Program 52: Love: Awakened by Gratitude

The secret to increasing your love for your Creator is found in recognizing the many ways He continually blesses you.

Welcome to WLC Radio, a subsidiary of World’s Last Chance Ministries, an online ministry dedicated to learning how to live in constant readiness for the Savior's return.

For two thousand years, believers of every generation have longed to be the last generation. Contrary to popular belief, though, Christ did not give believers “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, he repeatedly warned that his coming would take even the faithful by surprise. Yahushua urgently warned believers to be ready because, he said, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Matthew 24:44]

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

Part 1: (Miles & Dave)

Miles Robey: Greetings! Hey, we’re glad you’ve joined us. I’m Miles Robey, your host.

Dave Wright: And I’m Dave Wright. We’re glad you’ve found us!

You know, the world of short-wave radio is very big. There’s a lot out there. Some good; some not so good. But there’s a lot.

Miles: There really is. So, yeah! We’re glad you found us!

Dave: If this is your first time joining us, you’ll very quickly learn that at World’s Last Chance, we prefer to use the personal name of the divine Father, which is Yahuwah, or Yah. The Son’s name is similar: it’s Yahushua.

Miles: Have you heard of Quora?

Dave: No, I don’t think so.

Miles: It’s a website where anyone can ask a question and people from around the world will answer. Questions range everywhere from “What is the oldest language known to mankind” and “What is the best car engine in the world,” to “Who was the rudest celebrity you’ve ever met” and everything in between.

Dave: Sounds like one of those black holes you can disappear down only to resurface and wonder what happened to the time.

Miles: It is, as my wife discovers with regularity! Anyway, there are some really crazy, interesting, funny, and heart-warming stories shared on there. One of the categories of question my wife particularly likes are the questions that start with: “What is the kindest–?”

• What is the kindest thing a stranger has ever done for you?
• What is the kindest thing someone has ever said to you?

I know she’s found a particularly moving story when I hear her go, “Awww! That’s so sweet! Darling? Listen to this!”

Dave: We all like hearing stories that uplift the spirits. There’s so much in the world that is dark and depressing. It’s nice to be able to have your faith restored in the human spirit once in awhile!

Miles: I agree. And that’s kind of what I want to focus on in our discussion today. Recently, we’ve been spending a lot of time on prophecy. And that’s good! We should! It’s important.

But I think it’s also important to remember why it’s important. Time is coming to a close, yes. But that’s important because it means we’ll soon get to meet the Father and the Son, and that’s important because we love them and want to see them.

Dave: And, of course, we love them because they first loved us. I think if you had to choose just one passage of Scripture, just one statement that would encapsulate the entire gospel message, I think it would have to be John 3, verses 16 and 17.

I think every Christians knows John 3:16, but not as many know the next verse. Could you read them for us?

Miles: I don’t need to; I memorized them as a boy. And I agree, these two verses sum up all the beauty of salvation. It says: “For Yah so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For Yah sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Dave: That’s it! Right there: the heart of the gospel story. If, through some machinations of Satan, the rest of the Bible were to be lost or destroyed, the truths contained in those two, short verses, are enough to save any soul that grasps it by faith.

Miles: It’s true. The one universal truth the Bible teaches is that Yahuwah is love.

Dave: His very character, His innermost thoughts and feelings are pure love. When this whole sad experiment with sin is over, when sin and sinners are no more, everyone is going to understand that Yahuwah triumphed because love is the strongest force in the universe.

Miles: I like how Solomon phrased it: “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.” [Song of Solomon, 8:7]

Dave: It’s so true! Yah’s government is founded upon the law of love. Do you remember when the lawyer asked Yahushua what the greatest commandment was?

Miles: Yeah. He thought he was going to trip Yahushua up with a trick question. But the Saviour’s answer was so powerful, it left the lawyer with nothing to say.

Dave: Let’s read it in the words of the Saviour. It’s found in Matthew 22, start at … well, let’s just read the whole story. Verses 35 to 40.

Miles: “Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

“Yahushua said unto him, Thou shalt love Yahuwah thy Eloah with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Dave: On those two principles of love rests the entirety of Yah’s government and His law.

This whole rebellion of Lucifer’s, where as Satan—the adversary—he tempts souls to join his rebellion, has revealed two, completely different sets of principles. On the one hand, you’ve got Yahuwah. He’s conducted His campaign to win the loyalty of souls by using the principles of love, kindness, forgiveness and justice. Satan, on the other hand, has revealed the principles on which his government is based, and that’s deception, force, and cruelty.

