To contemplate a matter is to retain the subject matter in one’s mind for generally an extended period of time, to place it not above other items one might be pondering at the moment, but to give it the due cause is deserves.
Satan’s world attempts to dissuade people from contemplating for any length of time nearly everything, and he does this by causing a continuous stream of diversions, usually through the media. There is generally one specific diversion at the forefront, and it pertains to the entire planet in some form, it does not affect everyone, but it is made to seem so. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5)
There is only one battlefront that Satan has ever faced on this planet, the Holy Spirit of God, God Himself, and in this age of grace the Holy Spirit resides inside of those who have been chosen by God, those who are born-again. “Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?” (Psalm 94:16)
Most people, and I could say I believe the majority of them, want you to know that they know something that you do not know, or at best do not want to be left out of the generalized conversation when they are amongst others. Whatever the particular diversion is at that time is made to seem not just important to the masses of humanity, but vital to their interest, without some modicum of knowledge of it, they will be made to feel left out. Everyone of them of course is meant to initiate some form of an emotional response and thereby an opinion. Those of like-minded opinions will gravitate together, and thus begins contention, for not all will be of the same mind. “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor. 2:16)
The ability of any of us to discern properly the Word of God can only come from God Himself by His Holy Spirit within us, all else is conjecture, opinions, and must needs in one form or another lead to contention. Those who do not seek diligently the face of God to learn the knowledge of God for the glory of God alone will not be shown His truths from the Scriptures. Those who have determined that they are correct in their interpretation, and those who by their own design for their own reasons who have not trusted the words of truth are to be rebuked and reproved, and here is where many who indeed are born-again fall short. They have contemplated His words, they have indeed been shown the truth, but they will not correct and reprove when someone who professes a false gospel is placed before them, they will agree to disagree so as not to seem contentious in the eyes of others.
They will not stand.
The verse becomes true for them, “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:43) They want to fit in, and so they follow what the “news of the day” is, they do not want to be left out, and so they will attempt to find some middle ground of agreement with those who say that there is another way to the Kingdom of God besides the door that is Jesus Christ.
It matters not if you are a simple layman contemplating the Lord Jesus, a street preacher boldly professing Christ to passersby’s, or a pastor who stands behind a pulpit each Sunday morning attempting to feed the flock with the Word of God, if you will not stand against the Pharisees of our day, then by default you are in agreement with them, there is no third option.
I offer you then this point of contemplation, whether from the Scriptures or from historical documentation, who else can you recall of all those who lived during the time when Christ walked upon this earth that stood up against the religious traditions of the Pharisees? Without bringing up the reason for why Christ came in the first place, to be the atoning sacrifice for all men, look what those religious leaders did to Him. Are you prepared for the same? “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21) One of your main points of contemplation each day should be, am I willing to stand for Him, no matter the cost to myself.
