This column...
...is where I discuss my thoughts and personal experiences, from being a believer in Christ. I also share experiences of other Christ followers. Of those Christ followers that are "really rooted and grounded " in the teachings of Jesus and "the word of God." I call these kind of people, "TRUE BELIEVERS".
True believers live what they learn and then their lives, reflect those lessons. So, this brings me to the topic of discussion for today. I ask you this first... (*Warning, this post contains a story of great pain and sadness, with words that describe a horrible image. Be mindful Dear, Reader. Now then, as I said, I ask you this first!...
...Are YOU a Christ follower?
Are you proclaiming to believe in God or are just pretending?
Do you acknowledge, accept and believe The Christ, Jesus...
to be MORE than just a teacher, prophet, Evangelist?
Do you acknowledge, accept and believe....
.... that Jesus is the Son of God and only hope of man kind?
Do you REALLY work to apply the lessons of God,
... to your life.
Take a moment to consider the questions before you answer because...
There will come a day when YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PROVE what you proclaim!
ARE YOU READY?
Could it be that you are just starting your journey in him, seeking and searching?
If that is true, that you are a "babe", a 'newbie' in Christ, then this particular post may not be for you. This post is directed more towards the "SEASONED" or "MATURE" Believer! Someone who has committed their lives to Christ and been striving to live their lives in him, against what the general population of the world thinks!.
Though, many believers in Christ have not and will not be tested in this matter, with their mortality. Many more have and will continue to be. Jesus was! He was persecuted constantly and ultimately he was murdered. So was many of those that followed after him, including most of his chosen of the main 12 disciples, almost all of them! But ALL OF them, in some shape or form , were persecuted for speaking and teaching, "truth."
Christ followers are interesting people!
Especially if they are a 'TRUE BELIEVERS", holding fast to and living out the things of God as instructed through "his Word". God's word being scripture and scrolls. True believers are also guided by the "voice" or "touch of God".
The True Believer, is a remarkable person, learning things like "JOY' is what you really need to make it though this life, above circumstantial "happiness." JOY is one of the things helps to sustain you through both the good and the bad. JOY is why many people can still smile even during the roughest of times! Having faith, displaying faith in God, and his son can prove to be a difficult thing to do in this world! Especially when it is not a welcomed thing amongst many different groups and cultures. Heck, there are family members that will turn their back or seek your destruction when you start proclaiming Christ! Still, there you are, a believer in The Christ, a light in a dark place amongst them.
The world wants to stay in darkness and when light comes in revealing truth of that which was hidden, it is often a time when darkness is diligently trying to stamp out the light. Rather than just deal with its iniquities and change for the better!
Remember, CHRIST WAS PERSECUTED!
So what makes you think that you will escape it? Seriously!
Yes! There are people talking negatively about you! Yes, they are spreading your business, at home, on the job, at school, YES! Even in the CHURCH HOUSE!!! Yes! There are people who seemingly are trying to destroy you through their actions as well as their words. Yes! Satan has a plan for your destruction, just as God has a plan for your victory!
There are people all over the world breaking out of Islam, Buddhism and whatever, that have been persecuted in one way or another. Some have been killed because they converted out of some really controlling religions. All because the converters would not publicly denounce Christ! So, you don't think that you have a price to pay? Are you kidding me?
So, as I ponder that question for myself, I ask you Dear Reader, "TRUE BELIEVER"...
Are you "REALLY", willing...
to PAY THE PRICE for following Christ?
Years ago, I heard this story about a young African Boy who was faced with HIS PRICE TO PAY!
Many people in his village were gathered up and heinously tortured and killed because they had openly accepted Christ and promised to live their lives following him, spreading his word and joy. This went against their native beliefs! One day, the time had come when the converters were no longer being tolerated. The Christian converters were undoubtedly growing in number and lives were changing. The Gospel, the "Good News" of the Lord, was spreading like wildfire through the nearby villages! Their eyes and hearts were being opened to the "truth".
The little boys family was amongst those that were caught. They were believed to have been killed as well, but not before they all were grilled for and threatened for hours! Their captors were trying to make them DENOUNCE THE CHRIST'S EXISTENCE and PUT DOWN THE "Good News" of God as misguided rhetoric.
Even amidst the blood, the horror and pain no one did as that evil commanded. NO ONE DID!
They thought that would soon change though, when they got to the children.
When the persecutors of these Christ followers got to this particular little boy, they thought they had won. Surely, this child is weak!, they must have thought. When the remaining people would hear this child screaming in agony and fear, surely they would then bow and do as they were being ordered. But the captors knew not!
But they tied the boy down, making him look upon the horror surrounding him and said... "Denounce Christ".
"Say you don't love him. Say he's a myth. Say he is not real. He does not exist!"
The little boy with tears in his eyes, dripping with innocence, in his native tongue, said, "no!
Don't make me say that!...
I cannot say that!....
I will not say that!...
His persecutors, with hatred in their hearts, exploding in their eyes and voices, proceeded to cut off the boys body parts. One at a time until he had no arms or legs. All the while, trying to get him to publicly denounce Christ...
HE WOULD NOT! On the contrary...
The little boy, SCREAMING AND CRYING and BLEEDING profusely, just got louder as he had long begun PRAISING GOD! He was calling on the name of JESUS AND he was thanking him! The boy, still refusing to denounce Jesus, while in the presence of his enemies, "BLESSED HIM" instead for being "THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD".
The little boy, found to be all of ten (10) years old, knowing he was most assuredly going to die, NEVER HALTED OR TURNED AWAY FROM GOD! The accounts of this story say it was amazing, simply amazing! That village had never seen such faith! That little boy...that blessed, anointed child of God...He never, ever stopped praising and CONTINUED PRAISING GOD And THE HOLY SON even in the face of death and his captors.
His persecutors were so baffled, frustrated and tired of this display of faith, that they wanted to end it. The endless praise of the Almighty God, "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob", of the Great "I Am", singing out of the mouth of that "weak Child", that they JUST CUT THE BOYS THROAT and ended it quickly!
*An account of this story was told to me by a former Pastor of mine. He told it to me and the entire congregation while discussing the seriousness of being a Christ Follower, one who is also ...A TRUE BELIEVER!
Matt. - 16:24-28
That is the book of Matthew
chapter 16 verses 24, 25, 26, 27, & 28
Then Jesus said to his disciples,"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me, For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Comments: Reader, I found these foot note thoughts to be quite interesting, perhaps you will too! Ch.16: verse 25
From the Life Application Study Bible. N.I.V. (New International Version)
Tyndale House PUblishers, Inc.-Wheaton, Illinois
FOOTNOTES;
The possibility of losing their lives was very real for the disciples as well as for Jesus. Real discipleship implies real commitment-pledging our whole existence to his service. If we try to save our physical life from death, pain, or discomfort, we may risk losing our true eternal life. If we protect ourselves from pain, we begin to die spiritually and emotionally. Our lives turn inward, and we lose our intended purpose. When we give our lives in service to Christ, however, we discover the real purposed of living.
So, as I ponder this question for myself, I leave you it to ponder as well...
At what price, will you follow Christ?
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