The time has come
Posted by Mark Labuschagne on Tuesday, April 7, 2015
As we remember the death of our Savior, His blood that was shed on Calvary, the words He spoke when He declared, "It is finished" and His resurrection this morning, it still makes me wonder why thousands of born-again believers around the world still struggle with all sorts of addictions and why sin is still so evident in the hearts of God's precious people?
I am talking about all sorts of sexual sin and immorality. I am talking about adultery, fornication and pornagraphy. I am talking about addiction and slavery to drugs and alcohol. I am talking about abuse, anger, hurt, all types of suffering, divorce and broken families. Men and women who are lovers of themselves and lovers of money, just to mention a few. These unrighteous acts are all contrary to the Truth yet, no one really seems to want to talk openly about it.
The world laughs and mocks the church, and with respect who can blame them, for in many instances our approach to the life we now ought to live seems "hypocritical" to the undiscerning eye. We seem to have a form of godliness, yet we deny the true power that lives in us. We compromise and look and live life the way the world does and are deceived to believe that because of God's grace, we can do so without consequence. Thank God there is a remnant, a pure and holy people. These are those in part who willingly lay down their lives so that Christ may be glorified in them. These are those who are living sacrifices of praise, a testimony to His holiness, a people who confidently reflect the complete and finished work of the Cross. These are a people who bring glory to their God here on earth as it is in heaven, however, and I say this with sadness, they are NOT in the majority.
I ask you, where is the holiness of the surrendered life Peter was talking about when in 1 Peter 1:13-21 he said, "Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'. Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear (Worship). For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, 'All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.' And this is the word that was preached to you.
If anything, we need to see the power of the Spirit of God demonstrated and the grace of God accomplish its intended purpose in the hearts and lives of those who have confessed and believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
We need to see the evidence of redemption, righteousness and reconciliation (FRUIT) in the Body of Christ and to see holiness take its rightful the place in the Church. We can no longer skip over these things and live as if this statement is in fact not an issue. I know many will take issue with the fact that I am speaking like this, but I have this burden on my heart and I am saying, I want to see God's people walking in the freedom of the Cross. I want to see true deliverance and not just talk, I want to see the purity of the Gospel, the Good News manifest in the lives of those who worship our heavenly Father in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH and this will never happen, if we do not surrender to the true and intended purpose of the day (Easter) we so religiously celebrate today.
There is much we can say about this matter and of course, there will be varied opinions, of which I respect, opinions that might differ or agree, nevertheless, if we are honest with ourselves, and sincere about the Christ-life, then we have to be willing to surrender our hearts unconditionally to His and we do this by "Obeying the Truth" as part of our preparation for the eternal day, glorious return of the Anointed One, Jesus Christ and thereby submit to the Word of God in its entirety.
The time has come for us to stop arguing about opinion while thousands around us are suffering. It is time for the Church to take its rightful place and begin to walk in the love and purpose of the Cross.
