by Fenter Northern
It’s not new, people have been at it for centuries, but interest in Bible truth ebbs and flows. Paul referred to such oscillation of human interest in the gospel as being “in season and out of season.”
While there is sufficient gloominess around us due to the media mania for brainwashing its audience with bias opinions 24/7, Christians still believe that this remains true: “this is the day (era) the Lord has made,” and we should “be glad and rejoice in it.” By keeping the faith we know this is as true on days when the world’s sinful extravagances cause the future perspective to be dark and intimidating as it is on days of sunshine and happiness.
We must, however, dig deep into our reservoir of faith when we are bombarded with the fruits of unrighteousness that bring stressful days; however if we are anything like being a student of God’s word, which all Christians should be, we know there are facts hard as nails that are in opposition to the grim realities that inundate us. Sufficient time must be taken to consider these facts that anchor us to the Almighty’s promise of an eternal inheritance for His children. When we can see that inheritance waiting us as actual truth just beyond the temporal horizon, it writes on our heart the opposite side of darkness that regulates our fears and apprehensions. Still we need lots of prayer!
I certainly understand there is a condition attached to seeing a ray of light in the darkness on dismal days — i.e. we must have sufficient knowledge of God’s holy word to grasp it. That is why He tells us to “study to show ourselves approved unto God,” in order to be workmen who do not need to be ashamed. If Christianity is not personally studied by those who profess it, who become satisfied being milk toast disciples blissfully happy in the kindergarten of discipleship, such have no earthly conception of the huge treasures that lie hidden in the inspired texts to lazy disciples. The wonder and excitement of being a child of God are rewards ready to be gleaned from them by those really serious about emulating the spirit of holiness, the character of their Father. It also helps to understand even when evil is at its worst, God knows all about it, and to the irony of the wicked, uses their own pride and ugliness in mysterious ways to glorify His righteousness and purpose. History has revealed this repeatedly, the most phenomenal being the killing of Jesus which saves sinners.
When the treasure house of Christ is discovered, one understands the true glory of salvation. He cannot hold his tongue. At the word demons have been made to rush into the water of destruction, and the gloom of the grave fades. What must not happen, which sometimes does, is that Christian conviction can be so dampened by the sin-filled environment it gradually creeps within the crevices of the weak heart, robbing it of the comfort of a rock hard determination that shouts, “No!” to the world’s beckoning temptations, “No, get out of my heart.” When personal faith is sufficiently strong to usher in that kind of conviction, then the magnificence of personal salvation will hopefully cause it to be noticed by our associates just as it was by those in the early church of whom it was said: “they took knowledge of the disciples and found that they had been with Jesus.” When the church shows that kind of defiance to the world, it is reminiscent of the three Hebrew children who told the king: “Know this, our God will deliver us, but if not, we will not bow to your idols.”
Our faith is not built on myths and hidden mysteries, but facts as hard as granite. The energy behind successful evangelism is when we cannot hold our peace because the church’s thrust toward life is stronger than the world’s drift toward death.