nearly all Churches, and even in the homes of those who claim to have “separated” from the Churches; the majority accept these raving wolves, preachers, preaching every “wind of doctrine.” The garbage can is overflowing with all their trash, yet the professed christians are dumpster diving into all this rubbish, dining on every unclean and abdominal thing. It is evident that infidelity exists in almost every Church, and only waits its time to develop itself. And that time is at hand! Not that they will abandon their profession of Christianity, oh No! The form of godliness will doubtless be retained; and men will flatter themselves that they are serving God, while they strive with all their powers to extinguish the truth of God from the earth. Shall we have the Bible as it is written? is the great question before the sleeping Church. If we hold on to the Bible, we must take it as it is, and conform our lives to its teachings. This will not be done by the mass of professed Christians; but human traditions will still be held in opposition to the truth. The last great conflict between truth and error is before us. The masses will be found ready to crush the truth and sustain fables; but the turn shall triumph, and the few that believe and OBEY God in all His commands, will triumph with it.
Brethren, if we realized the situation as it is we would labor more to save individual souls for whom Christ died, and less to accumulate worldly wealth. What zeal, what earnestness, should characterize the efforts of those who know the present truth. A little while, and it will be too late to save souls. Will the professed people of God stand on the firm platform of truth, instead of examining it and reporting it needs correction here, and adjustments there. Will the cry made to the sleeping laodicean Church awaken the Church? No, this will never be the case! May God inspire us with zeal that is according to knowledge; and make us the instruments in His hand of saving some. Go Ye Out to meet Him. Matthew 25:6