You are loved, but can you be trusted?
The next time they scream “Virus,” will you once again run and hide, will you not offer the hand of fellowship, if you contract the next supposed bug will you yell “Unclean” and hide behind a mask?
Will your own personal safety override the love of your neighbor you are to express, or will you use that as an excuse, a reason to stay away while professing it as love to do so?
Many who profess to know the Lord Jesus Christ are quite content beside the still water, but they cannot be trusted to obey when they are asked to walk into the fire, they are safe in the back of the formation, but are useless in the front line where the battle is raging, because they have not, and have no intention of dying to self.
“And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.” (Job 2:4)
And our adversary, in this regard, was correct.
Right up until they say you cannot have what you need, right up to that moment when you are told your freedom will be removed unless you obey, right up to that very moment when the gun is placed in your face, when the prison cell door is opened for you. Until that moment those who profess the Lord Jesus Christ as Master will in their minds believe themselves to be soldiers of the cross.
“But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Daniel 3:18)
These three men were literally shaking with fear as they walked in the strength of their convictions towards the flames.
You are loved, but can you be trusted?
It is necessary to have those in the rearward positions of battle to tend to the wounded, to provide supplies, there is no shame in this, the question is, if they are called to the front line where the fighting is at its fiercest, will you go? Scared, shaking, unsure, even faith faltering as you walk toward what will probably be certain death.
The epitome of service to Christ is found in Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Living for Christ means dying to self, it means willing to sacrifice your life by your physical death for His glory with no hindrances, with no regrets.
The fellowship of His suffering is a life of grief and sorrow encapsulated in unspeakable joy. It is rejoicing in being hated by the world, it is the supreme honor to know that you are hid in Christ. It is not the fear of the flesh overpowering these truths. It is not bowing the knee because you are fearful of pain, of suffering, of the loss of personal freedom. It is standing on the Rock of your salvation; it is dying there if that is what He asks of you.
The world calls it self-preservation, and it is the overriding factor that consumes them, nothing matters more to the wicked than the continuation of their life.
Nothing.
We who have been born-again call it vainglory, for we do not seek our own will, but the will of our Father in heaven.
Repeat these words often to yourself, force your flesh, your old nature to hear them, laugh at his fear of them, rejoice in the truth of them.
“To die is gain.”
“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2nd Cor. 5:8)
Believe this, live this, die with it on your mind, walk with rejoicing into the fire while your body trembles uncontrollably.
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:” (Job 19:25)
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Eph. 6:13)
Will you run and hide the next time?
You are loved, but can you be trusted?
Will you drink of the cup placed before you?
