What do you suppose it would take for God to capture your full allegiance to Him; die on a Cross for you?
Some would quickly state that He has already done that. This is very true, but is it equally true that He has captured your full allegiance; your total trust, your faith that is pleasing to Him? Really?
Have you heard the way many “so-called” believers talk lately? Oh, the anger, resentment, hatred, and even moving into language which ought not to be uttered—“let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth.” (Ephesians 4:29)
FB is loaded with examples of these self-called Christians posting memes and such using the most vulgar of language for all to see; there’s a great witness for the LORD! I remember when I was truly searching for God in my life, I asked a co-worker about his church. I knew my life needed to be different; better, and I thought maybe church was my answer. His response, filled with laughter and loose language, was about the wild Bingo games on Wednesday nights, and how drunk his priest became before the games were over.
My sad conclusion: I’m a drunken gambler who curses without the church, so I guess that’s not what I am looking for. It took me two more years to figure out the truth of what I needed in Christ Jesus!
Some Christians today are compelled to watch movies which use the LORD’S name in vain without flinching, along with other forms of abusive language. But then there are their music choices that have no regard for sexual morality. Yes, we have a right to be entertained, but we have choices and preferences we must make to guard our hearts and minds. If one is not careful, the entertainment industry will become objects of our praise and worship.
God’s people in the Old Testament struggled with admiring the worship practices of neighboring pagans as they honored their false gods with filthy activities. God used a man like the Prophet Elijah to challenge the thinking of His fallen people.
“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.” (1 Kings 18:21)
Many hundreds of years later, Jesus confronts leaders of the nation, and others when He said: “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” (Matthew 12:30)
He had been declaring the good news about the Kingdom that He was putting forward up to this point, but now both Jesus and His Kingdom are unwanted— chiefly by the influential of the nation, those referred to as Pharisees.
Today, like the Pharisees, you as well have a choice to make about Jesus. Jesus continues to ask the question of those who casually follow Him, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). You must answer that question for yourself; either He is Who He alleges He is to you— Creator, Messiah, Savior, and King the Messiah—or you reject Him; there is no third option. “He who is not with Me is against Me,” He said. And if you allege to be for Him, then you must come to Him exactly as He orders and not as you might like better. As His creation, you don’t get to make the rules; you simply must decide whether you are for Him or against Him.
Beloved, has God saved you, or have you saved yourself? Preacher has God called you to preach, or have you called yourself to preach? How long will you falter between two opinions?! I f God is the answer to these two questions, then beloved, you have a choice to make, and the only right choice to make is to submit to God, in totality, right here and right now! Genuine faith demands eternal truth to become a present fact in your total being, at all times! Pray On!
