“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.” (Romans 8:33)
It does not matter what your coworkers say about you, it does not matter what the people in your town think about you, what gossip is spread, what lies are told, their charges against you will not stand in the only court that matters, at the throne of the Living God.
“For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.” (Mark 14:56) Like a lamb before His shearers, the Lord Jesus Christ knew this truth, He knew He was not only innocent of the false charges brought against Him, but that He was innocent in all things.
These truths have helped me to understand in part what is meant in 1st Corinthians 6:7, “Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?”
If there is one thing in particular that the wicked hate, it is those that are not at their level, rarely are they encouraged by them to lift themselves up out of the pit they call life, but instead will do all within their power to either drag or push others down to their level. Cruelty is the normal response of the wicked to righteousness, and because they cannot reach the Living God, they will take their vengeance out upon you.
The thoughts that must run through your mind are these, when should you allow yourself to be defrauded, and when should you stand for righteousness?
We are to stand against evil, how are we to do that if we remain silent when evil is attacking us directly?
How many times have you heard a conversation that included those wicked people defrauding the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and have had to make a decision as to what you should do in that situation? Walk away, speak up or stand there so as not to offend anyone, those are really your only choices. If the situation becomes violent, do you run, do you fight back, or do you simply lay there and take it?
“Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:53) But He didn’t, and you cannot.
Each and every circumstance must be diligently examined, and you may have only seconds to do so, and so there are no concrete answers that fit every situation. Would it be pleasing to the Lord if you simply stood by and watched the serial killer take the lives of first your children and then your wife before he ends your life?
We are justified in the eyes of the Most High because we are hid in Christ, and so there are times when we should allow ourselves to be defrauded, when we should stand silent. “For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.” (Romans 15:3) Jesus our Lord did not call those twelve legions because He was prepared to drink the cup that the Father had given Him, but my friends you must decide what cup the Lord has given to you.
Men of God have killed wicked people, but they have never committed murder.
“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1st Tim. 5:8) Providing is protecting, standing against evil is not the same as allowing yourself to be defrauded, you can stand, you can flee, or you can do nothing, each situation requires prayer and preparedness, but above all this must be considered, will your actions glorify God?
The One who healed is coming back with fury and vengeance, those belong to Him alone, you must decide in the moment what attribute of Christ you are to exhibit.
