“Funny, y’know? After all the highways, and the trains, and the appointments, and the years, you end up worth more dead than alive.”

Willy Loman – Death of a Salesman

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.”

Henry David Thoreau

Where is hope? Today we see so much despair and outright desperation as people are losing any hope of a better tomorrow. Do we truly work and toil our entire lives only to end up worth more dead than alive? Does the mass of people live lives of quiet desperation? Sadly as we see it today, more so than any time I can recall, the answer would be yes.

However – we are not forsaken – we are not without hope. Some of the most powerful words ever written reveal from whence our hope is firmly established and forever validated.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23: 39-43

These verses from the Gospel of Luke represent the perfection of God’s love for all mankind. This moment in time reflects the entirety of the Gospel message – the Good News – as it demonstrates the availability of redemption to anyone and everyone without exception.

What we see transcends words as it puts all promises into action. The scene described is the apogee of the earthly ministry of Jesus culminating at the cross. Having been savagely beaten and stripped of all humanity, Jesus is suspended on a cross between two criminals, fulfilling his purpose by giving his life as a sacrifice for all. To one side a thief mocks him, but to the other side, we see a man acquiesce to his own guilt – “we are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve” – and in one lucid pronouncement, he professes his faith while acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

It is candid and compelling – and it speaks to everyone inclusively – it doesn’t matter who you are, what your social status may be, or what you may have done. In the book of Romans, chapter 10 verses 9 and 10, the Apostle Paul explains it in similar terms.

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Just as the thief demonstrated on the cross by calling upon Jesus to remember him – in that one moment of undivided surrender – he was saved. Jesus did not place additional requirements upon him, He extended God’s perfect grace upon his entire being.

Today we have so many people that are placing their faith in governments and man-made institutions to somehow fix what is wrong. Imagine the arrogance of those that truly believe that nature and weather can be controlled. They will tell you how wrong mankind has been while they exert control over every aspect of human life as if this will bring about some dystopian social order. They claim to seek love and inclusion – yet their actions display hatred and segregation. The world does not know truth because they have rejected the one that is truth. If you cannot understand truth – you can never demonstrate love. Everything is preconditioned in this world. They preach inclusion yet their actions exclude anyone that doesn’t accept and align all thoughts and ideas within their predetermined boundaries of tolerance.

It should be no surprise to anyone as to the “why” we see this in our world today. The one who controls our society is appropriately known as the father of lies. The battles that are now coming out of the darkness in recent years are accurately described in Ephesians 6:12,

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

To further contrast the worldly realm versus the mercy of Jesus – governments claim to have solutions but those are forced upon their subjects through regulations and laws. Fail to comply and the consequences are often brutal. Jesus offers the one true path of freedom and peace and He says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelations 3:20

Jesus gave his life for us and paid our debts that we could never pay on our own. Yet his way is never forced upon anyone, He stands at the door and knocks. There is no regulation of thought or laws to be enforced. The free gift is there for anyone to receive – without conditions – but you must answer the door and open your heart.

Today we have Russia at war with Ukraine while China is making aggressive overtones towards Taiwan and the West. North Korea continues to assert its presence through the random firing of ballistic missiles while warning of an imminent nuclear war. COVID-19 made its way around the world while the origins remain unknown or purposely hidden – resulting in the loss of millions of lives.

When the disciples asked Jesus what signs will indicate his pending return and the end of the world, he replied –

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Matthew 24: 6-8

There is meaning and purpose in these words – these very signs are prevalent right now in our world. Deny if you will, at your own peril, or take heed and understand – time is running out.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) continued its push for what they call “The Great Reset” at their 2023 meetings in Davos, Switzerland. This press release published by Euronews addresses one of the five key talking points from the latest summit and is titled The Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“Technology and innovation are always key to all discussions at Davos. This year in particular, talk is turning to what many are calling a Fourth Industrial Revolution. Increased interconnectivity, as well as advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, are bringing with them thorny issues around governance. Historically, regulation has been slow to keep pace with the surge in technological advancements. Increasingly, governments are choosing to take a more localized approach to this, especially given concerns over their country’s national security. However, with many crises now presenting themselves all at once – climate, war, cybersecurity, and so on – a more globalist approach is needed to unlock the potential of innovation to help solve the greatest challenges we are facing. What would this mean? On a base level, it would require greater cooperation between companies and at a higher level, countries – to build trust and put safeguards in place.”

The recurring theme throughout their proclamations is the need for “greater cooperation” and “a more globalist approach.” To anyone paying attention, these efforts are laying the groundwork for a one-world system – one ruler, one form of currency, and one allegiance.

I will conclude with the following excerpts from Revelation chapters 6 and 13.

The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast. They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against it?” The beast was given a mouth to utter boasts and blasphemies. It was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It began to speak blasphemies against God: to blaspheme his name and his dwelling—those who dwell in heaven.

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. It also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in front of people. It deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs that it is permitted to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image[k] of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. It was permitted to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And it makes everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, because it is the number of a person. Its number is 666.

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

I don’t believe anyone can look around and not see the darkness and evil that is permeating our world. The words I share from the book of Revelation may seem foreign to many or beyond understanding but know this, Jesus revealed this glimpse of future events to John the Apostle, and we see a hellish nightmare take shape as the world welcomes a new leader…Antichrist along with the false prophet…in which not one person will be able to buy or sell without taking his mark upon their bodies. This period of time will culminate in the war that will end all wars, but you do not have to be here to suffer this terrible wrath. It is closer than ever – but remember, there is that narrow path that leads away from this terrible outcome – it is the way of the Cross. Pathway to Salvation

There has been a paradigm shift, an intentional dissymmetry, resulting in a chaotic helter-skelter. Unfortunately many will embrace a form of statement abnegation rather than confront their neoteric prodigious existence.

The world has reached a crossroads – the choice of which way to proceed lies within our own hearts and minds. Does one advance along the broad path that leads to destruction or take up the narrow path toward redemption? This choice weighs eternal upon every soul – ignorance or purposeful denial will cost you everything.

Where do you find yourself – a life of quiet desperation or a life of peace beyond human understanding? The choice is yours to make. You can allow the world to dictate the outcome or you can choose the path that leads to life eternal.

What is truth? What is love? Jesus proclaimed “I am the way, the truth, and the life” and further stated, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Writhing in pain, slowly bleeding out from the beating he had received, hanging on that rugged cross – while people mocked him and divided his belongings among themselves – Jesus looked down upon them with compassion as He asked God, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Then he said, “It is finished” and he completed his purposeful mission of laying down his very life for us.

If you would like to know more about true love, acceptance, redemption, and peace, or if you would like someone to pray for you, simply follow this link and reach out to our team today. Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments

Remember that God created you in His image and Jesus laid down his life for you. God does not want any to perish and you do not have to suffer the coming wrath that will one day come upon this lost world. Take a stand, do not simply fall in line – step out and seek the narrow path – time is running out.

You can also read more in this link – “The Way, the Truth and the Life”

May God truly bless you and we thank you for visiting our site. We hope you will come back often and share our site with others. If you’ve chosen the path of salvation, we challenge you to step up and share your testimony with the people that God brings into your life. If you would like to use our ministry cards to help in that conversation simply follow this link and say “I would like your free ministry cards to help in sharing the good news” and include a mailing address and we’ll ship them to you at no cost. Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments

John Stephen Frey, Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons.

“Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;
And all the clouds that lour’d upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.”

This remarkable prose is taken from the brilliant opening soliloquy of Shakespeare’s Richard III. Taken within their intended context the orator is celebrating the bright future ahead as they pass from despair into the glorious summer of a new era.

Unfortunately, our world is marching in lockstep toward our own winter of discontent and desolation. Pulitzer Prize-winning author, John Steinbeck, set forth his own elucidated rendition of man’s inner struggles in the aptly titled novel The Winter of our Discontent. Through Steinbeck’s protagonist, Ethan Allen Hawley, we grotesquely peer through the eyes of one man as he struggles through setbacks and tragedy, eventually embracing every immoral concession, to reimagine a niche of narcissistic personage.

I draw reference to Steinbeck’s Hawley as the exemplar of modern-day politicians and challenge you with this query, do the ends justify the means? This dissatisfaction with circumstances befallen our hero allows for the discontent to evolve into a caustic coalescence of envy and entitlement resulting in a moral betrayal of self-justified profit over societal jurisprudence.

Suffice it to say I challenge anyone to contradict these assertions that our failed society at large is the result of our collective malaise towards those that have traded moral value for their own rapacious remunerations. Have we not watched as the world has crumbled, nations struggling to find leadership, while self-serving demagogues manipulate nation against nation to achieve their evil outcomes? The winter of our discontent is now upon us.

When Steinbeck wrote these words it would seem as if he had been given the opportunity to peer through the glass darkly upon our world today. “Strength and success – they are above morality, above criticism.” Societal norms have become this win-at-all-costs objective that places desired outcomes above any moral standard or rule of law. Blind faith in supporting a platform of liberal progressivism has unleashed a set of ideals furthered through equivocation often lacking in details. The words are ambiguous at best which is why the leftist cognoscenti avoid debate – as if they haven’t the time to waste on trivialities – preferring to hide behind their ever-present cloak of identity politics. Speak out against these socialist/communist ideals and you’ll be declared a fascist or worse. This would seem to confirm beyond any reasonable doubt for our current-day provocateurs – the ends justify the means.

This approach is nothing new and to ascribe it to one side only would be to mislead ourselves, and in so doing, become guilty of that which we despise. Ah, but therein lies the entry point to this endeavor of wills. Those with the dirtiest hands often cast aspersions with the loudest voice. It’s a subterfuge of lies, the guilty projecting upon other persons or groups the very misdeeds with which they find themselves buried up to their own necks. When Paul Pelosi, husband to the former Speaker of the House, was attacked in his own home, several prominent democrats lashed out at the right and accused them of inciting extremist violence before any material facts were known. Don’t let the facts get in the way of another political opportunity to advance an agenda. To be clear, violence has no place in our society regardless of motivation and those involved should be held to account for their actions. However, you won’t find any of these same accusers – try as you might – calling out the highest-ranking leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, for his words aimed at members of our nation’s highest court.

Speaking before a crowd of abortion rights activists on the steps of the Supreme Court where justices were hearing a challenge to a Louisiana law that required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, Schumer blatantly threatened the justices –

“I want to tell you, Gorsuch; I want to tell you, Kavanaugh; You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”

More recently former Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot got in on the act tweeting the following – “To my friends in the LGBTQ+ community – the Supreme Court is coming for us next. This moment has to be a call to arms.”

Apparently lost in the recent rhetoric of insanity attempting to link Trump and his supporters to the attack on Pelosi is this fact – not long after Schumer uttered his threats of violence at Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, police arrested a California man near the home of Justice Kavanaugh armed with a Glock 17 pistol, ammunition, a knife, zip ties, pepper spray, duct tape and other items that he confessed to police he’d planned to use to break into Kavanaugh’s home and kill him.

All of this is what I call autocratic gaslighting which is nothing more than one side projecting their own sins upon their political opponents in order to gain a self-defined moral high ground, seeing themselves as being above reproach, all for the sake of victory at any price. (You can read more on this subject through this link – Autocratic Gaslighting )

However, maybe it is time to take a step back, look at our world and ask the question – what prize are we hoping to win? We are distracted by the pettiness of our politicians while we lose sight of the larger world around us falling into chaos. That’s not to say we shouldn’t engage in our elections, by all means, we should make our voices heard and participate in the voting process. But don’t allow a finite worldview to replace the more important eternal pursuits that believers in Christ must strive to attain.

Jesus posed the following question,

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:37

Steinbeck wrote, “In business and in politics a man must carve and maul his way through men to get to be King of the mountain.” Winning at any cost to gain the whole world while forfeiting one’s soul. When we exist within the confines of a limited worldview it can be easy to forget that our battles are not to be waged man against man. Adhere to these words from the Apostle Paul,

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6 : 12-18

What we see today is that present darkness to which Paul referred, the spiritual forces of evil, revealing themselves through the manipulations of our world. In the books of Ezekiel and Revelation, there exist descriptions of a leader, Gog, and the land of Magog, rising up in battle against Israel. These are described as end-times prophesies of what will be and the interpretations by many theologians would take days to even begin to explain but suffice it to say, most all conclude, this land of Magog represents Russia, Iran and Turkey, and other eastern block nations that will join together against a common enemy.

According to recent reports on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, we see right before us, Russian and Iranian troops working side-by-side fighting in Ukraine. This unholy alliance is staggering when you consider the eschatology of the Bible. What should come as little surprise is the support expressed by Erdogan of Turkey. In fact, in July of 2022, a summit was convened in Tehran that included Putin, Erdogan, and the leaders of Iran in a blatant anti-American alliance that includes Iran’s terrorist proxies such as Hezbollah. As a result, Iran finds itself comfortably exporting oil and weapons and attracting foreign investments, despite Western sanctions. When asked about the possibility of advanced Iranian weapons being sold to Russia, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin weakly stated, “We would advise Iran to not do that. We think that’s a really, really bad idea.” In response to these anemic remarks, Iran began exporting many advanced weapons, including unmanned drones, to Russia – along with troops for support – to directly aid in the fight with Ukraine. This emboldened unholy alliance seems to prove the feeble West is unable to bring any real pressure to bear against Iran and its ongoing pursuit of full-scale nuclear capabilities.

We must keep in mind, as Jan Markel of Olive Tree Ministries often says, “The world is not falling apart, it is falling into place according to God’s plans.” If you are a true believer in Christ you have a calling to be salt and light in an ever-darkening world. We have to understand that so many around us do not know the truth of the gospel and if we don’t share the good news of salvation – who will? The attacks on our morals, our beliefs, and our nation’s foundations are painful and hurtful but we have to arm ourselves with the truth and stand firmly on God’s principles. We should participate eagerly in our civic duties and vote in support of candidates and resolutions that support our Godly principles but we should also strive to avoid labeling those that oppose our values as our enemies. All have been created by God, in His own image, and those that reject Him are given over to their own evil ways. They are unable to decipher truth from lies and thus fall under the spell of evil cast by the father of lies.

In conclusion, Jesus offered these words of hope and instruction when asked by his disciples about the end times and His own return.

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24 : 3-14

Returning to the words of Steinbeck through his protagonist he offers these words of observation, “Intention, good or bad, is not enough. There’s an awful lot of inactive kindness which is nothing but laziness, not wanting any trouble, confusion, or effort.”

