What
a wretched time we live in. And what a
wonderful exciting time we live in.
Yes,
all at the same time. We are living in
the last of the last days, in the time leading up to and the actual return of
the Lord.
We
are getting to see the fulfillment of all the Biblical prophecies of things to
happen before and right up to that return.
Much of that is not pleasant and some of that is quite dangerous, as we
have already seen.
Even
now we live in the midst of behavior by many that is outrageous and horrifying
to any true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is startling and difficult for true born-again, Spirit-filled
believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to even comprehend how and what many people think
today - their opinions and decisions seem so confused and lost. The national and local media seems full of
such people, and especially the entertainment world and much of the sports
word. And of course much of the
political world. Even the universities
seem laden with many lost students and professors and administrators who don’t
know and obviously cannot see the truth of the Lord. They have even given up on free speech and
freedom of ideas, the very cornerstone of the academic world.
The
wheat and the tares are growing together.
Frightening and evil things and possibilities are everywhere. And yes there are reported awakenings to the
Lord occurring in several countries throughout the world. Certainly not in the United States, at least
not in any visibly big way! As has been
the custom in recent years, those most lost in society and with the loudest
voices dominate the airwaves and the public discourse. And thus the concern and anguish of the true
believers in our modern society.
Well,
maybe actually it is time for a kick in the backside to those true believers in
the Lord Jesus Christ. So many of these
just remain silent in their anguish, they don’t seem to want to speak out, to
stand up.
I remind
all of us of these extraordinary and challenging words from the Lord:
“Whoever
acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in
heaven. But
whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” – Mt 10:32-33 NIV
“If
you do not stand in your faith, you will not stand at all. -Isaiah 7:9b NIV.
An editorial posted
under Fox News Opinion on March 12 deals with the subject of why are Christians
such wimps. I recommend you read
it. The writer makes the point that
some Christians “have confused Christ’s command to love others with being likable, as
if that were an attribute of God. (It isn’t.)”
Being likeable is not the point of God’s love. Sometimes standing up for Christ might make a
person appear bold and strong and firm in the eyes of unbelievers. How do you think David looked to the
Philistines? Or Moses or Joshua in the
eyes of the groups they opposed?
If ever there was a
time for believers in the Lord to stand firm in their faith it is now. Remember, when Paul writes of putting on
God’s armor to protect yourself, he concludes by telling you to stand. Stand!
Stand! Don’t retreat. Be firm and bold in your faith.
And remember what Peter
said in Acts 4:29 when he prayed for himself and all Jesus’ followers around
him in Jerusalem who lived in the midst of those who were a threat to them all:
“Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with
great boldness (NIV).”
Now at the same time I
am encouraging you to be bold in your faith, to stand and not retreat, to speak
up for Jesus whenever the opportunity presents itself, I also am not
encouraging you to be stupid. You
certainly must be guided by the Holy Spirit as to when and where and how to
speak up, as to whether a certain moment is the right time to address someone
about their faith or perhaps publicly oppose some government or newspaper or
even false religious leader. And you
must always remember that the god of this world (the devil) has blinded the
minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4).
So unless God is opening the minds and hearts of the person or persons
you are speaking to about Jesus, you likely may not get a friendly or positive
response. Jesus himself said in John 6
that no one can come to him unless the Father draws the person to him. Still, how are people ever to hear the truth
unless someone who knows that truth presents it to them?
The Lord Jesus Christ
is returning very very soon. I know
that. It is not debatable. I trust if you have read our writings in the
past, heard our CDs or watched our programs or videos and more, you know that.
You should know that just by reading the applicable books of the Bible, such as
Luke 21, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, and many more. The evidence is right there before your face
and in the daily occurrences of our lives.
When he comes is he
going to find faith on earth? Is he
going to find faith in you? Is he going
to find you out there standing up for him, representing him in a lost,
confused, dark world?
Well, you have to
answer all that. And you have to seek
his face to understand ever more what he expects of you at this time.
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!
(March
2017)
Copyright © 2017 by John
Newlin
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