When was the last time that your faith was put to the test, I do not mean some great personal tragedy, some trial that hurt you to the core, but simply another individual questioning you about your faith in Christ during basically a normal part of your day. Most often these questions come from the lost, and then most generally in the form of snide innuendos, but then these statements can only arise from them if you have attempted in the past to ask them of what, or who, they see Jesus as. If you have done no more than throw the word, “blessed” or “praise God” out occasionally, they are probably not going to bother you much, it is the path many who call Him Lord take. And so then, there is the question you must ask yourself, what words have I been using to make sure that everyone I meet knows for a fact that I serve a Risen Savior, and my friends, this is a question that the Lord Himself is going to ask you.
The question then arises, will He be asking that question a few moments after your death, or about one thousand years later. It is more than sad to think that many who call Christ Lord believe it to be a test when they are questioned on their faith in Him, when they are asked, even by fellow, if they are indeed saved, born-again believers of how God has used them in the previous days or even weeks, their entire demeanor changes, almost automatically, they feel as if they are being challenged, and because they can usually give no response, they will take offense at your question. The general consensus around the Christian community in these days is that these are not questions one should either ask or be asked, it is seen as intrusive, as a test they should not be required to take. You know the verse, “But sanctify the LORD God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” (1 Peter 3:15)
This simple question when asked can be the greatest test of our faith, disasters can be lived through, broken lives can be mended, temptations can be stood against, but to be able to stand in the street corner and give a response for the reason of your faith, to be able to clearly expound on exactly what you have been doing for the glory of God, to give an account of your faith, seems to be the great taboo these days. I contend here that those who cannot do so, that those who refuse to, their salvation is indeed in question.
When David was bringing the ark back from the house of Abinadab, he danced joyously before all the people, and his wife Michal was embarrassed to the point of being furious. (2 Sam. 6:20) There is the problem, far too many who profess His name believe that their faith is to be kept hidden, that it is a lamp that should only shine on their heart, or at best reserved for those that they consider trustworthy, those of the same ilk, if you will. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9) When? Once? Yes, to salvation, but after that, what of the fruits that we will be known by, what of those you are commanded to go out and preach the gospel to, where is the proof of your salvation, left in the church, shown by the amount you left in the collection plate?
This idea that Christ did all the work on the cross and we need perform no task after our salvation comes from the minds of those who are not saved, from those who only profess Him with their lips, from those who do not love Him. Either they do not love Him enough to tell others about Him, or they do not love those around them, there is little other choice in the matter. These are difficult letters for me, for I would desire that all who call Christ Lord to shout it from every rooftop, yet many seem ashamed in public to mention His name, these dishonor Him, and few things in this life frustrate me more than someone who claims to serve Christ, but will not speak His name, tell of His glories, or converse about Him and how He has been using them. There are those who will be ashamed at His coming, and those whom He will not profess before His Father. It is getting difficult to differentiate between the two.
