Thought for Today - November 23, 2022
Where Will We Stand?
By: Robert A. Searles
“And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple- that
disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the
palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then
went out that other disciple which was known unto the high priest, and
spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. Then saith the
damsel that kept the door unto Peter, art not thou also one of this
man's disciples? He saith, I am not. and the servants and officers stood
there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and Peter stood
with them, and warmed himself.." John 18:15-18.
Some of us
Christians are like Peters. We claim to be Christians, and to be saved.
Down deep in our heart we want to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, but when
the chips are down, and the curtain is raised in front of us, we become
cowardly and back off, and fail to raise our colors to let everyone
know where we really stand. Peter loved the Lord and was interested in
the things of the Lord, but he didn't really want to get involved , and
be identified with the Lord at this time because it would have cost him
something. It might have even cost him his life. Instead, he made
himself comfortable around the enemy's fire warming himself.
Let
us examine ourselves. Are we like Peter? When we are brought to task are
we a little bit afraid to raise our flag and show our true colors and
let everyone know exactly where we stand? We may find ourselves in a
group of two or three people, or perhaps even more. One person in the
group may be taking his stand all alone for the Lord Jesus Christ and
witnessing for him. The rest of the crowd may be scoffing and ridiculing
that person, and calling him fanatic. Where will we choose to stand?
Will we stand beside the one who is giving a positive testimony for the
Lord Jesus Christ, or will we choose to stay where it is comfortable
beside the enemy's fire, and pretend to go along with the crowd, even
though down deep in your heart you know it is driving you crazy?
Some of us want to be secret followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we
don't want it to cost us anything. Where will we stand against the
issues of known sin? Will we take a firm positive stand against those
things which we absolutely know are immoral, and sinful, and displeasing
and dishonoring to the Lord, or will we take the road of least
resistance. Will we go a little way down the road of sin with the crowd
just so that we do not lose their friendship and admiration , and
reason that while we are walking with them we can keep our fingers
crossed, as it were, because we don't really want to go their way, but
somehow if we can remain popular with them, we might win them to our
side without it costing you anything?
Jesus said that no man
starts to build a tower until he first sits down to count the cost to
see if he has the wherewithal to finish it. And no man is fit for the
kingdom of heaven who having accepted the Lord and started following
him, looks back on the old crowd and the old ways. Fellow Christian,
have we really counted the cost of being a real true Christian and
follower of Jesus?
I believe that the maid who kept the door of
the palace where Jesus was taken lost all respect for Peter because he
was seeking his own safety. I also believe that when the world sees us
as lukewarm Christians who are afraid to name the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and afraid to call sin by its' rightful name, and afraid to
witness for the Lord, and afraid to take a good firm positive stand for
the right against evil, - lose respect for us as well.
No wonder
artists have painted pictures of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings
with lace dresses on him. No wonder the world has the impression that
Christians are a bunch of effeminate sissies who can't make it in
reality, and have to resort to wishful thinking. No wonder the world is
losing respect for our great country which was founded on principles of
Christianity.
Christian, where will you stand when you hear
someone taking the name of the Lord in vain and being disrespectful to
him? Where do you stand on the murder (abortion) of millions of innocent
babies? Where do you stand on the break up of the traditional family,
and same sex marriages? Where do you stand on the clear teaching of
Romans chapter 1? Where do you stand on the clear teaching of all the
Word of God, the Bible? Will you go along with the world and comfort
yourself by the enemy's fire, or will you stand faithfully by the side
of your Savior? The Lord Jesus Christ himself looses respect for the
cowardly Christian.
"I know thy works, and thou art neither cold
nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then, because thou art
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot I will spew thee out of my mouth."
Revelation 3:15, 16
God is not a mealy mouth preacher. Can you
imagine God vomiting out Christians? How would you like to be a food
particle in God's mouth, so distasteful to him that he has to vomit .
For this to be true, all you have to do is to be like Peter was, and
seek the comfort and safety of the enemy's fire before he eventually
came to his senses and repented with weeping, and because of his
testimony that Jesus was the Christ sent from God, Jesus called his
testimony the rock on which his church was built.
If any of us
have been fearful of standing for the Lord, Let us repent with weeping,
and turn again to our first love and all for which he stands..
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Psalm 26:7
