Friday, December 27, 2024
As we bid farewell to 2024 I pray it’s been a year of spiritual growth in biblical knowledge and discernment of the end-times according to God’s word in Christ. My prayer for all true believers is that the “it is written” testimony of God and His Christ would be the anchor and safe harbor of each and every heart and soul. Sadly, it is very easy to get caught up in many “traditions of men” that accompany the organized church. Christ rebuked traditions of men as “making the word of God of no effect … which you have handed down. And many such things you do” (Mark 7:13). The false pre-trib rapture narrative, and the corrupt tithe as taught today, the rebellion of women pastors, the warring of professing believers killing our fellowman made in the image of God, are just a few traditions of men that openly rebel against the “it is written” word of God in Christ.
As we reflect on the last four years, we’ve seen how the Biden/Harris regime weaponized the federal government against former President Trump and all his allies. Americans took note of that evil conduct and gave President-elect Donald Trump a triumphant landslide victory in the 2024 general election. Thankfully, the American people saw through the wicked plans of the Obama/Biden and Biden/Harris regimes that did great economic and social harm to this nation. Enough of transgender and celebrating LGBTQ+ agendas! Enough of DEI policies that destroy decency while promoting racial hatred and divisions! Enough of wars on religious liberty and free speech! Enough of the assault on our right to bear arms to protect our families and homes! The American people gave President-elect Trump a mandate to reverse the wickedness of the Obama and Biden eras. The real question is “Can Trump reverse the course of this nation?”
We can’t be surprised by the wickedness of earthly governments, and on that truth I want to remind you of what God said of such governments. “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us’” (Psa. 2:1–3). That’s what kings and rulers do. Don’t forget it, because it will help you understand why governments do the things they do. Now, we all hope and pray Trump will be the exception and not the rule, but time will tell. I pray this time around he is able to really make a difference, but again only time will tell. In this regard God said “that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:1–4). Let’s pray that the Lord God of the harvest draws the unsaved to Himself, that on that great Day when “the Lord Himself descends from heaven” (1 Thess. 4:16), “Immediately after the tribulation” (Matt. 24:29–31), “at the last day” (John 6:40, 44), at the resurrection when “all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28–29), that praise to God would be great!
I pray readers of thefridayletter.com learn to value that there are some things in a Christian’s life worth being divided over. Division is always bad as related to the world’s DEI. But division for Christ’s sake is very good vs. the “it doesn’t matter what you believe so let’s just all get along” mentality of the culture and embraced by many churches. No, it matters a great deal what we believe which Christ confirmed saying “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. [Not a sword of war, but division of people over beliefs] For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt. 10:34–38). “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30). That command was mandated for both OT and NT believers.
But many today have departed from their first love Christ, as evidenced by their willingness to depart from His testimony regarding numerous issues that suit the traditions of men rather than the teachings of God in Christ. And Jesus addressed that issue saying “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. [Herein we see the works of this church! But Jesus said] Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Rev. 2:2–5). [My emphasis] If we aren’t intentional in confession and repentance to ensure that Christ is our first love and remains our first love, we risk becoming “lukewarm” for which Christ said “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, [a snare of the wealth, health and popular prosperity gospel] and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Rev. 3:15–18).
Going to church does not prove a “first love” for Christ. Reciting rote prayers does not prove a “first love” for Christ. Singing in the choir, being a Bible teacher or even pastor does not prove a “first love” for Christ. Here’s what proves it: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15); and “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:10). We do this to the very best of our ability realizing that we live in these fallen vessels of clay, and that confession of sins must be participant in a life that truly loves Christ. And in our “first love” we “’Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations … teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen” (Matt. 28:19–20). That Jesus said “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” is important, because we, Christ’s true believers, believe it or not, will be right here on the earth until the very end of this present age.
My new book “ON EAGLES’ WINGS” was written with much Bible study and prayer and reveals many truths in preparing unbelievers and believers alike for the 7-year tribulation and finding God’s safety and provision for the last 1,260 days of “great tribulation” (Matt. 24:21).
Marlin J. Yoder
