One of the most influential figures in the New Testament was Apostle Paul. Talk about a man who suffered so much for the sake of Christ and yet was not ashamed of it. As a matter of fact, he counted everything he gave up for the Lord as worthless. He didn’t care about it. His life meant nothing to him except to know Christ and to live for Him. He is one of those many disciples that suffered so much because of their love for Christ. He was so zealous for the Lord that he fought for Him like He is the only thing worth fighting for. And so He is. When Paul came to know Christ, he realized that He is all that truly matters. He tells the church in Philippi,
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ…” {Philippians 3:8}
When you fall in love with the Lord and you see the end from the beginning of your life, and you see that this world we live in is very temporary and the world that is coming is very eternal, you start to catch a glimpse of what truly matters. Like Apostle Paul, you start to feel the same way he felt when he penned,
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” {Philippians 1:21}
Nothing in this world really matters but God. There is nothing like Him in the world. To live for Christ and to know Him is the only thing that’s worth knowing and living for. Everything else is going to pass away. Everything that we see and hear and feel in this life is going to be forgotten. It is just a matter of time. Besides, even before the end of the world and even before the Lord comes, no one can guarantee their existence in this life. No one even knows the day of their death. Most assuredly no one lives forever on this earth. So to set our hearts on this world is very foolish. To live for this world and give everything we have for this life, and forget the world that is to come is very short sighted indeed.
People in our society today want to deny Christ and His existence, and the importance of Him. They want to diminish His importance rather than embrace Him. They want to belittle and downgrade Him and make us feel that He is something to be ashamed of. But what is there to be ashamed of when Christ is the epitome of goodness and love? Why should we be ashamed of Him when He did nothing that we should be ashamed of? When Christ came to earth He did nothing but good. Why don’t people everywhere embrace Him for the goodness He’s done? He healed the sick, raised the dead, and gave hope to everyone who called upon Him. He even hung out with the publicans and sinners and gave His life for them. Anyone who ever decides to truly follow Christ and His teachings will only end up doing good. Why then do we get persecuted and hear unkind things said about Him? It doesn’t make any sense, except for the obvious reason – the principality of this world is very alive and real. It is full of evil and wickedness. It wants to exalt sin and the lust of Satan and his wicked desires.
This we know. This we understand – that the world is run by Satan and his dominion. Therefore there is nothing we should be ashamed of. Christ gave His life for us and gave us hope. He gave us the forgiveness of sins, and has given us peace that the world will never know. When this life is over – and it will be over soon enough, Satan and his dominion are going to vanish away into an everlasting punishment where he cannot do anymore harm. But we who stayed with Jesus and who trusted in Him until the end will reign with Him forever and ever.
So preach on. Do not be afraid. Say what you feel in your heart about who Christ is and was and will be. He is the same yesterday, today and will be forever. There is nothing to be ashamed of. There is nothing in this life worth gaining to lose Christ in the end. Remember, nothing in this life is going to last forever, not even yourself. Only Christ lasts. He is therefore worth everything we can ever give up in this life. Not only that, because He is faithful in His love for us and will never ever fail us, He will be there to comfort us in time of our sorrow and in time of our afflictions. We are not alone. He is here always for us. So, let them mock on and say what they want to say about the Lord, but keep on preaching. Keep saying and keep believing what you know and believe in your heart to be true about the love of God. Keep loving Him and keep believing in Him. Because He will never fail you and He will never leave you. He is faithful in His love for us until the end. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Keep preaching and keep sharing the love of Christ because He is faithful.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. {Galatians 2:20}
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. {Romans 1:16}
These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. {John 16:33}
And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. {Luke 9:23}
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. {Matthew 16:25}
Prayer
Oh Father You are faithful! You are faithful and true until the end, there is no one like You. I love You so much Jesus. I love You so much!
I pray Father that You will help me to love You until the end. I pray that You will help me to deny myself, pick up my cross and daily follow You. Let me not be ashamed of You in this wicked and perverse generation.
Father there are those who hate You and who belittle Your existence, but I know what You have done for me. I know how You have set me free from the wicked and perverse darkness of this world. If it wasn’t for Your grace and mercy upon my soul, I would still be suffering the torment of Satan. I pray Father that You would please help me to love You and preach You and sing about You until the end. Help me to trust in You always, I pray Father, in Your most wonderful and lovely name, Jesus! Thank You, Father. Amen.
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