CONSIDER JUDAS ISCHARIOT'S FALL

[Margaret Wright]

 

Judas was one of the 12 disciples that Jesus Christ chose to be His followers.

Judas believed that Jesus was the Messiah and gave up all to follow Jesus.  He was learning and being influenced by the Master!  All the disciples thought that Jesus came to deliver them from the Roman Government and He will set up His own kingdom and they wanted to be part of His governing body.  James and John wanted to sit one on the right and one on the left side of Jesus in His Kingdom.   Judas was looking after the money bag and was a thief although he pretended to care for the poor.   John 12:6    Judas was given ministry along with the others and he too came back rejoicing that the demons were subject to them.  Jesus showed them that the greater thing was to have one’s name in the Book of Life.              Jesus only through fore-knowledge knew (John 6: 64) that Judas was going to betray Him but the others did not know this; and yet He did not treat him differently to the others.   In Mark 14: 10-21 we read he Lord said, “Woe…” to the one who betrays Him and it is the same today!

 How did Judas fall into this trap even though he partook of the emblems in communion!    HIS HEART WAS NOT RIGHT - there was the love of money besides wanting A POSITION in the Lord’s government.  He also enjoyed the FAME & POPULARITY as a disciple of the Lord. However, soon everything began to change and the popularity of Jesus began to wane and there were many false accusations and there were so many, many opinions of the Lord that caused him DOUBTS in his mind against the Lord!    There was an opportunity to get on the other side and MAKE SOME MONEY too, so he went to the chief priests to betray the Lord.            He was no longer wholly committed unto the Lord nor His cause!  Satan is gaining ground over him and he was not aware of it.  Then after communion and after supper the devil entered him.  Jesus revealed that he was to betray Him and told him to go and do what he had planned to do!  John 13: 20- 27

IS THIS NOT PATHETIC?  ARE THERE NOT SUCH PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST TODAY?  THEIR HEARTS ARE NOT RIGHT WITH GOD AND THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD IS GAINING POWER OVER THEM AND THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF IT?  THEY LIVE DOUBLE LIVES FOR THEIR COMMITMENT AND LOYALITY TO THE LORD AND HIS CAUSE IS DYING.  A LITTLE COMPROMISE OF THE TRUTH (JESUS IS THE TRUTH) TO GAIN SOME PLACE OR POPULARITY SEEMS GOOD.  WE WILL BE WISE TO DO WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS no matter what!       IT MAY COST YOU SOMETHING TO STAND FOR TRUTH BUT IT SHOWS LOYALITY TO HIS WORD WHICH IS FOREVER SETTLED IN HEAVEN AND CANNOT BE CHANGED NO MATTER THE COUNTRY YOU LIVE IN AND ITS CULTURE OR STYLE!  GOD IS OVER ALL, ALL THE TIME AND HE SEES YOUR HEART BEING DIVIDED!  BACKSLIDING STARTS IN THE HEART WHEN YOU ARE FILLED WITH YOUR OWN WAYS AND MOVING AWAY FROM WHAT YOU KNOW IS THE TRUTH!! 

Are you conscious that Jesus Christ knows your heart and all its thoughts?  He sees and knows what is going on while others do not know and you also may be taking communion as a ritual and giving tithes?   In Songs of Solomon 2: 15 we read that the little foxes spoil the vine!      Are you aware of little doubts, or fears, or little habitual sins of lying or stealing or that your worship is no more in spirit and in truth?  Or is there confusion in your following the Lord in the comparisons you make?  THESE ARE LITTLE FOXES, BEWARE!                        

 Is there truth in the inward parts?  And true holiness that you follow whether man understands you or not?  Are you still GOD-CONSCIOUS OR MAN-CONSCIOUS?

1)      Personal interests Vs God’s purposes? 

2)      Compromises Vs Truth of God’s Word? Shady dealings, white lies?

3)      Worldliness Vs holiness?  (Come out from among them, be separate?)

4)      Fleshly/carnal/humanistic views Vs Holy Spirit’s convictions inside?

5)      Love of money Vs neglect of doing the will of God?

6)      A  plastic God Vs the true and the living God?  (He cannot see, He cannot hear you except when you pray etc. etc.

Let us read 1 Cor. 10: 1-10 and let us turn from being led astray or side-tracked by the enemy. Live in the light of God’s Word and know we will each one meet Jesus Christ when we die and let us not hear Him call us “workers of iniquity” for not DOING THE FATHER’S WILL.                    Mt.7: 20-29

You do believe He is coming soon for a Bride without spot or wrinkle, who is Holy and totally committed and loyal to Him and has nothing to do with the works of darkness!  Then this is the time to get ready and adjust your life and know that your heart does not condemn you.  Repent NOW while THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS SPEAKING TO YOU!  There is a way that seems right to a man but the end thereof is death – eternal separation from God which means hell. 

No sin (small or big) will be allowed into Heaven, particularly after Jesus Christ has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself at Calvary!  Sin still separates man from God for God is Holy and Righteous and Just!  If we still continue to willfully sin after we have received the knowledge of truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins; but a fearful looking for of the judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries.  Heb. 10: 22-31

Again, read in  2 Peter 2:15-22  where we are warned not to turn away from the truth, and likens such, as a dog returning to its vomit. 

Let us take a little time and allow the Holy Spirit to search our hearts as we read the Word of God referred to above,  to enable us to set things right NOW. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ in our midst at every gathering and by fore-knowledge knows where you and I will be in eternity (heaven or hell).                                                                        Jesus Christ, the Head of His Church is giving us another opportunity to repent before it is too late for He is not wiling that any should perish, BUT THE CHOICE IS OURS!                      May we not harden our hearts for our Lord is coming soon!                                                Margaret Wright