Thoughts for another day

April  14, 2014.

Today's verse:  Luke 12:4, 5. And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.  (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

In this world we Christians have a commandment from Christ which is to go to all nations and proclaim the Good News and then baptize the people in the Name of the Holy Trinity.  Now many of us Christians are aware of this commandment, but most of us, particularly in non-Christian countries are scared of going out and preaching the Gospel and it’s evident it’s because of our fear at what will happen to us, especially in Islamic and Communist countries where the punishment is instant death.

Jesus knows about this and therefore has this Word for us today, where He is tells us not to be afraid of them that kill the body and can do no more after that.  Rather, He says, be afraid of God, Who has the power to cast us into hell after having killed us.  I’ve always noticed that in everything Jesus says, His only focus is on eternal life in His Kingdom.  So, all His advice is based on going from here into the Kingdom.  And this has a cost.  The cost is to live our lives for the sake of the Kingdom. It means that if faced with the prospect of either to deny Christ and live or accept Him and be killed, the natural option Christ has for us is to accept Him.  And surely Christ knows better because He is far more than us and beyond us in knowing what is and what will be. 

It’s sad that many Christians either don’t accept or realise the fact that the moment we come to Christ, we also declare war on the world and its ways.  Many don’t even speak of absolute faith in Him and wear diluted statements on their chests, conforming to man-made and worthless rules for entry into heaven.  But Heaven is God’s world and in that His rule prevails…period.  Alas, we’ve made so many diluted interpretations of Christ’s sayings and also twisted His sayings for our benefit and comfort and I must say, the day isn’t far my friend when Christ will judge the people who’ve twisted His rules and manipulated them.  Rather than facing the wrath of God, I would be happy taking His advice concerning whom to fear; and I guess so would you!