Miles: You have to admit that sometimes it’s seemed a rather one-sided, unfair fight. The devil can use methods that Yahuwah won’t stoop to use. The Father limits Himself to using only that which is consistent with His law of love.

Dave: True. However, the very fact that Yahuwah is fighting with a handicap, so to speak, will make His final triumph that much greater. He wins because love truly is the strongest force in the universe. We love because we are loved. Love awakens love!

Miles: Have you ever looked up the definition to the word love?

Dave: No. I’ve never thought to do that.

Miles: I did recently, and it was an interesting experience.

Dave: Was this your old 1828 edition of the dictionary?

Miles: Yep. It’s really interesting because the older definition of love goes right along with what you’re saying. Listen while I read it. It says love is: “An affection of the mind excited by beauty and worth of any kind.” It is generated by “pleasing qualities of any kind.” In a general sense, love is “to be pleased with something or someone, to regard with affection, on account of some qualities which excite pleasing sensations …”

Now, in light of our discussion today, what I find so interesting about this definition, is that this definition works when it comes to human love. I was first attracted to my wife because of her appearance. Hey! I’m a man! It works for us.

But I fell in love with her because of her character qualities.

Dave: And that’s why we fall in love with Yah.

Miles: Yes, but flip it around: why does Yah love us? It can’t be any “pleasing qualities” that we possess. We’re all sinners. We’re not beautiful; our characters are warped by sin. So why does He love us?

Dave: It would have to be because that’s who He is. We certainly have nothing to recommend ourselves to Him.

Miles: Which gets back to what you were saying. Love is the strongest power in the universe. We love Him, because He loved us first, warts, wrinkles, brokeness, and all.

Dave: When our minds begin to wrap around how immense is His love for us—individually!—how He delights in us and feels joy over our very existence, then we can begin to grasp how, in the end, this love, this pure, infinite, exhaustless love will win.

And it’s here that we discover the secret of love’s immense power. Love transforms. Force simply cannot. Even the hardest heart can and does respond to loving kindness.

Miles: True. Force just brings out resentment, hate, and a show of force in return. The use of force actually hardens the heart.

Dave: Force can compel actions, but it will never transform the attitudes and beliefs. Force certainly can’t turn enemies into friends. It can’t transform the mind.

Miles: Reminds me of something Samuel Butler once said. This isn’t a direct quote, but it was something along the lines of: “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”

Dave: In John 15, Yahushua described the fullest extent of human love. Would you read it for us? Verse 13.

Miles: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Dave: There’s no greater love anyone can show than to be willing to sacrifice your life for a friend. Parents will and have given their lives to save their children, but to make such a great sacrifice for a friend? That’s the greatest display there can be of human love.

And yet, the demonstration of divine Love, when Yahuwah sacrificed His only Son, revealed a Love that so far outclasses every other love, it’s impossible for finite minds to fully grasp it: Yahuwah sacrificed His only Son to save His enemies!

Miles: That degree of love … you try and wrap your mind around it, and your brain starts to wobble. You can’t quite take in a love so deep that it would be willing to sacrifice your only child to save your enemy.

Dave: “Yah so loved the world that He gave” . . . everything. When sin entered, Yahuwah revealed depths of love that had not been seen before. He revealed a love that could forgive sin and save sinners.

Miles: I don’t think Satan expected that. I think he expected Yahuwah to immediately destroy Adam and Eve, which would then let him use it as an excuse to stir everyone up against Yah.

Dave: You may be right. But the secret to the power of love is that it transforms. It can’t be helped!

Miles: You’re right about that. I remember this old woman who lived down the street as I was growing up. All the kids were afraid of her and no one liked her as she was often cross. But one day, as I was playing with my friends, I got hurt. Don’t even remember how, but she heard and came out. She cleaned and bandaged me up and slipped me a piece of candy—something my mum would never have done between meals!

Dave: As they say: the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!

Miles: She certainly found the way to mine!

But, no. Seriously. It was her kindness that made me change my view of her. I felt grateful and that changed how I felt about her.

Dave: That’s key! Gratitude is a very necessary part of being loved. You can sacrifice your time and money to give your mates tickets to the World Cup, you can scrimp, and save, in order to give your child an expensive gift, but if your gifts are not recognized for what they are—demonstrations of love—there’s not going to be any awakening gratitude and certainly no returning love.

