When Moses descended from Mount Sinai after receiving the Law, he discovered Israel worshiping the golden calf. As a consequence, the Levites were commanded to execute judgment, and about three thousand people died that day as a result of their rebellion against God’s covenant. This moment reveals the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God’s Law — a standard no one could keep perfectly but was meant to reveal humanity’s need for a Savior.
In an age that prizes goodness over godliness, one of Satan's most effective deceptions has not been rebellion against truth—but the imitation of it. The devil is not offended by goodness. He isn't threatened by kindness, generosity, or even religious devotion. What he opposes with all his might is surrender to Jesus Christ. The world applauds morality but shuns Christianity. Culture will celebrate "good people" who serve others, protect the planet, and promote unity—but mock those who proclaim repentance and faith in Christ. That confusion is not accidental. The enemy's oldest lie has simply learned a new language: that morality equals righteousness. But without Christ, goodness is hollow. Satan doesn't care if you live by high principles, as long as you don't bow to the name that saves. He doesn't care if you follow rules, as long as you ignore redemption. His goal is to make people self-sufficient. To keep them moral—and lost.
There is an ocean of difference between a conviction and a preference. Preferences are the fair-weather friends of faith—guiding choices as long as they cost little. Convictions are forged in the fires of testing, held to even when misunderstood, mocked, or threatened. In an age obsessed with blending in, where the pressure is immense to keep convictions confined to the “private,” the follower of Jesus is called to something braver—a rock-solid willingness to stand for truth, no matter how strong the headwinds.
Jude’s urgent plea still rings: “Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3). This is not a time to be silent or slip into spiritual neutrality. Gospel witness demands a backbone—a heart willing to stand for what matters, even if standing means standing alone. Below are worthy convictions that Christians should be ready to defend.
Scripture calls believers to be discerning of the times, echoing Jesus’ words: “When you see these things happening, you will know that the kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:31). From Genesis to Revelation, the nation of Israel stands at the center of God’s prophetic timeline. The Lord declared, “I will gather you from all the nations and bring you back into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24). Since 1948, Israel has been restored as a nation, and God's prophetic timepiece moves steadily closer to His return.
Not only has Israel become a nation, but preparations are underway for the rebuilding of the Third Temple in Jerusalem. Organizations like the Temple Institute have spent over three decades reconstructing sacred vessels—golden menorahs, silver trumpets, priestly garments, and the altar—all perfectly matching biblical specifications. Levites and Kohanim (priests) are now being trained to serve the Temple again, fulfilling the ancient instructions given in Exodus and Leviticus.
Every generation reaches a threshold—a point where what was once familiar ends and something new begins. In these moments, the well-worn paths disappear, and only faith, courage, and the Holy Spirit can carry us forward. History records that God often meets His people at such crossings, inviting them to leave comfort behind and trust Him in uncharted territory. The edges of the known world have always drawn a certain kind of pioneer: those who sense that spiritual breakthroughs lie on the other side of fear and uncertainty. From ancient wanderers gazing toward a land of promise, to courageous men and women challenging the powers that be, the advance of God’s kingdom has never belonged to the timid or the reluctant. True progress—spiritually and historically—arrives when ordinary people, relying on God, dare to step past the limits of their experience.
Part Two: Moses — Moses grew up in a time where his people, the Hebrews, were oppressed by the Egyptians. His life was suppose to end at birth. The Egyptians, who feared the rise of the enslaved Hebrews sent an edict throughout the land that all newborn male Hebrews were to be thrown into the Nile and drowned. Moses, whose mother couldn't bare this outcome, set him in the reeds of the Nile hoping life would find him.
The Earthquake: Day One - 11:56 AM Thamel District - Kathmandu, Nepal: A low rumble of what seems like a large truck passing by begins to vibrate the desk I am working at in our 2nd floor room. But something is different. The vibration begins to increase and I take my hands from the desk and lift them up like I have done something to cause this. I then look at a water bottle near me as it teeters around in a dancing motion and then falls to the ground. The deep rumble increases and the entire room begins to sway. I look over to William and both of our eyes grow wider as the vertigo motion takes hold. It feels as if we are aboard a ship in high waves and passing over debris. The rumble increases and from every direction we hear screams of terror.