As we find ourselves in this Winter of our Discontent we must challenge ourselves in every possible way. What do we believe and where do we stand. Do you go along simply to fit in, not wanting to draw undesired attention? Do you know what you believe? If you believe in Jesus and have taken that step of faith, as defined in Romans 10: 9-10, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved,” then you should live your life as a beacon of light, allowing the world to see the love of Christ in everything that you do. If you would like our help in sharing the good news with others, reach out to us at this link and simply request our free ministry cards that you can use as a way to start that conversation. Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments

If you are unsure or have not accepted Christ, please do not put it off any longer, use the link provided above to request prayer, ask questions, or simply say “I want to know more” and we will be there for you. This world is a dark place but I can assure you that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Once you place your faith in Him you will find true and everlasting peace.

God bless you for visiting our site and reading our messages. Please come back often and be sure to share our site with others. We encourage those seeking answers about faith in Christ to read the following messages linked below.

Pathway to Salvation

The Way, the Truth and the Life

John Stephen Frey – Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons Ministry

The Continental Divide, also known as The Great Divide, extends from northern Alaska southward across North America, then continues through Central and finally South America where it ends. This prominent divide of the continent, in very basic terms, separates the hydrological features and watersheds, thus forming the pattern of the rivers while influencing the runoff towards the Pacific and Atlantic oceans as well as the Gulf of Mexico. While there exist several lesser divides in North America, this Great Divide, as it is known, represents the primary divide across the entire continent.

In today’s world a prophetic divide is growing, separating the spiritual realms – a tug-of-war between good and evil – that will determine the flow of humanity towards it’s final destination for all eternity. This reality should be of little surprise to anyone, whether a believer or not, as the topic of end times prophesy has grown in earnest over recent decades pointing towards the rapture of the church and the coming tribulation. Ironically as these signs are revealed at an unprecedented rate, many a pulpit has chosen to look the other way as opposed to preaching this most important message in these perilous times. Whether that message is accepted or not is up to the listener, but keep in mind that God has always demonstrated great patience and gives warnings so that all of creation might be saved. But that patience will run out and consequences will follow.

“The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Before the great flood there were warnings for more than ten decades but humanity in general ignored the call to righteousness and the consequences were devastating. Likewise with Sodom and Gomorrah, warnings went unheeded, indulgence in all forms of depravity became the norm and the consequences soon followed. Now today – the warnings are prevalent – God has gone to great lengths through the many prophesies given in His Word to alert the world to turn back from evil as the end is drawing near, but the great majority do not want to hear it.

However, both inside the church and beyond, the spiritual divide is growing and choices are being made – eternal decisions that will not be reversible once the door to redemption is closed. Many denominations around the globe are compromising the Word of God in order to placate an increasingly intolerant mindset from the masses in order to avoid persecution or to simply fit in with the woke crowd. Celebrating their own version of tolerance while sharing a message of lies through omission by failing to teach the entire Word of God. Why do some churches even bother? Let’s be clear – if we can’t address our sin problem – then what’s the point? If there is no sin then there is no need for a Savior.

Persecution to those that stand firmly in the truth of scripture is coming, Jesus made that very clear, and He also defined the expectations of a true follower and I challenge all believers to compare His words to what you see and hear in your church – if it doesn’t align, you have to speak up and question the message – and find the truth.

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:10-16

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26

How does the feel good verbosity of the prosperity message and the “Be your best self” grandiloquence find any commonality with a faith that requires you to deny self and take up a cross to follow our Lord Jesus? The answer – it doesn’t – period. We have end times fast approaching, a lost world in desperate need of redemption – so stop with the rancid self-serving hypocrisy of these religious ponzi schemes – it’s time to focus on Christ above all else.

This world is growing darker by the minute as wars and the rumors of wars are being waged all around us. The United States has withdrawn from Afghanistan and it has quickly fallen back under the control of the Taliban. In one of the most heartbreaking visuals that I’ve ever seen, people so desperate to escape the war-torn region were grasping the landing gear of departing military transports, only to fall hundreds of feet to their deaths.

A rather interesting alignment has occurred in the immediate aftermath of the ill-fated and disastrous US withdrawal. ABC news reported on August 16th that France, Poland, Germany and most other nations had evacuated their embassy personnel and other support workers including many Afghanis. But not all countries see these developments as cause for action. China, Russia, and Turkey have stayed put, in fact, China announced their intentions to cooperate with the new government that, as they so glibly referenced, would be chosen by the Afghan people. Russia’s embassy was being protected by Taliban forces as they advanced throughout Kabul and Erdogan of Turkey reiterated his country’s plans to remain involved and active inside Afghanistan. Keep in mind, they are willingly and almost eagerly announcing their intentions as if this is a bright and wonderful new day inside Afghanistan, while the Taliban – a United Nations listed terror organization – is setting up shop inside the presidential palace.

Would you simply consider this as some form of coincidence that the Bible references in Ezekiel chapter 38 the armies and lands that will gather against Israel in the end times and they include some familiar names. Rosh and Magog have been researched to include the territories of the former Soviet Union, which today would include Russia, Afghanistan and portions of southern Russia North of the Black Sea. Libya is called by name while Meshech and Tubal refer to portions of modern day Turkey, southern Russia, and portions of Iran. Last but certainly not least, there is Persia, which at its height, it encompassed the areas of modern-day Iran, Egypt, Turkey, and parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. These alliances are taking shape – the war to end all wars is approaching.

The finger pointing and blame game that has replaced leadership is already churning out rhetoric at a record pace. Elected officials that have provided little by way of solutions are falling all over themselves racing to blame others.

Liz Cheney made the rounds of the Sunday morning network propaganda shows and blamed Trump and Biden for the catastrophe that is unfolding in Afghanistan. I’m not sure Liz Cheney even knows what political party she represents but remember the fruit does not fall far from the tree and this rotten apple lays at the base of a war-mongering demagogue.

Biden took his turn as well, blaming the Trump administration for not solving the issue during their term – but somehow not faulting his own eight years with Obama in which they continued the status quo, but why should anyone expect common sense or decency from Washington, DC.

The bigger question is how did the United States get it so wrong in the first place? It is beyond troubling, in fact the grievous errors in judgement are shocking – just take the message given only a few weeks ago by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with the participation and support of the US Secretary of Defense.

Gen. Mark Milley told reporters during a press conference with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin that despite the narrative that the Taliban is winning, the Afghan Security Forces “have the capacity to sufficiently fight and defend their country. A negative outcome, a Taliban automatic military takeover, is not a foregone conclusion.”

Did they truly miscalculate the outcome this poorly or is there something else at work? It seems hard to believe given all the resources of the United States in gathering intelligence and monitoring the world that they did not see this coming. Trump was quick to place the blame firmly on the shoulders of Biden – and if you’ve paid any attention to this feeble minded lifetime bureaucrat that carries the title of President, its pretty easy to draw this conclusion – but then one would have to assume Biden is actually calling the shots in this administration. Consider this reality, the President of the United States, the same man that today said he “stands behind the decision to withdraw forces from Afghanistan,” spent the last three days at the presidential retreat at Camp David while that same nation in reference collapsed. His response was to return to the White House to give a brief afternoon speech where he blamed the previous administration and the Afghan government, then immediately turned away – taking no questions from the press – hopped on the helicopter and returned to Camp David. Why would the leader of the United States be sequestered away from the public and media at this most consequential juncture playing out on the world stage? What is really going on and who is actually making the decisions from the Oval Office?

There are dark forces at work in this world that are pulling the strings and making very informed decisions. Let’s just be honest, Joe Biden is the epitome of what’s known as the “useful idiot” – that person that has no true ideology – content with the title, while the puppet masters control the agenda. The World Economic Forum (WEF), Klaus Schwab, George Soros, Bill Gates, et al, have “The Great Reset” to push in support of their utopian one-world governing body. Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a prime role in this “fourth industrial revolution” that will oversee a redistribution of wealth, penalties levied for carbon production, and with the eager participation of the current Pope – a one-world religion that embraces all forms of perceived godliness – but rejects the one path laid out by Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul warned of this directly in 2 Timothy chapter 3 when he referred to the terrible times of the last days…“lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”

Which brings me back to the question of how did the US get this so wrong? In reality, did they get it wrong or does this serve the greater needs of those that are truly calling the shots – a destabilized Arab world plays right into the hands of those looking to advance a one-world alliance while setting the stage to once and for all conquer the nation of God’s chosen people. The spirit of the antichrist is moving rapidly across the deeply unsettled and turbulent waters that represent the demonic madness engulfing society as we know it.

“And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, ‘Come and see.’ And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat upon him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” Revelation 6:7-8

Do you hear that sound in the distance – the inevitable hoof beats of the coming apocalypse.

America is weak and apparently confused regarding it’s own Middle East policies. Russia has already used the chaos in Syria to it’s advantage in moving assets for war into the region. Israel has ousted Prime Minister Netanyahu while installing a patchwork coalition government that includes for the first time the party that represents the Palestinians. Iran continues to move aggressively towards securing nuclear capabilities and China, perhaps emboldened by the weakness on display from Biden, has begun moving a large naval and air contingent into the waters surrounding Taiwan. The threat of an American response has held back the Chinese for years, but now sensing the decline from the West, may seem like the perfect time to move on a strategic island they have long coveted. The stage is set – look around and take stock in where we are in this world of today – it is a grim picture of a civilization teetering on the brink of annihilation. This is without even mentioning the worldwide pandemic that is continuing to surge along with the wildfires, earthquakes (Haiti 7.2), volcanoes – the list goes on and on. For those not familiar with prophesy, this is a biblical checklist that has been marked complete – there is nothing left unfulfilled at this point – meaning the faithful should look up and the seeker should get on their knees and ask Jesus into their hearts.

And the Lord Jesus said, “Simon, Simon (Peter), behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for you, that thy faith shall not fail: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22:31-32

The earth is being sifted like wheat, separating the good from the bad, and in so doing, each of us has a choice upon which side to stand. Evil has come out of the darkness and is on full display in every imaginable way. Believers should already stand apart from the rest having answered the call to not be conformed to this world, but to stand for Truth. If your light is not shining through the darkness you must ask yourself why? Is it hidden away out of fear?

The world is lost and we are the light, but if we hide that light under a bushel then what good are we? Share the gospel, as Charles Spurgeon exhorted, “anywhere and everywhere!” We should feel anguish in our hearts to know that “narrow is the gate and few will find it.”  Get involved, don’t wait for someone else to take up the charge, follow our Lord’s instructions and lead the way.

Join our COMMUNITY MISSIONS TEAM by requesting our free ministry cards to help you share your faith with others. Simply go to this link and say, “I would like your ministry cards to help me share my faith in Jesus with others” and don’t forget to include your mailing address so we can get your cards in the mail without delay. 

To the doubters and non-believers, take a good look around, the world is crumbling right before our very eyes – just as the Bible prophesied. One day soon you may find yourself as one of millions that have been left behind to face what Daniel prophesied as the “Time of Jacob’s trouble” – a seven year period of tribulation that will experience the rise of the antichrist. That is why our message is urgent – we do not want anyone to miss the opportunity to come to know Jesus before it is too late.  If you have not made that profession of faith, don’t put it off any longer.  Read our message Pathway to Salvation and then reach out to us with any questions or to request prayer support and we will be there for you.  You can reach us through this link Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments and we will respond. 

Romans chapter 10, verses 9 and 10 gives us the following guidance to salvation:  

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

God Bless you for visiting our site and reading our messages – we hope they encourage believers and speak to the hearts of those searching for salvation.

John Stephen Frey, Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons Ministry

The phrase “Love thy neighbor” gets tossed around somewhat frequently and is quite often misrepresented by those with an underlying agenda.  One recent example found the Vice-President overtly weaponizing the term to marginalize the unvaccinated.  Regardless of a person’s reasoning or intent behind their choice to vaccinate or not – it was made clear – if you remain unvaccinated you obviously do not love your neighbor.  You can read our take on that example here Autocratic Gaslighting.  

This represents one of many misapplications of biblical terms and phrases in order to support an agenda yet it happens inside and outside the church with unfortunate frequency. If we choose to select specific bible verses, we have a responsibility, as a believer in the Word, to bring it forth with clarity and within the proper context. Often times non-believers will delve into the scriptures in an effort to expose perceived hypocrisies or other contradictions with the ultimate goal of discrediting an individual, organization, or the Bible itself. It’s nothing new by any stretch – this fallen world screams for tolerance – yet displays zero tolerance to those that disagree with their agenda. In similar fashion, some progressive groups rant against systemic racism – then display unmitigated reverse-racism and bigotry in their attacks on others. Double-dealing duplicity at its finest with apparently no regard for seeking actual solutions.

Let’s take a brief moment to explore the term “Love Thy Neighbor.” In so doing, we will clarify the context and applications, followed with a true challenge to see how closely you can adhere to this term – whether you identify as a believer in Christ or not. It’s one thing to express the term, love thy neighbor, or similar expressions extolling tolerance and acceptance, but many never find a way to bridge the gap between expression versus practical application. When hatred and vengeance are driving the narrative, the calls for love, tolerance and acceptance become meaningless drivel added to the massive unintelligible abyss whose contributors are nothing more than disingenuous dilettantes.

It sounds easy enough when you call for everyone to love one another, but if you don’t truly understand the concept of love from a biblical standpoint, you miss the point entirely. That is what becomes so very common when a lost world that has rejected God picks up the Bible to command that we love one another as we love ourselves. In their version of love it often becomes merged with the concepts of tolerance and acceptance. This is where it all goes off the rails and leads to confusion resulting in nothing more than a misappropriation of ideals shoved down our proverbial throats.

The love of God is uniquely described by C.S. Lewis as you will read further in this message as a charitable love that reaches the highest distinctions of sacrifice and mercy. God is love, as our heavenly Father, and it is very important to understand why we are given this paternal reference in our spiritual relationship to the Creator. Being the perfect Father to mankind, God does not lay out boundaries, laws, and guidelines in order to punish us – to the contrary, as with any good parent, He knows the traps that await us and directs us away from those things that will ultimately destroy our souls should we choose certain paths in life. This is an all-encompassing love, a sacrificial selfless love – knowing we are born into a sinful and fallen world – this love provides redemption through Christ’s ultimate sacrifice that is accompanied by God’s written Word that guides us through life with protections built in so that we may avoid the destructive and damaging consequences of our own sinful nature.