Recognizing and acknowledging Yah’s goodness, His love gifts, is a very important part of growing our love relationship with Him. And He knows this, which is why He has provided us with opportunities to show our gratitude.

Miles: All right. Hold that thought. When we come back, I want to hear what these opportunities are.

We’ll be right back.

* * *

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* * *Part 2: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: We’ve just been talking about the close connection between love and gratitude. Specifically, gratitude is awakened in the heart when you realize that Yahuwah sent His Son to save, not to condemn!

Dave: That’s right, Miles. But if we never recognize the Father’s love, our own hearts won’t be drawn to Him in response. Because Yah understands the close connection between love and gratitude, He has provided us with opportunities to give to Him.

Miles: You’ll have to forgive me but that sounds, well, just a tad self-serving.

Dave: Not when you understand it properly. Look at it this way. Children love to give. They’re absolutely delighted when they can surprise you with some demonstration of their love. When my youngest daughter was just three years old, she’d write us love notes. She’d write “I” and then draw a heart, and then the letter “U.” She couldn’t yet spell words, but she was able to get her point across.

Miles: That’s really precious.

Dave: I think my wife kept most of her little notes. But she felt loved by us, so she was trying to give love back. Children need to give. A wise parent will give the opportunities to do so.

Obviously, Yahuwah is a wise parent. As our heavenly Father, He knew that all the demonstrations of love in the universe would not draw the hearts of His children if they did not recognize His gifts and feel gratitude for them.

Now, to your point that this is a bit self-serving.

Miles: I know it sounds bad, but—

Dave: No, it’s a good point.

Yahuwah doesn’t need our expressions of love and gratitude … but He knows that we need to give them.

Satan has spread this idea that Yah made creatures just for His selfish pleasure, so He could sit there and have everyone bow down, and kowtow, and feed His ego. Unfortunately, a lot of people have bought into this idea.

Miles: I didn’t mean it quite like that.

Dave: No, I’m glad you brought it up. The thing is, this idea that we were created just to serve an arrogant, selfish god entirely misses the point of why it is important for us to give back to the Father.

The only way love awakens love, is if love is recognized. You don’t see it? You’re not going to feel love in return. However, once you recognize that you are loved unconditionally, gratitude awakens returning love.

Miles: Okay. I can see that. It’s easier to grasp Yah’s fatherly love for us, when we put it into terms of our own parent/child relationships. When our kids were little, we were very diligent in teaching them to say “please” and “thank you.”

Dave: That’s good parenting. Everything given to a child should be recognized and acknowledged with gratitude. Making it a habit to recognize gifts, or favors, or even helpfulness, creates a feeling of love and gratitude in the mind of a child.

And that’s so important for their future happiness. You know, when a baby is born, a mom typically falls instantly in love with her child. With dads …

Miles laughs: “Congratulations, honey! You just gave birth to a lizard!”

Dave: Well … Okay. We don’t immediately think their wizened little faces are the most beautiful thing we’ve ever seen, but we do love them.

However, the child doesn’t necessarily feel an instant bond of love toward the parent.

Miles: Which can carry over into adulthood. You hear on the news sometimes, stories of horrific “elder abuse.” It’s really sad.

Dave: Whatever the reason that prompts such selfish behavior on the part of adult children, one underlying cause is children taking parents for granted.

You can’t teach a young child gratitude by example. It must be required in order for it to become a habitual part of the child’s character.

This is why Yahuwah not only provided opportunities for the Israelites to recognize and express their gratitude for His blessings, but He required their participation! He knew that their recognition of what He had done for them would increase their love which would, in turn, increase their confidence and trust in Him.

Miles: This makes sense. I mean, Yahuwah already knows what’s in our hearts. He knows our thoughts. It’s like prayer. Yah doesn’t need us to pray for His sake. He’s given us prayer for our sake, so that we might be drawn to Him in faith and love.

Dave: Great example. Prayer gives us the chance to take a breather, to slow down and recall the ways Yah has blessed us, as well as a chance to confess our failings and experience forgiveness.

The gratitude we feel when we recognize the many ways the Father looks out for us, and takes care of us, and loves us, creates love and trust in our hearts, and this is what He knew we needed to experience.

