For the faithful men and women across America, there has never been in our lifetime a more urgent need for us to be discerning. Discernment is lacking, even among our leadership, to say the least. Deception is great and growing greater day by day. Of course, we understand that Satan is our enemy and one of his tactics is simply to deceive. The scripture warns us, that in the last days deception will be so prevalent that if possible, even the elect of God would be deceived.

After reviewing a recent “Lifeway Research” study of the evangelical church in America, it definitely reveals how our spiritual enemy has conquered many hearts and minds, that profess to be believers. This jaw dropping information says one primary thing to a true man of God. Unregenerate membership is high in our ranks. The need for evangelism in the church is great and absolutely vital. As Paul Washer of HeartCry Ministries might say, “People are not gospel hardened, they are gospel ignorant.”

Now, for the Christian this is not only a clarion call to be the witness for Christ that we’re commanded to be, but it’s time to pursue God like never before. This pursuit of God is a task that only the true child of God can take, and it’s often lonely and difficult. You must understand that before any person can pursue God, God Himself must have first sought after you. John 6:44 says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” The person that is born again, a work of the Holy Spirit then finds himself in a pursuit never taken before. God births in us, this new nature with a heartbeat that beats for God Himself.

Christian let me encourage you to go after God! There is nothing else that will satisfy the call that God has given you to know Him deeper, a depth that no other being can ever know. Psalm 42:1-2, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? This is the red-hot pursuit that we are to be engaged. This is not the standard, “I go to church on Sunday” thing. This is to be the desire of the Christian heart and soul. To God be the glory!

Pastor Scott Tyler

Oak Street Baptist Church