Word Count: 830

Contact Jerry Ousley

Look to Yourselves

by Jerry Ousley  
5/13/2011 / Christian Living

I read a startling statistic the other day; it said that there is a growing number of pastors who are secretly claiming to be atheists. Shocking isn't it? I know it made me shake my head a few times, blink my eyes and read it again. Certainly I must be mistaken! Nope; there it was in black and white pastors, evangelical pastors at that, saying secretly that they had stopped believing in the Bible and in God. Yet they had chosen to remain in ministry because that's where they had their training and some of them were at an age where that's all they knew how to do, so they chose to remain in their pastoral positions because that was their job.

Now folks, serving the Lord, preaching His word and being a vessel to help in the healing of souls, bodies and mental faculties, I'm sorry, it isn't a profession but a calling. It isn't something that you're just good at and make a decision one day, "Hey, I think I'll be a pastor." Some may do that but frankly if there is no calling you'll most definitely be able to tell.

When asked what these men spoke about in their messages they answered that since they no longer believed they tended to emphasis the moral and social issues. That was their attempt to avoid being a hypocrite. Let me know how that's working out for you.

On one hand I feel sorry for these people because they have found themselves in their predicaments; still on the other hand they are tools in the hands of the devil deceiving souls and I pray that they aren't responsible for others going to Hell. The Bible states that there will be little compassion for those misleading others.

This isn't a new problem however. In 2 John 7-8 we read, "For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward." It was an issue even in John's day. There are always those who look only at the surface of leading people as a pastor and see only the glory. Let me tell you the glory is only superficial because in reality it is a sacrifice.

The devil's number one job is two-fold in keeping others from coming to Christ and in discouraging believers away from Christ. He hates each and every human being that has ever lived or is living today or will be born tomorrow because he knows that each of us has a chance to come to Jesus Christ and go where he can't go to Heaven. He will use all means possible to accomplish his goal even if he has to plant wolves in sheep's clothing. He will tempt even pastors to do despicable things in order to not only destroy what good they may be able to accomplish but to place doubt, hurt, and hatred into the hearts of Christians.

Under the influence of the Holy Spirit John told us to look to ourselves. What he meant by that was this: We must always be watching for those things that are not Christ-like and are actually antichrist. We need to always have on our wisdom cap and be listening to God so that we are not deceived by these people. We need to read the Bible with understanding so that we know what God has said and we won't be fooled. And yes, we need to guard our own souls with every possible means we have available. Of course we want to look out for others. We want to warn them so that they aren't deceived. But just like trying to save a drowning man, we can't be taken under in the struggle.

We must be compassionate for others because we are told to do so. But we must also be very careful and protective of our own souls. When in Bible College there was a test in a certain subject that was going to be extremely difficult. Because I had made pretty good grades several other students came to me to drill them with questions. I did so but in so doing I had no time to study myself. Hoping that helping others study for the test would also help me I took the test. You know what? Most of those I had helped made decent scores. But I barely skimmed by with a "D." It was because I had sacrificed to help others and I had been left holding the bag. It's the same with our souls. Let's do good deeds. Let's pray for others. Let's be compassionate and willing to help, but never ever stop looking to yourself because your top priority is to make it to Heaven and no one else can do that for you.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! Click here and TRUST JESUS NOW

Read more articles by Jerry Ousley

Like reading Christian Articles? Check out some more options. Read articles in Main Site Articles, Most Read Articles or our highly acclaimed Challenge Articles. Read Great New Release Christian Books for FREE in our Free Reads for Reviews Program. Or enter a keyword for a topic in the search box to search our articles.

Enter comments below. Due to spam, all hyperlinks posted in the comments are now immediately disabled by our system.

Please type the following word below:

Not readable? Change text.

The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Hire a Christian Writer, Christian Writer Wanted, Christian Writer Needed, Christian Content Needed, Find a Christian Editor, Hire a Christian Editor, Christian Editor, Find a Christian Writer