Cost of our Beliefs

Daniel 3:11-12,14-18 - ...and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” 

Taking yet another break from the Proverbs! But not from wisdom...

I read an article or listened the other day to something that got me thinking. How willing would I be if put in a situation to stand my ground for Christ? Look at Peter. He denied Jesus the times when he said he never would, when he said he'd be willing to die or go into prison for Him. And then there's the other end of the story about the three young men above who would not bow down to any other god.

Lord, have mercy on us.

What if, and it could happen, the time came when we would be called out for speaking the truth when others didn't want to hear it...or it was against the law? Can't you see the push for tolerance today? There is denial going on right now. There is compromise even in the Church. There is a desire for all denominations to come together but not necessarily in unity and one belief but in the belief that there are many ways to believe. Sadly, Jesus is not always considered the only way, truth and life anymore. His Gospel message is becoming compromised so as to not offend. Hey, Jesus offended people...they even put Him to death for it. Even some who call themselves Christians say it is okay to change the truth of God's Word. Who's believing the lie?

Anyway, would we shrink back and remain silent if we were counted as those who believe Jesus is the only way to the Father? Or would we say what we know to be truth? The thought crossed my mind: what if I was told I'd gone too far and it was time to take back what I had said, renounce my belief that Jesus is the only way to the Father? That if I didn't others I know would be killed, tortured or imprisoned? That sent a chill.

More than once in the past few months this has been said or read: I might lose my wife (husband) for my beliefs in Christ. He can be quite the divider at times! Are we willing to allow that to happen to save our own soul from eternal hell? Only if the time presents itself will we know. I wrote earlier about Denying Christ. That's what we do if we say someone else's life is more important to us that His. Ouch.

Anyway, this sounds pretty ominous. We may think it even sounds far fetched. But the Bible talks about it. Many back in Christ's day were imprisoned or killed for speaking their beliefs. In other countries Christians are now imprisoned, murdered. Whose to say it won't be long before it will be commonplace in our country? We are not immune, nor are we a safe haven. Evil has spread everywhere. Freedoms are being removed little by little. Doesn't government want more control of everyone and everything? Isn't what's good being considered bad and bad good? (Well, I realize it's a matter of perspective.)

When will people take notice? Ah, but there's the point...like in the days of Noah the people mocked and scoffed... What right did Noah have to tell them of God's plan? What right do we have today to say Jesus is the only way to life...the Door, the Gate, the Living Water, Bread of Life, the Savior, Redeemer...God in the flesh? What right do we have to share our beliefs to anyone? God says we must do this if we are Christ followers. And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Mark 16:15, Matthew 24:14) That creature might be you!

We could all be faced with this decision I described above...if we are Christ followers. If we are not following Christ, we're off the hook, but our eternal life is greatly at stake. This could be a very hard decision. If we want to receive eternal life we cannot deny Christ. No matter what, we must not back down in our beliefs even if parents, spouse, children or friends are dangled before you as the recipients of something you don't want to even consider because of your decision.

This will be a time when we have to put all our faith and trust in God for the outcome. Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abdnego above, they escaped the fiery furnace (the future hell). And if they would not have escaped, their claim was the same: they would not bow down to any other god. They knew and trusted their God.

Are we willing to do this? Perhaps it is time to consider this. Like I said, it may seem far fetched to think this could happen, but...  In order to have the wherewithal and strength just in case, we need to understand the importance of Christ in our lives now. He cannot be just some thought once in awhile, like on Sunday, or a name spoken out of disgust or anger. He must be worshipped daily. His words must be our daily bread, our heavenly manna. Can you say you do this, even a few times a week? Can you say you rely on Him right this moment? Can you say you have a close connection to Him if you don't?

Praise God if you don't! Wait, let me explain! He is willing to forgive you today if you want. Anyone can change, climb over the fence, break down the stubborn walls of defense or open their hearts for Christ. We need Him. If you think you can live apart from Him you believe the lie. 2Thessalonians 2:11 says God will send a powerful delusion so that many will believe the lie because they rejected the truth. Jesus is the truth. The lie comes from the devil. I'm thankful my church tells the truth.

