(1John 5:4) “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.
And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.”
How can we be sure that we are walking
with God? If I am taught that “it is better to obey than to sacrifice”. Many a
true saint sold out for the purposes of glorifying God in and through the
proclamation of this glorious gospel message we have come to love; will suffer persecution!
Fame and popularity is a sure warning that something is amiss. We must learn to
draw forte from persecution it tells us that we are walking closely with our God
and that our faith is real and it will endure the test. True faith believes God
at His Word, it is as simple as that! Just as Christ was raised from the dead
so too will the day arrive when we will also rise to newness of life and we
will receive our glorified bodies, there is nothing mystical about that, God
has so declared it to be true. If we can embrace that thought, does it really
matter about this life and the hardships we may face?
The Lord Jesus had this to say about
His time here on earth, “foxes have holes birds have nests but the son on man
has nowhere to lay his head”. I would suggest that we examine our own lives
against that statement, how do you fair?
Just yesterday I was doing a bible
reading with Lisa and what was penned was unthinkable, there was a severe
famine in the land, people were selling donkey heads for preposterous prices, and
even the dung of doves was sold and eaten. It was a somber time for some but
then the unthinkable happened: two women each with child were driven by their
hunger to eat one of them. A disturbing inconceivable thought but yet very true!
Although they were amongst a nation of unbelievers, the enemies of God, times
were tough and the word “barbaric” would be an understatement. (Read 2 kings
chapter 6)
I have highlighted the worst opposing extreme
condition to how many of us in the 21st century live in the lap of luxury.
It is diabolical the way we can complain about so much, God forgive our groanings.
We must learn, like the Apostle Paul, to be content (more than happy, exceedingly
thankful) with food and raiment, anything more than that I am convinced is
sensual and fringes on the border of “the slough of despond” (a marsh looking
to trap the believer into a state of worldliness). A very dangerous place, and
yet most have been imprisoned by it. BUT GOD who is rich in mercy is beckoning
to all those who have fallen asleep, to look to Jesus and to be rejuvenated in
the Spirit to find a new lease on life and to once again walk with Him.
The closer we walk with Jesus, that
harder we will be pressed by the enemy, that is a given, accept it! Why do so
many of us question the obvious? Suffering has been implemented by God to teach
us obedience. The Lord Jesus learnt obedience this way. What a mind-blowing
thought! “Although he
was a son, he learned
obedience through what he suffered.” (Hebrews
5:8) -The cushier life
becomes, the further we move away from the will of God. I believe independence is
amongst the greatest deceivers to trap the Christian in today’s day and age.
The Christian has been commanded to walk in the
same footsteps of the Lord Jesus. What frustrates me as Christians is that we
shirk our responsibilities instead of embracing them. It is these muddy waters
that cause doubt and drive us towards our old natures; worldliness evident in
our lives! That type of mentality is known as having the best of both worlds
and it is a trap. Wanting to have forgiveness as we hang on to the lap of the luxuries
life affords us. We can’t have our cake and eat it; this is not the way the
Christian has been taught! Our cake is meant to be eaten by those in need; “For
to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you
an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” (1Peter
2:21)
Beware of Christianity that has a form of
Godliness and is filled with prosperity at its core, it is from the pit of hell
and many are taken by it. Flee from it, deny yourself, look to Jesus and live!
Many false prophets lure the weak by such perverse messages, they will give an
account to God, they will not escape His wrath, but as for us we will heed the
sound council of God’s Word and look for His grace to help in time of need.
"When we stand upon the pinnacle of popularity, we may well
tremble and fear. It is not when we are hissed at, and hooted, that we have any
cause to be alarmed; it is when we are dandled on the lap of fortune, and
nursed upon the knees of the people; it is when all men speak well of us, that
woe is unto us. It is not in the cold, wintry wind that I take off my coat of
righteousness, and throw it away; it is when the sun comes, when the weather is
warm, and the air balmy, that I unguardedly strip off my robes, and become
naked. Good God! how many
a man has been made naked by the love of this world!" (Charles Spurgeon)
Signing off
Tyrone
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