Are
you a Christian? If your answer is yes, come along with us since
we are burning all Christians at the stake.
Not too many years ago this was happening regularly. Today we have
what is called religious freedom and it is considered to be a great
blessing. It is true that we are thankful that we can worship God
as we see fit but religious freedom has brought religious laxity.
Where are the stalwarts who are willing to confess Christ and die
for it?
Are
we strong spiritually? Has the soft life made us flabby Christians?
There was a time when reading the Bible was done at the risk of
one’s life, yet it was read, even if it was done under the covers
in the middle of the night by the light of a flickering candle.
Today we can sit in our arm chairs and read with the aid of soft
indirect lighting anytime we wish. There is no danger, no threat,
and sadly to say, all too often there is no reading.
Small
groups of believers used to meet together to remember Jesus at the
risk of losing their heads. Today we can drive in our fancy cars
over paved roads to our meeting places to hear the word of God preached
to all who will hear and they are staying away in droves.
Did Christ die in vain for us? He denied himself and he tells us,
”If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross daily, and follow me.” Are we following him? Has easy
living, television, sports, so infected us that we are spiritually
sick? Can we hope to be saved if we continue to drift?
Sometimes we seem to lose our perspective. What is our goal, our
mission, our purpose in life? Is it to have a good time, eat, drink
and be merry? Count the things we do. How many are done to please
self and how many are done to please God? We should be laying aside
everything that hinders us and running with patience the race set
before us.
Are we true Christians? We know a true Christian follows Christ.
Most who call themselves Christ’s are not following Christ at all.
They don’t even believe what he taught. Do we?
Jesus said, ”I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father
which hath sent me.” Can we say that? Those who lost their jobs,
their homes, their lives for Christ’s sake could.
Christ
has assured us that everyone that hath forsaken houses or brethren
or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for
my names sake shall receive an hundredfold and shall inherit everlasting
life. What can we honestly say we have given up for the Lord? If
we merely attend Bible Class or Lecture when we are tired we think
we have made a great sacrifice. Have we really forsaken the things
that please self? We are not called upon to be crucified for the
Lord but we are told that ”they that are Christ’s have crucified
the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Are we Christ’s? Have
we done enough crucifying?
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