During a powerful interview on the Girls Gone Bible podcast, author John Bevere delivered a direct and sobering message to modern believers: The church must move beyond inspiration and return to a deep commitment to God’s Word, repentance and holy living—especially as believers live closer to Christ’s return.
According to Bevere, Scripture repeatedly connects eagerly anticipating Christ’s return with spiritual transformation.
“The anticipation of His second coming gives us the power to purify ourselves,” he said.
The Warning About Lukewarm Christianity
Bevere warned that one of the greatest dangers in today’s church is lukewarm faith, which is something he says many believers misunderstand.
“A lukewarm person has enough Christianity to blend in with the believers and has enough of the world to blend in with the world,” he said. “They can blend in easily.”
He emphasized that this spiritual condition is especially dangerous because many who live this way still believe they are spiritually secure.
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“The person who knows they’re not right with God is easy to reach,” Bevere said. “The person who thinks they’re right with God—you have to show them why they’re not right with God in order to get them to get right with God.”
Inspiration vs. Transformation
Bevere also challenged the modern church’s focus on inspiration over biblical truth. He notes that when churches prioritize feeling good over teaching Scripture, believers become spiritually weak and vulnerable to deception.
“I think what’s going to get us in big trouble in America is not what we preach—it’s what we’re not preaching,” Bevere said.
Repentance and True Devotion
Using an analogy of engagement, Bevere explained repentance as total devotion to Jesus. It is the total abandonment of the sinful things that have kept us separated from Him.
“Repentance [is] coming to Jesus saying, ‘You gave your life for me. You’re my creator. I am never going to date, flirt with, or give my phone number out or sleep with that which drove the nails through your hands again,’” he said.
Living With Eternity in Mind
Ultimately, Bevere says Christians must live with urgency while remaining faithful in everyday life.
“We should live like He’s coming today… but we should plan our lives like He’s not coming for 400 years,” he said. “Because He said, ‘Occupy until I come.’”
Now is the time that we have been given to get right with God before His Second Coming. The real question: Are you ready for His return?
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
