Following Christ.

      For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few that find it.
                                            Matthew 7:14 NASB

     There is a wonderful old Anabaptist hymn, that as I read it, the scriptures seemed to be opened up to me in a fresh way.

He who would follow Christ

 

Who now will follow Christ in life must scorn the world's insult and strife, and bear the cross each day. For this alone leads to the throne; Christ is the only way.

Christ's servants follow Him to death, and give their body, life, and breath on cross and rack and pyre. As gold is tried and purified they stand the test of fire.

Renouncing all they choose the cross, and claiming it, count all as loss, e'en home and child and wife. Forsaking gain, forgetting pain, they enter into life

     We have this idea that all we need to do is to believe in Christ at some point in our lives, and we are good. Just ask Jesus into your heart, and you are saved. Sadly, I fear, there are countless thousands of modern evangelical "Christians" who have no concept of what it means to believe in Christ; to take up our cross and follow Him (Mark 8:34). That however, is the call of Christ; "Follow Me." Repeating a prayer, going forward at an altar, saying we believe in Jesus, are all actions that in and of themselves can give us no assurance of heaven. It starts at the cross, where we confess and repent, and by faith "enter the small gate." However we must follow Christ. Read what these persecuted Christians did. They scorned the world and all of its insults, as they followed Christ. They braved torture and death as they followed Him. They renounced all, and like the Apostle Paul, they counted all as loss for the sake of knowing Christ (Phil 3:8).
     You see, many of us stop at the new birth, believing that is the end of the matter as far as our salvation is concerned. We do not go on to follow Christ as He leads us through the narrow way to life. We are far behind Him as He calls us to renounce this world, as He leads us away from materialism, and as He calls us to humility. We are far behind Him as He call us to love our enemies and to turn the other cheek. We know little of laying up treasure in heaven, and seeking first His kingdom. He calls us to follow Him and become fishers of men, but somehow we do not follow. We do not follow Him as He leads us through suffering and tribulation; but all who wish to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Tim 3:12), and it is through much tribulation that we enter into life (Acts 14:22).
     It is not enough to merely believe in Him. That is nothing more than a mere head knowledge; a mental assent to some historical, biblical facts about Jesus. To really believe in Him is to follow Him, as this hymn says, Christ is the only way.


He who would follow Christ                  
Jorg Wagner, 1527, in the Ausbund, 1564     Bartholomeus Monoetius 1565
Wer Christo jetzt will folgen nach
Tr. David Augsburger, 1962

The Mennonite Hymnal
Copyright 1969 Herald Press, Scottdale, Pa
p344




    
      

The Open Door.

     I know your deeds. Behold I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
                                                             Revelation 3:8 NASB

     The only one that can stop you from walking in the calling of God upon your life is you! When God has called you to something, no one else can close the door upon your opportunity to fulfill that call. It is only through your unfaithfulness; your refusal to obey, that the opportunity can go lost. Do not fear man, what he may say, or do to you. Walk in what God has called you to. He is the one who has opened the door! 

Those Who Fear the Lord.

     Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and esteem His name. "And they will be Mine," says the Lord of hosts, "On the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him." So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.
                                                    Malachi 3:16-18 NASB

     There is very little distinguishing between the righteous and wicked in our nation today. Sadly, what is true about the spiritual condition of our nation, can be said of a great portion of the professing Church as well. There is a large segment of so called believers who have embraced a godless form of "Christianity;" one that has chosen cultural relevance over timeless moral principles of righteousness. 
     There is a huge lack of the fear of the Lord. People fail to take His word seriously, as evidenced by the boldness of many to disregard what it teaches- a disregard for its commands, and its warnings. So called Christians are quick to take a verse or two that speak of Jesus eating with publicans and sinners, to justify wicked behavior within their midst. "Judge not" is the knee jerk reaction to those who attempt to sound a warning, that things are not right in the sight of God.
     We so desperately need a revival today! Those who fear the Lord can take comfort from this passage found in Malachi. The Lord sees them. He sees their tears, hears their groans and sighs, and remembers them. They may feel all alone in this world, but they are His! God has promised to spare them! The day will come when the lines will be clear once again! It will be evident. One will be able to clearly see who is righteous, and who is not; who serves God, and who does not. 
     Today is the day to seek the face of God....