One does not surrender his conscience, his soul, when he accepts a job. Each of us is still a man, and individually accountable for his sins.”
–Elmer Kelton (The Day the Cowboys Quit)
“If righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and ignore the obstacles I put in their way, they will die. And if you do not warn them, they will die in their sins. None of their righteous acts will be remembered, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.”
–Ezekiel 3:20 (NLT)
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Do not be deceived my friends; the world is in turmoil and unrest. Evil is seen on every hand. It seems almost weekly there is some diabolical act somewhere in the world that takes place. Don’t get caught up with the media and the frenzy and believe the lie. Look at the words of Paul.
“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
–2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NKJV)
I recently read an article by Stuart McAllister where he wrote, “Christianity is not an escape system for us to avoid reality, live above it, or be able to redefine it. Christianity is a way that leads us to grasp what reality is and, by God’s grace and help, to navigate through it to our eternal home.”
As Christians we should have an answer to the world’s problems and issues. Ahh, but the rub is that the world does not want to hear the answer that is Christ. There is the coming of the “lawless one”, but in the meantime God continues to present the truth. Part of our responsiblity is not only to proclaim truth, but to live truth as well. Your life might be the only truth a person sees and if they reject now, what will happen when the lawless one does appear?
Now is the day of salvation, therefore, do not forsake the truth. Jesus said, “I am the truth…” Yet will our life shine forth that truth? In the midst of the chaos and confusion we must stand for truth and live the truth. Someone said that, “Life is hard, God is good–don’t get the two confused.” McAllister wrote, “The longer we walk with God and face the pressures of life and change, the more we appreciate grace but also come to recognize how dependent we are in an ongoing way to complete the journey.”
It seems that there is more and more change, yet as believers we believe the words of Jesus that He is the same today, yesterday, and forever. We are not to grow weary in the midst of change but persevere holding and guarding the truth.