It does not matter the time, day or night, the sun is shining out there in space, the entire earth could be blanketed with thick clouds, and the sun will still shine. For those of you who find comfort in Deuteronomy 31:8 “And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” Know that He who is “out there” will not forsake you, He never sleeps, He does not take breaks, He is aware of where you are and what is occurring in your life at every moment.
There is another verse that should be just as comforting to you, to all of those whose lives are hid in Christ. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) This is more difficult for some to understand, how can pain and suffering, how can the advent of evil be good, how can anything that affects us adversely be considered good for us. To understand and still give the Lord God praise in these moments, we must understand that not only can we not see the entire picture that Almighty God can see for our lives, but also that slaves have the power to protest, but no right to.
Far too many who profess Christ as Lord want to be His friend, they want or expect a closer relationship with Him than what is offered to a slave. Friends know each other’s affairs and business, there is very little if anything hidden in their conversations and the reasons for their actions toward each other. We are commanded to trust and obey, without question, to never doubt, to have a continuous abiding faith in the fact that all that is done or is allowed to occur in our lives is for the glory of God and, when accepted as such, for our personal growth in Christ. The Lord Jesus desired a different way, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matt. 26:39) But He did not question or rebel against what God had set before Him to accomplish, He was, and remains always, the perfect servant, the most humble in His acceptance of the will of the Father.
“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:14) If you are continuously doing the will of God, then you are a friend of Christ, not possible for every moment of our lives, the spirit may be willing, but the flesh is weak (Matt. 26:41) and so in His infinite mercy and loving kindness He remembers that we are but dust. (Psalm 103:14) Our responsibility is to be available at all times, with no complaints or rebelling, we are expected to both rejoice and stand firm in our faith in these approaching days of evil, and it should be our honor and privilege to do so.
Who do you suppose our Lord was referring to when He said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Just to Himself, was He giving those that heard these words in person from His own lips a foreknowledge of what He would do on the cross for us, or was He speaking to you, and if to you, and you claim Him as your friend, are you laying down your life for Him, all of it, are you prepared to face ridicule, scorn, mocking, imprisonment, torture, and even death for He whom you dare to call your friend?
There is no turning back, once we have accepted Him as Lord, there is no turning back, your word is not your bond with the Lord Jesus Christ, His blood is, the blood that paid for and covers every born-again believer cannot be wiped or washed away, nor should we ever even contemplate a desire even once that it would be, but far too many have failed to count the cost of service to Christ, of being a slave and servant to the Most High God. He requires and expects everything that we are, all we own, even our lives are to be laid at the altar if He so desires, and all without complaining. If you are unwilling to do so, either your faith is one of professing lips only, or you will be judged as unprofitable. Prepare now, even this very day, to offer yourself as a “living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1) Anything less will not allow you to call yourself His friend.
