Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”  Matthew 24:1-3 NASB

Matthew 24:4-6 NASB And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.  Matthew 24:7-8 NASB For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.  Matthew 24:9-14 NASB Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Four times in Matthew 24, Jesus warns those who believe in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ against being deceived. 

The end-time sign of deception is really apparent these days - Even in the church, many people are being deceived by false gospels and empty promises, and are turning away Jesus Christ. Remember my friends there is to be no other before Him. 

In the world’s modern culture its really way too easy to become swept up in ideologies that are contrary to the Scriptures - therefore we must daily, prayerfully weigh these ideas against sound biblical doctrine. Deception occurs when we either are ignorant of, or reject, God’s Truth.

Because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, the blood of the lamb shed for mankind, we are reconciled to God, and get to continually receive Holy Spirit’s guidance, reminding us of God’s purpose for life on His created earth. We are not destined to contentment, wealth nor to health, but to holiness…. we have far too many desires and interests, and our lives are being consumed and wasted by them. Many of those categories may be right, noble, and good, and may later be fulfilled by the Lord, but in the meantime God must cause their importance to us to decrease thereby Holy Spirit within us increases.

1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

The only thing that truly matters is whether a person will accept Jesus Christ - who alone will make us holy - At all costs to self, we must put Jesus above all. 

This is the first of the Ten Commandments—not just first in order, but first in importance. Whatever is first in our lives, whatever is most important to us, whether it is money, work, family, a hobby, sports, a house, a car, or a host of other things, whatever is most important to us on our must have and to do lists that’s becomes our god. If it is anything other than the true living God of the universe, then the Bible calls that idolatry. Put God first.

God has supremacy in the universe. After all, He’s the Creator. He’s the Almighty. He’s the sovereign, holy, infinite God. He is glorious and magnificent. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. In every way, God has rule in the universe, and must have it in our lives and hearts.

I know we wonder how - when we put God first, what does that mean? It means wholehearted devotion, total obedience, and absolute loyalty. It means we will love Jesus, serve Him, obey Him, trust Him, worship Him, seek Him, please Him, adore fear Him, and follow Him. It means we will stop playing God in our lives and let God be God. It means surrender: unconditional, glad, surrender of all that we have and all that we are. 

Nothing must come before God in our lives. He alone is God and King. He calls us to loyalty and fidelity.