Truth is not always popular, but it is always right.
There is a pernicious lie in the religion of Churchianity: If you do well, life will be incredible! Unfortunately, this is a truth from a different faith. One need only go back to the Gospels to discover that the Master of our lives was murdered, as was 10 of his closest followers. Even the “disciple whom Jesus loved” was exiled to a Roman rock quarry as an old man, conscripted to break big rocks into gravel. (John 13:23; Revelation 1)
In reality, when we stand for what is right and true, God often allows His children to suffer and, yes, even die for their faith. Why does He allow this? Some things are always right, no matter who thinks otherwise. Despite the shallowness of the faith of some or the carnality of the souls of others, God’s Word and God’s Will are always true and they are worth living … and dying for.
Your adversaries are waiting to pounce on you. When the time is right, they will take advantage of any situation to remove your convicting comments from their lives. Such was the case of John the Baptizer …
“Immediately [the daughter of Herodias] came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And [Herod] was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.” (Mark 6:25–29, NKJV)
We imitate Jesus when …
- We refuse to recant the express will and word of God, no matter the personal cost or sacrifice!
The adulterer gets her way and John’s life is forfeit. Yet, Jesus will call John, “the greatest in the Kingdom.” (Matthew 11:11) Compromise is a dirty word when it comes to the revealed will and word of God, for it is not within our prerogative to change it. “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18–19, NKJV)
© 2013 Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved. Not for resale.
