SERVICE PART 5

After returning to the crossroads I was thinking about the closeness of the Lord's return. I realized that the people on the broad road were heading to hell for all eternity. I realized that this danger was not even in their minds. They just don't care at this point in their lives. All that matters is temporal, earthly pleasures. As they walk down the broad road toward the rocky cliff their eyes are closed. Yes they can see some things but they are blind to the most important of things. The destiny of their eternal soul. They walk merrily by the crossroads on their descent to hell. It is very sad to look in their faces and realize that soon they will perish.

HARRY-THE-MAN-FOLLOWER approached me and offered me an invitation of some kind. Harry claims to be a Christian but does not follow the Lord Jesus. Instead he follows teachers who he claims to be right on! He defends his teacher idol and offers their books and tapes to all who will receive them. When his teacher gets arrested for child molestation or falls away, Harry just looks and finds another teacher to blindly follow. Harry has a brain like a dry sponge ready to soak up all the latest teachings from his current teacher idol. He prefers that over reading and obeying the Bible.

2 John 1:
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Matt 24:
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

HARRY: Here take one of these invitations.

ANDREW: What is it for?

HARRY: It's about brother Joseph a great man of God and a prophetic voice in these last days. Joseph warns all Christians to 'come out' of their false churches.

ANDREW: I never heard of brother Joseph. What false churches do you mean?

HARRY: You know the denominational ones! You have to leave the false churches because God will soon judge them. Brother Joseph teaches that God is a God of judgment.

ANDREW: Yes God judges sin but God is also a God of love and mercy. In fact His judgment and mercy met on the cross. On the one had God satisfied his wrath against sin, and on the other hand God in His mercy provided salvation to all who would receive it. God's mercy and love meet together at the cross with His judgment. Look at this verse and you will see that God is a God of love:

John 3:
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

HARRY: The word 'loved' is in past tense! That verse doesn't mean anything. God is judging now. Brother Joseph says Christians have to separate themselves or be destroyed in the wrath of God.

ANDREW: That doesn't make any sense? Why would God destroy His own people who love Him and whom He redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus.

Rom 8:
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

HARRY: You are not redeemed yet. Brother Joseph says you must still prove yourself worthy before God.

ANDREW: The Bible says that the blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin!

I John 1:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

HARRY: No, No, No... you must work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Brother Joseph says that all the time! See it's right here in brother Joseph's magazine I'm handing out.

ANDREW: Here is what the Bible says:

Titus 3:
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

You can see that we are not saved by our own good works. Brother Joseph is wrong, he is a deceiver and a false teacher. Why would you follow this man instead of following the Lord Jesus Christ?

HARRY: You no good dirty rat! Who do you think you are talking about brother Joseph in that manner. I can see you are part of the enemy. You will be judged by God and will burn in hell forever. Ha, Ha and I'll laugh when I see the end of people like you that stand against God's prophet for these last days! You just touched God's anointed. You'll be sorry!!! Ha, ha, ha!

As HARRY leaves he is laughing and calling out judgments against me. I'm amazed that he is so eager to follow a false leader. I guess the Bible is not enough for him. I say a prayer asking God to save this man and to deliver him from the false teacher he blindly follows. Unfortunately, there are many people who play follow the leader. I guess the Lord Jesus and the Bible is not enough for them. Instead they align themselves with a leader who will tickle their ears and give them all kinds of 'words of wisdom' for their gullible minds. Many in the church follow such men. They may not be as extreme as HARRY-THE-MAN-FOLLOWER but they still follow and defend their man. I've seen people get very defensive and angry when the teachings of their fearless leader is questioned. I would hope that Christians would set their eyes on Jesus and defend HIM. I would also hope that Christians would test all teachings and teachers with the Bible. If only people would do that simple task, deception would not so easily be spread within the church.