Once you see how much Yahuwah loves you, your heart will warm. When you see how He takes care of you and all the things He does to watch over you, this awakens gratitude. Gratitude increases trust. And when we trust Him, He can do even more for us—which is what He wants to do and what we need.

Miles: So, do you think this is why, in Mark 2, Yahushua says “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath”?

Dave: Exactly! Yah knew that if He didn’t require it, we would just keep plugging away, like a mouse on a treadmill. On that treadmill, we tend to focus on temporal gain and we lose sight of eternal realities. Our relationship with Him suffers.

But by requiring they set aside one day in seven to spend with Him, Yah created a situation in which we had the best opportunity to get to know and love Him.

Miles: When you put it that way, all these Old Testament requirements for Sabbath observance make a lot more sense.

For example, by requiring that all cooking be done the day before, this gave women the chance to rest as well, rather than spend the day slaving over a hot fire. Yah even commanded that even servants and animals be given the day off!

Dave: He’s done absolutely everything He possibly could to foster a good relationship with us! And what do we do?

Miles: Hm. Gripe and complain that it’s all legalism and we shouldn’t “have to” keep the Sabbath.

Dave: Sabbaths are anniversaries! We like to remember anniversaries of important, happy events. Well, Sabbaths are anniversaries of Creation! When we set aside the daily grind to rest on the Sabbath, we’re reminded of the promises our Creator made at the very beginning – to bless and keep us, and provide everything necessary for our sustenance and happiness.

Miles: Promises that are very precious in an increasingly uncertain world!

Dave: New Moons are another time Yahuwah has provided for us to grow closer to Him. As we remember with gratitude the blessings of the preceding month, our faith is inspired to trust Him for all our needs in the upcoming month.

Miles: The annual feasts were also set apart times for renewal and rededication, too, weren’t they?

Dave: Not only renewal and rededication, but also for thanksgiving!

Of all of the yearly feasts, Feast of Tabernacles was specifically designed for giving thanks.

Miles: It was long, too! A full week!

Dave: It was great! The year’s harvest was in. It gave everyone the chance to slow down, rest, and contemplate all the blessings the Father had given. Everything was designed to awaken recognition of Yah’s loving care.

Miles: I can see how important this is. It’s so easy to slip into a thought pattern that takes it all for granted, but when we do that, we miss opportunities for our faith and love to grow!

But, when we recognize Yah’s care, His love, it keeps love and trust alive in our own hearts, which is itself a protection against Satan’s attempts to lure us away from the Father. And when Satan can entice us away from the Father, Yah can’t do for us all the things He longs to do. It’s all for our protection: Yah requires these times, not because He needs it, but because He knows our faith and trust need it in order to grow.

Dave: It’s interesting that the very first feast the Israelites neglected was the thanksgiving of Feast of Tabernacles. After that, true worship quickly degenerated into mere forms. Judaism became a religion of traditions and salvation by works.

Miles: That’s what it remains to this day! It should be a warning to all of us of the importance of taking advantage of these opportunities to return worship, praise, and gratitude to the Father.

Dave: It’s really vital to a healthy Christian walk. Worshipping the Creator at His appointed times isn’t legalism if you’re looking forward to it because you feel loved and cared for when you remember everything He’s done for you. Worship then is a pleasure and a privilege!

When we realize that we’re loved and accepted—despite all our failings—when we recognize all the ways Yah loves us and cares for us, we can’t help but respond!

Miles: Because love awakens love!

Dave: When this happens, it becomes the most natural thing in the world to want to obey Yahuwah in everything. Your greatest joy will come in doing His will.

Miles: It reminds me of Yahushua’s words in John 4, that His “meat” was to do the will of Him who sent Him. [John 4:34]

Dave: Yahushua established a litmus test so we can know whether or not we truly love Him. It’s found in John 14, verse 15. Would you read it for us?

Miles: John 14:15? All right … oh! “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

So simple, isn’t it?

Dave: Obedience to all of Yah’s commandments is the natural response when you love the Lawgiver.

This is not legalism. Satan’s very quick to scream “Legalism!” anytime a person tries to keep the divine law.

Miles: Well, plenty of people do obey out of fear of the consequences.

Dave: True. You can’t always discern between a person who’s obeying just to earn salvation versus a person who is obeying out of love. Obedience can look the same even when prompted by opposite motivations.

