Among Us – For I Am Not Ashamed

As the last year has drawn to a close most people will probably remember 2020 because of the coronavirus. It was constantly on the news and in everyone’s face from morning to night and was politicized from the very beginning. For our family, the virus is not primarily what we will remember about 2020 as it was wonderful year for us! Most notably our daughter became a child of God. It was a wonderful night and one that she and our family will remember forever. We rejoiced with the angels in Heaven when she obeyed the gospel and I was able to baptize her into Christ. It’s all part of our family goal, something that we have continued to express to our children since they were young. It is in our daily prayers, that we fervently desire to be together in Heaven one day with our God for eternity. We pray about it daily, because it’s not something that will happen by accident. It takes daily focus…and commitment.

The year 2020 also brought us something else, a game called Among Us. This is a game that had been in obscurity for months, maybe even years, but became very popular with many people seemingly overnight, including our children. Although I have yet to play the game, I have heard lots of talk and discussion about it. Our children really enjoy playing the game with their friends. From what I understand, the premise of the game is that the group of players go about performing various assigned tasks within the game. However, before the game begins, one of the players (or multiple players) is anonymously told they are the impostor. The goal of the impostor is to go about killing off the other players, without being discovered. The other players in the game must go about doing their tasks while trying not to be killed by the impostor. Anytime during the game or at the game’s end, a meeting is called and the players vote to determine who the impostor(s) were.

I wonder if it is strictly coincidence that the year 2020’s most popular game is based on identifying impostors. “20/20” is typically associated with perfect vision. I also wonder if this was part of God’s plan, for so many things to be revealed about people among us in 2020.

Priceless Lessons

Learning how to drive and getting one’s license is an exciting time. I still remember when I first got my license and how thrilled I was. F-r-e-e-d-o-m. Our oldest child, our daughter, was the first in our family to get her license. Just a couple of years ago we were out as a family and our daughter was driving. We were on a two-lane road, not very far from our house, when an oncoming car veered into our lane and, as luck would have it, it was while we were crossing a short bridge. My daughter did an admirable job in handling the situation. I didn’t have time to grab the wheel nor could I have done anything different. Although the other car collided with us, other than the screams and being shaken up, we were all fine. God protected us from any harm and we give Him credit for continuing to watch over us. While our daughter handled our van (and the situation) the best anyone could have, it was God who was watching. He was in control that day, as He always is. He was what mattered! The experience that she endured as a new driver was priceless and a real “driving lesson”. It’s something she, and we, will always remember. Always keep eyes on the road and be ready for anything. Be watchful!

The year of the coronavirus has been another one of those priceless lessons for our family. It has given me and my wife the opportunity to teach and remind my children of many things, particularly as they become young adults and will be starting their own individual lives one day, all too soon. We have been able to have many discussions about faithfulness (or lack thereof), fear, and what it means to live our lives for God. We have been able to remind our children that our actions have consequences. Just like with the car accident, we have been able to drive home what it means to truly trust in the Lord.

Faith Over Fear

As I mentioned in the opening paragraph the majority of people will likely remember 2020 as the year of the coronavirus. When news of the virus started to be broadcast in the spring, I called a family meeting. Family meetings are something I decided to start in our family when our children were younger. We are blessed to have a close family and I believe part of that is because we spend time with each other as much as we can. But “official” family meetings are different. The rule is that anyone in the family can call a family meeting at any time. For family meetings we set aside what we are doing and my wife and I sit down with our children. Whoever calls the family meeting gets to speak first and then everyone has an opportunity to speak freely and we have dialog (dialog is a nice thing, as it includes talking with each other in person and not texting, Facetiming, or connecting remotely.) I encourage every family to adopt “family meeting” time.

I called the family meeting due to the fact that the “scare, scare, fear, fear” message of the virus was beginning to spread like wildfire. I felt pretty strongly where this unwarranted fear was originating and it was not from God. We never see from God’s word where He wants His people to “social distance”, become a hermit, or be afraid of anything, except Him (“Fear God and keep His commandments.”) As I spoke to the family, I reminded each of us (myself included) that we must NEVER let fear control us. We were not going to be afraid of a virus or any sickness for that matter. It is not the way that people of God should behave! Our faith was greater than our fear! I expressed to the family that our motto would be “faith over fear”. I suggested we get shirts printed to wear that would consist of a large “FAITH” hovering over a very small “fear”. We would wear these shirts to encourage others. (We MUST be encouragers in life and show others the hope that we have!) Our girls, as industrious as they are, found a better design for the shirts than my suggestion. Wrapping up the meeting I reminded the family that Jesus is our King! We will serve Him and nothing and no one else. God tells (and demonstrates!) that people of faith should not be afraid of things in this life!