This recipe of tolerance and acceptance mixed with a blend of “biblical love” – often accompanied by the other widely misused passages of 1 Corinthians chapter 13 – leads many inside and outside of the church, those that do not understand God’s nature or His Word, down a dark path of compromise that might seem right on the surface but only leads to destruction.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Without a true knowledge and understanding of God’s love, those that cherry-pick verses in an exercise of self-serving justification, risk their very being in the process. How many times has a non-believer tried to guilt or shame Christians by referencing these verses, misrepresenting the portion that love “keeps no record of wrongs” while ignoring the follow-up that “love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” Love becomes weaponized as a justification to allow for the pursuit of all pleasures without boundaries and emboldens those that hate God to try and shut down the influence of good over evil.

This mixed messaging, the co-opting of scripture for self-serving purposes, has found its way inside the church and those that should be leaders in the faith are buying into this desire to appear all inclusive and all loving – which is nothing more than choosing popularity over purpose. Certainly it is not an easy path to resist compromise, but more than ever, the lost in this evil world need to hear the Truth if they are to have any chance at finding redemption and learning what God’s true love is all about. Churches all across the globe are falling into the dangerous trap of compromise, or to use today’s vernacular – “becoming woke” – but they have no excuse, they have been warned. Paul laid out the dire warnings in his writings to Timothy.

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

This is so prevalent in our world today, all the descriptors exist in our society, and more people, just like the example shared earlier of our vice-president quoting the bible, “having a form of godliness but denying its power.” The warning is clear, turn away from such people, yet many can’t resist and embrace these twisted theologies developed to serve a godless society.

What is love?

In his radio broadcasts on the BBC in the late 1950s, later transcribed into a book titled The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis shared his philosophical and theological differentiation of what he categorized as the four types of love: Friendship, Affection, Eros, and Charity. He identified Affection, Friendship, and Eros as “natural” loves, while Charity was given a higher distinction of love that is defined by the maxim “God is love” – the premise that underlies all of his arguments. While outlining the benefits and potential dangers found within each type, he demonstrated how they illuminate distinct aspects of God’s character.

The topic of love becomes quite detailed and complicated as Lewis divides and separates “likes” from “loves.” Further distinction is applied as “need-loves,” such as how an infant needs it mother, to “gift-loves” which are free from need or reciprocity, and “appreciative love” that represents an admiration for a feeling of aesthetic or physical qualities.  He gives an example of a cool breeze on a hot day, whereby an individual might have a great appreciation for the breeze although it is lacking of any inherent quality apart from that particular moment.  

In moving beyond semantics, Lewis dissects Charity, which he values as the ultimate distillation of God’s love manifested in the world. He submits the position that God’s Charity “is what caused him to create the world upon which his children could grow, learn, flourish, and perfect themselves.” The entirety of the book is seen by many as a practical guide to living a better, more charitable life, or as one peer review stated, “a pure intellectual exercise as Lewis follows his reasoning as far as he is able. It contains much of value for people of faith and non-believers alike.”

Love is mostly defined in human terms as an emotion, yet the Bible demonstrates a love that transcends emotions and feelings by ascribing sacrificial actions.  Jesus said the following, 

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”                    John 15:13

While most of us would never be called to such a level of sacrifice it shows how high the bar is set in defining the love that God demonstrates to us, His creation, along with the expectation for our love towards others. Believers are compelled to show unconditional love to our neighbors – the same love that Jesus extended to us in laying down His very life on our behalf – and reinforced when he stated the following: 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.”   John 13:34

In studying the Bible, we see that “love thy neighbor as yourself” was first decreed in the old testament.  In Leviticus chapter 19, God commanded Moses to instruct the Jews to “love your neighbor as yourself.”  In this context it was understood that neighbor referred to their fellow Israelites.  During Jesus ministry on earth, he expanded the definition beyond the Jews in responding to queries and related challenges to the law and scripture.  

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:36-40

“Who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:29

At this point, Jesus laid it out in no uncertain terms and once again we are reminded, as believers, the standard is set very high.  He made his point by sharing the parable of the good Samaritan, but it helps to understand the backdrop of this narrative to fully appreciate the practical application it brings forth.  Samaritans in that time were despised in all neighboring regions, seen as heretics for worshiping idols and for their mixed-ethnicity and perceived ignorance.  In today’s terminology they would be considered “deplorables.” 

Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”    And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do thou likewise.”   Luke 10:30-37 

Examine these words closely – this self-righteous jurist posed the question thinking to justify himself – but Jesus gives the example through a parable and then with great precision turns the question around, “so which of these three do you think was neighbor to him…?” In so doing,  the question became who proved he was the good neighbor by his actions? The obvious answer is he that showed mercy and kindness to a stranger in need.  The call is to all believers from our Lord – “Go, and do thou likewise.”  We are all neighbors and we see that biblical love is an extension of grace, a life of humble compassion and putting others needs ahead of oneself.  This is what it means to love others, our neighbors, as ourselves.  

The act of complete love is Jesus Christ who laid down his life for his friends. Even in his final hours, we see Christ, in preparation for the last supper, demonstrating a level of humble servitude as he got down on his knees and washed the feet of his own disciples. Jesus, the true Son of God, showing his mercy and love for all mankind on bended knee.

We’ve explored the theme and definitions surrounding and embedded in the phrase “love thy neighbor.” So I challenge you to put that knowledge into action – just as we’ve seen in these biblical examples of love. Earlier this week it was reported in the news that a comedienne known for some extreme antics has been diagnosed with lung cancer. In an interview to discuss her unfortunate diagnosis, Kathy Griffin revealed that she would soon have major surgery to remove a large portion of one lung and would possibly face additional treatments in hopes of overcoming this grave illness.

As shocking as this picture is, I share it here for a reason, and I pose this question to you. Is Kathy Griffin your neighbor?

Kathy Griffin’s now infamous photo from 2017 with the bloodied head of a US President caused quite a storm of controversy. However, she didn’t stop there, later tweeting a vile and curse riddled tirade at the President’s wife. Then came the backlash in which she herself described the pain of losing friends and work. She even detailed her descent into addiction that finally led to an attempt at suicide.

God loves Kathy Griffin – and how do I know that?

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Like most of you reading this message, I don’t know Kathy Griffin, but I was taken aback by the photo and her attacks on the First Lady which were by most standards vile and disgusting. She later apologized but then rescinded the apology and continued down the same path, even re-tweeting the photo in 2020. But in this very public moment, as she has opened up about her cancer diagnosis, along with her struggles with addiction and the attempted suicide, I believe we have an opportunity to be her neighbor.

I call on you to join with me, to rise up to the calling from Christ, and take a moment today to lift up our neighbor, Kathy Griffin, in prayer. Let’s pray for her surgery and any follow up treatments – that she will experience a full and swift recovery – and will beat the disease of cancer. Let’s also pray for her mental healing from the darkness she has faced in her own life and ask that God’s mercy will be extended to her in every possible way. Let us also pray for her salvation, if she has not accepted Christ, that she will come to that place of redemption and will accept the gift of forgiveness that is offered to all that seek God. We are called to resist the urge to condemn her and to the contrary we have a chance to demonstrate the love of Christ that we have come to know by lifting her up in this time of great need. We as believers are all called to a higher standard, to share the love of Jesus in this lost world, with gentleness and grace, not compromising the Word, but showing what redemption means in our lives as we acknowledge our own shortcomings. By God’s mercy and amazing grace – through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ – we are redeemed. Share that love – the true love of God – anywhere and everywhere.

May we all continue to grow in our faith and demonstrate what it means as Christians to love our neighbors as ourselves. If you know Christ and have made that profession of faith, please consider joining us in sharing that love with others. Through this link you can simply write, “I want to share my faith with my neighbors” and we will send you our free business-sized ministry cards to help in your efforts. Remember to include your mailing address along with your request. Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments

If you have never experienced the true love of Jesus Christ – I want to personally encourage you to read this message – Pathway to Salvation – then reach out to us with any questions you may have Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments Time is short – today is your best opportunity to change your life for eternity.

God Bless you for visiting our site and reading our messages. We hope you will come back often and share our site with others.

John Stephen Frey, Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons Ministry

gas·light·ing

verb (used with object), gas·light·ed or gas·lit, gas·light·ing.
to cause (a person) to doubt his or her sanity through the use of psychological manipulation: used in relationships in order to maintain control over another person – used by an organization, governmental entity or the like, to control the masses, to manipulate data and/or ideas, control the narrative through confusion and subterfuge.

Earlier this week, as reported by The Gateway Pundit and many other news outlets, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul went on the offensive with fiery accusations toward National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci. The testimony before Congress centered around questions regarding the NIAID’s role in providing funding through the National Institute of Health (NIH) for what is known as “gain-of-function” research at the Wuhan lab.

Paul cited the work of Chinese virologist Dr. Shi Zhengli, director of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the virus research laboratory in the same region where the coronavirus pandemic first reached the public.

In particular, he focused on “gain of function” research, which Paul described at a May 11 Senate hearing as “juicing up naturally occurring animal viruses to infect humans.”

“There was gain of function research going on with this Dr. Shi Zhengli at the Wuhan Institute,” Paul said. “In her paper, she actually thanks Dr. Fauci and NIAID which is a part of NIH Dr. Fauci runs. It’s listed at the end of the paper,” Paul added. “The paper was funded by NIAID research and it lists a 10-digit number that identifies the research money that she got from the United States.”

“Dr. Fauci, do you still support funding of the NIH funding of the lab in Wuhan?” he asked. Fauci adjusted his microphone before addressing the question.

“Sen. Paul, with all due respect, you are entirely, entirely, and completely incorrect,” he responded. “The NIH has not ever and does not now fund gain of function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.”

At this point the intense back and forth was skillfully re-directed by Dr. Fauci, whereby he began to alter the narrative, maybe realizing his previous statement could easily be proven false, to wit he shifted the narrative towards a rather vague and often times contradictory examination of the term “gain of function.”

For anyone that lived through the 90’s Clinton era, this was very reminiscent of the outrageous reply from then President Clinton, while under oath in a deposition regarding Monica Lewinsky, which continued the obfuscation of truth without ever having to answer directly to the obvious “yes” or “no” query.

“The statement from your lawyer to the presiding Judge in the Paula Jones lawsuit, regarding your actions with Ms. Lewinsky, the statement ‘that there is no sex of any kind in any manner, shape or form, with President Clinton,’ was an utterly false statement. Is that correct?”

Clinton’s now infamous reply, “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.”

This represents the shape-shifting truth-bending dialogue the public has now come to expect from our government entities, news media, public health officials – even from the ever-expanding “woke” congregations around the globe.

We have written previously on the matter of truth – consider this excerpt from one of our previous articles, IS TRUTH DEAD?  

In today’s society, truth is akin to beauty – it exists within the eye of the beholder. What once was foundational, beyond reproach, this day is measured on a sliding scale of subjective inference. Truth is the proverbial glue that holds nations together, without truth, the concrete foundation of civil discourse is reduced to shifting sand.

This week, once again, front and center we find Dr. Fauci sharing a story rife with vagueness and contradictions, similar to his flip-flops on other COVID-related issues. (Remember his switching mask narrative? You can read excerpts of that in our previous article found here – The Battle Line is Drawn ).

Instead of the usual introductory statements I thought I would share a small sample of headlines taken from today’s news.

Hundreds Missing, Scores Dead as Raging Floods Strike Europe…Worst Deluge In 200 Years…Waters breach Dutch defenses…Germany Landslide Horror…Pope Francis renews restrictions on old Latin Mass, reversing Benedict…Three doses better than two? Debate over third Covid shot…As stock prices peak, markets begin to fear looming threats…More Videos Filter Out Of Cuba Showing Brutal Repression…Air Force sending fighter jets to Pacific amid tensions with China…Another massive heatwave is coming to the western US…World Health Organization (WHO) Laments record high suicide rates around the globe.

Along with these troubling headlines is this warning from the UN with a quote that captured my attention, “we are in uncharted waters.”

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations chief warned Friday that a “hurricane of humanitarian crises” around the world has left civilians in conflict areas paying the highest price and is compounded by a relentless wave of attacks on humanitarian and medical workers. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said humanitarian needs are outpacing the ability of the United Nations and aid organizations to meet them, “turbocharged by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are in uncharted waters,” he said in a speech to the U.N. Security Council read by Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed. “The sheer scale of humanitarian needs have never been greater,” Guterres said. “The United Nations and our partners are seeking to reach 160 million people with assistance this year — the highest figure ever.”

I think it goes without saying, the world is in crisis unlike anything we have experienced in our lifetimes and it is only getting worse. Wild extremes in weather, record breaking temperatures, floods, disease, volcanic activity – the list goes on and on – but this list is not unfamiliar to anyone that reads the Bible. But even for believers, it is getting harder to remain hopeful, to be the salt and light so desperately needed in this lost world.

I think we are all familiar with the warnings given by Paul in 2 Timothy chapter 3, which starts with this grim introduction, “There will be terrible times in the last days.” We are living those times at this very moment, but I want to focus your attention to another portion of chapter 3 as it serves to remind us all that our hope is not lost, God is in control, and these things must take place in order for God’s perfect will to play out.

“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Paul in these eloquent words offers encouragement that is just as meaningful today as it was in his time. We are urged to continue in what we have learned and what we are convinced of, which is our faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. Understand what these words mean, “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Paul knew a thing or two about persecution, after all, this is the man that preached the gospel at Lystra – even brought healing through the Holy Spirit to a man that was crippled – yet was stoned by an angry mob that dragged his lifeless body outside the city gates assuming that he was dead. Paul rose up from that extreme persecution and along with Barnabas, continued to preach the good news and remained focused on Christ. Eventually Paul would complete the race, steadfast in his faith, and would become another of many martyrs for Jesus.

But while Paul was not the first martyr, he was present and accounted for at this terrible event, the stoning of Stephen. In fact, at that time, he was known as Saul of Tarsus – a zealot of the Pharisees – who would become a strong “enforcer” eager to seek out the early believers in Jesus and willingly carry out all levels of persecution – until his fateful encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. (Read Paul’s own account in Acts 22)

It was Stephen that was taken before the court of the Sanhedrin, falsely accused of blasphemy, that was given an opportunity to speak to these charges. Acts Chapter 7 begins with these words:

Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

Given this opportunity to speak, Stephen could have gone any number of ways in how he responded, but his faith was so strong and his commitment was unshakeable. As you read these accounts, I ask you to consider your own situation – if you’re a believer, do you feel the weight of the world upon your shoulders? Are you burdened to the point of simply wanting to give up? Don’t give up – stand up! Yes it is hard to walk in faith in today’s dark world – but we are not of this world – our savior’s kingdom is our home and we will be gathered there soon enough, but until that time, we have work to do. Stephen set the example in no uncertain terms – we have an obligation to honor all those that have gone before us by remaining focused on the one who delivered us from all sin – Jesus Christ. Read these words from Stephen, the First Martyr, in his reply to the Sanhedrin.

“Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7: 52-60

Imagine having the ability to sincerely call out to God as you are being stoned, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

It’s all about perception and perspective – if we dwell on our own circumstances, we will lose sight of our objective – and in so doing, we will lose sight of God. Nothing is happening today that hasn’t been pre-ordained by the Lord – remember, Jesus told us, “these things must be.” God is in control and there is a reason all of this has been laid out for us in the Bible. As I shared earlier in Paul’s letter to Timothy, “all scripture is God-breathed,” it is there so that we know what to expect. This is God’s warning to the world and we have to stand firm in our faith and share the message so that the lost have the opportunity to come to salvation that is only found through Jesus Christ. The world is looking for answers but they don’t know where to search. World governments will not provide the solutions they need – but for those that ignore the Truth – they will find a ruler that will soon rise up and bring temporary solutions that will be welcomed for a season. However, his reign will come in what Daniel prophesied as “the time of Jacob’s trouble” and will reveal a turning point so horrible, the “abomination of desolation,” at which point all hell will literally break lose on earth. Jesus described it this way,

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” Matthew 24: 21-22

So what does this mean for all of us? Believers – you should pray and study the Word daily. This is where we gain our strength and grow in our faith. Look up and know that God is with you, then step up and be light in this dark world.

Maybe you haven’t made that decision of faith by inviting Jesus into your heart, acknowledging His death on the cross and resurrection to life. If this applies to you, don’t let another day pass, settle the question once and for all. If you have questions, please reach out to us through this link and let us help you – Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments – we will pray with you today and answer any questions you might have about faith in Jesus Christ.

To all believers in Christ – are you sharing your faith with others as we are all called to do? We know how hard it can be to have that conversation with someone you meet, a stranger, friend, co-worker, so let us help you. Reach out to us at this link Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments and request our free ministry cards. Be sure to include a mailing address with your request. Become one of many that are sharing their faith as part of our COMMUNITY MISSIONS TEAM

God is loving and patient, which is why we are seeing all of these signs in our world today – this is our warning, just as prophesied in the Bible. Take heed and turn to God – the world has no answers, but unless we come to repentance, we will face a time of great tribulation like no other time ever seen on the face of the earth. Time is running out, the enemy is ramping up his attacks, believers have work to do – non-believers may only have one more chance – don’t wait until it’s too late. The time to believe is now. Pathway to Salvation

John Stephen Frey, Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons Ministry

Anyone interested in eschatology, theology focused on the end times, has probably dealt with the fact that the United States is not reflected in biblical prophecy of the end times. You can easily draw conclusive proof to show Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iran and others battling with and/or joining forces with each other as the apocalyptical close is reached – while Israel is the lone target of the world’s collective anger – remaining at the epicenter of all things, what was and what will be. The absence of America in these prophetic events can be linked to the fall of the church in this country – their rise and fall are undeniably linked – and their current courses are following a similar downward trajectory.

The political structure of this once great nation has fractured and democracy has failed to a large extent. Divisions have grown so wide that most topics are no longer open for any debate or educated exchanges of ideas. This disquieting social construct is causing more individuals or groups to evolve, in many instances, to compromise their own values and beliefs so as to remain acceptable to the masses.

From a psychological standpoint, Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist known for his “hierarchy of needs,” there comes this defined human desire for what he termed “belongingness.” The social needs in Maslow’s hierarchy include such things as love, acceptance, and belonging. At this level, the need for emotional relationships drives human behavior. This drive for acceptance can override one’s own beliefs resulting in the adaptation of values, fashion, politic speech and moral interpretations from others in order to gain admittance into the assembly. For many people it is easier to compromise oneself if the alternative would be rejection and isolation.

What we are seeing in America is our own “great reset” of sorts. This rush to be “woke” as individuals, corporations, and even the church. This re-branding has been set in motion through a concerted effort to destroy what was once deemed above reproach. It is no accident that the foundations of this democracy have been attacked – the founding fathers, once highly esteemed – now nothing more than slave owning hypocrites. Despite their establishment of a constitution for all people which set in motion the path forward towards a more perfect union – not a perfect union – but “more perfect” which in and of itself allowed our nation to overcome some of the greatest inequities of advanced civilization. Inequities not created here but overcome through our shared belief that all men are created equal – of which we have celebrated for generations – but are now simply fodder in a world that places more value on wokeness than on achievement.

To be accepted by the woke assembly is to denounce yourself and apologize not specifically for your actions – but for simply “being” – and with that comes a litany of re-educational doctrines that label your shortcomings that you had no idea even existed. The very fact that you don’t realize how flawed you are is further evidence of how deeply biased you must be – otherwise you would see it for yourself. Thankfully the woke are here to educate you out of your misdeeds.

So what does this have to do with the decline of our country and the church – and the larger question – why are we missing from end-times prophesy? Look no further than the direction of the church. How many are compromising to stay relevant? You don’t have to look very far to see the wreckage from this cultural tug-of-war within many denominations. The Methodist church has now split in two while the once strong Southern Baptist Convention has all but imploded as competing voices push to advance man-made doctrines over God’s own truths found in scripture.

Consider this troubling trend as noted by the New York Post, for the first time in 80 years, a Gallup poll has found that less than half of US adults belong to a church or synagogue. “Americans’ membership in houses of worship continued to decline last year (2020), dropping below 50% for the first time in Gallup’s eight-decade trend,” Gallup reported in March of 2021. “US church membership was 73% when Gallup first measured it in 1937 and remained near 70% for the next six decades, before beginning a steady decline around the turn of the 21st century.” Membership numbers dropped to 50% by 2018, and last year slipped to 47%. The decline in membership is due to not only a decline in religious Americans belonging to a church, but also an increase in Americans who do not follow a religion at all, according to Gallup.

Before the church as a collective group in the US can move towards revival, it must acknowledge that what has passed as “worship” for many congregations simply has not worked. Building large campuses, ideally surrounded with beautifully landscaped grounds, comfortable and predictable for those once or twice weekly gatherings, has largely failed. The numbers bear that out – not only in the declining membership – but in weekly attendance. Let’s face it, the community at large does not see the church as a vital cog in the wheels of progress – the church has been dismissed from cultural relevance.

Imagine for a moment what our communities would look like if you could go back 30, 40 or even 50 years and have a do-over. Instead of building the massive structures that are pleasing to the eye but serve no purpose beyond Sunday worship – what if the churches of yester-year were built with the community in mind. Can you imagine a place where the community gathered on Sunday to worship and praise God – then used those multi-purpose facilities during the week where their members donated time and talents for those in need. Could you envision bays in a garage attached to the church where Christian mechanics donated their time to fix automobiles for widow’s, the elderly, the single mom and even provided training and mentorship to young men and women seeking to learn a trade. Every church has doctors, nurses, dentists and other gifted professionals – what a difference we could have had if the community knew that in times of need, the church was where you received the blessings of God in tangible ways. Community meals, medical care, financial assistance and instruction, just to name a few. I would venture to say, if only we had remained focused on God first in all things – the numbers today would be very different. Worship on Sunday – living it every day of the week – what an example we could have set. That’s not to say some churches missed it outright – there are examples of true discipleship and sacrifice – but they are few and far between.

Unfortunately the reaction to this steady decline by many church leaders is not to repent of our missed opportunities but to compromise the scriptures to find acceptance in our new woke reality. This denial is the leading cause of the great fractures that are dividing congregations today. In any event, Paul pronounced this day would come –

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, they shall heap to themselves teachers in accordance with their own lusts. 2 Timothy 4:3

That time has come, we are living it today, and yet our churches in many instances are backing away from sound doctrine so they can provide messages that people want to hear, as opposed to what they need to hear. The declining church in the US is playing right into this prophesy and through their misguided efforts – choosing survival at any cost – they are ensuring the continued descent towards inevitable demise.

The dangers of this decline is the void that results and many deceptive doctrines rise to the surface with clever words that tell an unwitting audience what they want to hear. Sprinkled with half-truths and cherry picked verses taken largely out of context – the unwary listener is easily led astray. In some cases, even believers that should know the difference between truth and fiction are deceived. The largest of these is the on-going con that is nothing more than a religious Ponzi scheme, aka prosperity faith, benefitting those at the top of the pyramid while the desperately deceived funnel more money into the coffers in hopes that one day their faith will be rewarded with some magical jackpot. To this we say read the words of our Lord Jesus in Matthew chapter 16, verses 24 through 26, 

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life?

There is nothing wrong with being happy, but in the context of Christian faith, we find true happiness through dedication and perseverance.  If we are led to believe that happiness is found in worldly possessions or by putting ourselves and our own well-being first, we are being deceived because this message runs in direct opposition to the teaching of our Lord.  Jesus warned us that we will be hated for his sake, life as a true believer in Christ comes with the promise that you will be persecuted for your faith, but we have the added assurance that Jesus will not forsake us and one day we will be together with Him in glory.

Matthew chapter 7, verses 13 and 14 states,

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Where are we headed and what does this mean to you and to me? If you’re a believer and have accepted Christ into your heart, you have work to do until that day when we are called home to be with our Lord. It starts with you – what are you doing to share your faith in these troubling times? What is your church doing? If your congregation is compromising the scriptures – stand up and speak out. If they refuse to listen – find another church that preaches the Truth. Share your faith and heed these words from our Lord to his disciples.

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16

We can’t go back – there are no do-overs in this life – but we can acknowledge our mistakes and learn from them. Have we been doing it wrong? Ask the tough questions and start moving forward and encourage the believers around you to do the same. Revival starts with you and will spread to those around you. We have been blessed beyond our means in the US, we have no excuses for our failed congregations so we have no time to waste.

Take encouragement from what is happening in Iran. Yes, inside Iran is the fastest growing Christian church in our world today. They own no buildings or property – they meet in secret – but for those that are coming to know Jesus for the first time, they are not only accepting Christ but they are stepping up and sharing that faith with others.

In a recent segment on Fox News that included outtakes from the recent documentary “Sheep among Wolves II,” an Iranian Christian that leads one of hundreds of underground churches had this to say regarding the massive growth of Christianity inside Iran, now believed to exceed more than one million believers. “What if I told you the best evangelist for Jesus was the Ayatollah Khomeini? The ayatollahs brought the true face of Islam to light and people discovered it was a lie…After 40 years under Islamic law — a utopia according to them — they’ve had the worst devastation in the 5,000-year history of Iran.”

They face the daily threat of arrest, torture, even death for their faith in Jesus Christ, yet they go forward each day with a song of praise in their hearts and a true commitment to Christ that reflects the words of the Apostle Paul when he wrote the following;

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

“We know that if they get us, the first thing they will do to us as a woman is rape us and then they will beat us and ultimately they will kill us,” one believer said. “This is the decision we have made that we want to offer our bodies as sacrifices. Because I have this thought when I wake up, that when I leave that door I might not come back.”

God is working through the Holy Spirit and is reaching deep within this world to allow everyone the opportunity for redemption. Not one person should perish and God’s patience is to that end – so what are you doing for His kingdom? I’m not writing these words to cause anyone to feel unworthy, but we have to be honest with ourselves. It is time to step up or get out of the way. You might not want to hear this but you need to hear this – I need to hear this – so that we can put our own priorities aside and focus on Christ above all else. Join us today by picking up your cross and following our Lord – stand up for your faith and with love and patience, share that faith with those that God brings into your life and across your path.

Do you have the assurance of salvation today, knowing in your heart that you have accepted the free gift of salvation that only comes through faith in Jesus Christ? If not, please don’t wait for the “right time” to make that decision, reach out to us right now with your questions or concerns and let us help you gain that blessed assurance that you have been redeemed. You can reach us through this link Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments .

Romans chapter 10, verses 9 and 10 give us the following guidance to salvation,

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

To the faithful, are you evangelizing according to our shared calling from Jesus? If you truly believe that you have been saved through grace, that Jesus Christ died for all sinners, then step up and share that message!  The world is lost and we are the light, but if we hide that light under a bushel then what good are we? Share the gospel, as Charles Spurgeon exhorted, “anywhere and everywhere!” Make sure that you are doing your part and if needed call out your church to do the same.  Is your congregation actively involved in true outreach in your community? If not, or if you’re not sure, ask the question and push for real outreach.  It’s not a hobby, it is a direct order from our Savior.  We should feel anguish in our hearts to know that “narrow is the gate and few will find it.”  Get involved, don’t wait for someone else to take up the charge, follow our Lord’s instructions and lead the way.

Join our COMMUNITY MISSIONS TEAM by requesting our free ministry cards to help you share your faith with others. Simply go to this link and say, “I would like your ministry cards to help me share my faith with others” and we will send them to you today completely free of charge. God Bless you for visiting our site and reading our messages – we hope they encourage believers and speak to the hearts of those searching for salvation.

John Stephen Frey, Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons Ministry

*UPDATED – November 2022 This original article was written in 2021 immediately following the election in Israel that resulted in a fragile partnership government to be headed by Naftali Bennett. Just as we predicted, this coalition was not only troubling but marred by short-sighted agreements aimed more at the prevention of Netanyahu ever returning to power as opposed to actually setting a course forward for the nation itself. Bennett failed miserably and was replaced by Yair Lapid, who failed to secure a majority resulting in the triumphant return of Benjamin Netanyahu. God indeed remains in control as we see our world moving into very dark waters – a time in which strong leadership over Israel will be required. (Continue below to read the original article in it’s entirety)

Israel has officially announced a new coalition government, replacing Benjamin Netanyahu with his former ally turned bitter rival, Naftali Bennett, who will preside over a troubling and fragile partnership that represents eight diverse parties with deep ideological differences – to say the least. Netanyahu remains head of the Likud party and will hold the post of opposition leader.

In what many are touting as an alliance of necessity that puts an end to the two year voting impasse that previously failed to reach a required majority – one has to wonder, at what price will this coalition ultimately require in exchange for appeasing the purported voter fatigue that had settled upon the nation.

According to numerous media outlets covering this momentous parliamentary process, Netanyahu sat silently during the vote and once it became official, he stood up to leave the chamber, before turning around and shaking Bennett’s hand. A dejected Netanyahu, wearing a black medical mask, then sat down in the opposition leader’s chair.