It is never too late to listen to this truth and receive Christ. Your life is at stake whether you believe it or not. And I pray that if the day comes I have to deny any relationship here on earth over Christ, I will be strengthened by Him alone. Will you stand with me? There's strength in numbers.

And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"  ... whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. (Luke 18:7-8, Matthew 10:33)

Silence

Micah 4:7 - I will make the lame a remnant, and the outcast a strong nation; so the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on, even forever. 

All the times Israel turned her back on God is incredible. They knew His power. They saw the miracles with their own eyes. They knew the protection He provided. They also knew His judgment when they tended to forget these miraculous circumstances...and in turn, they knew to repent. And repent repeatedly they did!

How could they explain their escape from Egypt's bondage? How their households, by merely applying lamb's blood to the doorposts of their homes, could be spared the wrath that came? How the waters of the Red Sea parted for them and crushed the enemy behind them? How they were clothed and fed when there was nothing available as they wandered the desert for forty years? How God was seen as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of light by night? Miracles.

After all this they still turned from Him. Amazing.

Today Israel still stands. Don't tell me it's not by God's hand they still exist. Their ancient enemies could never kill them all. Hitler couldn't either. They bounce back because they are God's chosen people, the apple of His eye. Despite their worship of idols, unbelief, disobedience...He's not done with them, no matter how bleak Israel's future might look at times. They will survive till the end of the age. And they will know Jesus as their Messiah. Because it is God's will. Hallelujah.

There was a period of some 400 years from the last prophet, Malachi, till the birth of Christ. God was silent; they saw no display of miracles, signs or wonders. I wonder if the silence became deafening in time? I wonder when they first began to notice He was absent?

As followers of Jesus Christ we are, as the Church in general, doing the a similar thing. God returned that we might see Him in the flesh. That again we might see miracles and healing and believe. However, Jesus was a threat to those religious leaders because His message was contrary to theirs and their jobs would be in question and at stake should others believe in Him. He had to be killed.

So the Church (in general) today may be under the same type of judgment. Followers of Christ are under the same judgment. Many in the Church have determined to create their own religious beliefs. They have managed to fall into the same lies as the religious leaders before. Not so much for fear of their jobs but for power and pride. Many have distorted the truth of the Gospel to make it palatable to the public to, as any business would, make money...have the power, create a false sense of security for others as to what needs to be done to receive the Kingdom of heaven. Preach a soft Gospel message.

So, is there a silence today? Sometimes I wonder. We see the world entangled in crime, natural disasters, sins against God's own commandments. Why doesn't He do something? Where is He? He lingers quietly in the wings waiting to pour out His Spirit upon His Church but something needs to take place before then. A return to the one true God by the Church. Repentant hearts for the sins of the Church over the years. For pastors, preachers and priests to realize their own sins of preaching a false message and being divisive through denominations.

We have as a nation and a world turned our backs again on God. And there are many who are working to remove even His name. I'm here to say that try as they might, it will never happen, although the Church is sadly quiet about all of this. There is no real uprising of the Church in defense of the wrongs against her. Evil rises up and gets stronger; somehow they are able to shout louder, stomp their feet longer and show a mean side that intimidates. And the Church is silent.

It is time to repent of our sins that God would return and bring that Holy Spirit power once again. It will happen and it may not be pretty as God tries His Church through fire, purging her. He will expose the corruption, the pride and arrogance, the greed and especially the false teachings.

There is a Church trying desperately to hold on to the true teachings of Christ. It is a remnant church. It is small. Perhaps for now it might be considered lame and an outcast...BUT GOD...will reign over it. God doesn't mind small beginnings. He no doubt prefers it because it's through this that He performs His miracle of empowering the weak, that His glory might be seen. This Church is growing as some people begin to hunger for the truth once again. I'm glad to say that I belong to one of these churches. I see the difference. I see the desire for only the very truth of the Gospel being built into its people, equipping us that we might grow stronger in Him and able to spread the very real truth of His Word to those around us.

I desire to see growth within myself quickly. And although I may not recognize it, it probably is already happening. I pray for revival for all remnant Churches, one that is real and not some conjured up excitement. I pray for the growth of this Church that we might be the workers God desires for us to be for His Kingdom. I pray for the purging of the Church that He might return in His glory to open eyes, heal the sick, bring the miracles that people might see and believe in the one true God, Jesus Christ. Then when it's time, He will return to devour the enemy and set His Church and His people free one last time.

