The world is looking for Christ.. in people, in material possessions and in everyday life. They are looking for something real, dependable, trustworthy, and faithful. Are they finding it? No! Why, you might ask? The answer is simple.. there are very few “Christians” in the world today. You ask, why would you say that.. there are many, many “Christians” in the world today… No, sorry, I must disagree. If the bible is the only source we have for what a Christian is, or did, then according to the bible’s example, most professing to be Christian, simply aren’t. There are many, many that are professing to be “Christians”, but don’t understand what the people in Antioch so long ago saw which resulted in them calling the disciples “Christians”. “Christian” was not what the disciples or Jesus ever referred to those men by, and many referred to them as “followers of the Way”, yet it was those in Antioch, that first called the disciples “Christian”, so let’s see why?
You see, those people in Antioch saw a demonstration of Jesus Christ and his teachings. They saw men following what Jesus taught them regardless of the fact that he was hung on a cross as a criminal. They saw Jesus in the things which the disciples witnessed of, and demonstrated… did they all follow Christ in what they saw, no, but they were at least seeing something that was real and was recognized as being of CHRIST! They had heard at this time about Jesus Christ, and what He was teaching had caused a great stir in the region. They knew that also this Jesus Christ had been crucified on a cross as a common criminal, yet they encountered men, well after that event happened, not only following and doing what Jesus told them to do, but teaching others to follow Jesus’ instruction to them. They saw men with such passion, and such confidence, going throughout the region, sharing the message that the Kingdom of God had come, and teaching men to observe what this Christ had commanded that those that love Him must follow!
Today we have so many that profess to be “christian”, yet are not even slightly following the teachings of Jesus Christ. They have taken the name to themselves as a way of exalting themselves above others, and have failed miserably at living the life of Christ before men. It is so amazing to me that we as a body of believers would even call ourselves “christian”, when none of the disciples before us ever did. They did as Jesus taught and didn’t take titles and names for themselves… yet we so honorably state to anyone that will listen that we are a “christian”, yet when they look at our walk, and our talk, they see everything but Christ. If we will truly look at ourselves we’ll see the reason that many looking for Christ haven’t found him. It’s simple. Those professing to know Him, don’t look or live anything like Christ! Therefore, we are deceiving ourselves and the world. For that reason it must stop!
We must align ourselves with the word of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ! Is is easy? Absolutely not! It requires the crucifixion of the flesh…. Going through “hell” while your flesh is being crucified.. and being resurrected in CHRIST and his teachings. Is it possible… Absolutely YES! The greatest part of it all is that it is available to “whomsoever will” and “required of those that shall enter the Kingdom of God”! Taking up the cross is simply that, doing now what is your will, but what the will of God is, and knowing as Christ did, that doing what the Father directs, and saying only what the Father speaks is critical for the Christian walk!
We encounter people everywhere in every walk of life that say, “if what most “”christians”” have is what God has to offer, I am better off without God”. They are right! Most “”christians”” are sick, broke, miserable and living in so much bondage, that those that don’t know God don’t want any part of Him. They soon realize those professing to be “”christians”” are in a worse condition than most of them, and don’t want their lives more miserable than it is already.
Why is it that most “christians” have lives that are more miserable than an unbeliever? Simple.. God’s word says that it is better to have never known me than to know me and turn from me. What does that mean? Simple.. it is better that you never come to know God than to come to know him and refuse to follow his SON and his teachings. Especially when you’re claiming to believe that Jesus is the perfect Sinless Son of God, and refusing to follow what He taught. You say, that is harsh, and God is not harsh… well if that is the case.. Why was there a flood? Why was there a Son of God sent to redeem men in the first place?
God is not harsh.. God is JUST! He will not tolerate people professing one thing and doing another, that’s the truest form of being a hypocrite that there ever was. It is just those people that Jesus said not to be like, the hypocrites!
Just look at the Pharisees of old, Jesus said.. “they worship me with their lips but their heart is far from me”. What happened to the Pharisees? They hung Jesus on the cross. What is happening with those today that are professing with their mouths that they are “christian” but their heart is far from Jesus and his teachings… they are once again hanging Jesus on the cross… and what will be the results… greater damnation than those that do not even know GOD!
It is time for believers to be like Christ! He said “if ye wilt have life, be perfect, lay down your life and everything in it, give to the poor and come follow me”! Have you done that? Will you do that? Will you be as Christ taught His disciple? “Have faith in God!” Hear Him and only Him? Stop taking the name in vain! Now is the time!!!
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