Will You Be Found Faithful? Caring About the Heart of God in an Age of Apostasy: Chapter One

I have decided to share my book so there is no cost for anyone to read it. I think the message is important in the battle against postmodern attacks on the Bible, Cathangelicalism (the blend of evangelicalism with Catholicism), and even against doctrines such as Mike Bickle’s “bridal paradigm” or Ann Voskamp’s teaching on being “skin to skin” with God. It also explains why America may be in the mess it is in.

The church is in such disarray and confusion. My hope is that this little book will give insight into some issues that are constantly being debated by those in and outside of the church. I hope the reader is blessed.  

For the scattered sheep . . .

“Thou art all fair, my  love; there is no spot in thee.” (Song of Solomon 4:7; KJV)

“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot,, or wrinkle, or any  such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27; KJV)

 

God’s Desire for a Faithful Bride

This is the story of God’s relationship with his people. It’s a story of faithfulness and a story of betrayal. It’s a story of great steadfastness and heroism and a story of compromise and corruption. And while it’s a story of passion, love, and purity, unfortunately, it’s also a story of adultery, lust, and impurity. It’s the story of two groups of people–both of whom carry the name of God. One group does it faithfully while the other group is unfaithful and breaks God’s heart.

One group carrying the name of Christ will be found ready, prepared for the coming of their faithful and true bridegroom, Jesus, and the other group, which also carries the Lord’s name, will be unprepared and rejected by Jesus. The purpose of this book is to help believers to discern which group they are in and to encourage them to make themselves ready to meet their bridegroom.

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (Rev. 19:7, KJV; italics added)

There’s a message that runs consistently throughout both the Old and New Testament which reveals the very heart of God. To express how precious this message is to God, in many cases he even uses intimate romantic language to describe it. Words like virgin, bride, wife, adultery, harlot, bridegroom, husband, seducing, and espoused are used in the scriptures to describe the love relationship between God and his people.

God even sealed the relationship with his people with covenants that are representative of marriage. Surely, the Lord is looking for someone he can share a peaceful eternity with, someone who shares his heart, his values, and his mind. He doesn’t want to be unequally yoked and in constant conflict with a wife who disagrees with him. How can there ever be peace then?

The Lord wants a bride whose heart is wholly devoted to him, who is willing to be equally yoked with the faithful and true bridegroom. He won’t marry an unfaithful bride! He warns his people not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Cor. 6:14; KJV)

After warning us against an unholy union, will Jesus then be yoked with unbelievers, even if they name the name of Christ? Will he marry somebody who is unfaithful to him? Will he join himself to a harlot or an adulterer? Is it wrong to require that our spouse be faithful to us? Would Jesus be unequally yoked after commanding us not to be?

The scriptures often describe God as a jealous god. Again, the indication is that of a romantic relationship. Why is our holy God subject to such (seemingly) base emotions? Isn’t he above that? Or could there be important reasons for God’s jealousy, reasons that have to do with his love and concern for people?

I believe this truth about God’s desire for a faithful people has been lost or misunderstood. Even though it’s one of the most intimate parts of the heart of God, it seems to have been obscured throughout history!

My desire is that this book will help Christians to understand how to make themselves ready to meet the Lord and to understand that faithfulness is a requirement for those stewards who will hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:23, KJV; italics added). It’s necessary that good stewards handle the mysteries of God (the revelation of the gospel of Jesus Christ) in a way that is faithful:

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. (1 Cor. 4:1-2, KJV; italics added)

As I write this book, my greatest hope is that I will be found faithful in being a good steward of the mysteries of God as I attempt to reveal his heart and his desire for a faithful bride.

As the church age comes to an end, the apostle Paul warned us that it would be characterized by a departure of a “falling away from the faith” (2 Thes. 2:3; KJV), but this isn’t the first time God’s people have been unfaithful to him. Sadly, apostasy has been a reality since the rebellion of Lucifer. On the other hand, there has also always been a faithful remnant!

In this little book, I will attempt to use scriptures and history to show what happened to those who called themselves God’s people, yet didn’t remain faithful, and are now looked back upon, not as blessings to humanity, but as scourges to humanity–the inquisitors, slaveholders, racists, and Nazis who took advantage of others, abused, tortured, beat, and murdered in the name of God. I’d like to contrast them with the faithful church of the ages to inspire heroism in the hearts of believers and encourage them to remain part of the holy and pure bride of Christ.