Don't Give In (9/17/12)

Shalom,

 

     Please begin by reading Jude 17-21.

 

     Here are some troubling statistics about faith in America.  An estimated 74% of Americans strongly agree that "there is only one true God, who is holy and perfect, and who created the world and rules it today."  But an estimated 65% either strongly agree or somewhat agree with the assertion that "there is no such thing as absolute truth."  Do you notice how these two beliefs are contrary?  How can people believe in the God of the Bible, but then not believe in absolute truth?  If there is a Creator, then he gets to make the rules of how our world and universe work.  And according to the Bible, Yahweh has made some very absolute statements and laws.

     There has to be some deception at work here for people to hold these opposing views at the same time.  They must be buying into the world's way of thinking, being influenced by cultural philosophies and intellectual arguments about what truth is.  Jude warned us about troublemakers and encouraged us to "build yourselves up in your most holy faith."    The Amplified Bible includes "make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher."  We can't hold two opposing positions and be grounded in our faith.  Right and wrong, good and evil, these are real things and we must know which side our Lord and Master wants us on.

     The Body of Christ, people who are true Christians, must embrace the truth.  The world says "what's true for you may not be true for me."  This is humanistic double speak.  It's nonsense.  Truth is truth.  You can't have opposing truths.  You may have opposing viewpoints, but truth stands eternal.  Unfortunately, too many church-goers accept this humanistic way of thinking and their desire for spiritual growth gets tuned out at the source, the indwelling Holy Spirit.    According to Webster's Dictionary, Truth is fidelity to an original or standard.  Yahweh is the original everything, and his standards are the ones that matter.

     As true Christians, how do we fully embrace Yahweh's truth and still interact with those who don't?  We have to face the facts.  All of us have people in our families who claim to "know" things about Jesus, yet they're less than dedicated to serving him.  All of us work with or encounter people who refuse to accept what we say because we're just "Jesus freaks."  In the face of opposition we need to stand strong in the truth we know.  When people disagree with us we need to know our Lord well enough to share our faith in ways people can hear and understand.  We need to work at embracing Yahweh's truth by spending time in the Word and seeking his presence every day.

 

     We've been warned to prepare for scoffers, people who mock our faith and belief.  The word used by Jude refers to a person who jeers at and derides others.  This is someone with a seared conscience.  They feel no qualms about ridiculing our faith and the God we believe in.  Their basis of belief may be intellectual or just the natural instincts of man.  This person may believe they're the center of the known universe or that they're insignificant within the vastness of the universe.  The truth is they've bought a lie hook, line, and sinker.

     Natural instincts here refers to ungodly desires and passions.  Titus 2:12 says God's grace "teaches is to say 'No" to ungodliness and worldly passions."  There are things we need to avoid, and worldly thinking is one of the main things.  Having a fully humanistic worldview will have us denying God's truth and denying our Lord and Savior.  The people who say they believe in the God of the Bible but not in absolute truth have a problem at the root of the belief system.  The two ideas aren't compatible and most of the time we'll lean toward our humanistic ideas first while pushing aside anything spiritual.

     The lack of spiritual understanding within this kind of person isn't a punishment from Yahweh.  They're actually keeping themselves from understanding spiritual things by their insistence on using basic human knowledge to try to discern spiritual truth.  They have no spiritual discernment because they refuse to acknowledge the truth from Heaven.  We've got to accept that our limited human intelligence won't figure out everything about Yahweh and his ways.  Then we have to accept that we need his help to discern what he's speaking to us.

     What do you think would cause a law school graduate to strap on a bomb and kill herself and 20 other people?  Muslims kill others for the sake of their god.  Many young people are willing to kill themselves because of false and definitely ungodly teaching.  Following the traditions of men will cause people to do things that are ungodly even while thinking or claiming they're doing it in the name of God.  Yahweh asks us to die to ourselves, to surrender fully to him in full submission as his servant and minister.  There are no suicide bombers in the Bible.

 

     Our call from the heavenly Father is to keep building on the solid foundation of Jesus the Christ.  We're to continue making progress in spiritual maturity, allowing our faith to rise higher and higher.  The only reason you're not growing in faith is because you've lost contact with the Divine Contractor.  Maybe you've laid down your tools and taken some time off for yourself.  Maybe you've grown weary because you can't see the end and feel you need a break.  Our strength comes from our Lord and Master.  We don't have enough human strength or energy to be all that our Lord desires us to be.  It takes constant effort to remain in his presence so we can have access to his strength and ability.

