My continual prayer is Psalm 119:27-30, “Make me understand the way of your precepts and I will meditate on your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.” I desire to know God more and for him to teach me his ways so I may walk in them (Ex. 33:13). God has answered and continues to answer my prayer as he has promised he would (James 1:5). However, the greater my knowledge, the deeper my sorrows grow. I find myself often worn out from fighting the battle—the battle for truth. Every time I turn around it seems someone is teaching a false gospel or they are teaching a distortion of the truth. I am continually haunted by the verse that states, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many,” (Mt. 7:13). This truth isn’t just for some other time and place, but for today. Many people, I personally know, will not enter. Even, more disturbing is Jesus’ statement, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness,’” (Mt. 7:21-23). It’s difficult enough to accept that those I know who do not profess Christ will not be saved in the end. However, accepting that many, who profess Christ, at least with their lips, will also not be saved is crushing. Add to this witnessing many of his disciples turning back and no longer walking with him (Jn. 6:66). Do they not know how wonderful, gentle, kind, holy, and very God he is? And yet I know that Jesus said, “There are some of you who do not believe. This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father,” (Jn. 64: -65). I often find myself weeping like the prophets as I look out and see these things occurring. I am keenly aware that many of my convictions are unpopular, even among my saved friends, but I cannot turn from the truth because it is unpopular and difficult to understand. All of which increases my sense of loneliness and sorrow. I find my hope in Jesus’ words, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” (Jn. 8:31-32). I find hope in the sovereignty of God, knowing that he teaches his children to obey him and walk in his ways. I find hope in the power of the resurrection of Christ Jesus.
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What I write AboutMy posts are all about the Christian walk in some way or another. I do my best to make what I post worth reading, thus there are many more things that I write about but do not post. Some of my posts are my reflections on scripture or a quote, other posts are simply my testimony, and others still are letters of encouragement. I hope that you will be encouraged or challenged in your walk with Christ as a result. God Bless you, my friend.
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