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

What Is An Impostor?

Although a common word, it is still useful to define the word’s meaning. The word “impostor” is defined as: “a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others, especially for fraudulent gain”. Depending on which textual version of the Bible you prefer will determine how many times that exact word “impostor” is mentioned in scriptures. The meaning is similar in all versions. I prefer the New King James translation, and the word “impostor” appears in 2 Timothy 3:13. “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” It does not appear that Paul would be reminding Timothy that evil people (and impostors) of the world will grow worse and worse and deceive others about worldly things. The ESV, another popular translation, adds Matthew 27:63 and 2 Corinthians 6:8 in regards to the where “imposter” is found.

A word that has a similar meaning and is found in several places in scripture is the word “hypocrite”. I don’t intend to take the time to discuss hypocrisy here, as that would be a blog article in and of itself. The similarity between the two words is deception. While an impostor may be focused more on deceiving others, and having that motive of deception, the hypocrite deceives themselves (“acting in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings”.) Of course, the hypocrite can also deceive others by their actions, either purposely or not. Jesus Christ condemned hypocrisy and most times it was in reference to “very” religious people, Jewish leaders, in the first century. We MUST be on guard today, lest we become “evil men” or “impostors”, as Paul warned Timothy about.

Over the last several coronavirus months have you heard any of statements like these?

“If you’re afraid to assemble to worship due to getting sick, it’s ok with God to stay home.”

“If you don’t assemble with the saints to worship, make sure you Zoom in or WebEx so you can still worship and be pleasing to God.”

“You can take communion at home or in your cars, you don’t have to be assembled together with the saints. God will make an exception for you.”

“We must social distance. It’s better for us to be apart than to be together. We show love to each other by staying away.”

Before coronavirus, none of these activities would be “approved of God.” Do we have a right to change God’s word changes based on the current conditions, based on the situation at hand? Thankfully people throughout the world have become wiser in this age and are doing everything they can to assemble to worship God only when it is safe to do so! (that was sarcasm, in case it wasn’t obvious. Hebrews 13:8.) Paul said people would “become wise” to “become fools” in God’s eyes (Romans 1:22). Did Paul limit that warning to only those living in the first century? We have seen it throughout time and continue to see the “wise becoming fools.”

God’s people, throughout time, have always assembled together for worship! From the Old Testament to the New. Particularly, in the New Testament (or the New Covenant or Covenant under Christ, however you prefer to describe it) it is clear that Christians assembled together to worship. It began in the first century, with Christians assembling even if they were persecuted in doing so or could potentially be killed. We should all be concerned when assembling together is discouraged or even vilified. As we have minimized our time together as God’s people have we “exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25)?!?

Faithful Examples

God’s word is filled with wonderful accounts of people of faith. Hebrews, a book from the New Testament, is a very rich and enlightening book itself, and chapter 11 is what is sometimes called the “faith chapter”. Verse 6 tells us “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” We can’t be pleasing to God without faith. God says that we not only must believe that He is but that he rewards those who diligently (with conscientious and persistent effort or attention) seek Him. Several people of God are mentioned in the chapter, and the author briefly describes what their faith manifested. Expression of their faith was in their action. In a sense, love is the same way. I can say “I love you” but do you see that? No, you see my “love” for you in my actions toward you. Faith is similar. As a people, we can’t say we have faith when our faith is not supported by actions that demonstrate our faith is manifested in us! (read and understand the book of James).

Many of us have taught our children, from the youngest of ages, of men (and women) of faith like Daniel and his close friends. (If you’re not familiar with this story I encourage you to read the book of Daniel.) Daniel and his friends were part of a group of Jewish exiles that were carried off by Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king. From the very beginning of exile (as young men) they served the Almighty God, refusing the delicacies of the king and pagan worship. Daniel’s friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (probably better known by their Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) endured a tremendous test of their faith. Not to retell the entire account (again, read the book of Daniel) these men stayed true to their God, even when tested! God delivered them from a furnace of fire, a fire that had been heated up to seven time hotter than it usually was. God delivered them that day, and actually walked with them in the fire. What an amazing God! This is MY God!