But Yahuwah knows. Remember what He told Samuel? “For Yahuwah does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahuwah looks at the heart.” [1 Samuel 16:7]

Miles: I think it’s important to clarify that if you’re obeying just to earn your salvation, you’re missing the point entirely.

In Matthew 7, Yahushua said, quote:

“Not every one that saith unto Me, Yahushua, Yahushua, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

“Many will say to Me in that day, Yahushua, Yahushua, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works?

“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” [Matthew 7:21-23]

Dave: This is a really eye-opening passage. Yahushua says that those who have done all these “many wonderful works”. He does not know them. The word “know” in Scripture has much deeper significance than in modern English. In Genesis 4, it says “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain.” [Genesis 4:1]

Miles: So, we’re talking about more than head-knowledge. This is an intimate knowing, like with a lover.

Dave: Right. And because to know Yahuwah is to love Him, obedience is the natural response of the heart that loves. That’s why only the service and obedience of love is accepted.

It’s possible to go through all the motions, keep every commandment, observe every Sabbath and feast, and still be lost.

The difference is the motivation for the actions. Are His commandments kept from love? Or from a desire to “earn” salvation?

The difference in motivation reveals what’s in the heart.

Miles: All right, we’ll be right back. When we return, we’ll be answering your questions sent in to our Daily Mailbag. Stay tuned.

* * *

Mid-point call letters

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WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

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* * *Daily Mailbag (Miles & Dave)

Miles: We’ve got a great question coming to us from eSwatini.

Dave: eSwatini? Where’s that? I don’t think I’ve heard of it before.

Miles: That’s because, prior to April of 2018, it was known as Swaziland.

Dave: Really! And you just … knew this somehow?

Miles: But of course! You doubt my geographical expertise.

Dave: Uh … yeah!

Miles laughs: Smart of you. Actually, I looked it up because I’d never heard of it, either. Anyway, Daniel from eSwatini asks: “How can I know if something is a sin or not? I want to honor Yahuwah and do what’s right, but on some things, I just do not know what is right. Some people will say something is all right, while others will say it is a sin. How can I know for sure?”

Dave: What a great question! You know, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked that before, but it’s a fantastic question.

Obviously, there are categories of sin. Sins such as lying, sexual immorality, stealing, etc., etc., etc., those are so obvious we don’t have to even ask if they’re wrong or not. We know they are.

Miles: But there are things that fall into sort of a gray area. What if your friend does something that you think is a sin, but they don’t? How can you know if it’s a sin for you?

Dave: I like that you touched on the fact that there are differences in convictions. It may not be a sin for your friend, but it would be for you, and vice versa.

Miles: So, what you’re saying is, it’s important to give each other religious liberty to do as each one is convicted, and not judge.

Dave: Right. But with that, it’s important to make sure that we, ourselves, do not offend or become a stumbling block to those weaker in the faith. Turn to 1 Corinthians, chapter nine, and read verses 19 to 23. Paul, here, is talking about that very thing.

Miles: “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward Yah, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”

Dave: The reason I’m sharing this is, as you said, Miles, we need to give each other the freedom to follow our consciences and not judge if what someone does is something we feel is wrong.

Miles: Basically, keep our eyes focused on Yahushua and not the brother or sister next to us.

Dave: Exactly.

Miles: All right. Those are good principles to follow. But, what if we’re not looking at others and something comes up and we simply don’t know if it’s a sin or not? How can we know?

Dave: Well, a general “rule-of-thumb” to follow is, when in doubt, take the higher standard.

Miles: You know, that’s actually a good principle to have in marriage, too. Sometimes a husband and wife will encounter a situation where they don’t agree on something. Choosing ahead of time to take the higher standard is a good idea because, guaranteed, the issue is always most important to whichever one has the higher standard.

Dave: No one is ever hurt by simply taking the higher standard. But, let me hasten to add, we apply that higher standard to ourselves. We do not appoint ourselves as judge and jury of others. We don’t know where they’ve come from, or what they’re dealing with, but we can trust the Holy Spirit to convict them when they’ve reached a point that they can accept the truth.

Miles: My wife and I have a friend that says it really well. He says, “It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict. Not mine.”

Dave: I like that. It’s important to remember, too, that there are sins of omission as well as sins of commission. James 4:17 says: “To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” It gets back to our individual conscience and obeying the still, small voice in our own hearts.

