Where Should We Stand and What Should We Say?
Where Should We Stand and What Should We Say?
By Don Twobears
How odd is it…the Holy Word of God, the Bible, has been around for better than 4500 years and how many have read it? Better yet, how many have a relationship with Jesus Christ, to the point that they receive the “Wisdom and Discernment” of the Lord, when they do read the Bible?
We need to understand, first of all, concerning the sheer numbers of those that do read the Bible, are few and far between. Thank you Satan for that! How do I know this, lets first take a peek at how people are, in general, concerning their reading the Bible or not, according to their actions. I am just as sure of this as you are, that according to the general population of today, according to their actions in life, few are concerned with anything short of pleasing themselves…first! We are indeed in the time of “It’s all about ME!” So, in this context of viewing, is this according to the Holy Word of God? As many of those that are true followers of Jesus Christ, we have already read;
2 Timothy 3:1-7 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
We know these passages of Scripture and have read them many times, because we seek the Wisdom and Discernment of the Lord at every turn. We want to know where we stand with the Lord God Almighty and HIS Holy Word and our times and days. And as many of the writers here have related, we are definitely in the “Last Days”. The Proverbial time Clock is just about 12 midnight! According to this clock, we are minutes to striking 12! So are there people that are concerned with this Time Frame?
I am sure that some see the self-centered ideas and actions, that prevail today. What is so striking is this, few actually know what all is going on, the majority are too concerned with themselves and what they want, than to care about what is coming. And then we see the “Varying shades of influence” on Born-Again Christians, some because of Family Members or close Friends. This influence is to the level of Tolerance, by these individuals on the Born-Again Christian. So what we see are Christians that say very little, almost to the point of disregarding the Holy Word of God and what God thinks.
I believe that most Born-Again Christians know that God and HIS Holy Word are very literal in terms of how we should be thinking and reacting to others. It is indeed interesting, how far some people are swayed back and forth in these exacting terms. Most are very willing to “Let by-gones be by-gones” so to speak. So then the question is, are they truly Born-Again Christians following what Jesus Christ says? I am sure you can see this is actually “Where the rubber meets the road”…Right? It is very difficult for anyone to realistically deal with. Thus…it becomes a very troubling aspect of daily life for all, to speak out and be counted one way or the other, or to simply sit back in silence.
It must be noted, that the Word of God is very exacting! Sin is prevalent in this world, despite the efforts of many! We were born into a Sin filled world and we struggle with Sin at every turn, even if we are Born-Again to Jesus Christ. Born-Again Parents are not always able to assure the actions of their children, to be what they believe their children should be like. Some children simply do not have the ability to be as their parents are, thus we see how this world is indeed, a very troubling place for them. They will make mistakes and sometimes those mistakes are embarrassing for their parents to deal with. Still…it is Sin. Anything outside of Jesus Christ is Sin.
How does anyone deal with what others do or think? That incredible influence on anyone can be devastating to say the least. In terms of Homosexuality, or Murder or even Suicide, the results can bring heart-rending sadness and turmoil, who are the exceptions to the rule? No One! Thus the quandary in how to respond, or should one respond at all. Now we find ourselves back to seeking the Wisdom and Discernment of the Lord, in the Bible. The Holy Word of God is Literal, it is Exacting!
I believe what most people never consider, is that the Word of God is to the Individual! We often think it is to the Masses and this is where we miss the actual point. Salvation is an Individual Choice, as is the Relationship, or the lack there of, is individual. We often think in terms of “The Church” and thus we miss the Individual as a member of the Church. And so, what is the Church, if not a “mass of Individuals” seeking the same Wisdom and Knowledge of the Lord? Or at least that is what it SHOULD be!
Think on this! If the Church is all about Preaching and Teaching “Prosperity”, the Congregation will be all about Prosperity and the same thing with “The Feel Good Gospel”! If there is a Pastor that is dead in Christ, so are the Church members dead in Christ, nothing of worth happens there, it quickly becomes nothing more than a Social Hall.
Matthew 5:13 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
When we look at this Scripture, does it make any sense to you, how the world is acting? The world has lost it’s collective compass. The world is nothing more than the collection of Individuals and all these people are running after things, ideas concerning only themselves, money and possessions, how can “I” feel better, How can “I” Please myself…and it always comes first. It is direct contradiction to the Word of God!
Mark 12:28-31 “And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
The entire Word of God, is centered of the Whole of us, all of us coming to Jesus Christ! And at the same time, as an Individual coming to Jesus Christ for Eternal Salvation. And we know this world is soon coming to an end. So what is the answer to this perplexing problem?
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
The Lord God Almighty calls each of us, Individually and as a whole, to follow HIM. We must be able to talk with one another in Love and Compassion, we must be able to discuss our Sin one to another and thus find that Jesus Christ is the one that SAVES. Jesus Christ is the one that convicts our Hearts and HE is the ONLY one that can change our Lives. It is then our position to show others the Word of God, to point to Jesus Christ, we are nothing more than the Messengers.
We are able, by the Lord, to see the Sin of the world and yet we are not to judge others. It is to our discredit that we are all members of a Fallen Race, in comparison to what the Word of God says. It is to our Credit, that we have Jesus Christ, who died on that Cruel Roman Cross and shed HIS precious Blood to cover our Sins! The availability of which, is for all individuals. We are not able to rise from our own degradation, it is Jesus Christ that holds us in HIS capable hands and holds us up for the Father. Two verses tell it all, as it should be understood;
Romans 3:23-25 “For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.”
Ephesians 2:4-9 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
I use the King James version of the Bible and all emphasis is mine.