October 7, 2022
And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!” Revelation 8:13
Scripture makes it clear that, until the day that Jesus comes to collect His bride, there will be treacherous times to navigate. God’s love and mercy are mingled with His longsuffering, in the bright hope of an eternal future with Him for as many as will receive Him. Only those who have ingested Satan’s lies regarding the altogether holy, lovely, merciful character of our Father in Heaven will fail to receive Him.
Yesterday’s closing verse from Ezekiel, regarding the remnant that will be saved, is followed by a glimpse of the correct conclusions that will be drawn in the end: “And they will comfort you when you see their ways and their doings; and you shall know that I have done nothing without cause that I have done in it,” says the LORD God. Ezekiel 14:23
The flawless character of Yahweh is demonstrated to us in the character of His Son. His love for mankind demands that our flaws and defects be shown to us. Together with Him, in a love relationship, they are to be willingly laid down and replaced with heavenly traits. The role of replacing what has been laid aside belongs to the office of the Holy Spirit. He is ready and willing, but He is also a “gentleman” who waits for our invitation to enter.
It is a deadly mistake to believe that human will alone can fit us for heaven. This error is the foundation of all false religions and also false teachings that have crept into the Christian church. Yet volumes of books continue to be cranked out chanting the supposed “strength and victory” of human willpower. Satan, the instigator of all sin, is behind such “motivational” writings. As our opening verse indicates, demonic activity is rising, per Satan’s desperate, concentrated attempts to deceive. Jesus referred to unclean spirits in teaching us of the essential nature of the Holy Spirit:
“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it be with this wicked generation.” Matthew 12:43-45
Beloved, when the Holy Spirit knocks at your heart’s door, do not send Him away! He awaits your invitation to enter. But, as Jesus pointed out, unclean spirits break and enter without permission. If we are to enter Heaven, we must welcome the Holy Spirit in to do His essential work in us: He will then do battle on our behalf against unclean spirits.