Miles: So, focusing on the beam in our own eye, while leaving the mote in our brother’s eye alone, are there any Biblical principle’s that we could use as a guide or standard for things that, you know, fall into the soupy gray area?

Dave: As a matter of fact, there are. Turn to Philippians 4, and read verse 8. It’s Paul’s closing words to the believers in Philippi. What council does he leave them?

Miles: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Dave: This is the litmus test. Is it true? Is it honest? Does it promote justice and purity? Does it draw the mind to that which is lovely and of good report? These are the things that should consume our thoughts.

Miles: I remember reading somewhere once that a good way to know the status of our inner heart is to ask ourselves who holds our hearts? On what do our thoughts focus? What do we like to dwell on?

Dave: That’s good.

Miles: All right. Next question. All the way from Patras, Greece. Daria … Papa-do-pou…Papadopoulos?

Dave: Don’t you love Greek names?

Miles: What impresses me is that the kids somehow manage to learn how to write their names before reaching university!

Okay. Daria says: “What should I do when I discover my pastor teaching error?”

Dave: Well, Daria, that’s a good question and a situation that more and more believers are encountering.

Miles: And will continue to encounter the closer we get to the end!

Dave: First, I think it’s very good when Christians know their Bibles for themselves. Everyone should. Paul commended the believers in Berea because they didn’t just accept his word for what was truth. They studied Scripture for themselves to see if what he was telling them was true!

Miles: I’ve always liked Luke’s comment. He said that the believers in Berea were, quote: “More noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Dave: Believers should be aware of what they’re being taught. Don’t simply accept everything you’re told just because it comes from some respected authority. We’re never to take anyone’s word for what is truth. We’re to go to Yah for ourselves and humbly ask Him to be our teacher.

Here’s the problem, though: every single religion—and every single denomination within Christianity—is, entwined with error. Yes, they all have some truth. Yah has made sure of it so that He can reach the hearts of the sincere through the truths they have.

However, each denomination and religion also contains error.

Miles: I believe that most ministers go into the ministry because they, at some point, feel called into it.

Dave: Certainly. The spirit of Yah draws on the hearts of everyone.

But life happens. You know what it’s like: you finish university. You get married. A few more years pass and now you’ve got a family to support. Not very many people in that position are willing to openly follow truth if it puts their ability to support their family at risk.

This is a real danger for ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, what have you. They draw a pay cheque from an organization that teaches error. Their ability to continue to draw that pay cheque is dependent upon whether or not they continue to publicly support the stated creed, or doctrines of that organization.

Miles: So, what you’re saying is, this creates a conflict of interest for ministers.

Dave: It absolutely creates a conflict of interest for them. And this is why Scripture is very blunt that all of the churches are fallen and we are to leave them all.

Miles: What would you say to someone who believes that their organization is exempt?

Dave: They can believe that all they want, but it doesn’t make it true. Let’s take a look at what Scripture says.

Read Revelation 18:4, would you?

Miles: “I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

Dave: This is a standard translation but it’s a bit misleading. The Geneva Bible, preferred by the Protestant Reformers, actually translates this a little differently. Instead of saying “Come out of her, my people,” it says: GO out.

Miles: That’s actually a big difference. One is an invitation: “Come out and join me in my organization.” The other is a command: GO!

Dave: The word “come” leaves the impression that some churches are exempt. And, of course, we all like to think our church is the one exemption. But the truth is, no organized church or religion is exempt. All churches have either embraced some error, or have refused to accept advanced truth.

As Laodiceans, we like to think we’re exempt, but Revelation 18 gives no exemptions. All are to come out of Babylon and be separate. Yah’s people have no business being aligned with organizations that either teach error, or have rejected advanced light. And that is all of them.

Miles: I’d like to add, though, that we should always treat others with gentleness and respect. We’re not going to win any hearts if we come in with anger and accusations. We need to give everyone room to grow, including pastors. Everyone has the right to be wrong and to learn from his or her mistakes. We share the truth, but in kindness.

Dave: Yes. We always want to err on the side of kindness. Don’t remain where error is taught, but don’t leave without first sharing the truth. Just be aware, with most people, it’s not going to be popular. They’ll likely get angry.

Miles: But you never know. Your words can plant a seed that will bear a harvest in the future.

Well, that’s all we’ve time for today.

