The Thorns are Rising and Increasing

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Edify

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2021
1,569
661
113
#1
Luke 8: 14And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity.
We have heard of this parable for years. It's message is stout talking about those who won't make it & those who will.
While the Word hasn't changed, the times are changing with leaps & bounds.

As we look at V14 we see the "thorns" are worries, riches, & pleasures of this life choking the christian until he no longer can bear fruit at all.
That's scary, & it should scare us.
In John 15, we see Jesus teaching something more serious about fruit bearing: 1“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He [a]prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

6If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Here Jesus declares that those who don't remain in Him(bearing fruit), are gathered & burned. That means they won't make it to Heaven.

Many of us believe we are alright in the Lord, bearing some fruit, & for now we are. But change is coming, & what then?
As worries about the world INCREASE, what then? When the money we earn no longer pays the bills, or allows us the comforts we enjoy? When we can't enjoy our lives because we have to work more, & have less time for God & family? When sickness increases to the point that healthy loved ones die?
What I'm saying is, will our current relationship with Christ be enough to get us through these times?
As thorns increase around us, those who are "making it" may no longer do so.
It's my sincere belief that christians everywhere will find out what it means to "work out our own salvation with fear & trembling."

What do you think? Have you noticed already how many are leaving church because of this "falling away" we are in?
I used to think I could easily stand fast during the last days, but now I question that.
You see, there was a time that I looked foward to being here when the rapture takes place, but I didn't understand just how bad this world would get before the tribulation begins.
Even more, I need to consider my grandchildren who are not yet at the age of accountability. In a few years they will.
As time is winding down & the stresses of life increasing, who then will make it?

Thorns are rising & increasing..... what will we do?
 

Edify

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2021
1,569
661
113
#3
As things get worse, shouldn't it be a time to "consider our ways" to make sure we are strong enough in Christ to keep our heads above water?
 

Edify

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2021
1,569
661
113
#4
What do you think? What is your beliefs on this?
Hebrews 2:1For this reason we must pay much closer attention to [a]what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every violation and act of disobedience received a just [c]punishment, 3how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?


Some already have drifted away in past years. I hope that none of us here will do so.:)
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,720
9,652
113
#5
Luke 8: 14And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity.
We have heard of this parable for years. It's message is stout talking about those who won't make it & those who will.
While the Word hasn't changed, the times are changing with leaps & bounds.


As we look at V14 we see the "thorns" are worries, riches, & pleasures of this life choking the christian until he no longer can bear fruit at all.
That's scary, & it should scare us.
In John 15, we see Jesus teaching something more serious about fruit bearing: 1“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He [a]prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.


6If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Here Jesus declares that those who don't remain in Him(bearing fruit), are gathered & burned. That means they won't make it to Heaven.

Many of us believe we are alright in the Lord, bearing some fruit, & for now we are. But change is coming, & what then?
As worries about the world INCREASE, what then? When the money we earn no longer pays the bills, or allows us the comforts we enjoy? When we can't enjoy our lives because we have to work more, & have less time for God & family? When sickness increases to the point that healthy loved ones die?
What I'm saying is, will our current relationship with Christ be enough to get us through these times?
As thorns increase around us, those who are "making it" may no longer do so.
It's my sincere belief that christians everywhere will find out what it means to "work out our own salvation with fear & trembling."


What do you think? Have you noticed already how many are leaving church because of this "falling away" we are in?
I used to think I could easily stand fast during the last days, but now I question that.
You see, there was a time that I looked foward to being here when the rapture takes place, but I didn't understand just how bad this world would get before the tribulation begins.
Even more, I need to consider my grandchildren who are not yet at the age of accountability. In a few years they will.
As time is winding down & the stresses of life increasing, who then will make it?


Thorns are rising & increasing..... what will we do?
That's why it's hard for rich people to get into heaven. When you have much, it is a lot harder to depend on God. You get so used to being able to handle everything yourself. When I was poor it was easy to depend on God, and a lot harder to forget about him.

By the standards I became accustomed to while I was growing up, almost everybody I know is rich right now.
 

Edify

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2021
1,569
661
113
#6
That's why it's hard for rich people to get into heaven. When you have much, it is a lot harder to depend on God. You get so used to being able to handle everything yourself. When I was poor it was easy to depend on God, and a lot harder to forget about him.

