Do you notice that everywhere you go, and basically everything you do affords some kind of condemnation about you as a person or especially you as a Christian person? It is happening all over the world. Never in the history of mankind has there been more words spoken on television or publicly concerning Christians, Christianity, Jesus Christ, and other Godly matters. Even people who have little knowledge about Christ are making references to Biblical matters. Seems they pull from "old" resources (ie: Sunday School classes, Catholic Schools, etc.). Even those today who do not express any loyalty to the Son of God are referencing Him and His Church.
This, to me, does not seem to be extraordinary in nature because I believe that as we draw closer to the return of Christ, there will naturally be more people interested in this issue whether they are followers or not. Most Americans of our generation have had some type of church or Biblical upbringing and today it is "seeping through the cracks" as the world is being reported on. Suddenly the news media seems to be infatuated with the topics of heaven and hell, God and the Devil, Good verses evil. The world is drawing closer to the "God thing" whether it is spiritual or secular in nature.
I was reading today in Romans and chapter 8:1,2 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death" and verse 9 says, "...you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him."
How well do we recognize the importance of these statements that Paul makes to the Romans? Well it is important to realize that even though the media "talking heads" are bringing up these issues, it doesn't assure us that they are of the "Spirit of God" but rather what I refer to as those who are "reading someone else's mail!"
Paul assures us here in these verses that for those of us who put of Hope in Jesus Christ are not "condemned" by God any longer. He says that it is the "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus that has set us free! There is no "fooling" God concerning His Spirit. Third John verse 4 says "I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." This is not a reference to those who are "talking of" the truth of God but rather to those who are "Walking in the truth of God." There is a big difference.
Today if you question your lifestyle as something other than that which is "walking in the truth of God" then that should give you pause to rethink your relationship with Christ Jesus. Are you a "fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ," or do you just simply walk in the shadows and when you find yourself in need, find your way to Christ for a solution? Jesus says in John 1:27-30 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
I suppose that it could be a good time for "self-examination" in these desperate days that we live in. Are you a "talking head?" Do you, by your very nature, talk about the things of God, or are you truly "walking in the Spirit of truth?" Only you can determine this fact. Someday, and I believe very soon now, God will be opening wide, the doors of heaven and we shall see our Lord Jesus Christ as He returns triumphantly for His church, "the bride of Christ" for all the world to witness.
Don't get caught "talking the talk" when you should be "walking the walk" with Christ! Can you truly say that you give Him all the time He deserves in your life? I cannot!
Dave
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