Can You Stand Alone God's Gift Each Passover we remember the suffering of Jesus Christ, but sometimes we do not grasp the immense suffering that God the Father experienced. God the Father’s sacrifice was greater than the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. When Jesus was in the grave, God the Father was utterly alone. We read of God’s gift in John 3:16, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.” God gave; the Father was willing to give up His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. As much as Jesus suffered in His passion and death, God the Father suffered more. Let’s ask ourselves the question: who suffered more, Abraham or Isaac when Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac? The answer is that it is worse to lose a child. When we’re young, we might say there is nothing worse than dying; but once we’ve become parents, we know that it is worse to suffer the loss of a child. For Abraham, who was a type of God the Father in this case, it was a horrific thought to sacrifice his son! In his mind, Abraham was willing to go it alone without Isaac. God the Father actually made that sacrifice! We are given this example of Abraham and Isaac for us to see what God the Father went through. God the Father could have lost Jesus Christ forever! If Jesus Christ had failed, if Jesus Christ had sinned even once – He would have died for His own sin. He would not have lived again! He would have been eternally dead, and God the Father would have been forever alone. So, when we read John 3:16, let’s understand to whatever degree we can, the magnitude of the sacrifice that God the Father was willing to make for us. Are you able to stand alone? As the end-time Church of God crosses the final threshold into the Laodicean era, there is no more important question that we can ask of ourselves than, “Am I willing to stand alone?” God the Father and Jesus Christ, each, put everything on the line for our redemption and our salvation. A great price has been paid. We are to be different from the world. Unconverted worldly people serve themselves. Some feather their own nests. Some provide for themselves by whatever means is most expedient to them. Some take advantage of the poor to become rich, prominent and powerful. Some take unjust advantage of their station in life. As for Christians, God says, “It shall not be so among you.” (Luke 22:26) What does it mean to “Stand Alone?” From the time of Adam until the time of Jesus Christ, no one was called to spiritual salvation except those few called to perform special missions. God offered His Holy Spirit (eternal life) only to the prophets and those called for special duty. From the time that Jesus established His Church to this present time, only an extremely small portion of humanity has been called. Even today, those called by God are singularly called for a very special and unique purpose according to His Will. “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a special people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9) We who have been called during this church age have been called to qualify as rulers with Christ in the Kingdom of God. In addition to qualifying, we are chosen according to God’s purpose to be ambassadors of Christ who will individually and faithfully represent God’s Kingdom at this present time (2 Corinthians 5:20, Revelation 17:14). As ambassadors of Christ, we stand alone in exhibiting the holy, righteous character of God. “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.” (Ephesians 1:11) As ambassadors of Jesus Christ, we should be exhibiting the highest standards of Godly conduct. We are living in a time, however, when the principles within God’s Church have been watered down to the point that they are not that much different from the world’s standards. God prophesied that this lackadaisical condition would prevail in His end-time Church. God has His perfect law, authority and government. God never violates His standards and principles. God’s government and church government are not interchangeable. Some claim that their church government has the same authority over member’s lives as Godly authority does. You will hear many ministers say that God’s government is from the top down, and what they mean is “down to them.” Then, as the supposed representative of God’s government on earth, they believe that they possess the authority to do as they please. Then, because of this presumed authority, much of the ministry thinks that it is okay to bend God’s rules. They commonly violate Godly principles for their expediency. This complacency in the leadership has caused some to accept, or at least be comfortable in, lethargic congregations. Everyone is directly under the authority of God – that should go without saying. Understand this: Whenever anyone contravenes God’s perfect law, statutes and judgments, they automatically remove themselves from God’s authority and government. Do not be duped into believing that those who usurp and change God’s Will somehow possess Godly authority. Throughout history men have changed God’s doctrines and laws, and persecuted His saints. They did not have God’s tacit approval. In such situations, every Christian has the requirement to take a stand and uphold God’s way. What is a member without any particular church status or political standing to do? The Church of God is not a democracy where we must go along with the majority, right or wrong. God said, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold [Godly character] tried in the fire.” (Revelation 3:18) Because it is not God’s Will that any should perish, He insists that each and every one of us garner the courage to take a stand for what is right – even if everyone else is turning a blind eye; even if we must stand alone. Anoint thine eyes with eyesalve (Revelation 3:18). God says that is the only way to come out of sin and see clearly. The Bible is filled with examples of those saints who have had to courageously stand alone for God’s Word. What are we to do when Church unity disintegrates into apostasy? What do you do when the conduct of the ministry becomes political and they abuse God’s people? Can you do what is right in God’s eyes: will you stand alone? God says that when you see wrongdoing, and do not take a stand against it, that is the same as condoning the iniquity (Leviticus 5:1). Whenever God brings a sinful matter to anyone’s attention, it is necessary for that individual to make every effort to restore his brother. We are “our brother’s keeper.” |
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