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Turning Away

“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other.” Matthew 24:10

In June, we talked about persecution and the reality that we all may face at some point. Jesus describes in Matthew 24 how difficult it is going to be. Amid that discussion, He says at one point, when the going gets very tough, many will turn away from the faith. Not “their” faith, but the faith. He is talking about a shared belief system. In a singular definite article, He affirms that there is only one saving faith, and that is faith in Him. And there will be those who are initially drawn to that faith when things are good or beneficial to them, but will turn away and betray and hate each other when standing up for that faith brings hardship, suffering and perhaps even death. He goes on to say, “but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

And this Gospel, the Gospel of “the” faith must be preached to all nations. We can’t deviate from “the” faith. We can’t lessen the implications of “the” faith. The only faith that will sustain us and help us to stand firm to the end is “the” faith.

The question for us today is whether we are living according to “my” faith or according to “the” faith. One will buoy us in difficult times and the other will vanish in the face of hardship. Praise the Lord that “the” faith is a saving faith that endures.

 Prayer Focus: Lord, thank You that we can live today in the realm of “the” faith, a faith that will endure. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to walk in that faith.

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