Have you gotten to that point in
your Christian journey where the people you perceive as your role models of faith and the people you look up to for counsels and advice live in such a way that
you can’t understand?
These people – your fellow Christians
– make mistakes, say things you wouldn't believe they could say and above all,
you find them in the strangest of places you feel a person who identifies with
Christ shouldn't be found. Then you feel you are done being a Christian. You
say, “What’s the point?”, if those who have been in Christ for donkey years
can’t inspire confidence in you to keep believing and can’t encourage you to
grow in faith with the lives they live.
These people may be the friend(s)
who led you to the Lord, the “spirit-filled” chorister with such delightful
voice like an angel you admire every Sunday, the head usher who is always
neatly dressed, the “never wrong” and “articulate” youth leader and sometimes,
it may even be your pastor (your father in the Lord as some call them). The
truth is, they are humans and we err.
I know at this point you are
saying there is no excuse for a Christian to err. He has the Holy Spirit to
help and the Bible as guide, and that “if any man is in Christ, he is a new
creature…” and such a person just cannot and should not yield to temptations
and sin. Yes, you are right but remember that even the Lord Jesus was tempted
more than once. The good news that Jesus overcame them all and was sinless is
the hope of the believer – the born again Christian.
No genuine Christian having
experienced salvation through the grace of God in Christ would intentionally
want to displease the Lord by going back to an old life of sin and depravity. The
flesh is weak and it will always be our ‘weak spot’ as long as we remain in
this earthly vessel. And the very moment we lose sight of who holds and owns
our lives, we slip, lose focus and yield to temptation and sin that get the
better of us.
The Book of Matthew chapter four
verse one says, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be
“tempted” of the devil” (Matthew 4:1). Mark 1:13 and Luke 4:2 hold similar
account of Christ’ ordeal in the wilderness. In other parts of the Bible such
as Luke 10, John 8, but to mention a few, we see where Jesus was tempted by the
Scribes and Pharisees.
And “the disciple is not above
his master, nor the servant above his lord” (Matthew 10:24). Just as Jesus was
tempted, so does every Christian go through temptations daily. As sad as it is
to see a soldier lose a battle, so is it to see a believer yield to temptation.
If this is what you see in the lives of other Christians and want to give up on
being a Christian, don’t be discouraged nor feel despaired just yet. “Though
the believer falls seven times, he shall rise up again in the name of Jesus
(Proverbs 24:16).”
No one is exempted from being
tempted. Not even your pastor, head usher, chorister, youth leader and your Bible
study leader. What makes the difference and grants us victory is the measure of
trust, faith and confidence we have in whom we serve – Jesus Christ. When
tempted and in travails, where does your strength lie? In your ability, wisdom and
knowledge? Or in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Master, Deliverer, Saviour and
Friend?
“…Looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith…” the book of Hebrews chapter twelve verse two
exhorts. And not looking up to your pastor, the “spirit-filled” chorister you
admire every Sunday, the head usher, the “never wrong” youth president or
anybody else.
As Christians, Christ is our role
model and the only One to emulate. Who would imagine that having dined, known
and been with Jesus for several years, Apostle Peter could deny his Lord and
Judas Iscariot could betray his Master when it mattered to declare his stand?
But it happened and as was the case of Apostle Peter, he sought forgiveness
with tears and received the mercy of the Lord.
Everyone errs, even the believer
make mistakes. But what differentiates us as Christians from others is the grace
of God and Jesus Christ in us – our hope of glory. The Lord wants us to be
spotless, perfect and without blemish when He comes again but we are not completely
there yet (Matthew 5:48; Ephesians 5:27).
As reasons abound to feel discouraged as Christian, so do reasons also abound to not join the “pity party” but be strong and encouraged in the Lord at all times. When you notice brethren who have wandered off the path of grace, pray for them; neither condemn nor judge.
The days are evil and we are at
the point where the devil has unfettered influence over the affairs of this present
world. He (the Devil) seeks to mount pressure on the believer to renege his or
her faith. But now more than ever must we be strong and hold on to the Lord,
our strength and very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1) and be
ready to fight the good fight of faith till the very end (1 Timothy 6:12).
Don’t stop being a Christian just
because your circumstance is out of control and the pains are unbearable. Don’t
stop being a Christian because you have become an object of ridicule in the
sight of your friends and relatives. Don’t stop being a Christian just because
you see no light at the tunnel yet. God is still with you and He never will let
you take the fall. No, He won’t; not now and not ever. He said it in His Word
and I believe it as you should too.
He will preserve you from trouble
and compass you about with songs of deliverance (Psalm 32:7).
God alone can give us help from
trouble and pain: for vain is the help of man (Psalm 60:11-12). So my dearly
beloved fellow Christians, I beseech you to stand fast in the Lord and walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and
meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love… (Ephesians 4:1-6).
It is my prayer and desire that
we are all filled with the knowledge of His (Jesus Christ) will in all wisdom
and spiritual understanding; that we might walk worthy of the Lord unto all
pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of
God and strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all
patience and long suffering with joyfulness (Colossians 1:9-11). Amen.
*** Written by Jacobs Adewale
(Admin) ***
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