This is an except from something I read some time ago:
I am wearied and my spirit vexed with all the newspaper eschatology and comic book theology, with everybody talking about everybody and everything except what Jesus Christ is doing! I’ve had my fill of preachers trying to figure out what the European Community, the Russians, the Chinese, the Israelis, the United Nations, the Illuminati, the Moslems, Saddam Hussein and everybody else is doing, while they have not the foggiest notion what the firstborn Son of God is doing! Alive today on the face of this earth are more people than have lived in a hundred previous generations. Don’t think for one moment, precious friend of mine, that God is going to walk away from the greatest harvest, the grandest opportunity to pour out His love and grace and make known His power and glory, released for man at Calvary. Don’t let it even enter your mind that God is about to turn this old world over to the devil to tread down, torment, enslave, ruin, destroy, and damn into judgment and hell. The Antichrist is not a world political leader, the Antichrist is the false religious spirit in the church (and in hearts of individuals - comment mine) that has everybody looking at everybody and everything except Jesus Christ!
After posting the above something occurred to me. Often times in the Bible, the sea speaks of society in convulsion. Peter was able to walk above that human calamity, on the water, as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus.
There's too many self-made preachers who have made a name for themselves, and gotten rich by breeding fear in the hearts of many instead of encouraging the flock to keep their eyes on Jesus. Where does fear enter into the heart of a true believer? The Bible says, perfect love casteth out fear! Most people would rather hear about what someone thinks is going to happen, and when, than to sit at Jesus feet and learn of him. Let's open our eyes and see Jesus, our savior, our strength, our healer, our shield, our EVERYTHING, instead of worrying about what's going on out there in that world we aren't even a part of. Are we going to start trusting in God, who is love and says, it hasn't entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those that love him, and ALL things work of good to them that love God?
"i have to really, respectfully, disagree with you. anyone who is not dying daily, being a living sacrifice, being faithful in the little things now, no way is he going to give up his life in a situation like that."
Just for the record o adelphos mou, I want you to know that I agree with you. A true believer knows His voice and follows after Him. The Word tells us that in the latter days many would fall away, but not to allow ourselves to be deceived.
My heart and spirit are with you. Now I hope you understand me better. :-)