As I think on these things Mr. UNITY approaches. He believes in the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God. He is a 30th degree Mason and is currently working on his 31st degree. He doesn't care if Masonry is a blasphemous occultic false religion. Sound doctrine is a foreign concept to Mr. UNITY. He likes being a part of a man-club with all the esoteric secrets and hidden handshakes. Mr. UNITY recently got involved with Promise Keepers. He likes the idea of uniting all kinds of religions into one big one. He enjoys going to the stadium rallies with 20,000 other men from other religions such as: Catholicism, Mormonism, and all kinds of Christian-in-name churches. Mr. UNITY considers himself a good loving Christian. However he doesn't spend much time reading or obeying the Bible. He considers those who dare to stand against his love of unity to be narrow, divisive, unloving, and judgmental with a closed mind. He insults these type of people and writes them nasty letters. All this is done in the name of love and for the cause of unity.

2 Cor 6:
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

UNITY: I heard part of the conversation you had with HARRY. You seem to be quite the judgmental type of person. Should you just be silent for the sake of peace and unity?

ANDREW: There is no unity apart from sound doctrine. In fact if unity is accomplished apart from doctrine then the end result is deception.

UNITY: Well myself, for example, am in the Masonic Lodge. I think it is great that a bunch of guys can get together under and be united and work for the common good. There are many men of different religions in our lodge. We have all the holy books from each religion so all are welcome. We are not narrow minded.

ANDREW: The Masonic Lodge is occultic and demonic. It is a male fertility cult with horrible rituals and blood oaths at each degree of promotion. No Christian should have any part with it!

UNITY: I don't know what you are talking about. It is not a fertility cult and we don't take any oaths.

ANDREW: Well there is lots of documentation in Christian bookstores now about the horrible oaths you must recite so there is no point in denying them. For example on one of the early oaths you promise never to reveal the secrets of masonry lest your neck be slashed from ear to ear and you body be cut in half and separated from the north to the south. That is occultic, evil and demonic and anyone who claims to be a Christian should have no part of it.

UNITY: Well you certainly are confused and you do not know anything about Masonry. I don't know where you get your information because none of what you said ever happens!

ANDREW: Deny all you want but the information is available for anyone who is willing to look it up and who has a heart ready to accept it. You are obviously more interested in concealing the secrets oaths of the blasphemous masonic false religion.

John 8:
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

UNITY: You are the one who is misinformed. All I mentioned is the need for unity. It is good for religious men to work together. We should be able to put aside our petty differences and work together as part of this great human race we belong to. You've heard about the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of men haven't you?

ANDREW: It is hard to work together with those who the Bible says will die and go to hell. True love would constrain one who loves God to witness to the lost and encourage them to accept salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot work and call someone a 'Christian' if I know he will perish in hell forever without the Lord Jesus Christ as His Saviour. There is ONLY one way to be saved and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ.

UNITY: Well I don't know about that. God has spoken to people in many different ways. We need just to accept people as children of God whatever they may believe. I get along with all types of men from all kinds of religious backgrounds in the lodge. Then I go to my church on Sunday and have more fellowship. In fact I'll have you know that I'm a decon in my church!

ANDREW: The Bible still says there is only one way to be saved. This means people who try to get saved another way are deceived and on their way to hell. That is a very sobering thought!

Acts 4:
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

UNITY: You really are narrow minded! Myself I'm loving and don't go around standing in judgment of people. By the way do you think you will change any ones mind since you are so narrow and judgmental?

ANDREW: Only those who have a love in there hearts for God and to those who love sound doctrine and the truth. A person is free to check out what I say with what God has said in the Bible. In fact I would encourage them to do so! I also believe that a person who loves God will also love sound doctrine. A person who does not love sound doctrine really does not love God.

Titus 1:16
16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

At this point UNITY sees someone from his Masonic lodge and quickly runs down the broad road to talk with him about some lodge business. I prayed for UNITY and ask God to save this man. I prayed that he be delivered from the lie that there are many paths to God.

Unification at any cost is a major trend in these evil days. Truth is ignored and for the sake of unity religious groups come together. Those who say it is wrong are called all kinds of names. But in the last days the Bible indicates that there will be a one world religion around the days of the Antichrist. So the events of today are certainly indicating that we are growing very close to the return of the Lord Jesus to earth.

