The age-old question for you, if a jury of your peers were set to hear your accountability, would you be found guilty of being a Christian?
It really should be a question that you could answer for yourself today, who are most of your close personal friends, your acquaintances, do they speak of Christ with you on a regular basis, or the things of this world? Is everything going well between you and your family members, as long as you do not bring up the name of the One you profess to serve?
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2nd Cor. 6:14)
Conversations between we who have been born again and those who have not can at times become awkward, for we want to discuss eternal matters, and they the temporal ones, we are concerned with their soul, they with self.
I speak not here today about those strangers you meet out there in the world, those who you may possibly never meet again, not to be rude, but they are easier to speak with about eternal matters, about their soul, because that chance meeting, as many mistakenly call it, is the only time you have with them, and relatively speaking, that time is short. Within a few minutes they should be aware that you serve the Lord Jesus Christ from the words you speak, from there, each instance will be different. We fulfill 1st Peter 3:15 without being asked.
“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:”
Instead, I bring up those that you may meet every day, at work, on the way there and back, school, whatever it may be. Family members that knew you before you fell on your face at the cross, old friends, new acquaintances. Does your demeanor, your words and actions change in their presence at their request?
Could they convict you of being a follower of Christ at your trial, or one who acquiesces to their demands to remain silent about the Savior in their presence?
Here is a question for you to contemplate, ponder it well. If you will not speak of the Lord in their presence because they have asked you not to anymore, and you continue to associate with them, solely because you do not want to lose their friendship, that family status, or become ostracized from their company forever, are you associating with darkness?
“Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?” (Matt. 12:48)
An unthinkable thought to many, to never speak with your mother, father, brother or sister, any family member, friend, new or old, or any that you are around every day, unless it concerns their soul, the Lord Jesus Christ, the grace offered through faith in His name.
Small talk occasionally, but not for extended periods of time, no more close personal relationships of any form with anyone who has openly told you that they do not want you to speak about Him whom you serve in their presence anymore.
“Keep “religion” out of the conversation and we’ll be just fine, keep your faith to yourself and you are still welcome.”
Can you look at that one you love and say, “I love you, I will continue to pray for you, any time that you want to talk about the Almighty, His will and Word, I will drop whatever I am doing and stay as long as you want, but until then, I will have no close personal associations with those in darkness, with those who have decided to remain in that unrepentant state.”
Did you just hear truth, or is this the rudest letter you have ever read?