There are several issues noteworthy on this historic day of vicissitude within the very framework of Israel’s existence. The alliance itself comes with a defined set of agreements, one of which is to block Netanyahu from ever again serving as Prime Minister, while setting in place the very possibility that Bennett himself could be replaced within the first three months if certain governmental issues are not resolved. It’s fair to say this could fast-track any number of potential autocrats into the role of Prime Minister before the ink has dried on today’s vote.

Something else is noticeable when looking around at the other newsworthy events of the day. While the change in leadership has garnered a decent share of headlines, in regards to the enormity of what it actually means, it would appear the world has hardly taken notice. It certainly brings to mind the words of Christ to his disciples in describing the last days.

“Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son—except the Father alone. As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be.” Matthew 24: 36-39

But let us delve even deeper into the framework and membership of this disturbing alliance. Ra’am is given a deputy minister slot in the Prime Minister’s Office, and party chairman Mansour Abbas will receive a discretionary $1.5 billion fund for special projects on which he personally signs off. For those not familiar with this political party, Ra’am is a subsidiary of the Muslim Brotherhood, and as such, is a sister to Muslim Brotherhood subsidiary Hamas. You read that correctly, Hamas and Ra’am are both within the umbrella of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Just a month ago, while Hamas was launching thousands of rockets indiscriminately towards Israeli civilians, Ra’am’s leaders pulled out of coalition negotiations to protest Israeli efforts to stop these attacks and demanded that charges be dropped against Arab Israelis who burned down synagogues and attacked Jews. Yet today they have a recognized deputy minister’s seat with over a billion dollars to spend at their own discretion.

Ra’am’s Guiding Charter also demands creating a Palestinian-Arab state with Jerusalem as its capital along with the dismantling of all “settlements” (Jewish communities) – thus a call for the end of the Jewish state. Let’s not overlook The Society of the Muslim Brotherhood which helped establish both Hamas and Ra’am. The movement’s self-stated aim is the establishment of a state ruled by Sharia law–its most famous slogan worldwide being: “Islam is the solution.” This is the same organization that mourned the death of Omar Abdel-Rahman, aka “the Blind Shiek,” and sent their sincere condolences in honoring the notorious mastermind and convicted terrorist behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombings – the precursor to the 9/11 attacks that resulted in thousands upon thousands of innocent lives lost.

What we are witnessing in real time, right before our very eyes, is God’s plan falling into perfect order – just as he preordained. Many people feel that the world is spinning out of control – don’t believe that for a second. If you place your faith in mankind you could easily draw that conclusion. But take heart and be strong in faith, remember the comforting words that Jesus shared with his disciples,

“You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, because these things must take place…” Matthew 24:6

In this same chapter of Matthew, Jesus went on to describe the days leading up to the end of times as birth pains. In the book of Jeremiah, the coming tribulation that would follow was called “The time of Jacob’s trouble.”

“How awful that day will be! There will be no other like it!” Jeremiah 30:7

Paul the Apostle further described and linked these times together when he wrote the following,

While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:3

Believe me, it is no coincidence that these events are playing out at the very epicenter of Christ’s ministry and time on this earth. At one point as Jesus and his disciples were leaving the Temple Mount, they pointed out to Christ the beauty of Solomon’s Temple, to which Jesus replied,

“Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down.” Matthew 24:2

An article in the Jerusalem Post contains a simple yet highly descriptive narrative on the events shaking Jerusalem and the surrounding regions, “Many cooks are stirring the pot.” They go on to try and sort through the agreements and fine print of this newly formed government trying to understand what is really happening. It is curious and telling as they openly ponder the possible linkages between the formation of this coalition and recent unrest and violence surrounding the Temple Mount. Yes, the very Temple Mount where Jesus and his disciples visited – and just as He prophesied, not one stone remained upon another.

All of this is further evidence that God is allowing leaders to have their day – and make no mistake – these so-called leaders bring the mannerisms and characteristics needed to fulfill the plans according to His purposes. As we’ve written in previous articles, Pontius Pilate was such a ruler as this, determined to appear strong but fearful of consequences that could damage his hold on rank and privilege. God needed just such a person to allow for His ultimate plan of salvation to be carried out. Jesus had to go to the cross on Calvary to give His life as a sacrifice for everyone. God allowed Pilate his role as Prefect over the region of Judea for this exact moment in time. A strong leader would have released an obviously innocent man – but Pilate, the exact image of many current day “leaders” – cowered at the prospect of standing up for right in the face of angry mobs, then theatrically washed his hands of the matter and gave Christ over to be killed.

God is allowing these “leaders” their moment to conspire together in forming this most untenable alliance and you can believe it when I say this will further serve the perfect Will of our Father. Radical elements taking hold within the government of Israel – to what end could this possibly serve? – consider the prophecy of Daniel. There will come a time when the antichrist will rise up and one of many significant moments of this tribulation reign will be a peace accord with Israel that will allow for the rebuilding of “Solomon’s Temple” – but this is a place that is prominent in the Bible and held sacred by Jews and Muslims. That is why I believe one alliance will lead to another – as we know from prophesy – the antichrist will bring together an alliance of peace with Israel. This next unholy of all alliances will see the temple restored in all it’s splendor, setting the stage for that final act of complete defiance before God. The antichrist will reveal himself for what he is – and will stand upon the alter of the temple and commit the “abomination of desolation” by declaring himself to be god and will demand the entire world to worship him.

“And the abomination of desolation will be on a wing of the temple until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.” Daniel 9:27

“So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” let the reader understand, “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.” Matthew 24: 15-16

Once again we remind all readers, God remains in control and His Will is playing out before our eyes. The stage is being set, time is precious and our days are short – believers have work to do and anyone not sure if they’re right with God – today is your day to believe.

If you have not made that decision of faith by inviting Jesus into your heart, acknowledging His death on the cross and resurrection to life, don’t let another day pass. If you have questions, please reach out to us through this link and let us help you – Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments

To all believers in Christ – are you sharing your faith with others as we are all called to do? We know how hard it can be to have that conversation with someone you meet, a stranger, friend, co-worker, so let us help you. Reach out to us at this link Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments and request our free ministry cards. Be sure to include a mailing address with your request. Become one of many that are sharing their faith as part of our COMMUNITY MISSIONS TEAM

Thank you for visiting our site, if you would like for us to pray for you – please reach out and share your request and our team will lift you up in prayer. Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments We hope you come back often and be sure to share our site with others. God Bless You.

John Stephen Frey, Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons Ministry

How do you view the world? Have you ever taken a moment of self-reflection, stepping outside of yourself, to better understand a certain belief or perception? I would venture to say that most of us see the world in similar ways, or at various points in life we could place ourselves within the title of this message – as either good, bad, or ugly.  Do you see yourself as good – others as bad – and the world as ugly? What makes a person good? What makes someone else bad?

We all need to be careful in how we perceive ourselves and others – pride has a way of creeping in and we have to guard our hearts and minds – otherwise we can easily fall into a trap set by the enemy.  Believers are not immune to pride and other failures in character and morality.  Satan, our true adversary, experienced his great fall due to pride and the love of self over the love of God.

Anger, bitterness, and hatred are everywhere these days, surrounding our culture and permeating every aspect of our lives.  Journalism, as it was intended to be, is dead – replaced with agenda driven opinions that masquerade as fact-based news.  The world is being overcome by the dark evil spirit of lies and vengeance – the hallmarks of the father of lies – that has no place for debate,  you either agree with the mainstream narrative or become the target of the oppressive voice that controls media, entertainment, and the news.  Justice is not balanced, up is down, right is wrong, do not question the worldly agenda or you will pay a heavy toll.

“Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who substitute darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who substitute bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.”      Isaiah 5:20

We see it in the world but don’t be fooled, it has also found its way into the church.  The pulpit in many modern day sanctuaries is no longer a platform of truth that challenges the faithful to adhere to the high calling of our Lord.  It has become an arbiter of feelings, a pacifier of emotional reactions, to soothe and comfort a congregation that has lost its way.  This “feel good” theology has no place in truth and the watering down, and in many cases, ignoring of the entirety of the Word of God, is leading more people down that broad path towards destruction.  

Why should it matter if a church or congregation wants people to feel better about themselves? I’ll tell you why it matters – when truth is replaced with feelings and emotions – you will lose your way and be left to find your own way out of darkness.  Truth is light – our world is darkness.  Without truth, you become blind in a darkened world.  

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence…in a descending spiral of destruction…The chain reaction of evil – hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars – must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation. (1963)  Dr. Martin Luther King

Prosperity faith, feel good doctrines, self empowerment – none of these are aligned with the message of Jesus Christ.  Pantheism always points inward to create a belief that all power and spiritualism is attained within your own being – that you can rise to the level of a god.  

“Every setback means you’re one step closer to seeing the dream come to pass. Indeed, it is as important to learn how to receive a blessing as it is to be willing to give one. Don’t just accept whatever comes your way in life. You were born to win; you were born for greatness; you were created to be a champion in life.”  Joel Osteen

Think about those words from the previous paragraph.  It is certainly uplifting, I mean, who doesn’t want to think they were born for greatness, or to be told that with every setback it means you’re one step closer to seeing the dream come to pass.  Wow, really? Is that how it works? What is that based upon and how does that apply to everyone? It’s like reading a daily horoscope – undefined gibberish that applies to everyone that reads them without individual merits.  These words in the spiritual context of which they were written are dangerous and full of deceit.  Sure, they sell plenty of books and people temporarily feel better about their situation in life – but at the end of the day they carry no weight in reality.  What’s worse is they don’t truly prepare you as a believer in Christ for the coming persecution we will face.  If you think this is about feeling better about yourself or your situation in life – you’re on the wrong path.

Jesus didn’t tell his followers they were “champions in life and every setback means you’re one step closer to success.”  Listen to what Jesus teaches us:

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”  Matthew 5: 10-12

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad when we are persecuted? That doesn’t seem to mesh with what I just read earlier. 

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”  Matthew 16: 24-26

Let these words sink in – read the last paragraph again – and consider the message that comes from the highest authority – Jesus Christ.  If we are to believe in our hearts that Jesus gave his life for all, and that God raised Him from the dead, we are called to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow him.  You can’t reconcile one message that says it’s all about you – how you feel and how you can be successful – with the message from Jesus about putting ourselves second, denying ourselves, so that we can follow Him.  

I want to make sure you understand these words – you have to choose – you can’t have it both ways. You can choose to make it all about yourself, your success, your own personal happiness – and like the author of those earlier words – you just might become wealthy along the way.  But remember those words from Christ – “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” – do you see the distinction here? I hope you do.

It’s not to say we can’t be happy, but the happiness we seek is found in Christ and in serving as He called us to do.  When you learn what it means to deny yourself, you open your heart to a love and peace that surpasses all understanding.  You realize what it means to embrace love above all else and to share that with a grieving world that is spiraling into darkness.  

We have to spend time in the Word of God so that we are prepared for the challenges of this world and so that we can remain on the path of God’s perfect will for our lives.  If we are not ready to share a true testimony of Christ – then who will do it for us? People in this world are hurting, lost, many are giving up on ever finding hope and peace. That is why we are called to action and our purpose is to be that light in a dark world.  

“But know this: Hard times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good,traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.”  2 Timothy 3: 1 – 5

Stand at the ready, put love above hate, focus not on yourself – focus on Jesus and your own troubles will be kept in their proper perspective.  Our trials are temporary – our destination is eternal.  Live in the hope that comes with the resurrection – we are redeemed with God.  Don’t get trapped by perceptions, as being good or better than others – the bad and the ugliness of this world.  On our best day, we are nothing more than filthy rags – but once redeemed through the blood of our savior, Jesus, we are spotless to our creator.  

If you have not come to that place of redemption – don’t wait or put if off – reach out to us today and let us pray with you. Do you have questions or concerns – we are here for you.  Through this link you can reach us and we will pray for you, no strings attached, just a message of hope and a sharing of the love that we have experienced through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments 

As a believer, let us help you in sharing your faith with those in your own community.  Join our Community Missions Team today and receive our free business-sized ministry cards that you can share with others as you offer a testimony.  Reach out today and say, “I am a believer in Jesus and I want to share my faith with my own community.”  We will ship our cards to you free of charge.   Community Missions Team

May God bless you through His word and we thank you for reading. Come back often and be sure to share our messages and our site with others.   

John Stephen Frey, Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons Ministry

“First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.”

Martin Niemoller – 1892-1984, Lutheran pastor who initially supported Adolph Hitler but was later imprisoned at Dachau for his opposition to the Nazi regime. In his later life, Niemoller stated that he had once met directly with Hitler and was assured the Nazi government would not take away religious liberties so he remained silent as other groups were oppressed or worse under this horrific regime. He would later regret that he did not speak up earlier – but once they began to crack down on his church and those like his, it was too late.

This message is not in any way comparing our culture with that of the Nazi regime – and I want to make that very clear – I do not believe we will see anything comparable to Hitler until the antichrist is in control. But this is a wake up call to anyone that believes a culture that is allowed to oppress people over their personal views, based only upon the fact that they disagree, is a culture that will eventually turn on everyone. The coined phrase of “cancel culture” that we see today reflects this cannibalistic trend – contradictory in it’s very nature – by which it will ultimately devour the very people that promote it. This faction of society will tell you on the one hand, moral values are not homeostasis but in fact are relative to the accepted norms of the day. But on the other hand, they will eagerly bring Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and many more, from their bygone era, into today and apply 21st century “values” onto them – and by not measuring up – they cancel them.

This is nothing new, in fact, moral relativism as a philosophical expression can be traced back to hundreds of years before Christ. Moral relativism encompasses views and arguments that people in various cultures have held over thousands of years. For example, the ancient Jaina Anekantavada principle of Mahavira as far back as 550 BC stated one’s interpretation of truth and reality were inherently linked to their diverse points of view, therefore no single point of view could be considered as complete truth.

Fast forward to the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche from the 19th century, where he espoused the belief that good and bad are relative terms and thus the importance and value society places on them are also relative. He went as far as to say that the proposal of morality itself could be a danger within a society and therefore should be developed and modified over time, keeping those purported values relative to who we are and what we, as individuals, consider to be true, equal, good and bad without any regard to foundational moral laws.

Little by little, ever so nuanced, words and phrases are introduced and become the standard of the day. Take the word “equity” for example. Certainly not a knew word, many have known it as a value – such as a home’s equity – but how many have noticed it’s new placement. If you pay attention, you will notice that what was once described as equality – in regards to racial and social justice – is now being touted as equity. You might say, “what’s the difference?” or “sounds similar so why should I care?”