We learn how Daniel stayed true to God and served Him without wavering and was not swayed by the king nor Daniel’s captors, throughout his entire life. In Daniel’s older age we read how his faith was tested again, when he was thrown into a lion’s den. The king at the time, King Darius, although he cared much for Daniel, was tricked and put Daniel into the den of lions because Daniel would not worship the King. It’s very beautiful to read what Darius and Daniel said (Daniel 6:14-23)

“And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.” So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.

I can’t read that account without tears springing into my eyes. God delivered Daniel and he was left untouched, not even a scratch. Was Daniel afraid of the lions? There’s no record of his fear. Maybe he was fearful of not remaining true to his God!

David is another man of faith, a “man after God’s own heart”, that many of us have learned about since we were young. Most people know the account of David versus Goliath, the “giant” warrior from the Philistine army. It wasn’t David that conquered Goliath that day, it was God. David had total faith in His God and was unwavering. God had previously delivered David, a shepherd, from a lion and a bear, as David cared for his father’s sheep. David recounts this fact and through his faith he knew that God would deliver him from the one that “defied the armies of the Living God.” There are many more patriarchs that I would love to discuss in this writing but I fear this blog post is already going to be long, as my thoughts exit my brain and flow to my fingers.

I’m concerned that we have become much too comfortable in this current age, especially when it comes to worshiping our God. Have we lost the importance of what it is we do? Do we really know God? How many have become flippant in their worship? When assembling to worship (or “going to church” as it’s frequently call) becomes just like assembling at a country club or just a secular gathering, it’s very easy to cast aside it’s importance. How easy is it to put God in a jar and put Him on a shelf and just take down the jar when we want and when we feel safe to do so? How many Christians today would end up eaten, killed, or burned to ashes if tested in similar ways as our patriarchs? Would our faith save us? And do we really have to face a giant to defeat us, to cause our faith to waver, if it only takes something smaller than what can be seen with our eyes?

The new covenant, the covenant of Christ, did away with animal sacrifices which were required under the old covenant. (again, Hebrews is a very rich book to read.) However, we can learn from God’s word what was required of those sacrifices, the type of animals, the occasions, .. One thing God made clear, He never accepted a lame animal, one that was deformed or even spotted. He expected (and deserved!) the best. In a real sense, our worship to God is a sacrifice, it is something that we offer to Him. God accepts it or He doesn’t, and the Bible tells us how to make sure it’s pleasing to Him and warns us of vain worship. I wish I could ask God if the worship that has been offered during the period of the virus is seen by Him as offering a lame or blemished sacrifice.

Deep and Shallow

2020 was also a good year for our family because we had the opportunity to worship with brethren from many different congregations. Since the start of the virus scare, some churches minimized the time that they assembled together for worship and praise. Some also pushed against Christians even being with one another, outside of the worship assembly. Relationships are central to our faith. Primarily we must have a relationship with our God. Christians have relationships with each other, and this too, builds upon our faith. Satan knows this! If he can take away those relationships, he can weaken God’s children. I think these two images that were found on the internet offer some reflection as to who opposes us (and God!).

There are many people throughout the world with depths of biblical knowledge. This is encouraging, because we come to know God by reading and studying His word. God doesn’t give us miraculous knowledge. His revealed word is complete and all that we need to come to know Him. However, it’s disappointing when we see the level of one’s faith is not commensurate with the level of one’s biblical knowledge. In truth, it is very sad. A dear Sister said it better than I could a few months ago as I talked with her. She said “Satan has so many people in his grasps and they don’t even know it. How sad.” Deep knowledge coupled with shallow faith is not what God desires. Satan is the father of lies and has been a deceiver from the beginning of time!

