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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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