Whew. This is a tough one. Truth be told, I have been wrestling with this post for a LONG time! I think I'm about ready, so I'm going to get started. I am praying for people (you) to be at peace and open to hearing something that may rattle your cage at first. Without Holy Spirit's presence in our hearts, there are things that can easily send us off the rails. To be clear- that is not my desire. Rather I am hoping for God's truth (all truth is God's truth) to win out and open eyes.
In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus talks about the end times. I think it's a familiar passage where he tells of what the end days will look like. Roughly in the middle of his talk, he says something to the effect ". . . to deceive even the elect, if that were possible." This can be taken specifically in reference to false Christs and prophets, of which he is talking about in that sentence, but I believe it also refers to the whole passage in general. In other words, in the end times, there will be things happening which will deceive some Christians; those who follow the way of Love/Jesus.
Frankly, that possibility has long terrified me! How can a Christian be deceived when he has Holy Spirit within? I DO NOT want that to be me! Therefore, I have prayed fervently over the years to clearly see the truth and not be deceived. Truth has been my focus, my banner. Because of that focus, and without going into a long explanation, I believe truth has almost become a spiritual gift of mine- an extension of my gift of apostle. And I do not take this lightly! I cannot stress this enough.
A lot of crazy things will happen before and during the "end of days." I'm certain no one's going to argue with me on that. And apparently one of those crazy things is that some Christians will be deceived. I have long wondered how that could happen. Yet recently I have seen a situation play out in America which has shown me HOW this can happen, does happen and will happen. Here's where I don't want to lose some of you, so please bear with me. Just hear me out.
Trump Derangement Syndrome. There. I said it. Still with me? If that statement alone sent you away, it is likely you have it. Let me delve into it all (and my point remains the same- still focusing on deceiving the elect). Hear me out.
When asking some good Christian friends about the recent election and who they were voting for, some said: "Kamala." I asked why. Their vehement response: "Because I would NEVER vote for Trump!" So their vote was not determined by who they were going to vote for, rather who they would NOT vote for. "ANYONE BUT Trump. Policy doesn't matter. Facts don't matter. History does not matter. The only thing that matters is I will not vote for Trump."
If I could possibly continue my questioning, they became extremely agitated and angry. If I pushed them, they were likely to say "I hate Trump!"
Whoa. Hold your horses. You're a Christian. Hatred is NOT on our list of feelings. We don't hate anyone. We LOVE everyone. Sinners, murders, criminals, drunkards, addicts, whatever- it does not matter. We love everyone. Why? Because Jesus loves everyone. EVERYONE. And everyone has the option to be redeemed by Jesus blood. Which is why we love- in hopes of one day getting them to see his love for them (in us), repent and get saved. We cannot hate anyone into the Kingdom. Jesus said it was our LOVE that would show them who we are- CHRISTians (Christ followers). We are marked by our love. Hatred is the mark of The Evil One.
So how do we reconcile a Christian who has Holy Spirit within, yet hates? Paul says that is not possible. The two cannot coexist in the same person. If you have Holy Spirit within, you love. Therefore, the opposite is true- if you have The Enemy within, you hate. One pushes the other out. So there is no such thing as a Christian who hates. Get it?
Therefore, these Christians who hate, have likely lost their Christianity. They have been blinded by hatred (from the Evil One) and that hatred has pushed Holy Spirit out of their lives. They are no longer Christians (Christ followers).
And there it is. In this instance, I have seen how it is possible for a Christian to be deceived into losing their faith in Christ. Whether it happened slowly or all at once, they have allowed The Enemy to deceive them and come into their lives and take control.
I suppose there will be other such instances in which this happens as well. Whatever the situations, I can see it and understand how it can happen to the elect. In the end there will be many ex-Christians who do not realize they have lost their faith in Christ. They will continue to go to church, act like good people, yet harbor hatred or some other similar thing in their hearts which will disqualify them from being a Christian. [Shudder]
I may be able to see it, but I don't have to like it. My sincere prayer for you is that you will see the lies of The Enemy coming at you from a long ways off so you will be able to avoid the hit on your life and avoid it.
May you seek Truth and The Truth with a determination that will save your soul in the end. Don't let it happen to you.
(PS: Possible future post- at what point on this road do we lose our Christianity?)
