Following God off a cliff . . . Part III

I read a quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, he said, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." Dear ones, that is the unvarnished truth. I wish that so many were not "sold" on coming to Christ, but it happens over and over again. Too many, offer Christ as a cure-all for whatever ails you. I don't for a minute try to hide the fact that Christ will change your life, but so many are trained to hide how he will change it. Loved ones, most of the world's Christians are paying a higher personal cost for their faith than we here in America have ever known. They, in some countries are persecuted, and in others, they pay for their faith with their lives, and they do so willingly. That is what separates Christianity from every other form of religion, people willing give their lives rather than say that they don't believe in Christ. Lions hearts in lambs bodies, that's what makes us so incredibly different.

Loved one, listen to me, God is working in your life, and it is not going to be easy. Dear souls, we are in the relentless pursuit of perfection, that means we can't check out. J.B. Phillips puts it this way:

When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed...

Has anything in your whole experience ever taught you that growing up is easy? So, why in the world do we have preachers, of all people, trying to endure the worst of it, and at the same time, try to present to others how easy it is. Man of God, let your people deal with some of life's heartaches, so that they can grow up. Quit hiding the fact that trouble comes to everyone, especially to those who believe. Let them come to terms with the fact that when you stand in the pulpit, nothing you say can be categorized as "Easy for him to say."

Listen, loved ones, we are all in this together. God loves you too much, to let you remain in your comfortable existence, and spend the rest of your life minimally contributing to His work. Dear ones, we all get knocked down, but what I want you to get, is that you have to be one of the ones who will not stay down. Let me give you a word picture: when you get knocked down, and you get up bearing the weight of your trial, you find grace with God. You are admired by God! When Steven preached the sermon that ended his life, the very last thing that he saw, was Christ, not seated at the right hand of the Father, but so filled with admiration, that He rose to His feet, to welcome Him to glory! Loved ones, that is the way that you want to go. If you've imbibed the notion that too many peddle, that Christ offers a life of ease; then it's time you get your proper introduction to Christianity. Bless you all.