Distinguished or Extinguished

Last night during our graduation recognition night, our Minister of Students Brother Andrew told the graduates that as Christians they could be extinguished or distinguished. He told them as young adults coming into an uncertain world and marketplace, they have the foundation to distinguish themselves among their peers:

    “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” (Colossians 2:9-10)

As Christians we have all we need to be who God designed us to be. We don’t need some secret spiritual super charge to get our Christianity into hyper-mode. When we received Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit indwelled us and brought with Him the fullness of Christ:

    “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.” (John 1:16)

Too many Christians’ heavenly lights are being extinguished by the hellish winds. The howling of the depraved across this land is taking down churches and businesses because the righteous are fighting with human hands.

Furthermore, churches are already planning to stop performing any weddings if and when the US Supreme Court decides in favor of homosexual marriage. In essence, these churches are snuffing out their own lights; extinguishing themselves as the lighthouses of society and allowing the darkness to sweep in. This should not be!

    “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Yesterday I was telling my Sunday school class that contrary to many Christian handwringers, I am excited about the day in which we live. I’m not excited about the immorality sweeping across America. I am excited about the opportunity being presented to the church to present the gospel in the midst of all the chaos.

The Bible is our guiding light. What distinguishes us from others is that as Christians we follow a book that explains all we need to know to contend with the evil before us. God’s holy word shows us the way and clears up all the confusion caused by the cacophony of nonsense being blasted our way. The Bible is our refuge of peace in a turbulent world:

    “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” (1 Corinthians 14:33)

If the above verse is true, and it is, then why is there so much turmoil in American churches today? It is because those churches are following a different author. They are following the wiles of man inspired by Satan himself, many unbeknownst to them. Trying to be relevant to the times in which we live fools them, because they fear that God’s Word has become irrelevant.

Clarity comes from standing in the gap for Jesus. Notice I’ve not once mentioned about how easy this will become. Easy is never the better way. However, life becomes simple with Biblical clarity. You don’t need a PhD to understand how God wants us to live our lives. The Bible points the way to righteousness and warns against the path of evil:

    “As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.” (Proverbs 11:19)

We have been born for a time such as this. It is our glorious opportunity to share the light of Jesus and bring glory to God the Father. We get to choose whether we will be distinguished amongst the hurrying wickedness, or extinguished by the howling winds of godless change.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2015 David Jeffers

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