I love science. Areas of science have been my background and what I worked in most of my career. But I have never put my faith in science. I don’t put my faith in what man can do. What about you? Some will be glad to talk with you about the vaccine and their excitement of science. They will share their happiness of how mankind is working to solve the issue with the pandemic. God’s guidance is as true today as to when Solomon wrote it, and it is not just for the young!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Lights Among Us

We chose to attend and worship with others saints (when our church was not assembling together) not because we are special, but because GOD is! He’s the all-powerful, the all-knowing, the Holy One, and our Creator. I told our children we were going to continue worshipping with saints as long as others among us were still assembling to worship God in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) Being their father, the responsibility of being the spiritual leader of the family rests with me. God demands it. “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4). It’s a very serious responsibility, one that I have never taken lightly. (I’ve made plenty of mistakes in providing the proper training, admonition and example to them. Those times are also teaching moments.) I believe the “training and admonition of the Lord” that Paul refers to in his letter to the Ephesians goes beyond the daily prayers and bible readings we have with our children. Jesus tells us “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20). Although Jesus was talking to His apostles, I believe His message applies to all of His disciples, throughout all generations. Being in the midst of Jesus as many times as possible during 2020 is where we needed to be. Fathers, I encourage you to pray with your children daily. Read God’s word together daily. Demonstrate to your children the faith that is in you.

In 2020 we were able to participate is several congregational singings and also heard many messages from God’s word. If you can understand the meaning, we continued feasting on God’s word. We were edified and were able to edify and encourage others. Faith is what we had taught our children since they were young and we were going to continue to have faith and instill it in them. I desire that our children manifest even greater faith than me and my wife. Faith is taught by demonstration, not by words alone.

There was a lesson presented at one of the churches we attended in regards to light and lighthouses. It was very good to again study how light is associated with God and the message delved into many of the scriptures related to light. Information was presented about lighthouses that I had not really considered that much. Some people may think that the purpose of lighthouses is to illuminate the surrounding area for seafarers to see the environment around them. While the lighthouse can assist this (to some degree, based on atmospheric conditions) the main purpose of the lighthouse is to serve as a warning. Even if fog prevents the lighthouse from illuminating the ocean around a ship, the light can be seen from a distance. Its warning is clear. Land is here and ships must take necessary actions to avoid it. Heed the warning or perish. God’s word provides us spiritual warnings. And we must heed them or perish!

There was one unintended (and unexpected) consequence of worshipping with other brethren at different congregations. Some friends were not happy about our decision. Again, this was another teaching moment for our children. We reminded them it is God’s opinion that matters. It is human nature to want to be accepted by others; no one wants to stand out. But we can’t be men pleasers. We must not live our lives only to make sure others are happy with our decisions. God tells us that, as Paul wrote to the Galatians, “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” Being a men pleaser will wear on one’s soul. (And it’s also impossible to please everyone!) Our focus must be on being pleasing to God!

Are you aware of the herd mentality? The herd is happy when each member of the herd is doing the same thing, regardless of whether the herd is eating, sleeping or walking off a cliff. But if one (or a group) of the herd step out and stop going along with the rest, trouble comes. The herd majority will not be happy with the outliers. Again, I expect this is human nature. As Paul stated, I also chose rather to be a bondservant of Christ my Lord, than a men pleaser. May each of us do a better job of being a bondservant of Christ each and every day!

One Man, One Website

In a way, maybe this little website is one man’s lighthouse. I hope it will be useful for not only encouraging and edifying others but also to post God-centered warnings for those that come upon it among the internet sea. ‘For I Am Not Ashamed’ obviously comes from Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” I’m not ashamed of the gospel. I’m not ashamed of God (in any manifestation of deity: Jesus, the Father, of the Holy Spirit.) Nor am I ashamed to spread God’s word or oppose those that try to change it. I encourage all of us to not be ashamed of following God and doing His will.

We just finished a study of some of the minor prophets at the congregation where we attend. It’s not the first study of those prophets that I’ve participated in but those studies are always very interesting. While always speaking God’s message, what the prophets said to the people was sometimes rejected. Often times, you get the impression that the prophet was “standing alone”, although they knew they were doing God’s will. If we are doing God’s will, many times we may feel like we are alone. Please do NOT misunderstand… I am NOT a prophet nor am I miraculously inspired by God. God makes it clear that those days are past. I still have a lot to learn. I am an unprofitable servant. However, we all have His complete and revealed word. It is His word that has and will continue to stand the test of time. We must follow His word today, just like others have followed it since the beginning of time.

