Challenges Ahead

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater that his lord.  If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep your’s also.”  John 15:18-20

When God created man and woman, He gave them dominion over fish, fowl, cattle, and all living things that God created (Genesis 1:26), but He was and is still the Master over all.  Taking care of the earth is a very important job for men and women, but God did not intend for folks to take this job so seriously that the earth became more important than God to them.  Climate change has become a religion to many who do not know Christ.  We know that people were made with the desire to worship, with the intent being to worship God, but ignoring Him, folks have decided to worship whatever they please.

Those of us who are born again understand that we are on this earth only temporarily until such time that God calls us home.  We do have a responsibility while we are still here to be a good steward of all that God has given us, but not to be focused on the creation rather than the Creator.  We are in a period of time when believers are in the minority.  The world doesn’t want us to talk about Jesus, about repentance, or any other subject concerning our relationship with our Creator.  We have hope that things will turn around, that perhaps there will be a great spiritual revival, and many will see the light, repent, and believe on Christ, which would make the world a better place in which to live, but I am not optimistic that this will happen, at least not anytime soon.  Where’s my faith?  My faith is in Jesus, but man has become so evil and full of pride that it would take a real miracle for folks to be enlightened to the truth, particularly when they will not listen to it.  God can perform this miracle, and it’s for sure that believers should all be praying that revival will come soon, but the extent of wickedness in our world will require a major event to wake folks up.  The events of 9-11 and the pandemic didn’t do it.

Indeed, there are challenges ahead for Christians.  We are in the minority even though the latest statistics from polls report that the percentage of Americans who claim to be Christian is seventy percent.  Really?  If that represented those who are truly born again, then why aren’t the churches overflowing every time that worship services are held?  COVID played a big part in the fewer number of folks who attend church on a regular basis.  The pandemic was a major event which affected almost everyone negatively, but as stated before, rather than stirring folks spiritually, it seems to have done the opposite.  I think that some folks, after staying home and watching church online, found it more convenient than getting up and coming to church.  What if Jesus found it more convenient to not go to the cross?  I guess that sounds pretty harsh, but I grieve for all the folks wandering through life with no real direction, perhaps believing they are on their way to heaven, but foregoing a deep, personal commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus said that only those who do the will of His Father will enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21).

I am far from perfect, and I haven’t always done what God asked of me, but He knows my heart and the burden that I have for relatives, friends, associates, and even folks that I don’t know that if they have never repented and trusted Christ, that they would soon, or if they are saved but are walking at a guilty distance, that God would touch their hearts to return to Him.  He is always ready to receive whosoever will come through Christ into His family.

The challenge before Christians is great.  The world will throw obstacles in our way, ignore us, mock us, persecute us, and hate us because they hate Jesus.  If they hate Him, what makes us think that, as His followers, they will give us a pass?  I suppose if we shy away and try to hide our belief in Him, neglecting to be a witness for Him, then they won’t know that we are a Christian.  Jesus said in Mark 8:38 that He will be ashamed of those who are ashamed of Him and His words.  He might ask, “Why didn’t you let your light shine so that the world could see Me in you?”