January 28, 2010
The following are some definitions of complacency; Smug, self-satisfied, pleased with yourself, resting on your laurels, contented, satisfied, unconcerned, self-righteous, self-assured,
A feeling of contentment or self-satisfaction, especially when coupled with an unawareness of danger, trouble, ...
I talk to people every day and many of them are Christians and to my disappointment I must say most of them are both blind and complacent. They have become so conditioned by the soft peddling of God's Word by their pastors and teachers in their churches that if I attempt to share with them any knowledge of what is really happening in our country behind the political rhetoric and propaganda being disseminated by our sold out media their eyes simply glaze over and end of conversation.
I remember well the cold war years and all the talk of the evil going on behind the iron curtain and especially the stories of how people were kept in the dark about the evil their government was up to. The word "propaganda" conjured up frightening images of bald faced lies to keep people from seeing what was happening and revolting against it. It sent chills down my spine and I thanked God that I wasn't born in such a place as that. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that in the United States of America that I was so proud of would one day be doing the same thing, nothing but lying to their citizens with every word that comes out of their mouth.
Even worse, I never imagined that the American people would stand for it and not even care.
Worse still Christians who should be hearing from the Holy Spirit about these things either have their ears stopped up or don't even understand Who the Holy Spirit is or don't care.
Many Pastors who do know what is happening will not speak out for fear of ? You fill in the blanks, I can't figure it out. They claim to care about their flocks and their well-being but I suspect they really care more about what the people provide them than they care about the people themselves. Perhaps they are just hirelings like the scripture says.
Never the less this will not serve as an excuse when we stand before the King of kings and Lord of lords on that final day. The information is there for anyone who is willing to get off their duff and away from the television long enough to read their bible and spend a little time praying for God to reveal His truth to them. It's all there in the bible what is being fulfilled before our eyes and the Spirit will direct us to articles and books that will bring us right up to date. Go online and read the London Times for starters, they report what American news will not. There are a number of reliable Christian websites that keep up to date on almost everything worldwide.
If you want some suggestions email me.
Back to complacency, as far as I'm concerned the world can believe what they want but I am very disturbed that people who claim the name of Jesus take His word and commandments so lightly. I suppose that one of the major causes of complacency among Christians is the doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture which teaches them that they will be whisked away to heaven before anything bad can happen to them. Or perhaps they have been taught that there won't even be a great tribulation. I stopped going to a bible study recently where this was being taught and even though I offered many scriptures to dispute the teachers stance on the issue he simply said that he didn't believe they meant what they seemed to say. I hung on for a while hoping that some of the people might wake up but they liked his version a lot better because it made them feel safer.
I left because I could not be part of the deception. I shared with the pastor what this person was teaching and his response was "I don't get into end time stuff".
Let me tell you a story about complacency and how dangerous it can be.
Jesus said there were 10 Virgins and that they were all waiting for the bridegroom. They all had an invitation to a wedding. Now 5 of those virgins were wise and active (not complacent) and had brought extra oil for their lamps but the other 5 were called foolish and careless (complacent) and did not bring any extra oil for their lamps, probably because it took too much effort or their expectations were too limited, after all everyone knows just how the bridegroom was supposed to come.
Now as it happened the bridegroom was delayed and every one of them became weary so they decided to take a nap. However at the midnight hour the call came that the bridegroom was finally coming. They all jerked wide awake and began to trim the wicks in their lamps so they would shine brightly for the procession which was a very big affair and no one with a poorly lit lamp could join in. The five foolish virgins discovered that their lamps were going out so they begged the others to give them some of their extra oil. Of course they were refused because after the wise had trimmed their lamps and added their oil there was none left so they told those foolish ladies to go to the market place and buy their own. Well by the time they got back it was too late and they couldn't get in to the banquet. Folks this is known as the ultimate "left behind".
Now to explain this in today's terms. The story is relevant to today because the Word of God is forever and unchanging.
The virgins can be likened to the Christians of today though I am not so sure the percentage is the same. A virgin represents purity and innocence and anyone who has come under the blood of Jesus is pure and innocent. The test comes in what they have done with the life that was given them up until the arrival of the bridegroom or the return of Jesus. The lamps represent the light that Jesus talked about , saying that no one lights a candle and puts it under a basket but puts it high on a hill where it can give light to the world. The oil in the lamps clearly represents the Holy Spirit Who is the fuel for the flame. The wick in the lamp is the new life that was given us that needs to be trimmed often to get rid of the contamination of the world we live in.
Most importantly is the oil of the Holy Spirit for it is not a onetime thing but is being consumed steadily and therefore must be replenished but extra needs to be attained in preparation for difficult times .
In the story the foolish virgins wanted to buy or borrow some of the extra oil the wise virgins had but in reality that is impossible. How can you give to someone else the relationship you have with the Holy Spirit? I'm talking about the long term fruits of a life that is spent seeking first the kingdom of God and allowing God to add those things we need according to His Word. I'm talking about laying up treasures in heaven through self sacrifice and obedience to Him at all cost and about a relationship with Him that is vibrant enough that we quickly become aware if we have grieved or quenched the Holy Spirit and then waste no time in getting right with Him. How long do we nurture anger or unforgiveness before we make it right?
The simple fact is that in the end of the age we cannot expect that someone Else's efforts are going to do us one bit of good. It is going to be between me and Him alone and you and Him alone.
What are we doing with this amazing gift that God has given us in His Son. Someone has said, "A new life is God's gift to me, What I make of that life through submission to His will is my gift to Him".
The time we have left to prepare ourselves both physically and spiritually is running out and I fear that most will not do anything until it's too late. I pray that I am wrong.
John Martin