As Disciples of Christ, we must daily practice a never faltering love for God’s Word. His Word must be cherished above all earthly knowledge and wisdom. Jesus declared, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Having been set apart from evil by obedience to the Truth, the redeemed must be prepared to ward off the forces of evil; for circumstances will come, which will try even the hearts of the well-grounded. In the midst of such trials, Saints must never depart from His divine instruction. When evil challenges buffet you, can God count on you to stand up for Jesus?
Like the force of an earthquake, trouble will test our commitment to Christ. In the midst of such turbulence, only the wholly committed to the Truth of God’s word will prevail. Jesus declared, “If you love me keep my commandments” (John 14:15). True enough, holding up the banner of Christ might well cost us dearly. Perhaps, even costing the loss of relationships among friends and family. However, this represents a small sacrifice compared with the fact that many followers of the Master were jailed, beaten, and often murdered.
Jesus instructed John to write to the church at Pergamum: “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you held fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells” (Revelation 2:13). This faithful Saint was murdered because he stood up for the Truth. He was willing to stand up for Jesus, even though it cost him dearly. Can God count on Disciples of Christ today to replicate such faith in their lives?
Every day we over come evil, represents a victory. Each and every victory over Satan creates a thickening of our Christian armor. Failure to stand up and fight off the darts of the wicked one causes a thinning of that armor. Overtime, failure to gain daily victories for Christ might soon result in apostasy.
The apostle Paul, teaching brethren in the way of faithfulness, penned “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). This world, with its notions and things, offers no hope or advantage to those who have been washed in the blood of Christ. Those who seek to walk in Him must change their minds to serve only the living God; this requires removing all evil thinking patterns from our minds. Unless we replace evil with God’s Word, evil can once again occupy the mind.
Do you delight in walking in the light (1 John 1:7)? Are you committed to remaining faithful to God no matter what may come?