November 27, 2021

Jesus said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”  Matthew 10:28

Hugh Latimer (quoted yesterday) and his good friend Nicholas Ridley, also a brilliant Reformer, were burned at the stake in October 1555 in Oxford, England under “Bloody Mary,” murderer of 300 Protestants during her five-year reign. As the Reformers stood firmly upon God’s Word and led many out of oppression and false teachings of the church of the dark ages, those who clung to the traditions of men took drastic and awful measures to crush them. This conflict between good and evil has raged through the centuries and will greatly intensify before Jesus comes to gather His faithful ones.

Too often it appears that evil will triumph over good. The Word of God has been compromised, cast down, and trampled. God’s faithful have been oppressed, imprisoned, tortured, and murdered as the enemy, working through deceived people, seeks to destroy those who desire to honor God and live in a way that pleases Him. Beloved, hold on to Jesus! Fear (reverence) God, that He might preserve us alive! (see Deuteronomy 6:24)

A panoramic view across the ages shows us that Satan has used any and every strategy that suits him in a given circumstance: persecution, compromise, heresy, and popularity (especially popularity). All of these methods are used to harden hearts against the influences that God has placed in the world for our good. Another method he uses involves shifting the meanings of words away from the original meaning. In this way, he can malign the character of God by making Him appear inconsistent. However, a careful search of the scriptures proves otherwise. If ever a passage is unclear and you sincerely wish to understand it, make note and keep studying, for Scripture highlights and clarifies itself.

Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little. Isaiah 28:9a,10

For I am the LORD, I do not change. Malachi 3:6a