Where are the defenders of the faith, what happened to the Christians, did they disappear, have they lost the zeal of the Lord, forgotten the price that was paid for them. Why is it that few seem to speak up today, why is it that most that do seem to wait for a break in the conversation so they can insert a “praise God” or other well-worn statement, but will go no further, will stop after a sentence or two at best because the other person just doesn’t seem interested. What happened to questioning people about their belief structure, why no more probing but just either ending the conversation or having it ended by the one they were sent to speak to.
Why do most not initiate the words of Scripture to the lost.
Fear, they do not believe fully in whom they say they believe, they have no true desire to become a defender of the faith. Fear, it must be fear, for if these people are genuinely saved by the grace of God, then that means that they have the Holy Spirit within them, they know what they are supposed to be doing but they refuse to. It is either that or they simply have determined to quench the Spirit of God, they say to some that they care, but they have no actions to prove it, the last excuse though is more anxious, if you will, to them than the others, that they are ashamed of Christ.
They fear, they are ashamed, or they really do not care about the lost that much. I can come to no other viable excuse than one of those three. It is difficult to say in the least in understanding any one of these so-called reasons they will give, but it is more than that, it is heart wrenching, to hear individuals tell you that they are saved, that they love the Lord and have for many years, but have never spent more than five minutes discussing the Savior with the lost. I must admit that I am becoming aware that perhaps some are like the widow woman that Elijah was sent to, (1 Kings 17) like Martha, the sister of Mary, (Luke 10:38-42) or perhaps even like Mary, the mother of Jesus, who at the most we are told, “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) Maybe I am wrong, maybe there are true born-again believers out there that for whatever reason just will not defend the faith that they seem to espouse except to those who are close to them. The question is, can one be filled with the Holy Spirit, can one profess a faith in Jesus Christ, but have no desire to speak of Him.
How does a person prove their faith to the outside world, and I use that word in the context of action, not one of competition or justification in the eyes of others. What is it that is required by the Lord of those He calls His children if even those who prophesized in His name, of those who cast out demons were refused entrance and will be cast out into utter darkness, (Matt. 8:21) where is the proof of a man’s salvation if no outer works are visible. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31) Then what?
Since “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings,” (Jer. 17:10) then that infers that either some work or no work for Him has been accomplished, that they are now or have been useful and profitable to the kingdom. The analogy of the thief on the cross beside Christ is a well-worn anchor for some of these that I have spoken at length to about this subject, and each time that path is ended quite abruptly when I remind them that he really did not have much of an option at that point in his life, did he. Believe, hang on the cross a little longer, have your legs broken, then die.
You are still walking and talking, you are still breathing, you have had and will have more opportunities to reach the lost, so what is your excuse. There are no rewards in heaven for good intentions, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Matt. 7:22) You really want to be sure about this Christian life you say you are living, you should be able to see some form of proof of it, and others should be able to see it also. If not, then you have a very serious problem indeed.
