The Popularity Trap

Since the beginning of time among God’s people, there has been one thing that has remained constant, it is— The popular majority have been WRONG in God’s eyes. Can we expect it to be any different today?  I dare say definitely not, why should it? God’s people(church) have always been those professing to keep His Holy Commandments. That today is the Seventh Day Adventist church. Let’s look at how the “popularity trap”  hasn’t changed, even to this very day.

The Bible,  time after time, is full of stories  and lessons of how the small minority were right with God. I mean it is a truism like clockwork, you have been able to COUNT ON IT! 

In (2 Tim  3:12) it states  ” .. all who will live Godly in Christ Jesus, WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION.”   That means if you are living a nice comfortable life “in Jesus”  something is wrong somewhere! For that verse is a PROMISE. Those who venture into difficult and solemn things from scripture  often become less “popular” if they speak  solemn and straight testimonies. Or even if they attempt to correct a wayward brother or sister.

Let’s look at our Lord’s example of this. In (John 6:56) Jesus said   very hard and difficult words to his “large” disciple group. For He was gaining popularity prior to this. He said  ” He that eats My flesh and drinks My blood, dwells in Me and I in him.”   Wow, up until that point, His words were mostly understood but then Jesus “crossed their line” and said some strange things. Then we read in (John 6:66) “From that time onward, “many” (this word translated means–large amount(of people) walked away from Him, and were NO MORE with Him.” 

Look at that!  All Jesus’ beautiful healings, divine words and teachings He had done prior, meant NOTHING to those who couldn’t and wouldn’t try to understand Him. Jesus “popularity” dropped big time, all because of  doubt and misunderstanding by the people. Is not that what is happening among the faithful ones today?  Those willing to teach and warn the people about the hard and difficult prophecies  soon to come? The “bold” last day “Elijah” message of solemn warning of the great and dreadful day is THE  example for our last days.

This message is basically that the “great and dreadful day” of the Lord is NOT the Lord coming in the clouds in the last day. It is when the Lord “suddenly comes to His Temple” (churches). That is indeed the beginning phase of the judgement for the living. This specific message is solemn and therefore the many who want to be popular above all else will not  join in, in proclaiming it. For a more in depth study of this, see the site below.(Ezekiel’s Vision CD)

Sadly, many today say “Oh, I will not say or teach this or that thing, even if it’s true, or be associated with those who do , because if I do, I’ll lose my friends, and God forbid, nobody will like me anymore.”  My heart  aches as I have seen this up close and it is prevelant among “God’s professed people”. Learning the hard end time truths for the salvation of souls, takes a back seat to their “popularity.”  The few  courageous ones go forward nevertheless, willing to teach and lead as the Holy Spirit leads. They don’t shun away at the thought of “losing popularity” because they are gaining God’s approval and that’s what matters to them. Infact anytime we lose a friend or relative for God’s sake, we are told to rejoice.Not that we have lost them, but that we are counted worthy to suffer, as He did, for the cause of truth.

Ellen White describes how the true people of God don’t wait for truth to become popular “The great obstacle both to acceptance and to promulgation of truth, is the fact that it involves inconvenience and reproach. This is the only agrument against the truth which it’s advocates have never been able to refute. But that does not deter the true followers of Christ. These do not wait for the truth to become popular.” (The great controversy, p.459,460.)

In (Gal. 1:10) “…do I seek to please man? for if I wanted to please man, I should not be a servant of Christ.” (EGW) “No man can be true to principle, with out exciting opposition.” (Desire of Ages p.356)

 Looking down through history, every era of God’s people shows this “unpopular minority” walking upright with God—Noah’s time,Abraham and Lot’s time, Mose’s time, Jesus’ time, Early church time. Dark age’s time, and now OUR TIME.

So as we come into the VERY LAST DAYS, be prepared to either stand for truth and all it consequences (unpopularity) or  stand with your “IN CROWD”, who speak smooth things that you’ll like to hear, blissfully ignorant of the straight and solemn work our Lord has promised to do very shortly among His people.

Brothers and Sisters, if you honestly ask of the Lord this prayer ‘Lord, I want your truth, and I am willing to take a stand for it, please show it clearly to me, that I may join up with those who know your truths and are professing them.”   He’ll be faithful to answer you.

 in Christ,  Rob

http://www.11th-hourministries.org/audio/cd_request.html

4 Responses to “The Popularity Trap”

  1. Teri Says:

    This is all very new to me and I want to learn this. I liked how you put this all together.You make it very easy to follow and I enjoyed reading this. Thank you Rob. 🙂

  2. godsloveandlaw Says:

    Hi Teri, I am very happy to hear that you want to know more about the last day’s message. In that site (11th Hour ministries) you can click it and you’ll find a page to order 4 free CD’s. These are very helpful in beginning to know the message that is going out today for God’s people. After this, and you’ve had a chance to listen to them, contact me and we can do more in depth studies, In Christ, Rob

  3. Teri Says:

    Hi Rob, I am sorry for the error of my comment posting incorrectly to “The Popularity Trap” instead of on “Has Elijah Come? Part 1″‏
    blog. I just don’t want other readers to be confused as a result of my mistake. Thank you for the “11th Hour ministries” information for the free CD’s. 🙂 As a new SDA it is vital that I get caught up with the rest of you.
    Maranatha, Teri

  4. godsloveandlaw Says:

    No problem, do try and order those though, you’ll be blessed!

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