Unless you are willing to die for your cause, you are useless to that cause.
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Heb. 10:25)
If you are going to try to sell hot tubs to people, you will need to learn all you can about hot tubs, but are you willing to die for that knowledge?
These three things at the moment probably do not have any relationship to each other that you can see as of yet, hopefully we can clarify that for you. “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” (Luke 4:16) This meant that on the Sabbath day, Saturday in the days of Christ, our Lord made it a point to attend a synagogue somewhere, I do not know if He ever missed a Saturday, but it is possible, He was traveling around quite a bit, the point was, He did not forsake that assembling with those who also served God. If you think about it, the twelve that He walked with for those three and a half years was indeed fellowshipping, so in the essence of the verse, He was in compliance.
It has been the tendency of Christians in these recent centuries to meet once a week, on Sunday, because that is the day the Lord rose from the dead, it is to be a day of worship, of celebration, of praise and prayer, but it has turned into, in most cases, nothing more than a program, with rote routines, and in most churches, it is not what was intended. The man that decided to sell hot tubs, in many cases, is more dedicated to his chosen task than some that attend that Sunday morning program.
He studies diligently on how these machines of hot, bubbling water work, the intricacies of the mechanism that bring not only relief to sore, tired muscles, but the enjoyment of the rest and relaxation they offer. He understands not only the mechanical workings, but the psychological desires that bring people into his place of business, and he knows how to coerce them into taking that final step, to make that decision to hand their money over to him. By being able to sell his wares at a profit, the man is emboldened, his spirits are lifted up, he enjoys even more what he does, for not only is he able to help people in a small way, but the income that is produced by his labors helps his family to thrive and assists others where he spends his money at.
If a fire starts in his business, he will call for help. “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.” (Eccl. 4:9) If thieves break in, “But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.” (Matt. 24:43) He will defend what he has worked so hard for. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21) Now, is it easier to see.
Now you have to ask yourself a question, and I mean no offense, but how many of you will say that you have as much desire to serve Jesus Christ as this man does to serve his business. In an eternal view, these strong ambitions that he serves will avail him nothing, it does not matter if he becomes the owner of the largest manufacturer of hot tubs in the world, if he employs thousands of people and treats them fairly and justly, if he is polite, kind, respectful, if he does not give his life to Jesus Christ fully and without reserve, he will die in his sins. If all you do is fulfill that one verse, “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together,” you are not saved, and you will more than likely be in more hot water, so to speak, than that hot tub gentleman could ever dream of.
If you have not died to self, (Gal. 2:20) if nothing matters more to you in your life than to glorify God, if Jesus Christ is not precious to you, you are not saved, you are deceived, and what faith you claim to have is a lie. The Lord God will accept no less than all that you are, for He gave all that He had, His own precious Son, anything less is not faith.