Another point comes to my mind. So many people go around and say "don't judge" or "who are you to judge". When UNITY first approached me, he called me a judgmental person. After talking to him I could quickly see that he did not love sound doctrine. I would say people who go around screaming "don't judge" are people who do not love God or sound doctrine. The Bible commands us to judge doctrine. Christians are commanded to JUDGE between sound doctrine and error! Christians are not supposed to blindly accept any wind of teaching. Just look at what the Bereans did when they heard the Apostle Paul:

Acts 17
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming [thither] went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Did the Bereans just blindly accept the teachings of the Apostle Paul? No, God's Word says that 'they searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so'. Notice that they listened to Paul and then checked him out with the Word! By searching the Scriptures the Bereans would be able to reject any false doctrine because it would not line up with the Word of God. Searching the Scriptures to test for true vs false doctrine is something foreign to people who do not love sound doctrine.

God's Word goes on further to warn us about false prophets and false teachers:

Matthew 7:
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

2 Peter 2:
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

1 John 4:
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

TRY THE SPIRITS. Does that mean to blindly accept teaching without testing to see if it lines up with the Bible (as some would suggest)? No trying the spirits means to check out doctrine. It means to judge between sound and false doctrine. Christians have been clearly warned that there will be all kinds of false prophets and false teachers in the world. God's Word is our protection from these wolves that come in sheep's clothing. The Bible says that one day Christians will be involved in judging the world. See below:

1 Corinthians 6:
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

1 Corinthians 14:
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

1Thes 5:
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

YES, CHRISTIANS ARE TO JUDGE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL! I think God's Word is very clear. Christians are to put every teaching to the test and the measuring stick is the Holy Bible, God's Word. If it does NOT line up with the Word....then REJECT it! Down here at the crossroads I hear all kinds of people say "don't judge" The funny thing is these people are quick to judge me for standing up for foundational truths of Christianity. Some are quite rude about it. Many claim to be 'tolerant' and do not wish to be divisive. Therefore they allow false doctrine to go unchecked and viciously attack those who stand up for the truth! This is all done because they say: "don't judge". As you can see these people are first, hypocrites, because they are very quick to judge those who stand up for the truth. It is interesting to note that people who claim to be 'tolerant' are very 'intolerant' to those who they claim to be narrow minded and intolerant. Secondly, they do not love sound doctrine (or God) because being "tolerant" involves accepting all kinds of false teaching in the name of "being loving". Christians need to be aware of these dangers in these dangerously deceptive days we live in. Standing up for truth is a good thing to do. It's called defending the faith once delivered unto the saints from those who would deceive and pervert sound doctrine. True love also involves loving sound doctrine and obeying God. The Lord never said popularity in this world was one of the benefits of following Him.

After a few minutes I see a family approaching. Their names are COLD-TED-AND-MARTHA. The Cold family have been going to church for years. They attend church on a regular basis and are involved in Christian activities and service. However they have lost their first love. The Lord Jesus is not the same person he used to be many years ago. They have grown somewhat distant from the Lord even though they go through with all the right motions. They are also cold in heart to others at church. They have been nasty to people and have cut them off at the slightest provocation. However they feel they are serving God and even teach a adult Sunday school class. TED COLD is involved in missionary service to the Lord. People who see them can see their works in the church but their coldness of heart is also apparent to others. Here is one example of their coldness. The COLDS have three children. Their little boy is a 'holy terror'. He is always getting himself into trouble. One family in his church had a child who was hurt by their little boy. When the father of the hurt child raised his voice against little Johnny Cold, both TED and MARTHA got angry. They were offended that anyone would do that to their little Johnny who was surprised and upset at this discipline. The COLD'S immediately cut those people off and wanted nothing further to do with them. Such is the life of the COLD family. Yet they claim to serve God and claim to love him.