A Beautiful Life

One of the ways that we worship God is that we sing praises to Him. That’s what the Christians in the first century did. For a long period of time, many didn’t sing praises of worship and praise. (See discussion above on “scare, scare, fear, fear”.) We have songs about “trusting in the Lord”, about how our “God is so big and powerful”, and numerous songs about faith. Do we mock God by singing these words if our lives have not reflected it over the last year? “Incongruous” is a word that comes to my mind. The word means “incompatible” or “inconsistent”. We must fight against hypocrisy in our lives and in the lives of others. God hates it!

One of the songs we sang at another congregation recently is one of my favorites. As singing has been persecuted in some churches for the last several months, I came to realize that pay more close attention to the words we sing. These are the words to “A Beautiful Life”.

Each day I’ll do a golden deed
By helping those who are in need
My life on earth is but a span
And so I’ll do the best I can

Life’s evening sun is sinking low
A few more days and I must go
To meet the deeds that I have done
Where there will be no setting sun

The only life that will endure
Is one that’s kind and good and pure
And so for God I’ll take my stand
Each day I’ll lend a helping hand

Life’s evening sun is sinking low
A few more days and I must go
To meet the deeds that I have done
Where there will be no setting sun

While going down life’s weary road
I’ll try to lift some traveler’s load
I’ll try to turn the night to day
Make flowers bloom along the way

Life’s evening sun is sinking low
A few more days and I must go
To meet the deeds that I have done
Where there will be no setting sun
No setting sun.

I could spend an entire article just expanding on each stanza of this beautiful song. Maybe that will happen in the future.

The Saddest Truth

The song above speaks of going to the place where there is no setting sun, a place where there is always light. Of course, the author is talking about Heaven. It will be a wonderful place, a place where the sun will no longer be needed. God himself will be our light. As I travel down life’s weary road I yearn for Heaven and long to be with my God even more. Unfortunately, the truth is that most people will not be in Heaven. These are not my words. These are the words of my Lord!

Matthew 7:13 and 14 record Jesus’ words:

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

I won’t attempt to quantify many or few because that would be impossible. Only God knows. He is the Judge.

There are many passages that talk about who will not be saved. Just to mention a couple:

Rev 21:8 “..the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

1 Cor 6:9-10 “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”

I encourage all of us to flee those things that will keep us out of Heaven!

Religious people will also be lost. Continuing in Matthew 7, Jesus says:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

How do we do the will of the Father? We must know what His will is! We know God’s will by studying His word. But we must be DOERS of the Word. As James says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22. We must guard against deceiving ourselves!

What some people might not realize is that the lost, those in eternal punishment, will include Christians, baptized believers. God is not ambiguous about that fact either. Let’s briefly consider the last book in the Bible, the book of Revelation. Much of the book of Revelation is apocalyptic and symbolic in nature and very prophetic. It’s a type of writing that is not found in many other areas of the scripture. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.”

John (rather Jesus, through John’s writing) begins the book by addressing the seven churches which are in Asia, the churches at Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. From my studies, it’s my understanding that these were prominent cities and were located along a trade route.

While it would be interesting to delve into a detailed study of what is written to these churches, and even more so, a study of Revelation itself, I will not attempt to tackle such a large task in this article. My intent is to draw some truths, some conclusions that can be determined from the Jesus’ specific words to the churches.

As I noted above, I prefer using the New King James version of the Bible and this version of the

Bible provides subheadings throughout the scripture. These subheadings are NOT part of the biblical canon. However, I do believe that they accurately portray what Jesus addresses to each church. You’ll read Jesus’ address to the “loveless church”, the “persecuted church”, the “compromising church”, the “corrupt church”, the “dead church”, the “faithful church”, the “lukewarm church”. Where would “your” church be listed? I think it’s safe to say that everyone would claim that their church would be listed as a “faithful church”.

Jesus has commendations for most churches as well as judgements against them. He says some have “left their first love”, taught things opposed to His doctrine, are committing abominations, are dead, are lukewarm (being neither hot or cold). He calls all of the churches, to which He passes judgement, to repent or else His judgement would be upon them. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”

These were churches established in the first century, not many years removed from Jesus walking upon the earth, and yet many had fallen away!!! Too many times I’m afraid that we associate Christians who have “fallen away” or “lost sheep” to only to those who stop ‘going to church’. Forsaking the assembly of Christians is definitely a tell-tale sign of concern. Can we be “church going” people and still be found unacceptable in God’s eyes? I think God tells us that very clearly by what we learn from the churches mentioned in Revelation. The churches in Revelation were still meeting together but Jesus said some needed to repent, to make changes.

