Possibly some of the greatest problems in the church, no matter the age, but especially now is that of compromise and complacency. These are dangerous to the work of the gospel and to the life and soul of the individual. The “who cares” attitudes, the concept of entitlement – so why put forth the effort? – are the traits of a fool. There is or will be a time coming when folk will have to take a definite stand. In “Trail Ride” journal I happened to come across the following. Ponder it for a while.
“I am part of the ‘Fellowship of the Unashamed.’ The dye [sic] has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, or back away.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, live by prayer, and labor with power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner is clear. I am part of the ‘Fellowship of the Unashamed.'”
Now that is pretty good. When I first read it I thought of those daring and courageous men at the Alamo. Once they crossed “the line” they never looked back. They realized that when they took the step across the line, the die was cast and it was victory or death. In their case the sacrificed was demanded, but they left a legacy called Texas.
If you notice there is a major move on to discredit or disregard those heroes who would not waver or back down. Their thinking is that we need a generation of cream puffs, a generation of politically correct people who have no guts to stand for a cause worth dying for much less one worth living for.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
–2 Timothy 4:7 (HCSB)