In my book, The Door Is Open, I discuss several signs of antichrist or anti-messiah behaviors, beginning with the scripture from Matthew 23:4-38 in The Message translation. Let’s delve into the ninth sign, as described in verses 25-28 of Matthew 23:
““You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You buff the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony. Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something. “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You’re like manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds.” MSG
I’m not sure what else I can add to the points already made above. The phrase we often hear today is “Fake it till you make it,” which I discuss in both my books, “Time to Really Live Free” and “The Door Is Open.” In my second book, I argue that this mindset reflects an “antiChrist” or “antiMessiah” way of thinking. It imposes a heavy burden to perform, not only for God but for others as well, which can become overwhelming.
This past weekend, I spoke with someone who started reading my first book. She shared how detrimental this phrase was for her during her time in a church. She appreciated my discussion in “Time to Really Live Free” about the contrast between sticking out one’s tongue versus sticking out one’s lip to show a child’s anger—an example of how one might fake sanctity while internally harboring deceit/true feelings.
In “The Door Is Open,” I provide the solution to this internal conflict. It’s simple yet profound: accepting the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, which is available to everyone. This acceptance is the only true way to cleanse oneself from within. I explore this concept further in my book, but here’s a reminder that this is where the whole world can find true peace and rest.
If you have questions, feel free to reach out. You can email me at [email protected] or send me a private message on my social media sites (links below).
I invite you to reflect on each of these points with God, and perhaps consider reading both Time To Really Live Free and The Door Is Open to fully grasp this concept, enabling you to live freely in God’s grace, love and freedom right now.