By the standards I became accustomed to while I was growing up, almost everybody I know is rich right now.
Here in the US, even those living in the projects have it good. Even our illegal immigants have it good. We live in a nation of more than enough, even though our govt is trillions in debt. We should know that this can't last forever.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,602
13,861
113
#7
As things get worse, shouldn't it be a time to "consider our ways" to make sure we are strong enough in Christ to keep our heads above water?
What does "strong enough in Christ" mean... to you?
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,441
3,222
113
#9
Luke 8: 14And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity.
We have heard of this parable for years. It's message is stout talking about those who won't make it & those who will.
While the Word hasn't changed, the times are changing with leaps & bounds.


As we look at V14 we see the "thorns" are worries, riches, & pleasures of this life choking the christian until he no longer can bear fruit at all.
That's scary, & it should scare us.
In John 15, we see Jesus teaching something more serious about fruit bearing: 1“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He [a]prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.


6If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Here Jesus declares that those who don't remain in Him(bearing fruit), are gathered & burned. That means they won't make it to Heaven.

Many of us believe we are alright in the Lord, bearing some fruit, & for now we are. But change is coming, & what then?
As worries about the world INCREASE, what then? When the money we earn no longer pays the bills, or allows us the comforts we enjoy? When we can't enjoy our lives because we have to work more, & have less time for God & family? When sickness increases to the point that healthy loved ones die?
What I'm saying is, will our current relationship with Christ be enough to get us through these times?
As thorns increase around us, those who are "making it" may no longer do so.
It's my sincere belief that christians everywhere will find out what it means to "work out our own salvation with fear & trembling."


What do you think? Have you noticed already how many are leaving church because of this "falling away" we are in?
I used to think I could easily stand fast during the last days, but now I question that.
You see, there was a time that I looked foward to being here when the rapture takes place, but I didn't understand just how bad this world would get before the tribulation begins.
Even more, I need to consider my grandchildren who are not yet at the age of accountability. In a few years they will.
As time is winding down & the stresses of life increasing, who then will make it?


Thorns are rising & increasing..... what will we do?
Same as always, trust Jesus. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. He said that His grace is sufficient. No trial has or will come our way that is beyond our ability to bear. There are believers in the worst of hell holes, North Korea, Afghanistan and Iraq among them.

By the way, if someone is born again, their eternal destiny is certain. Those who are born again are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. It is of God that we are in Christ. God put us in there and only He can take us out!

We may lose rewards and placement in God's kingdom. We may have an eternity of regret that we squandered our time on earth. But we cannot lose our salvation. The reality is that most churchgoers are not saved. And that is why so many are leaving.

Be assured of this: Lord Jesus is building His church. We are already victorious. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He will perfect that which concerns us.
 

daisyseesthesun

Well-known member
Aug 23, 2024
775
433
63
#10
The flesh is weak it likes comfort the ego likes praise but the soul like bitter things.

The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
 

Edify

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2021
1,569
661
113
#12
Do you believe this arising of corruption is making the falling away that much worse?
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,720
9,652
113
#13
Do you believe this arising of corruption is making the falling away that much worse?
I believe it is much easier now.

Lots of people want to do whatever they want, but in the past it has always been harder. Survival, social pressure and other factors made it not quite as feasible. Some disregarded most or all of these factors and did what they want anyway, but the majority always fell in line out of mostly self-preservation.

Now it's easy to survive, be socially acceptable and still do whatever you want. So a lot more people are doing just that.

It's like a forest in an area with very mild weather, that has a lot of weak trees in it. As long as the weather is good they can stand perfectly well. They won't fall until a storm comes and knocks them down. Well the storm has come and they have fallen. They never would have grown that way in the first place if the area had been subjected to storms all along.
 
T

Trying

Guest
#14
Here in the US, even those living in the projects have it good. Even our illegal immigants have it good. We live in a nation of more than enough, even though our govt is trillions in debt. We should know that this can't last forever.
I think all our economies are being prepped for failure, spending is out of control, people will soon realize there is going to be really difficult times ahead, and without Jesus they will be lost.
 

PAC-fit

Active member
Sep 20, 2018
149
53
28
#15
As worries about the world INCREASE, what then?
Worries? No doubt, we both recognize and pray for the world's authorities, for that world they rule, that they would be guided by God's own zeal for good. These are concerns we hold, yes and "tribulation" we endure. But, my God is still the fortress He always was. Enough to give us those two features to sustain us He knew we would need; "peace" and "good cheer" (John 16:33).