Called to Take a Bold Standਨਮੂਨਾ

Standing for Our Future

The thought of Christ’s glorious return should galvanize the faith of believers, but tragically, we are witnessing massive apostasy instead. The church no longer knows what it is supposed to stand for or has simply given up. In the face of legalism and false liberty, we must stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free and refuse to be entangled again with a yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1). But can you say today that you are free? Before you answer, let me explain what freedom means.

Our Christian freedom is synonymous with what God has done and is doing in our lives. He set us free from sin and death, and now, by the power of the Holy Spirit, He is leading and directing us. Likewise, true liberty unfetters us from anything holding us back from fully walking in the direction God intends. It is freedom from the paralyzing fear of people and circumstances.

Christian liberty means that you are a citizen of a heavenly country whose king is God Almighty. I love that! This is not the liberty to sin, act up, be silly or weird, but the liberty to advance the kingdom of God. True freedom is active. It’s not a leisurely pastime. To stand fast in Christ’s liberty is to have your feet firmly fixed, yet with the intent of persevering and advancing. It’s like the stance a batter takes in a baseball game. His feet are firmly planted at home base, but his eyes are on the ball, and he’s ready to swing with all his might and then run!

Perhaps you are not truly free, and there is only the slightest sliver remaining of your relationship with Jesus. God is calling you to repent; that is, to stop doing what you are doing and start doing as Scripture commands, and then strengthen what remains (Revelation 3:2). Endeavor not to trample the doctrines of God or the sacrifice of Christ—His cross, blood, and resurrection—underfoot by the weight of your lifestyle. Do away with any hypocrisy in your life because, as we’ve learned, believing that you can fool God is futile. Have you been playing games with God? Decide to start over. Go back in your heart to that place where you were first illuminated by the Spirit and met Christ, and in that remembrance, determine to respond to His love by persevering in the present.

We must go beyond superficiality, beyond the manufactured veneer that says everything is fine and good all the time. It discourages those going through tough times by making them believe God cannot use them. Not true! Remember, Satan thrives on making people think that way. He is an excellent devil (the best ever) who whispers what a bad Christian you are. He’s the first to remind you. Christian, do everything within your power to stand in God’s Word and determine to go forward with full force. When we look forward and upward to the coming of Christ, the future looks brighter than the noonday sun. And this is the bedrock of our confidence: Jesus is coming soon!