Unless you are pushing for a socialist/communist system, whereby government replaces God, and your freedoms are only that which government allows – then you should take notice and yes, you should care. While most everyone has supported equality, whereby every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and talents, progressive socialists are pushing the agenda of equity, that each person has different circumstances and therefore requires allocations of resources and opportunities specific to the individual or group to reach an equal outcome. Do you see the difference?

The overriding change behind this progressive blitz is the removal of debate. If a person stands up against the socialist/communist agenda being pushed from within our own Congress, the cancel culture activists will not honor your differing opinion, they will categorize you – a fascist, intolerant bigot, deplorable, alt-right evangelical, you name it – then they will cancel you.

This should not come as a surprise, certainly not to those that are dedicated followers of Christ, the Bible has explained these times in great detail. Read these words from Peter the disciple as he also quotes from Proverbs of the old testament.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (Proverbs 11:31)

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 1 Peter 4:12-19

In these words you can see how high the bar is set for believers. Not only are we to expect persecution, but we should consider ourselves blessed and praise God that we bear the name of Christian. In addition, we should remain committed to the Lord and continue to be a light among darkness.

Our calling is to remain transformed through Christ, not conformed to this world, and to share that good news of salvation in this lost world. When the cancel culture comes after believers, we have to stand firm in our faith, knowing that they cannot cancel the Word of God. They can cancel you and me but they can never cancel the Truth – Jesus Christ, our savior – the way, the truth and the life. They will reject the truth, and for believers, when you have shared the truth, you move on – and when rejected – you should kick the dust from your feet as you depart. They will be given over to their own evil desires and woe to them that reject the true Love of our Creator.

Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:13-21

To everyone reading we offer the truth of redemption and stand ready to share that with you. If you have not accepted Jesus into your heart, please reach out to us with your questions and concerns and let us pray for you. To believers, we are here for you as well, to offer support through prayer, and to help you in sharing the good news in your own community. Reach out to us and request our free business-sized ministry cards that will help you share your faith with those in your own community. Become part of our Community Missions Team today.

Don’t allow yourself to become discouraged by what you see in this fallen world, don’t look back and spend your time dwelling on days gone by, keep your eyes fixed on the prize and keep your mind focused on God. Be prayerful and stay in the Word – it will never be cancelled.

“The grass withers, the flowers fade,
but the word of our God remains forever.” Isaiah 40:8

John Stephen Frey, Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons Ministry

Life Beyond Horizons Ministry receives many emails, comments and prayer requests in any given week and they range in topic from encouragement to questions about faith and requests for prayer. But one thing I have noticed over recent months is a certain uptick in one particular area – a growing frustration among believers with the outright lies and deception that permeates our world, even finding it’s way inside the church. Once trusted sources are also becoming suspect – leaving many to wonder who can you trust?

I was recently engaged in a very direct discussion with an acquaintance regarding faith and the world today. This person had broached the subject of religion, knowing I would not back away from the topic, and he was determined to discredit the Bible as nothing more than a collection of allegories and fables. My simple response was this, “the Bible, the collected Word of God, is Truth.” He immediately responded, almost shouting, “the Bible is NOT Truth!” In fact, he repeated the statement twice for emphasis. Our discussion continued on for quite some time, but that’s not the point of this discourse. What fascinated me was this person’s strong reaction to this word – Truth.

In today’s society, reference included with apologies, truth is akin to beauty – it exists within the eye of the beholder. What once was foundational, beyond reproach, this day is measured on a sliding scale of subjective inference. Truth is the proverbial glue that holds nations together, without truth, the concrete foundation of civil discourse is reduced to shifting sand. Consider this, if there is no truth, then there can be no lies.

In George Orwell’s book 1984, he envisioned a dystopian nightmare experienced through his protagonist Winston Smith, a governmental everyman laboring away deep within the bowels of the Records Department at the Ministry of Truth. His work is as forthright as it is diabolical, to rewrite history – or delete it altogether – by any means necessary, to eradicate any contradictions with current statements of the elite. The end result is a polished version of truth that corroborates the current day propaganda. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Those in control become able to exercise their truth within a sliding scale of relativism, an ever changing moral reality.

The truth in its purest form stands on it’s own merits – factual, indisputable, and verifiable. The problem with truth is that it becomes terribly inconvenient when one side is determined to impose their will upon another. They justify their tools of subterfuge while utilizing a stratagem of deceit to achieve their goals. Their outcome is presumed of such vital importance it thereby justifies any violation of accuracy as acceptable for the common good.

This is of course nothing new – in Jesus’ time on earth, his teachings of servant leadership, putting the needs of others above one’s own self, flew in the face of the establishment. Just like today, when someone stands up and dares to disrupt and dismantle the corrupt systems that the elite have manipulated for their own pleasure – that system will not idly stand by while their golden calf is slaughtered. The Pharisees schemed and plotted, behind closed doors, to kill the one that spoke Truth. When they had arrested Jesus their heinous plot was launched into motion.

The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered him. “I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews gather, and I haven’t spoken anything in secret. Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.” When he had said these things, one of the officials standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”

“If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit me?” John 18:19-23

Later in scripture they had removed Jesus to be interrogated by the Roman prefect (governor) of Judea, Pontius Pilate. In reading these scriptures, one thing is clear, Pilate by all measure is the current day politician we elect and re-elect ad nauseum, to serve our tattered democracy. Ever ready to pontificate, convinced of their own grandiose abilities – yet when pressed to make the right and just decision in the face of outrage, they choose the cowards way out. They infer some level of reason, then publicly wash their hands of the situation. Pilate knew that Jesus was an innocent man, having done nothing to merit arrest, let alone a punishment of death. But faced with a growing demand from the populace to crucify this man called Jesus – he could not find it within himself to do what was right. Let’s read on in the following verses.

Pilate told them, “You take him and judge him according to your law.”

“It’s not legal for us to put anyone to death,” the Jews declared. They said this so that Jesus’s words might be fulfilled indicating what kind of death he was going to die. Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about me?”

“I’m not a Jew, am I?” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”

“My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

“You are a king then?” Pilate asked.

“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

“What is truth?” said Pilate. John 18:31-38

As unexpected as this might seem, this is exactly the reason all believers should be joyful and full of hope. These scriptures demonstrate how God’s perfect plan of salvation was effectively administered according to His will.

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17

My point is this, what if the Governor of Judea at that time had been a strong leader, full of courage and resolve, ready to rule with a swift hand of justice based in truth. Jesus would undoubtedly have been released back to the Jewish leaders, who under Roman law, were not allowed to carry out the death penalty. God’s will is perfect, but we struggle to understand His ways, but here we have the benefit of hindsight. God had to allow Pontius Pilate to be in that position of authority at exactly that time in order for the perfect plan of salvation, meaning Jesus’ death on a cross, so that all of mankind could be redeemed.

In understanding this method, through study of scriptures, we can and should stand up with courage in facing each day, filled with hope, knowing that God is in control. As one of our readers shared with me, “things are not falling apart, they are falling into place” according to God’s plans. I love that quote and I want to drive this point home. We are witnessing some of the greatest turmoil of any generation that has preceded us and it can be unnerving. We see so called leaders taking high office and we wonder how can this be? Look no further than the example of Pilate. God allows those officials to hold office only to satisfy His will for mankind. But for everyone that has accepted Jesus into their heart, we have no reason to shrink back and hide, or sit in fear of some unknown danger lurking just around the corner. We have work to do – our best life is ahead of us – so get up, sing God’s praises for another day, and go about your work, your errands, whatever you have to do, with a happy countenance of peace. Be that light in this dark world so that others that might be living in fear, not having the benefit of a personal relationship with God, will be drawn to that light that represents the love of Christ. This is your opportunity to be a living testimony to a life set apart from this fallen world.

The world today is on a downward trajectory, and I’m not even talking about the pandemic, but the evil forces that have come out of the darkness into full public display, its ghastly. Violence in the streets, mass killings, anger, a total loss of any semblance of self control – all of which makes perfectly clear, because we are not of this world, our lives as Christians should stand in stark contrast in peace and hope.

In closing, I want to share these words from Jesus, and I want to pay particular attention to the context in which they were spoken. Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane on the very evening he would be betrayed at the hands of Judas, leading to his crucifixion and resurrection. This was his prayer, on behalf of His disciples, which stands in scripture for all believers, to God our heavenly Father.

“Now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy completed in them. I have given them your Word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by the Truth; your word is Truth. As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. I sanctify myself for them, so that they also may be sanctified by the Truth.“ John 17:13-19

We do not have to ask “What is Truth?” The Word of God is Truth and in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John goes on to tell us that the Word became flesh and gave himself as a sacrifice for many. Jesus told us that he is “the way, the truth and the life.”

Jesus also said, “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” Matthew 12:30

Study the words of scripture and allow yourself to be filled with joy and hope. Let that peace that surpasses all understanding guard your heart and mind. Do not let the evil within this world steal your joy – acknowledge God in all things and stand firm in Truth.

God Bless you for reading, please reach out to us if you have not accepted the free gift of salvation that comes through Jesus Christ. For believers, we encourage you to step up in faith, request our free ministry cards and join our Community Missions Team in sharing your faith in your own community.

John Stephen Frey, Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons Ministry

And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right. They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. Romans 1:28-29

Our world has been given over to it’s own deceit and immorality. This treacherous current of confusion pushes us ever farther from what is true and what is right. This over-indulgence of subterfuge, a chaos of the mind, perpetrated upon society by a master manipulator, an enemy not to be under-estimated, the father of lies.

You don’t have to search to find examples, it’s right in front of us, but we have to understand one thing – for those treading the broad path to destruction, they are unable to see the truth, they are blind to it, so they believe only what they are able to perceive. As believers, we have to understand this state of being, otherwise we too will become so grieved in spirit that our testimony is rendered useless. We see the truth through the lens provided by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and that makes it difficult to understand how so many people can accept these hypocritical declarations and daily contradictions that are espoused from our so-called experts and leaders.

However, much of the confusion that comes from these official spokespersons regarding the issues of today, such as COVID-19, could be intentional to drive an agenda. It is a known practice to use confusion as a way to control others, through information overload, distraction, contradiction, without any pause for someone to regroup. This technique moves a person or groups of people to a place of uncertainty, whereby they begin to question their own beliefs, which induces a level of stress on the mind that results in a surrender of logic. People will eventually let go of reason just to find a way to escape the stresses that have overworked their entire being.

Let’s use the statements of a leading “expert” on the current pandemic that grips the world. Dr. Anthony Fauci has been the go-to source for information regarding the pandemic for much of the last year, but his messages have at times seemed contradictory in nature, leading many to wonder what is right and what is wrong.

“There’s no reason to be walking around with a mask,” said Dr. Fauci in an article from the National Review, March 2020

Dr. Fauci shared a similar message that same month when interviewed by 60 Minutes, “Right now, in the United States, people should not be walking around with masks, there’s no reason to be walking around with a mask.”

He continued, “When you’re in the middle of an outbreak, wearing a mask might make people feel a little bit better and it might even block a droplet, but it’s not providing the perfect protection that people think that it is.”

Fast forward to early summer of 2020 and Dr. Fauci was sharing a different perspective entirely when interviewed by ABC news.

“I have been on the airways, on the radio, on TV, begging people to wear masks. And I keep talking in the context of wear a mask, keep physical distance, avoid crowds, wash your hands and do things more outdoors versus indoors.”

In January and February of 2021, Dr. Fauci spoke in support of double masking, as he was now serving as Biden’s chief medical advisor.

“You put another layer on it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective. And that’s the reason why you see people either double-masking or doing a version of an N95. A lot of people are putting on two masks. I’ve done that myself. And the reason is, you can have common sense and say if it’s a physical barrier, maybe I’d feel more comfortable,” Fauci continued. “The reason why the CDC hasn’t changed the recommendation is that they don’t have the scientific evidence to say that two are better than one. But if a person wants to put on two masks, I see no reason to tell them not to.”

Yet at the same time while speaking to NBC’s Meet the Press, Dr. Michael Osterholm, also a COVID-19 adviser to Biden, said, “If you add on another mask, you may actually make it tougher for the air to move through the two-cloth area, and then at that point it causes more air to actually leak around the sides, which actually enhances your ability to get infected.”

So which is it, no mask, one mask, two masks? Think about that for a minute, these are not people that have just graduated from medical school, in fact, Dr. Fauci is an American physician-scientist and immunologist who serves as the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases with more than 35 years of direct experience. One would expect a person with this pedigree to possess a consistent foundational approach to basic precautions such as when or where a mask would be necessary. Yet in only a few months time his guidance varied from one extreme to another, from no mask, to one mask to double masks. What are we to believe?

I use these examples to highlight the confusion that we face in today’s world. I’m not here to debate the use of masks or to speculate on the possible agenda behind Dr. Fauci’s methods. This is just one of many examples of mixed messages and outright hypocrisy that we are forced to sort out every single day.

One thing is becoming very clear, the battle lines are being drawn and one day soon, you will have to choose on which side you will stand. The effective use of identity politics is making the case – currently the target is on those reluctant to get vaccinated. A front page article this month in the New York Times stated “millions of white evangelical adults in the U.S. do not intend to get vaccinated against COVID-19.” The article went on to say it was due to tenets of their faith and a mistrust of science, along with their politics, that lead to their refusal.

This is similar to the political climate in which we live, where groups of people are identified by their race, their religion, their economic group and so forth. By labeling people, often with names that suggest bigotry and hatred – “white evangelicals” – it becomes easier to marginalize those groups in the public forum. Others that have not been vaccinated, not wanting to be lumped in with this category, will feel inclined to change course so they can avoid being singled out. Human nature has proven that most people do not want to be excluded or left out, thereby playing into the hands of those that pull the strings and sow the seeds of discontent. To stand their ground, to say “I’m not yet willing to take a vaccine that has not been thoroughly tested” is to subject yourself to ridicule or worse. Recently Johnson and Johnson’s single dose vaccine has been “paused” due to some recipients reporting blood clots, which the World Health Organization has now admitted are suspiciously similar to the same dangerous blood clots following doses of the Moderna vaccine. But to refuse these vaccines until more data can be attained is reason to be singled out and mocked.

Debate is dead, we are now in a very dangerous world, made even more treacherous by the fact that we are no longer allowed to disagree. Right has been declared by one side – to disagree is to commit an unforgiveable act. Cross the line drawn by those who have deemed themselves above reproach and you will find yourself canceled – out of work, removed from public discourse, persona non-grata.

“Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires.” 2 Peter 3:3

The path for the believer is clear, Jesus told us that in the last days these things would occur, but we are not to be troubled or surprised. As He said in Matthew 24: 6-8, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.”

It is very important to note that Jesus referred to these times as the beginning of birth pains. Once labor has begun, the birth pains come at recurring intervals, closer and closer together. Do you see it in the world right now? All of this conflict, murder, pestilence, pandemic, rumors of war – we have Russia amassing troops on the border of Ukraine while China has launched a campaign of aggression towards Taiwan – coming at an ever increasing pace.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:13-18

The battle line is drawn, take up the full armor of God and stand. Take your stand on the side of truth, prepared to share the gospel of peace. But don’t wait until you are called out to decide – if you are a believer in Jesus Christ – the time is now. If you have never taken that step of faith by asking Jesus into your heart, surrendering to him as Lord, your opportunity is now – please don’t put it off.

Do not let yourself be distracted, do not be discouraged, focus on Jesus and be a bright shining light in this lost world. Remember that our fight is not against our neighbors or communities, with those that disagree with our beliefs. Our enemy would like nothing more than to invoke within us an anger at individuals or groups that call us out and mock our faith. If we give in to that desire, if we respond in anger, do we not become like those that call us out? They do not know the truth because they have not accepted the Truth. We must remain patient and live our life according to scripture. We have to share the love of Christ with those around us – if we don’t, who will?

“Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8-9

If you would like to know more about Jesus and how to be saved, please read this post – Pathway to Salvation.

If you would like for our team to pray for you, if you have questions or comments, or if you would like to request our free ministry cards to help you share your faith with others, reach out to us through this link – Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments *when requesting our ministry cards, don’t forget to include your mailing address. Thank you.

John Stephen Frey – Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons Ministry

To all of the faithful followers of our ministry, thank you!! Your comments, prayer requests, and words of support continue to encourage and inspire us to share messages of faith and salvation as we are lead by the Holy Spirit. We very much appreciate everyone that has stepped up by requesting our ministry cards to help in sharing the Good News of our risen Savior. This ministry is your ministry – we are knitted together as believers in Christ and we share this calling from our Lord, to share the gospel message anywhere and everywhere! We want to take a moment to thank all of you for your prayers and encouragement – and to new visitors to our site – join us in this mission!

We are re-posting one of our more popular messages, “Bought at a Price” as we celebrate Easter – we hope it inspires each of you and touches your hearts. Here is an excerpt, a lovely word from C. S. Lewis on the topic of God’s love for us. May God bless you, the reader, as we commemorate our risen Lord.

“God did not make us because He was bored, lonely, or had run out of things to do. He created us to be the objects of His love! Sometimes our actions make us unlovely, but we are never unloved. And because God loves us—we have value. And nobody can take that value away. God’s love revealed at Calvary fastens itself onto flawed creatures like us, and for reasons none of us can ever quite figure out, makes us precious and valued beyond calculation. This is love beyond reason. And this is the love with which God loves us.” C.S. Lewis

Please enjoy our Easter Message through this link – Bought at a Price

For anyone visiting our site, if you have not taken that most important step of faith, asking Jesus into your heart, please spend some time on our pages and find out what salvation can mean for you. We also provide this easy to follow guide that explains the steps to salvation – Pathway to Salvation

If you have questions, reach out through our comments and prayer requests tab found at the top of each page.

John Stephen Frey, Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons Ministry

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.                                               Psalms 119:105

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?                                        Mark 4:37-41 

How often do we find ourselves at a place where we just wish everything could settle down.  The competing voices we hear, the anger and animosity, the fear and crisis of life that pounds at our door like a storm without end.  It seems more often than not, we have no refuge, no place to escape.  

In Mark chapter 4, Jesus had just taught a multitude of people, in the thousands, then departed with his disciples by boat to cross over to another region.  While Jesus slept, a great storm arose on the waters, pounding at the vessel to the point the disciples feared for their very lives.  They cried out to Jesus for help and he looked at them and asked, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? He then commanded the storm to cease.  

This example serves to remind us all that even in the darkest of hours, Jesus is in control, we have nothing to fear.  Believer and non-believer alike – Jesus is always there, ready to listen, and willing to save us according to the will of our heavenly Father.  It also points out that storms will come, regardless of how close or far away we might be from our Lord, but even in the storm, there is peace to be found and nothing to fear.  God knows where we are and what challenges befall us and He has a plan for our lives.  To the believer, we must daily strive to have fellowship with our Lord through time of prayer and bible study.  To the non-believer, this is a call to you – Jesus stands at the door and knocks, and He is ready to come in and abide with you.  All you have to do is answer that knock at the door of your heart, by believing that Jesus gave his life for you on that cross and God raised him from the dead.  

Recently, a visitor to our site shared this example with us, they had been witnessing for some time to a friend, but that friend was not ready to accept Jesus into their heart because they were not ready to give up the things of this world.  This friend had stated they believed in Jesus, but they knew to accept salvation would require a change in their life and they could not come to make that commitment.  How many others share that reluctance to make that step of faith and follow Christ?  

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?                 Matthew 16:24-26

Lets make one point perfectly clear, there is no gray area with God, you can’t live with one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom.  You must choose one or the other.  Jesus warns us, if we deny Him on earth, He will deny us to the Father in Heaven.  The way of the cross is hard and we are required to deny ourselves – to give up the things of this world that we desire – in order to follow Christ.  Jesus, beaten and bloodied by a soldier’s whip, carried a splintered rugged cross along the Via Dolorosa, the way of suffering, to his crucifixion atop Golgotha, also called Calvary.  We must take up our cross daily and follow Him, placing our faith and trust in God, that Jesus was raised from the dead in order to be saved.  

It is not easy to follow Jesus – but it is worth eternity.  Jesus offers peace, even during the storms of life and He gave his life for you.  We ask you today, take a moment to honestly look at your own life.  Without Christ there exists a void that can’t be filled with worldly things.  Aren’t you tired of searching? Maybe you’re put off by what you see in the church of today or maybe you just don’t think you would fit in with the church crowd.  Put those thoughts aside for a moment – your life with Christ will be a daily walk with Him – that is the reward of accepting Jesus as your savior.  That is where you should focus, all the other things will fall away and you will find full acceptance in the family of God.  

Jesus says, “whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” 

Don’t continue to fall for the lie, your soul is too important to allow yourself to continue to be deceived by the enemy.  There is nothing to gain in this world but an eternal separation from God.  Do you like what you see in the world today? The day is fast approaching when God will remove all who have placed their faith in Jesus – and the enemy will run rampant across those left behind.  Don’t put it off any longer – the storm is raging, you can see it with your own eyes.  It’s time to call out to Jesus and let him stand up for you. “Peace, be still.”  

If you would like to speak to us or have our team pray for you, reach out through this link  Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments and we will answer any questions and will pray for you.  

If you want to know how to be saved, please go to this link Pathway to Salvation then reach out to us.  

If you are a believer and have accepted Jesus into your heart, share that love with those around you.  If you would like our help in sharing the good news, request our free business-sized ministry cards through this link  Request Ministry Cards    

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Thank you for reading our message, we invite you to read our other messages and visit our partner sites for additional resources for bible study.  Share our site with others and share your comments, prayer requests and encouragement – we love to hear from our visitors.  God Bless You.

John Stephen Frey – Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons Ministry

We have organized our older posts and encourage our readers to spend some time browsing through our historical messages and memories.  Thanks for reading and please share our site with friends, neighbors, relatives and those in need of the free gift of salvation.

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IS TRUTH DEAD?

Cancel You, Cancel Me

In Times like These

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

“Peace, be still” – Finding Peace in a Lost World

“The beginning of sorrows” – Death and Life

Trader or Traitor?

Where do we go from here?

What is wrong with the World?

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Death of the Church – Comfort Zone Christianity

Time is short

The False Doctrine of Prosperity Faith

What are you afraid of?

Mosaic life

When bad things happen to good people 

Time is short 

Can I get a Witness? 

Bought at a Price 

Wherefore, Contend With One Another Over These Words 

Why Jesus? 

On Observing the Times 

These are the Times 

Trusting in God

No doubt countless times you’ve either heard it asked or raised the question yourself, “what is wrong with the world?” 

Believe it or not, nothing is wrong today that hasn’t been wrong since Satan introduced sin into our world. Ecclesiastes chapter 1 verse 9 says, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.” Every generation that comes along has that time when they think their ways and ideas are new, innovative, challenging to the status quo…yet in reality we are only passing through for a short time and truly nothing we do is original, our approach to life, relationships, our sins – all has been lived out before we arrived and will continue long after we are gone. 

The proper question to ask today is why has the world changed? Why do we see more evil, immorality, despair, and hopelessness all around? Look no further than the systematic removal of God from our society.  We do not live in a vacuum and everyone should face the hard truth, when you remove Love, the void is filled with Hate.  God is Love in the purest form, Lucifer is Hate.  Look around you, the world we see today is a world that has refused God….do you like what you see?

In our current information age, we see and hear the news in real time in this 24-hour a day non-stop news cycle.  You cannot go one day without seeing evil, depravity, despair, it is everywhere.  This world has turned away from God, we have removed Him from the public eye, from schools, courtrooms, civic spaces, and so I ask directly – how is that working out? 

Satan spews his vile hatred and deceit at every opportunity and a lost world takes it all in and then falls into his traps.  Satan runs a masterful endgame, provoking the weak, the lost, those that he can manipulate to a point of vengeance and even murder, and then the evil one whispers into the ears of the lost and believers alike and poses the question, “why would a loving God allow such evil things?”  Satan is guilty of all evil and should be held responsible, yet he is clever enough to hide behind his cloak of subterfuge, resulting in a world that has fallen for his lies to turn their anger towards God.

We read from Romans chapter 1, verses 28 through 32,

And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right. They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful.  Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.

The world today cries out for justice but then blames the just.  Satan perpetrates his evil desires upon man, then convinces man to blame God.  2 Timothy chapter 3, verses 1 through 5, offers this warning concerning the difficult times we face,

But know this: Hard times will come in the last days.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.

That sounds very similar to the earlier warnings in Romans, the Apostle Paul was well aware of the traits and devices that would be used by Satan and we see it now at every turn.  Instead of succumbing to the evil one, listen to the sound instructions from Paul in Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10 through 18, 

Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.  For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.  Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.  In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.  Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

We all have choices to make but thankfully for believers, there always remains hope, even though dark days are ahead.  God will deliver us from evil at the appropriate time.  We must continue to share the good news of salvation to a lost world that is without hope.  The search for answers is not to be found unless the seeker is willing to accept the truth.  The bible states in Romans 1 verses 19 and 20,

Since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.  For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 

God has revealed himself to man since the beginning of creation and it is clear, we have no excuse. The path chosen by this world, which has delivered us into the hands of the enemy, is described in detail as we continue to read verses 21 through 25.

For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.  Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.  Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.

The world will continue to ask why these terrible things happen, but unless they turn back to God and stop applauding those that espouse evil and hatred, they will find no answers.  Politicians will not solve the problems of today, government cannot restore hope to a lost world.  Paul boldly proclaims his faith and in so doing provides the one true answer that eludes the lost world of today.  Romans 1, verses 16 and 17, 

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.”

Let us all live by faith, share our faith boldly, and bring those seeking the truth to a place of salvation.  The only answer to our question is found in revival, bringing a lost world to a place of repentance, believers standing up and boldly sharing the power of God through salvation in Christ.  Just as the great Charles Spurgeon admonished the faithful in his day to get out and share the good news, “Sit not down in idleness and fold your arms in indifference to the world’s woes. Behold, your compassionate Lord sends you, therefore go gladly anywhere, everywhere.”

Finally, if you are troubled by what you see in the world today or feel all hope is lost, do not give up, we can offer you a place of peace that surpasses all human understanding.  What we offer is the peace that comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Reach out to us today through this link  Prayer Requests, Questions, Comments  and let us pray for you.  Read our messages, Pathway to Salvation followed by “The Way, the Truth and the Life”, then send us any questions you may have so that we may help you come to know our Savior.  If you have already accepted Jesus – share your testimony with those you meet, and if we can help you in that – reach out to us and request our free testimony cards that you can use to break the ice with those you meet.  Please remember to share our site with others.  God Bless you.

John Stephen Frey, Director and senior editor, Life Beyond Horizons

Pandemic, Mask mandates, Social Distancing

Are you fearful or just carrying that feeling of anxiety, maybe not even knowing why? Where is the world we used to know – the one where we could travel, eat out, go to a concert, or simply gather with friends – where did it go?

Many people are asking these questions and more of them are starting to feel like the old “normal” is gone forever. Where is this all heading? If you pay attention to world events you might have seen the news coming out of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. This group has existed for 50 years and each year hosts the leaders of the largest nations and fortune 500 companies in an effort to address the most urgent issues facing our world.

This year they announced what they call “The Great Reset.” This new approach aimed at solving the world’s problems is a global call to a one world order under a socialist type set of rules. You can look it up and read in more detail what this great reset is all about at this link. https://www.weforum.org/great-reset/

This One World Order initially focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic, but then goes well beyond this into other areas, such as climate change and how to control carbon emissions, to social justice and economics. They fail to address the real issue facing the world which is a result of the massive lockdowns and mandates in reaction to COVID-19. People are getting tired of being isolated and the overall loss of their basic freedoms as a result of these mandates. In some instances, we are starting to see local and state governments pushing back and reducing or even eliminating the mandates that have been in place for much of the previous year. This will undoubtedly force a public showdown and many experts are pointing to the various vaccines as the new standard or litmus test for a return to freedom. The WEF and their partners at The Commons Project ask this question, “Do you want your freedom? Get vaccinated and get a health “passport” – their app is already available known as the CommonPass – so that you can dine out, go to the movies, go to the football game, or get on an airplane. I would offer a guess that this will become our new reality sometime in the year 2021. No health passport – no freedom. As troublesome as that sounds – once we’re conditioned to that level of control, it’s a very small step to Revelation Chapter 13 Verse 17:

“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

This book of Revelation, written by John the Apostle around 96 AD, seems to hit very close to home at this point in time. I don’t believe this is just a coincidence….do you?

These “digital passports” that are being touted, such as the WEF’s partnership with The Commons Project and their newly developed app are described in this article from the MIT Technology Review, dated 12/21/2020 which reads in part:

Some of the terms being thrown around are confusing, like “vaccine passport.” In some scenarios, your records might function like an actual passport—think of arriving at the airport in a new country, pulling out your smartphone, and scanning a digital record of your vaccination or negative test. But those records could also act like a work authorization at your job, or a pass to get into restaurants, bars, and shopping malls. Proponents argue that digital health credentials could help us get back to normal.

