We live in a time that is testing our values to the limits. Legalized homosexuality and legalized rights to kill babies in the womb are just two of the problems we face on a daily basis. What are we Christians supposed to do? We are maligned by our beliefs, ordered by the government to do things we don’t believe are ethical, and are subjected to a mass of attacks from every front. Christianity is under attack in the world and the United States is no exception.
God has clearly stated what our values should be in His Word of truth. Those values include having integrity, being honest, working for a living, supporting those less fortunate, and the value of respecting life itself. What are we to do when there is such widespread perversion of Christian values?
Stick to Your Values
The only response we need is to stick to our values, no matter what. If we aren’t willing to suffer for what we believe in, what good are those beliefs? I’m not advocating that we should suffer for standing up for what we believe, for no-one should suffer for such things when those beliefs are centered in truth. However we need to be ready to suffer, and if necessary, suffer as all of God’s people throughout the ages have. We have plenty of examples in God’s Word of those who stood for the truth. Here’s one.
Acts 5:17-23 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Did you notice the solid conviction on God’s Word held by Peter and the other apostles?
“We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Those words were spoken at a legal hearing, akin to you saying the same thing to a judge in a court who is ordering you to do something contrary to God’s Word. These men who spearheaded the move of Christianity in the very early days were more willing to die for what they believed in than most Christians are today.
How Christian Are You?
So this begs the question, “How Christian are you?” How convicted are you to what you believe? Are you willing to not only suffer shame for Jesus’ name but to die for him if necessary? Or will you fold under pressure and do whatever the opposition says? I tell you there’s a time coming when people will be forced to confess a different God and if they do not, they won’t be able to buy or sell — they won’t be able to feed themselves or their families. Unfortunately for them, many will succumb to the pressure and “take the mark” rather than let their families perish. But God clearly says not to take the mark for doing so rejects Him. I won’t be around during that time, and if you are Christian, neither will you, but for those people who will, it’s better for them to die rather than disobey God. Death is not final. God will raise them up again. But those who impose such a law will not fair so well in the long-term.
How Christian are you? We are going to be going through some terrible times in the United States and the rest of the world. By terrible, I mean exactly what I said. I’m sorry to have to report this to you, but expect the worse. Things will not get better, only worse. You could say we are entering a time for our “last stand.” Will you stand or will you fold? I pray you stand firm, no matter what the cost because truth is worth it. Jesus Christ is worth it. God is worth it and so are you because of what Jesus did.
When Jesus returns he shall right all things. Any pain and suffering we experience now cannot compare with that which is to come. How do I know? Because I know God’s Word to some degree, and it plainly says so.
Romans 8:18 18 [But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be ..
II Thessalonians 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
Our rest is coming when our Lord Jesus returns for us. In the meantime…
I Corinthians 16:13 Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave and strong.
Fear not, for God and our Lord Jesus Christ are with you.