Rev 2:
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

COLDS: Hi how are you tonight? I'll take one of those invitations.

ANDREW: Sure, here you go.

TED-COLD: Thanks we are very involved in serving the Lord too and it is good to see a fellow Christian out here at the crossroads. Myself I'm involved in missionary work and my wife is very involved in the church. We both teach a Sunday school class together. So as you can see we are very busy.

ANDREW: That's good it is great to be serving the Lord and giving the lost the Gospel. People don't realize it but time is running out.

At this point little Johnny Cold grabs a handful of invitations out of my hand and throws them up into the air. They fall down and scatter all around the place.

ANDREW: Young man, what do you think you are doing? That wasn't very nice, now was it?

COLDS: Don't talk to Johnny like that. He's just a kid and they do those things. I don't need other people telling Johnny what he can or can't do. See look how scared and upset you've made him! He probably won't sleep tonight because of how upset you've made him!

ANDREW: Sounds to me like your child needs some manners and discipline....(parents too!)

COLDS: Well we better go. We don't like people interfering in our lives and we don't feel you are a good influence to our family. Goodbye!

As they leave I think they are a common problem in these last days. They go to a Christian church and seem to be serving God. But because sin abounds in our society they have grown very sharp and cold hearted. I wonder as they leave how many other people they have 'cut off' for such minor offenses. This verse comes to mind as I think about the COLD family:

Matt 24:
12 and because iniquity shall abound, the LOVE OF MANY SHALL WAX COLD.

As a result of the troubles in the world, the false teaching, the false prophets, and the fact that many will be deceived we see the love of many waxing cold. Verse 12 above tells us that iniquity shall abound in the world. This means that sin will be everywhere and that it will be socially acceptable. Society and people in general will love darkness rather than light. As a result the hearts of men will grow cold and their love will also grow cold. This can be seen in the world as well as in the church. The world is cold hearted as they can murder innocent babies in the womb and have no spark of conscience whatsoever. It is totally legal and right before the eyes of the world to commit murder. Next the old and sick are on the death list for the world. If babies can be murdered then the sick and elderly better pray as they will be next. Hearts are growing cold. Christians who live in the world are surrounded by all kinds of sin and evil. Some have allowed themselves to backslide and have allowed their hearts to grow cold. Why is there a growing amount of cold heartedness in the church? The foundation for a cold heart is a heart that does not love sound doctrine.

2 Tim 4:3
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Its time to wake up as the days of the rejection of sound doctrine are upon us! Many who profess to be Christians have rejected truth and sound doctrine and would rather their ears be tickled instead. Notice in verse 3 above that the lusts take over as sound doctrine is rejected. As the lusts take over sin comes into the life of that person. As people turn away from sound doctrine they turn to sin and compromise with one of the fruits being a cold heart. However God still has His remnant of people that love Him, who love sound doctrine, and who love fellow Christians.

John 12:
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God

Many today seek out the praise of men. However the above verse states that there is praise available from God. Those who love God and seek Him first will receive that praise. However there is a price to pay. You may not be too popular in many circles as you stand against the tares and false teachers. You may even have to find a new church if yours is given over to gross doctrinal compromise with a refusal to listen to sound doctrine. Don't give up on attending church as we are commanded to find a good church to attend. However be sure you attend one that puts the Bible first. No church is perfect but you want one that at least is trying to walk with God.

Don't be discouraged if you run into cold hearted people within the church. Remember your faith is based on the Lord Jesus Christ and not on other people. Just keep on doing what is right and look forward to the soon return of the Lord Jesus to take the true believers home to heaven at the rapture.

As I'm standing a man staggers up to me. His name is DRUNK-STREET-BUM. DRUNK is a man who has lived on the streets for years. He took to the bottle years ago and it got a stranglehold on his life. He lives for the next drink. Happiness is always one drink away! In desperation he has been known to drink: shoe polish, lysol cleanser, after shave, and rubbing alcohol. He has heard the Gospel many times in the street missions and several places he goes for free food. However, he is just not interested. He is a street person. He lives on the street, sleeps on the street, and eats on the street. One day he will die on the street.

