“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Eph. 6:13)
I believe, and I pray that I am wrong, that many if not most who profess Christ are concerned more with themselves, with their lives than the lives of those they are to bear the burdens of. I do not suspect that it is so much that they are lovers of self as much as they are more concerned with the order of their own lives first.
No one who has been born-again is going to feed another’s children while theirs go hungry, but it is the leftovers, if you will that I speak of here, what is done with the additional funds after all in their own home are taken care of, where the spare times goes to, what their thoughts revolve around after their immediate family and personal needs have been provided for.
“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)
“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (2nd Thess. 3:10)
To stand means more than the necessities of the flesh, it is the Spiritual direction and protection of those the Lord has blessed us with, and that includes our family in Christ.
How many parents do you know that send their children off to public school each day and rarely if ever question them in depth not about their studies when they get home, but about what they are being taught behind the curtain, as it were? And of those that do, how many go to the authorities in charge of that school and demand change?
How many in churches today who hear something preached or taught that is questionable in regard to the Scriptures will speak up, will stand against that which is not Scripturally correct? And how many have done so, and after realizing that that the authorities in that church will not change what they speak and teach, leave that church?
What about at your workplace, your friends, even family members? At what point does it take for you to stop stepping back and take a stand for the truths of the Scriptures?
“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” (2nd Thess. 2:7)
We are approaching a time in human history where every person is going to have to make a decision of where and when they will stand. In most nations the only weapon of the wicked is words at the moment, mandates have been set and laws enacted, but for the most part they are fairly lax in their enforcement.
That is going to change.
Those in authority desire control over all that are under their authority, nothing less than complete obedience, and, depending on the level of fear imposed, from most they will receive that obedience. Most people my friends will stand only as long as their own skin is not endangered.
“Having done all, to stand.”
All what?
For us who have been saved by grace through faith there is only one answer, all trust, all faith, resting in the promises no matter the circumstances or the possible consequences to ourselves.
This may sound easy to you, to stand, until the education system labels you a bad parent because you questioned their authority, and has your children removed from the home. It may sound simple, until your church asks you to not return, when your employer tires of your thirst and hunger for righteousness and fires you, when your friends tire of hearing of the One you love, your own family gives you an ultimatum, the Lord Jesus Christ or them.
Do you know one of the reasons for the breastplate of righteousness? It is to protect your heart, not from sorrow and grief, but for the Lord.
You will have to stand someday, and I can almost guarantee when you do, you will lose something.
Are you sure you are willing to stand?