We enjoy hearing from our listeners. So if you’ve got questions, we’d like to hear from you. Go to our website at WorldsLastChance.com and click on Contact Us. We may not be able to address everything on air, but we’ll at least try to get it addressed in the Q&As on our website.

* * *Part 3: (Miles & Dave)

Dave: I know we’re getting close on time, but as we close, I wanted to add one more thought. Anytime anyone starts talking about the importance of obedience, someone else will invariably start tossing around the accusation of legalism.

Miles: I’ve noticed that, too.

Dave: Strangely enough, though, when love is your motivation for obeying, you don’t even notice that you’re doing the “works of the law.” You don’t keep a score card, expecting something in exchange for the service done. You obey because you love. It’s that simple.

Yahushua told a parable about this. It’s found in Matthew 25, verses 31 to 40

Miles: Let me look that up here … Okay, it says: “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’.”

Dave: Those who obeyed just because they wanted to work their way into Yah’s kingdom have kept score. They’re saying, “Hey, Lord! Haven’t we done … This, That, and the Other?” And His response is: “I never knew you.”

But those who obey out of love, they’re not thinking of the reward. They just want to show their love to their Maker because they love Him.

Miles: So, let me ask you. I think I’m speaking for a lot of us when I say that, in today’s world, it’s easy to get so caught up in the stresses of day-to-day life, that you can get feeling distant. You don’t want the Father to take second place, but in reality, it can feel like that. Any words of advice if you find that you really don’t—if you’re being strictly honest with yourself—love Him with all your heart, mind, and soul.

What can we do?

Dave: First of all, be encouraged. The very fact that you notice there is a lack there is because the Holy Spirit is bringing it to your attention. It’s an invitation to draw closer to Him.

If you feel you’re emotionally distant and don’t love Yah the way you want to, this can be changed. First, deliberately choose to think of all the blessings in your life, the many ways Yah has shown His love for you.

Are there times in your life when you’ve been especially protected? Can you remember occasions when you’ve received unusual benefits? Make it a habit to think about these things. Keep them fresh in your memory. This is what inspires faith.

Miles: I know that is true in my own life. Past blessings give me the confidence to trust Yah through current troubles.

Dave: We can all make it a habit to live in a perpetual “attitude of gratitude.” Like Paul said: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks.” [1 Thessalonians 5:16-18]

Miles: Those three just flow naturally together, don’t they?

Dave: They do! Tell Him thank you for life, for health, for love, for friends, for your job. For anything that brings joy. It’s the perfect cure for loneliness and depression, too.

Miles: This is a really valuable lesson. Satan is going to try his hardest to get us to lose our grip on Yah. He’s got temptations custom-designed for each individuals’ areas of greatest weakness. He’s got delusions planned that, if it weren’t for the spiritual insight gifted by the Holy Spirit, everyone would be deceived.

We’re going to need to know how to stay faithful.

Dave: More, we’ll need the faith of Yahushua in Gethsemane. The faith that prays with confidence and that, just as confidently, trusts the love of Yahuwah regardless of what the future holds.

And the way to develop that faith is to make it a habit to be grateful. Start noticing the little things. Tell Him thank you. As you’re going to sleep, as you’re traveling to work, use the time to contemplate all the ways you see Yah’s presence in your life.

Miles: James 1:17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Dave: Every good and perfect gift is from Him. It’s so easy to forget that, but as we do, our gratitude will grow. This will increase our love. And, as we love Him, we will trust Him. So it won’t matter whether we’re faced with the loss of a job for keeping the Sabbath, or we’re facing starvation, ultimately, we will be at peace because we trust the Father to always do what’s best.

Miles: That’s assurance we all need for the days ahead.

Dave: Obedience, gratitude, trust, faith, and love are the natural results of the heart that knows it is loved.

Miles: Join us again tomorrow, and until then, remember: Yahuwah loves you . . . and He is safe to trust!

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This program and past episodes of WLC Radio are available for downloading on our website. They're great for sharing with friends and for use in Bible studies! They're also an excellent resource for those worshipping Yahuwah alone at home. To listen to previously aired programs, visit our website at WorldsLastChance.com. Click on the WLC Radio icon displayed on our homepage.

In his teachings and parables, the Savior gave no “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, the thrust of his message was constant … vigilance. Join us again tomorrow for another truth-filled message as we explore various topics focused on the Savior's return and how to live in constant readiness to welcome him warmly when he comes.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.