DRUNK: Hey buddy can you spare some change for some food?

ANDREW: How's this idea. How about you and I going over there and I'll buy you some food. I'll also tell you about this narrow gate and the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ.

DRUNK: No not interested I just want some money for food

ANDREW: Well here is a little something but take this invitation.

DRUNK: What's it an invitation to? Free food, a room?

ANDREW: No it's an invitation to leave this broad road to hell and to enter a narrow gate of salvation through the Lord Jesus. Jesus Himself calls out to you:

Matt 11:
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

DRUNK: Thanks for the coin but I've heard it all before at the mission.

ANDREW: You've heard the Gospel before and what have you decided? Do you reject the Lord Jesus?

DRUNK: No I don't reject him but I'm not interested in Him. You have your life and I have mine.

ANDREW: To do nothing with Jesus is the same thing as rejecting Him

Matt 12:
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

DRUNK: Baaaaah, I'm just not interested so leave me alone.

ANDREW: Well before you go please think on these verses:

Prov 20:
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Prov 23:
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

The DRUNK man staggers on down the broad road. I have seen him on several occasions. However one day I notice he is missing. Over time I notice that he is nowhere to be found on the broad road. Perhaps he stumbled and fell headfirst over the cliff at the end of the broad road. It is sad when a person hears the Gospel again and again but still rejects. A person's eternal soul is very valuable. Drinking to a mindless stupor certainly dulls the senses and blinds a person to their great need of salvation. However one day that person will reap the wages of sin.....which is death. The first death is physical as a person falls over the side of the cliff. The second death is spiritual as he is thrown into the lake of fire forever to be in torments and separated from fellowship with God.

Rev 20:
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

I notice a man dressed in black walking toward me. His name is VINCENT-THE-OCCULTIST. VINCENT walks up and takes an invitation. He has a pentagram around his neck and other occultic jewelry. VINCENT is one who believes in the dark powers and is very involved with the occult. He regularly talks to demon spirits with his Ouija board and is in the process of learning several occult spells and incantations. For fun VINCENT plays the roll playing game called Dungeons and Dragons and is an expert dungeon master. He claims it is just a game and does not hurt anyone even though there have been demonic oppression and suicides related to the game..

VINCENT: So you are a Christian I see. I'm actively into the dark powers myself.

ANDREW: The powers of darkness come from the same place, the prince of darkness, Satan. He is a loser and proud fallen angel who thought he could be better than God and take over. He convinced one third of the angels to join him in his rebellion against God. To this day his main job is to mislead souls so they will perish in hell without the Lord Jesus as their Saviour.

VINCENT: The power I'm talking about is very real. In fact I could put a hex on you right now if I wanted to.

ANDREW: Not really because the power of God is greater than the power of the devil. You could try to put a hex on me but it would not work because my Jesus is greater than your devil.

I Jn 4:
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

I don't understand why you would follow the devil and seek his power. He hates you and wants to destroy you. When he is done using you he will cast you away like a dirty rag. However Jesus is God in human flesh who died on the cross in order to pay for your sins. He now offers salvation as a free gift to all who will receive it.

VINCENT: You don't understand. I've called up spirits from the dead. I've actually talked to departed spirits of people who once roamed the world. Through my ouji board I've also called up the spirit of Jesus and talked with him.

ANDREW: You are not talking to spirits of people but rather you are talking to demons impersonating those you talk to. The Bible calls doing such things an abomination to God.

Deut 18:
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

VINCENT: Well I don't believe that book you call the Bible. The spirits tell me it has been corrupted anyway. So what you show me really means little to me.

ANDREW: Well that is your choice if you want to believe in the lies of demons. However realize that your eternal souls stands on what you have done with the Lord Jesus. He will either be your Saviour or your Judge. You will have to decide and God will honor your choice.

VINCENT: If you've noticed since I arrived here I've been staring deep into your eyes. I'm putting a hex on you this very moment!