Imagine a book written some 2,000 years ago that described this very scenario – wouldn’t that make someone sit up and take notice? I think it should, just from a curiosity standpoint at the very least – but see, our enemy, Satan, has been working on this for a very long time and he knew when these days unfolded, it would be necessary for a majority of the population to think of the Bible as some book of fairytales and allegory or stories passed down through generation after generation, unreliable, etc. Unfortunately, that approach has worked and many people dismiss the Bible without even taking the time to understand what it actually represents. The inspired Word of God. Even for many that “believe” in God, believing He created all things, are somehow unable to believe that He would have the ability to inspire the written word. Think about that – in one sense, God is all-powerful, yet not enough to have some words written down by the very people that He created.

It’s a world upside down to be sure – but I have complete faith in God and like I shared above, the Bible tells us all about these events and so far it’s pretty spot on with what I see with my own eyes. And the bottom line – there is nothing to fear, when we place our trust in Christ by simply believing that he came to this earth and gave himself as a sacrifice for all, and was raised from the dead – we are saved. We will not suffer the coming wrath that a world will receive for rejecting our Creator. That time is coming – very soon or many years from now – I don’t know and for that matter, nobody knows (and if they say they do, they’re wrong) – but many things are lining up that are predicted in the Bible that point to the last days – I hope everyone that reads this post will have the chance to make that decision for themselves – to stop putting their faith in human beings and bend a knee, acknowledge our Creator, and accept the redemption that is offered freely to anyone that asks by choosing to follow Jesus Christ.

For some people this sounds like crazy talk, but I say don’t take my word for it, take some time and read what the Bible really says – read Romans Chapter 10, read Matthew Chapters 6 and 24, and find out what God is saying to you. I challenge all non-believers to make sure they know “why” they don’t believe – is it ignorance to what is actually in the Bible? Is it the TV preachers or the hypocrites that dress up nice on Sunday? I don’t care for many of them either – but they’re not going to stand in my way to knowing the truth and experiencing God for myself. Don’t use that as an excuse to keep you from knowing God on a personal level.

Matthew chapter 6, verse 33:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

All these things, peace, joy, love, – and the promise of eternal life with our heavenly Father.

I’m writing today to anyone that is searching or needs to hear the truth – maybe that’s you or someone you know or want to share this with, or maybe not. The bottom line for me, I truly believe the word of God and I’ve experienced that peace that only comes through Jesus – and what a hypocrite I would be if I didn’t share this wonderful experience with others- that would be a tragedy. To me, it would be like seeing a person about to step in front of an on-coming bus and doing nothing to help them avoid disaster. I can’t keep it to myself, it’s too important.

Hear what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 7, verses 13 and 14, 

“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.”

While the gift of salvation is free to all that seek it, the truth is that many will follow the broad path that leads to destruction.  Jesus tells us in these verses that the gate to eternal life with our heavenly Father is narrow and the road is difficult, few will find it.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that you can put this off, right now, today, this could be your final opportunity to receive salvation through Jesus Christ.  Why wait any longer, why risk your very soul? Jesus went on to say in verse 21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,” and he further states in verse 23,  “Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me you workers of iniquity”

Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” To accept Jesus as your Lord only requires this, as stated in Romans Chapter 10, verses 9 and 10:

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

If you have questions, need prayer, or would like to know more about how you can be saved, please reach out to us today. No strings attached, we won’t ask you for money, we want you to experience the life more abundant that only comes in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

For additional information on how to be saved visit these links:

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Pathway to Salvation

John Stephen Frey Director and Senior Editor

We live in a world that values “Me” over serving others, a self-centered world of social media clamoring for more things, more money, with little regard for anyone else. As a believer in Jesus – where do you stand in your walk with the Lord? Have you settled for a comfortable existence, do you prefer to blend in and going unnoticed by the world around us? Or do you accept the challenge and step up in your faith, step out, trade your comfort for the call to discipleship that was given to all that accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ? Watch this short video and ask yourself – where do you stand? Do you want to get involved? Reach out to us and share your thoughts, request prayer for strength and God’s guidance, use our site to help steer the lost to Jesus Christ. Move forward in your walk with God, be a trader, trade in your comfortable life about self and get involved in a movement bigger than yourself, experience the life more abundant that is promised to all believers. Join the movement…..become a Trader.

Matthew 28:18-19  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

 John Stephen Frey, Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons

*Video courtesy of our partners at RightNow Media

Wherefore, Contend With One Another Over These Words

(Originally published in The Omega Letter, May 24, 2005)

(Simple close up view of mosaic tile)

Throughout my career in business, it was always stressed above all else, teamwork, everyone pulling together towards a common goal. Self-interests were secondary to what was best for the team. Many business models are built on this theme, basically, everyone benefits when we all work towards our shared goals. The oft-times over-used cliche would invariably come up reminding us there is no “I” in team, meant to quash self-interests, lest you become marginalized on the outside of the group.

However, in modern life today, it is the exact opposite with social media dominating the landscape, it’s all about the individual.  We are encouraged to celebrate ourselves, share our every move with the world, invite friends to join us on social media where we update ad nauseam the daily minutia of life; what we’re doing, what we’re eating….look at me today, my life, my things, my surroundings.  It’s a narcissistic playground gone wild.  We not only create our own life narrative but we control it, we share the best of times and manipulate our very image to the likeness we want the world to see.  Reality is what you create and the social media platforms are more than willing to exploit these narcissistic tendencies of the consumer. These personal narratives, however false or misleading, create a “look at me” portfolio to be shared inside this fabricated world of our own creation. Worst of all – the “selfie” – a term not used until just a handful of years ago, now has become part of our everyday lexicon and represents the new norm of narcissism.

I am not saying this is all bad, most of us participate to some degree, with many using these same platforms to encourage, share their spiritual beliefs or raise awareness to many causes.  However, it’s the underlying theme of self above all else that is disturbing and trending in the wrong direction across our society.

At the beginning of this message, I use a simple view of assorted pieces of mosaic tile.  At this close in level, you see the individual pieces, but not the image or purpose.  Similarly, when we focus our view inward, becoming consumed with our own issues, our own perceived shortcomings or other problems, we lose sight of those around us.  We become hypersensitive to our own needs resulting in those needs being placed above all else.  We lose sight of those around us, those we are called to serve as disciples, thus falling out of step with God’s purpose for our life.  We are unable to view the bigger picture of life, the purpose and meaning, becoming lost in our own isolation.  In the world of social media, where we can cover the blemishes of our life, photoshopped to our own liking, we are at risk of losing ourselves in a make-believe world of our own creation.  What’s worse is the more we look inward, puffing up our own self-worth, the farther we drift from the ability to be a servant, following in our Savior’s footsteps.  The greatest narcissist of all time is Satan, so caught up in his own beauty and power that he turned on the Creator and it has cost him everything.  It is no wonder he is using that very tool in attempts to bring down believers and non-believers alike at every opportunity.

In Matthew chapter 28 we are given our assignments by Jesus, to make disciples of all nations and teach them to follow His commandments.  In a nutshell, share the love of Christ with everyone you meet, through words and actions, then participate in their spiritual growth through example and teaching.  The blueprint is laid out quite expressly in the gospels; see Christ and be like Him. You would imagine the value of social media to share Christ with others, but I have to ask the question to believers, have you witnessed to anyone today? This week? This month? Do you worship at a church that challenges you to put other’s needs first – to share the gospel of Jesus with those around you?

These questions are asked for a reason and we want to remind believers, you have the responsibility to study God’s word, not just take for granted that you will be given the tools you need through a church service.  1 John Chapter 4, verse 1 warns us in this way, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” You can not grow as a believer if you do not actively participate in the process.  What’s worse is if you are attending a church or listening to messages that do not challenge you to share the gospel message and do not encourage your daily bible study – but instead place the focus onto yourself and your needs and desires.  If the latter is your experience, you are being led astray.

So let’s see what this looks like when we bring into focus the dangers in our “look at me” world.  Jesus Christ came to this earth, God in the flesh, and in his own words made clear His purpose.  Jesus stated in Mark chapter 10 verse 45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus put everything aside and became the servant of mankind. You have to go beyond just the example of servitude and examine the benefits of following this great example of life.  It goes so much further than just putting one’s self aside, Jesus gave us this example to help us realize the overall value and benefits of living for others.  When we put down our own selfish interests, we gain a broader perspective and the ability to focus on the true value of life as God intended for us.

Paul exalted all believers in Philippians chapter 2, verses 3 and 4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others.”  Paul then followed this with the divine revelation of the Attitude of Christ as written in verses 5 through 11:

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to cling to, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Of course, Jesus himself gave us one of the greatest examples, other than his ultimate sacrifice on the cross, of how we should humble ourselves as servants, placing others above ourselves, when on the evening of the last supper, he got on his knees and washed the feet of his own disciples as written in John chapter 13. Jesus went on to explain to them that they should wash each other’s feet and by doing so, find happiness.

To return to the introduction of this message, we started with a close-up view of mosaic tile, not of any apparent significance or value, rather plain and imperfect around the edges. Singling out this one section is similar to the self-oriented “look at me” society in which we live. Instead of looking at those around us, placing equal or higher value on their needs as opposed to our own, we are told to look at ourselves – that it is okay to value your own needs above all else. This has even made its way into the church, the so-called prosperity message and the empowerment of self, which has gained tremendous popularity and created the mega-churches across our nation, takes the teachings of Christ out of context and blurs the lines between servant and master.  Itching ears like to be stroked, the “you are special” mantra, coupled with the idea that you deserve to be happy and prosperous, marginalizes God and treads on dangerous ground that places ourselves above our creator.  The litmus test to be applied to any doctrine must be the comparison of the message with the teachings of Jesus.  Given that qualifying standard of measure, the “me first” religion that lifts up self-interests and gratification is in direct contradiction of the message shared by Christ.  That’s not to say that God did not promise to bless His followers, in fact, in Matthew chapter 19, verse 29, Jesus tells us, “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” Imagine that sort of return on investment, but in all blessings promised, we must resist the idea that this means money, fortune on earth and other worldly possessions.  To do so is a mockery of the scriptures and takes every example of Jesus and reduces it to fit our own worldly desires. Sound instruction comes in Matthew chapter 6, verses 19 through 21,

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:   But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:   For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” 

I do not believe that Jesus’ promise to give us a life more abundant ever meant a bigger house, new cars, and money.  Why would we limit the power of our heavenly Father to man-made creations that will only rust, depreciate and eventually pass away?  But let’s return to the point of this message.  (If you ever have questions or wish to discuss these issues raised in our posts, please reach out and share your thoughts, they are always welcome)

The real danger of the “look at me” society in which we live, is the way it contradicts the calling we have from Christ and it is growing in popularity, to the point that it has taken a stronghold inside our own churches.  Many are being led down a blind alley, away from the true calling of our Lord, hearing a message that is soothing to the ears but not based on sound doctrine.  You may read this and think it is nonsense, just another message aimed at putting down those that are different, breaking from tradition and making things uncomfortable.  This is not a complaint against breaking from traditions, such as those that get upset because the music minister doesn’t sing the old gospel hymns, but to the contrary, I am telling you directly, this is a dire warning that must be heeded both personally and as a church body.

2 Timothy chapter 3, verses 1 through 5 states, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 

The warning comes with a disturbing reference when it says “having a form of godliness” which tells me it will resemble a church but in reality will not be of God. In our self-serving ways, we will fall victim to those false teachers that will speak a form of religion that will be pleasing to our ears.  What we need is to be challenged and tutored by the Word of Truth, like-minded with our savior.  However, the more we fall into the pattern of self above all else, the easier it will be to turn from that message and seek the things that please us, self-help, prosperity, religion without conviction.  Paul continues the warning in 2 Timothy chapter 4 verses 3 and 4,

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 

Maybe this seems like an overreaction as if I am drawing dire conclusions from these verses and applying them in a broad moralistic context. Some will rebuff these warnings as another zealot playing on our fears with the age-old warning “the end is near.” Just this morning I read a story in the national media which says that a Christian numerologist – a title of which I am totally unfamiliar – has deciphered from what he interprets as biblical code along with date markers from the pyramids of Giza that point to the world ending on September 23rd of this year. I do not scoff at the notion of the end of the world, the bible very clearly states that God will bring this world to an end. However, there is no code to be deciphered or any other clues that have been left lying about as if God wanted us to figure it out.  The only reply to anyone that predicts the end of the world is the very words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 24, verse 36 which states, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”  That leaves no room for anyone to stand up and claim they know the day and the hour so even the well-intended (although I am very skeptical of intentions when it comes to biblical contradictions) can be led astray by these sorts of claims.

Suffice it to say, we serve a God of Love, one that loves us so much that He provided the solution to a sinful world, salvation through Jesus Christ.  We have nothing to fear, but we must heed the warnings and be vigilant in our relationship with our heavenly Father so that we are not led astray. The world today is pulling at everyone to be full of themselves, be selfish, take what is yours and demand equality at every turn. This is the tool of the enemy and it is in direct contradiction to the example given by Jesus. There are so many reasons to follow Christ’s examples and one of the greatest is to die to self, truly accept and embrace the salvation through Jesus and as Paul states in Romans chapter 6 verse 4,  “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Walking in the newness of life in Christ means we have died to the old self. We put off the selfish ways of our past and embrace the new walk as disciples of Christ.  To go back to the beginning of this message, we showed a single mosaic tile, part of a larger image, but when we focus simply on ourselves, all we can see is the single tile.  Our problems are magnified, we become disengaged from those around us and we desire only that which pleases us.  We make ourselves more important than the greater surroundings of that which is beyond our view. In the end, we have nothing to show for our lives, just one small mosaic tile that seemed meaningless and without merit.  If only we would follow our Savior’s example, look beyond our own selves, care about those around us and strive to put our own desires and selfish interests away.  If we can learn to walk by faith, living a true LIFE BEYOND HORIZONS, only then will we start to gain that broader perspective on life and begin to realize the abundance of joy and hope that Christ promised to those that follow Him.  I leave this to you now, which do you take, the single-minded view of the selfish individual, the single tile, or do you accept Jesus Christ and follow His example of obedience and selflessness to the end….for when we expand our worldview, see beyond the single tile of our own self-interests, then and only then our Father will reveal the truth, the wonderful mosaic that we share in Jesus Christ. Life has true meaning as a follower of Jesus and our place, the single mosaic tile, represents our place as true heirs of God.

 John Stephen Frey, Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons

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