Continuing Michael's message on faith, he states that even today, there is video
evidence of martyrs in the Middle East who are tortured and burned alive
because they will not denounce their faith in Jesus Christ. These Christian
martyrs sacrifice their lives when they hold fast to the name of Jesus. They
realize that it's not about the cost but rather it's about what they value
most. They have taken the Word of God literally where it says, "Lay not up
for yourselves treasures upon earth but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven. For where your heart is there will your treasure be also."
Many Muslims thought that
the Islamic State would deliver them from political oppression. They risk
their lives when they practice their new-found Christian faith. Freedom of
religion is a rare in the world. But Creator God is on the throne and where evil abounds, grace abounds all the
more. Despite the illusion that Satan is winning the spiritual battle, the book
of Revelation reveals that in the end, the ultimate victory is in Christ, the
Lord of all. From our earthly perspective God's justice grinds slowly, but
ultimately it will grind justly and finely.
The question regarding any
situation is "What would Jesus do?" Christian writer, speaker,
and teacher RT Kendall, who pastored Westminster
Chapel for 25 years, said, "It is time for believers to study their
bible from beginning to end." If you just read the bible topically,
you'll never have a true perspective of the Word of God. The bible is both
bad news and good news. We have to understand the concepts of truth within
the greater context of the whole Word of God. We need a "balanced
diet" of the Word of God.
In Matthew 10:22 Jesus said,
"You will be hated by the world
because of my name." As Christians we will lose so-called
"friends" when we speak the truths of scripture. However, Jesus
said, "love those who hate you and
despitefully use you and persecute you for my sake, for great is your reward in
heaven."
The question in Luke
18:8 is "Will the Son of Man will find faith upon the earth when He
returns?" Is eternity really all that matters in this life? The
one thing that we'll never regret is the time that we spent in fellowship with
our Lord Jesus Christ. Our challenge is to live this life in light of
eternity. This is the “eternal perspective” that make the worries of today like
water on a duck. Even though God's righteous judgment is slow from our earthly
perspective, in light of eternity, His justice is swift and sure. According to 1
Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore,
my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
As we live today in light of
eternity, may we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in
Christ, Michael
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