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Jesus tells is that “The Father so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save it,” but He also said the words of God will judge us if we reject what He said (John 3:16; 12:47-48)! Later He prayed to the Father:
“But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world
(John 17:13-16).”
Those who are really His followers are not of the world because they have stopped rejecting what God says we are to do and have broken off from being a part of the ungodly ways of this world. In doing so, many have lost relationships with family members as well as friends which are near and dear to their hearts. Others have lost jobs because they keep the commandments of God. Still others have experienced severe persecution for their stand for Christ, as all will experience in the near future. Jesus told His disciples, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:16). In spite of all these trials, God puts an unwavering peace in our hearts and the hope of the future to look forward to as we will live with Him forever. He blesses where others have cursed, and provides where others have stripped away.
There are many decent people in this world who strive to live worthwhile lives and to be good citizens. There are many who call themselves “Christians.” However, do they truly obey God’s laws and follow Christ? Many do not as they don't completely follow Jesus Christ’s words and keep His laws. Jesus says that “If you love me, you will keep my commandments, and shall be loved by my Father and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him (John 14:21).” Two verses later, Jesus declares that every person who loves Him and does what He says will be loved by the Father and they both will come and make their home with him.
The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18: “Therefore, 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.’” The Apostle John, as the last survivor of the of the original apostles, told us that if we love the things of this world we don't have the love of the Father in us. He reminds again that the world is passing away but if we do the will of the Father, we will abide with Him forever.
Woe to us as the followers of God, His church, if we are not a watchman to warn this world (Ezekiel 33:1-9). Jesus tells us that it is our duty through the preaching of the gospel of the coming kingdom of God to witness to and warn the world to repent (Matthew 24:14).
As prophesied, in the last days the world will be going through turbulent times as we are soon to see. God doesn’t desire to see anyone who wants to worship Him perish. Revelation 18:4 implores and warns us to heed Him: “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.’”
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