We Must Take a Stand

     I know this will not be a popular post but I have to say, that we who want to be true Christians must take a stand for our faith. We cannot say there are many roads to heaven. John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life, No one comes to the Father except through me." Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Yes, we must get along with our neighbors but not to a point where we abandon our faith and deny our God.
     Jesus made demands to his followers that will cause divisions within their own families. Matthew 10:37,38 "Whoever loves father or mother more than me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." He is saying we have to take a stand within our own family; by not letting our own family's views and opinions turn us away from following him. We have to stand firm in our belief that our eternity and our family's eternity lies within hands of God, and no one else.
     When we take a stand for God, we make ourselves enemies of the world. James 4:4 "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." So just being a Christian will cause conflict within our own life. Why? 1 John 5:19 "We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one." We carry the light of God within us and the world prefers staying in the dark. John 3:19,20 "And this is the judgement: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. ²⁰For everyone who does wicked things hates the light, lest his works should be exposed." We are seen as a threat to some people because our very presence make them feel guilty about their lifestyle. But do we really want to make people who do evil things comfortable?
     We cannot say everyone is right in the way they believe, so as to just get along. Revelation 3:15,16 "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! ¹⁶So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." If we do not take a solid stand on the word of God, we will be rejected by God on the day of our judgement. Instead, we should be showing our devotion by doing what Jesus Christ told the apostle Paul to do in the book of Acts 26:18 "to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."
     Compromising our faith is not an option for us Christians, to God it looks like we are not committed. He will look upon us like we are lukewarm, someone who stands in the middle between good and evil, someone who does not take sides. 2 Corinthians 6:14,15 "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? ¹⁵What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?" We cannot act like the world and still be accepted by God. We must choose God over the world and say without a doubt that Jesus Christ is the way, and the truth, and the life and that no one comes to the Father except through him. We must believe in God with all of our heart and make a firm stand upon his word.                                                                                    (ESV)

The Light of Hope

     I sometimes wonder where is the human race heading. I hear bad news on television but I can look around me and still find hope. I listen and watch how people act towards one another and I can say there is still kindness in the world. There are still people with compassionate and loving hearts out there. Even if it looks totally dark outside I can still see lights shining through that darkness.
     Where does those lights come from? It is from those who refuse to let hate and violence rule over their lives. From those who live around darkness but do not let it enter into their hearts. They have something that separates them from others and I believe that something is the Holy Spirit of God. They love what is right over what is wrong and live their lives in the light of righteousness. They do not believe in hurting others for personal gain. They rather help than take if they can.
     Sometimes even if it is silly, I walk outside and try to imagine a world filled with good people. Maybe and just maybe to feel a little of what it were to be like if I was in heaven. A place where the spirit of God lives in everyone's heart. I wonder what it would be like to live in that kind of world? However reality brings me back to where I am now but I do see what we could be if we all wanted it to be different. We could all work hand in hand together to bring about a better world. I hold that hope inside of me and I know that I am not the only one.
     Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 5:14,16 "You are the light of the world...." verse 16 "....let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Yes, there is still light in our dark world. It is carried in the hearts of those who follow Jesus Christ. They who love the Lord and live by his word. They will not let the darkness win but carry that light of hope to those who have none. The followers of Jesus Christ will help to make people's lives brighter and by doing this it will bring more of God's light and love into our world.