ANDREW: Good luck because Jesus is greater than all the demons in hell you can conjure up. Like I already said.. greater is He who is in me that he who is in you, the devil. {I look back directly into VINCENT's eyes}

VINCENT: Arrrrgh... I thought I could do it but you are too strong. I'll have to keep practicing.

ANDREW: Practice all you want but Jesus is stronger than the devil. That is just a fact. Like I said you are following a loser who will one day be destroyed in hell fire. The devil would be greatly pleased if you died and went to hell also.

VINCENT walks away from this encounter and heads down the broad road. He is still shaking his head wondering why he could not put the hex on me. This incident is common with the power hunger occultists. They think they have been given some power and it goes to their head. They are too dumb to realize that the God who created heavens and the earth is much greater than one stupid devil and all his demons. Yes I've read the last book of the Bible and WE CHRISTIANS WIN! God will destroy the devil and one day create a new heavens and a new earth completely free from the stain of sin and evil. Why a person would reject the true and living God and go following demons is beyond my understanding.

The next person I see approach me is ANDY-THE-DRUNK-YUPPIE. ANDY is a rising star in the business world. He is 'in good' with the partner in charge of the company where he works. He gets assigned special projects and is part of the select few the partner goes to lunch with. Yes ANDY is a rising star in his company and who knows how far he will go. Tonight ANDY is doing the bar scene with some friends. ANDY is already half plastered with drink. As he walks by he sees an invitation. He stops and takes a tract and holds it up to his eyes as he tries to focus in on the words.

ANDY: Hi dude, what's this you are handing out. I can almost focus and read it.

ANDREW: It's an invitation to the Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation He freely offers.

ANDY: I'm familiar with that. I've heard quite a bit about Christianity. However, I've never become one myself.

ANDREW: Why? What is preventing you from accepting the Lord Jesus as your Saviour?

ANDY: Well I've considered becoming a Christian.. and "almost" did it once. But I don't know if it is for me.

ANDREW: Almost being saved... almost going to heaven... almost accepting Jesus is a very dangerous position. Right now as we speak you are literally one heartbeat from hell.

ANDY: I know man.. I also know a lot of things. You know we are heading toward a one-world government? Well there is a book you can pick up in the science fiction section of most bookstores. It is written by the author: John Q. Smith. Anyway it is more than a book. It is also contains a hidden coded message from the Illumaniti concerning this coming world government.

ANDREW: So what! Yes there will be an one world government. Yes the Antichrist will come to power and reign on earth for 7 years. The important thing is to be ready to stand before God. You never know when you will die and stand before God. At that time the Bible says:

John 3:
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

ANDY: Hey guys, I'm busy talking right now... you go ahead and I'll meet you inside in a few minutes. Order me my drink... OK?... bye... Now.. where was I... Oh yeah.... I know all that and I'll probably will go to hell when I die. Not much I can do about it. I plan to have a chat with God and reason with Him and maybe talk Him out of it.

ANDREW: What good will that do. The issue is your sin. Either you pay for your sins yourself which involves spending eternity in hell. Or you accept God's salvation through the Lord Jesus who took the penalty for sin and paid it on the cross. At any rate before God, SIN, must be paid for. Either you pay it, or you accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour and allow Him to be your substitute. God's judgment for sin is either on you or on Jesus when He died on the cross. It really is your decision and there is nothing to argue to God about.

ANDY: I know, I know what you are saying. And hopefully one day I'll be just like you. Here let me shake your hand and please pray for me that one day I'll make that decision. But I cannot do it now.

At this point I said a prayer asking God to save ANDY and to open His eyes to his great need of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. ANDY thanked me for the prayer and left to join his friends in the bar.

There are lots of people like ANDY in the world. They have heard the Gospel and are not openly hostile against it. However they are 'almost' saved as they prefer to wait for another day. Little do they realize that each time they reject Jesus their heart gets a little bit harder. It's like pouring just a little bit of cement in the heart area. Pretty soon after many rejections the heart is getting very hard. Many people die before they reach what they consider the "right" time to be saved. Death can come suddenly and be an unwelcome surprise after a life of rejecting salvation.