Israel and those who follow Christ, who are obedient to His Word, will be the final remnant. Israel will meet their Messiah and finally believe. Before then churches and people will fall. God will judge. There will be a purging like we've never seen before. The sins of the Church and the people will be uncovered. God is not a respecter of persons. No one, no church, is safe if they are outside the will of God. But if repentance comes, He forgives.

Micah 7:18 - Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy.

Selah!

Psalm 46:8a,10a,11 - Come, behold the works of the LORD...be still, and know that I am God...the LORD of hosts is with us...the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Shutting down the noise that consumes us from day to day. That was part of a discussion we had Sunday morning in Bible study. Tuning out the noise...all of it...and relishing in the quiet that we might hear God speak. Quieting yourself before the Lord.

The word "selah" is a Hebrew word that has been difficult to interpret. Literally it means to lift up, exalt. Other interpretations explain it to mean to "think on this," to "stop and listen," or "let those with eyes see and with ears hear." It pretty much means to weigh carefully. The Word of God in every way should be lifted up and exalted. They are His voice speaking to us. 

We are told to meditate on His Word. If we spend time in the Word each day He speaks to us. If we concentrate on His Word and let it get into our spirits, we can later remember what He has said to us. It's important to know what His Word says and allow ourselves to be reminded of it throughout the day. 

But so often we don't hear God speak because our mind is bombarded with sounds that distract. Even good music. We can be lost in the busyness of life so easily. Is the radio on in the car or can you envelop yourself in the quietness of your own thoughts? Can you silence yourself and speak to God as you're running from here to there? 

This is something that has stuck with me since then. I like silence. I can drive without the radio. I don't do it all the time. But just what am I thinking about? I know my mind is always going. Am I thinking about God? Am I praising Him for the beauty of this world? Am I thanking Him for another day or for the things that He has given me? Am I carrying a dialog with Him or am I just consumed in mundane thoughts?

I have occasionally taken little road trips throughout Wisconsin to photograph nature and beautiful farm land. I look forward to that time. I generally take CD's otherwise I'd be changing stations constantly, or some areas are so remote I can't pick up anything but static. But you know what? I tend to drive in silence. Not always, but when the music is off, I'm taking in and acknowledging the beauty of God's creation and thanking Him for the marvelous scenery...even the knowledge He has given to man to create structures, even roads, signs, the cleverness of it all.

These trips bring a wonderful time of peace. Plus there's excitement and anticipation that comes when I'm am on the top of a hill and I see a road clearly named "Something-or-Other Hollow." I know what lies ahead...lush, green vegetation, perhaps a creek or small river, moistness in the air. God's creation is endless and I know that He's glad that I'm enjoying it, because it is showing Him my love for Him. I have drawn near to Him and I feel I am in His presence. 

We can do the same anywhere. We can shut down the noise of the world, apart from the birds and rustling trees, and tune ourselves in to God. It's in those places He speaks to our spirits. I had been awakened at 2 a.m. twice this week. Each time some tidbit of information came into my spirit. That's God speaking. Two blogs were created during that time! Sometimes if we are too busy, He will get our attention at "inconvenient" times. I'm learning not to be upset over this. If God wants me to spend time with Him, I'm going to be ecstatic about it. 

You know, though, He would much rather we spend all our time with Him. If He is consuming our thoughts in the midst of what we do, I'm sure He's also very pleased. It's not easy and I don't claim perfection here! I'm amazed, however, at how one friend and I will check in with each other sometimes weekly. Not all our conversation is spiritual, but we have both noticed that somehow the conversation veers toward God and that's when our words become animated, exciting. I'd heard or read one time that when we talk about God, He stores up those words. I'd like to think He does.

I wonder what it's like for the Lord to hear all the stuff that takes place on a daily basis throughout the world? I'm sure He's able to filter in His own omnipotent way. But I wonder how much makes Him happy and how much saddens Him?

And from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (Deuteronomy 4:29, James 4:8)