The Apostle Paul warns in letters to Timothy and to the Thessalonians of an end time apostasy. It is termed “the falling away” in II Thessalonians 2:3. He warns also of the degeneration and weakening of the state of Christianity in general that would take place in the final days of this age. He warned that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine” (II Timothy 4:3), and that people “would have a form of godliness (religion), but denying the power thereof” (II Timothy 3:5). Very few today comply with the admonishment spoken to us in I Corinthians 16:13, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit ye (be brave) like men, be strong.” The following is taken from a short tract and is very applicable to the times. “It is human to stand with the crowd; it is divine to stand alone. It is manlike to follow the people, to drift with the tide; it is God-like to follow a principle, to stem the tide. It is natural to compromise conscience and follow the social and religious fashion for the sake of gain or pleasure; it is divine to sacrifice both on the altar of truth and duty. “No man stood with me, but all men forsook me,” wrote the battle scarred apostle (Paul) in describing his first appearance before Nero to answer for his life for believing and teaching contrary to the Roman world. Truth has been out of fashion since man changed his robe of fadeless light for a garment of faded leaves. Noah built and voyaged alone. His neighbors laughed at his strangeness and perished in style. Abraham wandered and worshipped alone. Sodomites smiled at the simple shepherd, followed the fashion, and fed the flames. Daniel dined and prayed alone. Elijah sacrificed and witnessed alone. Jeremiah prophesied and wept alone. Jesus loved and died alone.” Of the lonely way His disciples should walk, Jesus said, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). Of their treatment by the many who walk in the broad way, He said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of world,therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19). The church in the wilderness praised Abraham and persecuted Moses and Aaron. The church in the times of kings praised Moses and persecuted prophets. The church of Caiaphas praised prophets and persecuted Jesus. The church of the popes praised the Savior and Mary and persecuted saints. Wanted! Men and women, young and old, who will obey their convictions of truth and duty at the cost of fortune and friends and life itself if need be. “Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach” (Hebrews 13:12-13).
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