“...whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” -Luke 14:33.
Christian, are you running into difficulties in your relationships? Please don't be concerned, it is a natural thing! While I cannot be aware of the nature for each person's individual contentions, there exists an absurd notion that we believers in Christ will get along well with everyone, which just isn't the case. In fact, the Bible tells us the OPPOSITE will be the case, especially in these last days.
“Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” -Mark 13:12,13.
When Jesus spoke to His disciples of what they could expect in the Last Days, these verses from Mark 13 were a part of it. A great hatred was foretold to arise against Christians, even from within their own families, and sheer endurance will be our path to victory.
Recently I watched a video on the football career of John Madden, a renowned football coach and announcer for more than 3 decades. Any fan of professional football will likely recognize his name and influence, as it did extend even into commercials, and video games with his name. John Madden loved football, which is of the world, and the world loved him in return. At the time of his passing his worth was estimated at $200 million dollars!
Please don't get me wrong-I liked John Madden, too. But during his life there is no evidence that he had any measureable love for God or Jesus, and his affections were bound up in this world. Isn't the sport of football a thing of the world? The scripture certainly indicates that it is;
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” -1 John 2:15-17.
There may be Christians that like football, but it won't be the center of their lives; it should only be an extension of different elements the Lord has them involved in. The world is accepting of us when we love sports, but not so when we bring up the subject of GOD in sports. Rebellious men want to live their lives outside of any accountability to their creator and judge.
Christian, I urge you to make obedience to Jesus your primary goal in all things, and NOT the pleasing of men;
“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” -1 Corinthians 7:23.
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” -Galatians 1:10.
There can be no doubt as to the focus we see in the Bible. Jesus plainly tells us that those who hate their lives in this world will keep it eternally in John 12:25; and 2 Timothy 3:12 states that ALL who will live godly in Christ will suffer persecution. And the Bible warns us that we must remain separate from the world;
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” -2 Corinthians 6:14.
As Christians, we will be attacked by our enemy the devil, and often from unexpected sources. It is true that the Bible urges us not to be deliberately contentious (Romans 12:18), but the values we hold will naturally come into conflict with at least some around us; many will be deeply hostile, and even secretive about it. Just look at what Jesus really said, and how He warned of what would come;
“The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” -John 7:7. The “you” spoken to here were not the disciples, but of His family which doubted Him.
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” -John 15:18-20. These words were spoken to Jesus' 11 true disciples; even Judas Iscariot was not among them. Bold type was added for emphasis. See also John 17:14-20!
The organized churches of these Last Days love the world, and greatly seek their respect and friendship. The real church of the Bible recognizes that such is an ungodly union, and in no way pleasing to God. So if you seek to be in service to Christ, there are 2 main points I want to address;
First, is your Christian testimony causing any conflicts amongst your acquaintances? This could happen by your words, or because of how it alters your behavior (1 Peter 4:4). If so, remember that this is to be expected in a Christian's life, and you should not be ashamed;
“Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;” -Hebrews 12:12.
But secondly, perhaps you seem to never face any contention related to your faith, and find ways to “get along” with nearly everyone; this is a circumstance that should not be to any prolonged extent, for it indicates the lack of a Christian life witness. Remember what Jesus said in Luke 6:26;
“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”
Please don't be proud for finding favor among many, for their's is the broad path of destruction (Matthew 7:13). Just look what the “many” did to the Lord Jesus; they traded His life for a murderer;
“And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.” -Luke 23:25.
So brethren, don't be ashamed of your separation from the world, but seek it all the more; for it is a natural evidence of a life transformed by the grace of God-through the blood of Jesus Christ, and the power of His Spirit. This world is not our home!
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” -James 4:4.
No comments:
Post a Comment