Why do we stand side by side? Is it for who we think is the best choice for president? No. who we think will bring this country closer to a theocracy? No. We stand side by side for the sake of the Gospel! Our unity in the Gospel will result in having no fear from those who would oppose the Gospel. We are not called to force our beliefs upon an unbelieving world. We are not called to influence our culture outside of the Gospel. We are not called to conquer cultural mountains. Remember, we cannot save anyone! Only the Gospel has that power! Forget the empty promises of lying politicians. The only thing that matters is the Gospel. God continues to speak to us:
This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
Stop and seriously consider what this means. Our unity and refusal to take sides in carnal matters is a sign to those who are lost! A sign of the very stark divide between matters of eternity. That there are two choices; destruction and salvation. Instead they see believers sniping at each other over the same matters they snipe at each other over. This does not make us stand out and takes the focus off of eternity and places it back on this life. It does nothing to further the kingdom nor the Gospel. Every time we post or tweet about the righteousness of Trump is another opportunity to post or tweet about the Gospel lost forever. God concludes today's lesson from our key verses:
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
We are in a cosmic struggle beloved. We are in a conflict playing out through eternity. It is not our conflict but His. He had the conflict when He ministered here on earth. He brought the Gospel and while some came to follow Him many did not. Many refused to listen or believe. Many conspired against Him. Many insisted upon His death to stay in their sin. As this verse clearly states this same conflict He still has. As His ambassadors we serve in this struggle with Him. Representing Him. We are His witnesses. As such, that witness is a precious and fragile thing. Our true participation in this struggle will lead to suffering, as these verses indicate. Persecution far beyond what we think persecution is. We are too worried about losing our tax exempt status than real persecution. We are engaged in this conflict beloved on behalf of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Only His battle matters. Only His cause. The only thing that has the power of God unto the salvation of man is the Gospel. Lay down your carnal dreams of any man being your savior. Pick up your witness from where you laid it down for your politics. Stop dividing Christ. Time is running out beloved.
So we come to Thanksgiving 2016. I am thankful for the many blessings God has provided in my life. My family, my true friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, the cross, Calvary, and His living Word. Sharper than any two edged sword. That we can always turn to His Word for direction and perhaps more importantly, correction. Let he who has ears hear what God has already said in His eternal Word. The wolrd needs us to be the church again. In Jesus name.
　
　
　
Reverend Anthony Wade - November 21, 2016
　