These local churches in Revelation were composed of baptized believers! Christians! People who had a relationship with God! And Jesus rebuked them and chastened them and told them to change! What were the consequences for the churches that did not repent, for those that did not take heed to Jesus’ rebuke! Were they still saved? I think the answer to that is obvious. These were people who were baptized and depending on God’s grace (as we all are, amen!), yet Jesus says they should repent of their wrongs! God doesn’t speak to us directly today, apart from His revealed word. What is He is telling us today?

The Beginning

As I said in a previous writing, I don’t know if the coronavirus came from God or from Satan. (read my other writing to see my opinion.) God is all powerful and sovereign! That is known from the beginning of creation. The coronavirus age illustrates (and we know it from God’s word) that Satan is not omniscient. He doesn’t have all knowledge. A friend of mine from another congregation reminded me of this fact as we discussed the situation among us. He said that if Satan would have known how easy a virus could wreak destruction on God’s people, he could have done it long ago.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus, says our faith will be tested. He doesn’t say God waves a flag stating, “test of faith commencing”. Read what he says in 1 Peter 1:6-9.

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” How many people in the world have really had their faith tested? Have been through “various trials”? Has coronavirus been a test of faith, a “various trial”?

The End of This Blog

Wow. This turned out to be a longer blog article than I expected. As I noted in the beginning, 2020 was a “priceless” year for our family. We rejoiced with our daughter becoming a Christian, a Child of God (praise God!). My wife and I also had many opportunities for discussions with our children about faith and righteousness. Even at the ages our children are, they could see how the virus shed light on those among us. I hope we have instilled in our children that we must never forsake our God. We pray that they will always stand firm in their faith, even when they may feel they are alone. I hope many parents also used 2020 to teach their children, to build their faith.

Regardless of whether a friend, church member, elder, or any government official attempts to prevent us from assembling and worshiping God, we must trust in God and in our commitment to Him. The God we serve is a jealous God, and a God of extreme wraith on those that oppose Him. Our God is a God of love and He has given us His son. Jesus went to the cross to die.. for everyone. Christ came to help us overcome the true pandemic that has plagued man since the beginning of time. May we remember that NO ONE shall prevent us from offering Him the worship He so rightly deserves!! “No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand, Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand”!

The End of Your Life

If coronavirus was a trial, a test of your faith, did your faith stand firm? Or did it waver and perish? When you give an account to God for all of your actions (2 Corinthians 5:10), what will He say about how you conducted yourself in 2020? Did you cause others to sin? “Then He said to the disciples, ‘It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.’” (Luke 17:1-2)

If you have children, has your faith demonstrated that you serve a small God? Or did it demonstrate that we serve a mighty God, a God in whom we live and move and have our being? Will Jesus welcome you as a “good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25)? Or did you serve the tempter (Revelation 12:9) No one wants Jesus to tell us “Depart from Me.” The absolute worst thing would be to find out that we are disqualified. (2 Corinthians 13:5-6). May we all continue to examine ourselves and our faith, each and every day!

Forsaken

My God, my God why have we forsaken you?
Why have we listened to those that divide Your people,
To those that have caused us to rob You of worship?

You are our God; You are the one that created us;
You have made us in Your image for Your purpose.
Help us to not be afraid to worship and glorify Your name!

Give us courage to deliver the deceived to the evil one,
That their soul would be delivered and that You will save them.
Help us to all completely trust in You, our GOD.

Give us strength to oppose those who oppose you.
Please make Your light within us burn brighter each day,
And help us to share our light with those whose light is dim or extinguished.

Take away the cameras from our buildings,
Bring your people together again to worship and glorify Your name.
Praise be to you, our GOD! Revive us again!

Give us boldness to stand against the wiles of the evil one,
Give us wisdom to expose the lies of the Deceiver,
Give us strength to carry the fallen among us.
Give us love to touch the souls that need you.
Now, and forever. Amen.

Jan 30, 2021 9:48 pm