High Talk, Low Walk

"He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked."      I John 2:6

Is there anything worse than a hypocrite? For the past two and a half years, the elite in Washington, Hollywood, and social media giants have told the common people what we can or cannot do. We were expected to wear masks, limit church attendance to ten, and refrain from social contact with family and friends. Yet, the rules did not apply to them, as they were often photographed in public without masks and attending parties and other functions.

Hypocrites often have  a high talk  but  a low walk!

Hypocrisy is bad enough in the world but even worse in religion. In Matthew, Chapter 23, Jesus Christ gives a scathing rebuke to the scribes and the Pharisees. Jesus was characteristically meek, loving, and gentle, but His blazing wrath erupted as He warned the crowd and His disciples against the Jewish religious leaders.

"All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say and do not. But all their works they do for to be seen of men."  Matthew 23:3, 5a

The scribes and the Pharisees were teaching the law of Moses. Generally, their teachings were dependable, but their practice was not. It was a classic case of  high talk, low walk.

On the fateful night of September 1, 1983, Korean Airlines flight KE007, carrying 240 unsuspecting passengers and crew members, was shot down by the Soviet Union. The trigger man was Major Osipovich, a pilot who wasn't scheduled to be in the air during this international travesty. The Major was slated to talk about peace at his daughter's school, so he volunteered for night duty to free up enough time to speak during school hours. He patrolled the eastern skies when that Korean passenger jet strayed into Soviet airspace. Major Osipovich followed orders and shot down the commercial airliner. Not only were 240 innocent lives lost, but this act pushed world powers dangerously close to catastrophic results because military missiles were fired at a civilian airplane by a pilot who was preparing to teach children about peace.

Many people are going through the motions of living for Christ. They go to church and say all the right things, but they are fakes. If we profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, we must realize that our actions, not mere words, can only support our character and Christian testimony.

Many years ago, a man wanted to play in the Imperial Orchestra but couldn't play a note. Since he was a man of great wealth and influence, the conductor agreed to let him sit in the second row of the orchestra. Even though he couldn't read music, he was given a flute, and when a concert would begin, he raised the instrument and pretended to play. This deception went on for two years. Then one day, a new conductor took over the orchestra. He announced that he would personally audition every musician to weed out those who did not meet his standards. One by one, the orchestra members performed in his presence. Finally, it was the phony flutist's turn. Shamefacedly, the man had to admit that he was a fake. He had to " face the music!"

The day is soon coming when the Judge of Heaven will call everyone to stand before Him. Jesus Christ will know those who are truly His. Christ will separate those who have been " talking the talk , but not  walking the walk " from the faithful followers of the Lord.

We're living in a day of gross, spiritual darkness and deception. False preachers and teachers deceive many into believing they can embrace their sin and still be safe. Jesus said, " Take heed that no man deceive you."   Matthew 24:4

Hitler was a natural in deception. "He made free use of Christian vocabulary. He talked about the blessing of the Almighty and the Christian confession, which he said would become the pillars of the new government. He showed his tattered Bible and declared that he drew his strength for his great work from it as scores of pious people welcomed him as a man sent from God. Indeed, Adolph Hitler was a master of  outward religiosity  -- with no inward reality." ~   Today in the Word, June 3, 1989

High Talk, Low Walk

I Thank God that Adolph Hitler failed in his aspirations to rule the world!

We are speeding toward the seven-year Tribulation when a diabolical, demon-possessed Anti-Christ will set himself up as God and rule the world. Many will be deceived. But Jesus Christ is saying to His faithful followers who are not just " talking the talk"  but  walking  in obedience to His Word.

" Let not your hearts be troubled...I will come again and receive you unto Myself: that where I am, there ye may be also."   John 14:1, 3b

"But be ye  doers  of the Word, and not hearers only."    James 1:22 

" He does not believe who does not live according to his belief." ~ Thomas Fuller