     The admonition of Gal 6:9 is something that should encourage us.  "Let us not become weary in doing good."  Instead of giving in to the weariness and discouragement, trust in the Lord to provide hope and peace and joy to continue your construction efforts.  Don't lose heart.  Yahweh is able to strengthen and sustain us through all the things that cause us grief and wear us down.  If we rely on our own strength, we will become weary and worn out.  If we rely on our Lord's strength and provision, we'll always be able to continue on the path of holiness.

     We need to persevere, especially when we don't think we can take another step or withstand another onslaught of worldly trouble.  Keep working to build up your faith because Yahweh appreciates your efforts.  In fact, our Lord receives glory and honor and praise for our faithful efforts.  We inspire other people by our prayer lives or our worship or our knowledge of his Word.  Our loving service is a wonderful witness for Lord Jesus and his Kingdom.  When we persevere, even when it's really tough, other people will see our resolve.  Some will be blessed and inspired to do the same.  Others will feel jealous or scornful and won't try to copy us.  Just keep on going and following your Lord with all your efforts.

     We also have to live a life of patience.  We keep making the mistake of thinking that Yahweh is somehow affected by our clocks.  He's the one who designed our clocks, so trust him and patiently live and work and serve in his name.  Our Creator has appointed times to go along with his perfect timing.  If he tells us to wait, we need to wait.  And we can do this with patience if we truly trust him and believe he knows what's best.

 

     The admonition to "keep yourselves in God's love" is another key point.  Keep means to guard against loss or injury by keeping your eye on something.  It has a military connotation, as in guarding a fortress or a prisoner.  It means you're responsible and accountable.  This requires diligence and thoughtful effort.  It's not something to be taken lightly or handled carelessly.  Your Lord expects you to be vigilant in guarding your heart against the assaults of worldly thinking that are constantly thrown at us.  Your Lord expects you to discern Satan's lies and guard your heart against their poison.

     We actually can't get away from Yahweh's love while we're on this earth.  But we can live in a way that will deny us his love in eternity.  All Bible believing Christians need to work at ensuring we're living in the light of our Master's love, letting his love flood our hearts and minds and lives.  This is especially important when we're facing scoffers and mockers who strongly deny truth and try to break down the Holy Building we're constructing.  These humanistic thinkers will have us building without the solid foundation of Jesus, or they'll be termites eating away at the supporting beams of our knowledge of Yahweh's truth.

     We were created to be with our heavenly Father forever.  Scoffers and mockers are headed for a place not meant for humans.  Hell was created as a place for the devil and the fallen angels.  You know people on their way to Hell, and some are even loudly proclaiming that they want to go there.  But the shame of it is that there are many others much less antagonistic who are heading to the very same place  of eternal punishment.  Passive resistance to the Holy Spirit will keep people out of Heaven just the same as the antagonism of scoffers and mockers.

     We can't afford a belief system that allows us to have a lack of commitment to biblical obedience.  Our world is getting stronger in its antagonism against biblical Christianity.  They call us intolerant, yet we're the ones told our beliefs aren't valid and worthy of the defense they give to other religions and philosophies.  There are many changes in thinking that just plain aren't good because they give less and less acknowledgment to biblical and absolute truth.

     If you stand up and proclaim a belief in the God of the Bible, and especially in Jesus as the only Savior, the world will tell you you're too extreme and that your kind of belief is intolerant.  But let me tell you that walking out true faith in Jesus the Christ will have you making hard choices.  Some of these choices will hurt, and they definitely won't be popular with many people.  Jesus wasn't concerned about offending people when telling them absolute truth.  I don't believe we should try to offend people, but if we make a real stand for biblical truth we can expect backlash from some people.

     Jude is telling us to get ready to stand for truth.  Prepare yourselves to be in disagreement with world opinion.  You'll be told you're "out of date" and "out of touch with the mainstream."  Don't believe these lies.  Truth doesn't have an expiration date.  And the mainstream is always running in the direction of Heaven, no matter how few people flow with it.  I hope every fellowship of believers and each individual Christian will make bold proclamations of faith in Jesus.  We must choose to be solid followers of our Lord Jesus.  No compromise is allowed.  Stand strong in Yahweh's truth and keep building up your most holy faith.

 

     Blessings & Peace,  Mike