Urgent for Truth

1 John 1:18-19, 22-23 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us…22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist — he denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
 
I believe every Christian must affirm the urgency of belief. Each of us have experienced the sudden death of a loved one or friend. We all know life is fragile. Death on earth can come at any minute. In effect, we all live in a last hour, knowing we could physically die at any moment.
    That is the last hour meaning in Scripture. Jesus has prophesied his return in this way. Luke 12:40 “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”  This is the time, the hour of salvation for those who believe. This is the hour of condemnation for those who reject Jesus. Luke 12:46 “The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.” This is why true witness of Jesus requires true warning. We must live with an urgency and expectation. Who knows when death will come? What hour will our Lord Jesus appear in power?
    But false teachers – antichrists – have stained the church to deny this absolute truth since its beginning. The greatest threat were those who had begun with a contrived “faith” with the apostles. They determined to reject Christ. So they went out from the apostles’ teachings in spiritual disguise. People believed they had learned from the apostles, so many believed the antichrists’ lies. One false teaching was that Jesus was not a real man. Another was the way of salvation was through keeping the Jewish law. Some taught that just being a Jew was enough. Some antichrists even had demonic powers to do miracles. Matthew 24:24 “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible.” These are the Father’s warnings, too, in Revelation.
    Today there are too many antichrists who come from seminaries and Bible schools denying the Bible. They are dangerous liars, purposed to destroy the church. People believe them because they are learned teachers with degrees to show they have passed the courses.
    But sadly they have failed God’s test. They are of the devil. They tell others, “Do not believe Jesus. He is not Savior, the Son of God.” “Did God really say?” Satan asked Eve. They have heard God’s true word; yet, they deny say, “Do as you desire.”.
    Be on guard. Know – determine – the truth is written in God’s Word. The world wants you to follow its way into destruction. In love and truth, God calls you to follow his Word into the light.
 
Life Thought: Know the true Christ points you to eternal truth.