I received an ad recently encouraging me to look at investing in bitcoin. The article spoke of how the world is looking at taking money away from us and they suggested that bitcoin was a safer way to hold on to what you have. It does not matter what system you try to use to hang on to your earthly possessions, the devil is busy encouraging the lost to plunder what you have. Our governments never have enough money. They are always looking for some way to take what we have and wasting it on their foolishness. We should not be careless with what we have, but we also need to understand that a wicked system passes laws that favours their wickedness. They do not care about righteousness and they will do all they can to take away your hard earned money and possessions. Poor and hungry people are much easier to control.
God does not steal from us. He blesses His children with peace and joy that the world does not know and cannot take away. The apostle Paul knew this peace and joy. So did the other apostles. The saved of the first century also knew this. When Peter was imprisoned, the Christians did not look for a way to blend in with society. They held a true prayer meeting. Peter knew about that prayer meeting and he knew where to go after the angel of the Lord released him from prison. If he knew where to go, there would be others who were not friendly to the Gospel who also knew where that prayer meeting was being held. God protected them in a dark time.
In verse 25 we are reminded not to cast away the confidence we have in Christ. Facing persecution does not mean you did something wrong. It can mean that the devil is angry and wants to stop you from living for the Lord. If you submit to God’s Word you can be sure that the devil will not be pleased with you.
In verse 36 we are reminded of the importance of patience. Our time of suffering is for a short time. Eternity is a long time. The flesh does not like persecution. The flesh wants to be pampered. The flesh wants to live in comfort. God tells us that heaven is the place where we will be free from persecution and will be resting in the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s Word is sure. The promises of God are real.
In verse 37 the writer was reminded that the time on this earth is just for a little while. This was written almost 2,000 years ago. Many generations of Christians have come and gone in that time. All those who have gone before are now resting in God. Those of us who are alive now have the privilege of carrying the torch of truth for a short time. Then we too will be resting in heaven. Jesus Christ is coming soon. He will not delay His coming. His timing is perfect. God wants all to be saved. The day will come when He closes the door on this dispensation. The 7 years that follow that time will not be good. The antichrist will be a wicked man. His goal will shock many. Yet many will face his wicked rule because they reject the truth.
In verse 38 we are reminded that the just shall live by faith. Habakkuk was told to write that in chapter 2:4. God directed a couple of writers to repeat that truth in the New Testament. It is still true. We, the just, do not live by sight. We know this world is a wicked place. We can see the evil mounting all around us. We do not lose sight of the prize because we know Who holds the prize. God cannot fail. No man can interfere with His plan.
We dare not draw back. God will not be pleased with those who want to draw back. The New Evangelical crowd wants us to compromise. They are all about compromise. They are gaining numbers all the time. The Emergent church movement is part of that philosophy. The CCM music that is very common in most religious groups is a major tool of this movement. The perversions are very accommodating to this as well.
Be careful not to allow the world to define the Gospel for you. The news has been reporting on a plane crash that took place this past Friday. Three members of a “Gospel Music” group were on board that plane. They died along with four others that were on that plane. I had never heard of the group before but the internet will soon reveal who people are. They had a gospel to be sure, but it was not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a sensual, worldly gospel that was designed to make lost people feel good in their sin. The world loves that kind of music. God’s people reject that and they choose music that glorifies God, not the flesh.
In verse 39 we are further reminded that those who are saved are not of them who draw back unto perdition. The truly saved person cannot lose their salvation. When they sin, God chastens them. His goal is to bring forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Those who are truly saved have faith in God. They believe that God’s way is the only way of salvation. The devil will try to make serving God difficult. The saved person understands this and he or she is not deterred by that.
This is again why the true local church is so important. We need the fellowship of the saints to encourage us in our trials. God knows this and He is still working in true local churches today. Jesus Christ is still the Head of every true local church. He will never leave His child alone. Don’t isolate yourself from the truth. Follow God and obey Him. Let Him bless you. He will give you a joy and peace that will be a blessing and will keep you going in this wicked world.
Pastor Bartel