What shall the end be?
There is a very popular page on FaceBook with well over a quarter million members. It makes the astounding claim that it can show anyone how to discover true happiness in their life, lead them in successfully attaining the answers to all of life’s questions, while at the same time solving all of their problems. With so many members this is yet another clear Indicator that millions of lonely, desperate, empty, hurting hearts throughout our world today are seeking for that infamous missing "something" in their lives, people who feel "incomplete". Every day they carry with them the crushing and overwhelming reality that their lives lack "fulfillment." Sadly, nowhere in this popular FaceBook page do they ever mention the word God, the word Jesus, the word Prayer, or the word Bible. In fact, the entire thrust of the groups central mind-set is accurately represented by this piece of advice given by one of its members - "Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it." - - Did you get that? They say that your work, your duty, your responsibility is to with all your heart, "give yourself to the world!" Is there anything in more direct opposition to the Word and teachings of God than such a statement as this? Nothing about the world, nothing in the world, nothing of the world can ever or will ever provide to any man or woman on the face of the earth true and lasting peace, hope, happiness, or joy. These do not exist in the world. Only Jesus Christ can supply those things.
Yet another member of the site gives "comfort" to their fellow-members with this piece of advice - "Life ALWAYS offers you a second chance. It's called Tomorrow." - - Again, this is tremendously dangerous advice because the truth is that absolutely no one is guaranteed a tomorrow. The Bible warns that you could die at any moment. It further teaches that nothing, absolutely nothing exists in the world that can provide you security for that moment when you draw your final breath - except - the Blood of Jesus Christ! The foundational teaching of this particular FaceBook group with its hundreds of thousands of members is this - "To find happiness, and to realize all of your dreams you must give yourself to, and place all of your confidence completely in the world, and "the power within yourself." However, the Bible declares that satan is the prince of this world. Therefore, placing ones confidence in "the world" is in all actuality a complete and foolish discarding of all hope. The Bible also clearly teaches that man possesses no "power within himself" by which to save himself. These are the reasons why at the very center of His Word God Himself gives this warning - "It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man" (Psalm 118:8). Man can not save himself. It is in every way a complete impossibility. At best, he can only construct temporary "distractions" from his own misery, a misery which is the result of un-repented sin. Only by going to the Cross with a repenting heart and establishing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can we overcome the spiritual noose of the hangman known as "the world." Satan has put out a contract on literally every person who has ever walked the face of the earth. His henchman is "the world" and the only way to be cleared of all charges and set free is through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. The Bible leaves no room for doubt regarding the absolute necessity of every man and woman to settle once and for all their personal relationship with Jesus Christ with this foreboding question - When the day of judgment comes, "WHAT SHALL THE END BE OF THEM THAT OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL OF GOD?" (I Peter 4:17).
God bless you.
Mark Shutts
