THE CRITICAL ELEMENT
Issue #9 22-January, 1991
At the same time as I was putting the finishing touches on
issue 8, I was dealing with the subject of personal evangelism.
I had not shared my faith in far too long so I decided that it
was time to stop talking about my faith and start walking by
faith. I wasn't able to concentrate at my apartment, so I decid
ed to go to one of my favorite places to be alone with God.
Unfortunately, or so I thought, someone else had also chosen that
place to be alone.
She looked to be quite lonely and somewhat depressed so
after a quick prayer I drug my reluctant body over to where she
stood and asked if I could help her. Slowly I brought up the
subject of God and quickly realized that she was already a Chris
tian. Our conversation went on for several hours and I could
tell she was becoming interested in me as being more than just a
friend. After we had been out a handful of times, I began to be
interested in her as being more than just a friend. I had been
praying all along that nothing would happen between us that was
not God's will and that I would have wisdom to guide the rela
tionship as a true man of God should. Unlike a true man of God,
I was not patient enough to wait for an answer.
It wasn't until the middle of December when I realized how
compromised I had become. I had entered into a relationship with
someone who did not love God as I do. To say that we were un
equally yoked would be a grave understatement. She does not
believe in many things that I hold to be the bedrock of my faith.
She made me question what I believe (which was good), but even
though my beliefs were becoming surer, I was letting their value
diminish. I could see a world of spiritual potential in her
eyes, but doubted its fulfillment. Even though I knew that being
in a relationship with her was completely out of phase with what
God wanted, I still held on. Even though I knew that a lifetime
with her would mean trivializing the things of God, I seriously
considered that option to be worthwhile.
Fortunately, she began to exhibit personality flaws that
made her company unbearable. It is only at this point that I
said no more. Now that it is over I realize that it is not only
vital to know what it is you believe and to be sure about those
beliefs, but to be earnestly and consistently dedicated to seeing
those beliefs realized in your life. For what is better, think
ing something is true, knowing something is true, or being able
to prove it in the power of the Holy Spirit?
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts
upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house
upon the rock. And the rains descended, and the floods came, and
the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not
fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. And everyone who
hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be
like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the
rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and
burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall,"
(Matt. 7:24-27).
In this present time very few people build their own houses.
Contractors, hired by land developers, build houses to sell to
third parties. Likewise very few people today build their own
spiritual house. For the most part we buy into what our church,
parents, or friends think about God without looking and asking
for ourselves.
Many churches, even in this area, are just small businesses
which provide entertainment or a conscious appeaser a few times a
week. Many of our friends go to the same churches, and many
parents aren't concerned with or don't have time to think about
the spiritual welfare of their children. Many people today who
attend church regularly (which of course does not guarantee
salvation) have a basketful of half formed, unfounded ideas about
who God is. Since their church and friends are all in the same
boat, they just assume that there is nothing greater to be
achieved. I'm afraid that many of us are guilty of worshiping
that which we do not know. Just like the house upon the sand, a
prefabricated package of doctrine will fall in the mildest storm.
Paul, in his second inspirational letter to his disciple
Timothy, charged him to "suffer hardship with [him], as a good
soldier of Christ Jesus," (2 Tim. 2:3). If an ill prepared
soldier faces the enemy in a half hearted manner he will most
likely be killed. Similarly, "a soldier of Christ" who tries to
go though life without letting God lead him will most likely find
himself as not having much of a life at all. However the soldier
of Christ who is firmly planted in the word of God, watered and
nourished by a walking relationship with the Holy Spirit will
always emerge from his battle victorious.
Perhaps, and even hopefully I am wrong, but I am beginning
to see hard times ahead for the church on the global, national,
and even individual level. I believe there will someday be a
time when it will no longer be acceptable to be a Christian.
There is going to come a day when we will have to make a con
scious decision whether we will or will not stand for what is the
truth. "Realize this, that in the last days difficult times will
come. For men will be lovers of self. . .lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God; holding to a form of godliness, al
though they have denied its power," (2 Tim. 3:1-5).
Are the storms coming? Are we going to just hold on to some
prefabricated, watered down version of godliness, or are we going
to be soldiers of Christ Jesus? I know very little, but this I
do know. "It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with
Him, we shall also live with Him; If we endure, we shall also
reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are
faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself," (2
Tim. 2:11-13).
Dear friend I don't write these letters because I get bored
easily or because I don't have anything else to do. I write to
you because I am concerned about you. I want you to be full of
the joy, peace, and confidence that comes from knowing God. I
don't want to see you settle for anything less. The world is
full of mediocrity. The world is full of people who have ideas
about God. When you have the opportunity to live in the kingdom
of God, when you have the opportunity to pray and communicate
with God, when you have the opportunity to read and learn about
God, when you have the opportunity to be used of God why not take
it? Is there any good reason? Is there any reason at all?
Today my friend. Today my brother. Today my sister, won't
you start making that continuing decision to serve God? Won't
you start to become founded in your beliefs, building your house
upon the rock? Won't you start living your life in all integrity
and godliness? Oh, how I pray that you would. Oh, how I pray
that we will do it together.
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