Heb 9:
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

I notice a girl dressed in black. She has black lipstick, black fingernail polish and white makeup on her face. Her hair is straight and black with her black bangs hanging just below the eyelids. She looks curious as she accepts an invitation. Her name is LINDA-THE-WITCH. She is involved in witchcraft and worships the earth, fire, wind, water, and the goddess. Her religion is nothing more than pagan babylonianism but she is unaware of that. LINDA is proud to be a witch and is part of a coven that meets once a month. During that time there is lots of fornication with the other members of the coven. LINDA is also a lesbian but prides herself with the fact that she is also bisexual. Of course her body is filled up with sexual and venereal diseases. She is also HIV positive (AIDS) and so are the others in her coven.

LINDA: Ohhhh.... This is about God isn't it!

ANDREW: Yes it is an invitation for you to turn into the narrow gate and accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. It is an invitation to heaven.

LINDA: I'm not interested in your God. I'm in to witchcraft. I already worship the goddess.

ANDREW: Well Jesus is God in human flesh and He died on the cross for you! He wants you to come to Him and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour.

LINDA: I don't believe in Jesus. The Bible is just a book of words as far as I am concerned. I have no need for these things!

ANDREW: Yes you do have a need. You see... you will live forever in either heaven or hell and the choice is yours.

LINDA: I don't believe in heaven or hell either. Hey I'm having fun being a witch. I don't plan to stop.

ANDREW: There is a dangerous position to be in.

John 3:
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

LINDA: Thanks but I'll stick to my coven. It gives me all that I want.

ANDREW: Let me give you something to think about. Here is what the Bible says about the sin of witchcraft. It is wrong and God says to avoid it.

1 Sam 15:
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

2 Chr 33:
6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Gal 5:
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, WITCHCRAFT, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

As she left, I bowed my head and prayed for this lost girl. She is deceived and blinded. I pray that God would bless the words spoken to her and that one day she would be saved. It is interesting how people do not want anything to do with God but are ready to accept things of the devil with open arms. In her case she doesn't even believe the devil exists. However he exists despite their unbelief and she is deceived!

From a distance I hear someone yelling. I turn and I see STELLA-THE-BAG-LADY walk up to me. She is yelling and having an argument. The only problem is that she is talking to herself. As she walks up to me she quiets down and takes an invitation. STELLA is a bag lady who is very street wise. She is not a drinker but does have several emotional problems. STELLA prefers to live on the street. She regularly goes to the clothing bins to get new a wardrobe. Every time she comes by she talks for a few minutes and then asks for a quarter.

ANDREW: Hi Stella how are you tonight?

STELLA: I was over at my sisters and saw her and she is fine and we talked about our parents and then I left and then I went home after a long day and went to bed.

ANDREW: Stella, you need to receive the Lord Jesus as your Saviour! Jesus loves you and He died on the cross and paid for your sins. He now offers you the gift of salvation and eternal life.

STELLA: Ya, ya.. Jesus... at my sisters we had dinner and we talked and we saw a movie then we had some tea then she got sick and went to her bed and I had more tea. Hey, you have a quarter don't you?

ANDREW: Here you go Stella. Take this invitation also and read it when you are able. Remember that Jesus loves you and wants to be your Saviour!

STELLA: OK... bye now, I'm off to my sisters to see her and have some tea ...

STELLA leaves me and she stuffs the invitation into her pocket. She walks a few steps away and she begins to argue again with her imaginary person. She is yelling and screaming and occasionally punches the air as if hitting at someone. I pray for her that she would come to Jesus and receive Him as her Saviour. One of the blessings that God gives to His people in this troubled world is a sound mind:

2 Tim 1:
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

After that I decide it is time to head home after another fruitful session at the crossroads. I thank God again for the opportunity and privilege to serve Him again.


RETURN