Hbr 1:1
Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.
But now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son.
This is relevant because what is called church these days has largely settled into a man made and man worshiping system similar to the systems we see around us in the world and I believe that true believers are being called out of it. We are called to be in the world but not of it. The church was not instituted by man but by Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit its a work of God and as such can never be about the works of man that we might boast, and yet a whole lot of boasting goes on and the works or fruit produced are not of God. We must always take a hands off approach and allow God to work his wonders through us in so doing give credit where it is due, all Honor and Glory to the name of Jesus.
I see as I read a bit of church history a pattern emerging that every new movement or denomination sees clearly at least one aspect of the preceeding one that is falling short of the mark. The founders come out full of holy spirit power, fired up you might say, to reform the church and turn the world up side down and they do for a while, sweeping the globe until, they run out of steam or the founders pass on to there reward in glory. Those that remain are dependent on the strength of the vision and I guess the breath of Gods Spirit to keep the show on the road. Inevitably though the followers take their eyes off Christ and come back to earth as it were. As time passes we look around to what the world around us is doing and the narrow path seems unattractive by comparison so we allow the cutting edge to become dull, pull off the kings highway and camp in the bypass meadow with the other earth dwellers. Becoming settlers instead of
pilgrims making progress. Not only do we pause our own journey but we will begin to waylay any others who won't seek with us the passing pleasures of this world determining to stay the course.
Our hearts get hardened and proud and unwilling to give up the comforts we treasure we are then bound to them while failing to perceive that the earth and all thats in it is passing away and so to, all those whose hearts are bound to earthly things.
So the question is how can avoid this recurring calamity and here is the answer.
Hbr 3:12
Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. But never forget the warning: "Today you must listen to his voice. Don't harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled."
