Saturday, January 08, 2011
Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is
set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews
12:1-2
When someone internalizes the revelation of the Truth, he will be
willing to share it with others and future generations. We are indebted
to the people who, in the past, fought for the Truth, allowing us to
have access to this glorious revelation of Jesus Christ. These believers
understood the richness and the beauty of the revelation and they were
ready to fight in order to pass down the fruit of the revelation.
How can we bear similar fruit for eternal life?
It depends on the way we choose. First we have to close our ears to the voice of the darkness as it is written in the first psalm:
It depends on the way we choose. First we have to close our ears to the voice of the darkness as it is written in the first psalm:
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of
the scornful. Psalm 1:1
The second thing is to open our ears to the Voice of the Spirit speaking through the Word of God, as it is written:
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:2 The
fruit of communion with the Lord through his Life-giving Word is
stability in this life and eternal fruit that others bear in their life,
as the Scriptures say:
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not
wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:3
“Come”
A lot of people admire Jesus as a unique model to follow for
generations and a lot of people would like to become like Him. Jesus did
not come to be admired but to give
us a perfect model to follow. If we want to be like Him, we need to
take a step of faith, like Peter. When the apostle saw his Lord walking
on the furious sea, he asked to come to Him on the water. Jesus
said: “Come!”
Everyone willing to follow the Lord is supposed to have listened in
some way to this seemingly imperious command: “Come!” a command which
implies an act of faith, referred to sometimes as the “leap of faith.”
As it is clear from the Scriptures, what we are able to see is not
faith, as the biblical faith is defined as : “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” We
have to decide “in spite of,”’ in order to experience the power of
God. But we need to remember that everything must be done according the
Word of God. Peter did not experience the possibility to walk on water
because he decided to leave the boat but because of the Word, the
Command of the Lord.
The Word of God tell us to “expect to suffer hardship” and dishonor
for the sake of His Name. Our Christian confession is not acceptable if
we ignore this statement, if we do not manifest the patience of the
Lord in our sufferings. Anybody ignoring it will be ashamed in that day.
Let us remember that sometimes the leap of faith leads us towards
some impasses. Just as the Word led the sons of Israel leaving Egypt
toward the impasse of the Red sea. These impasses are midway between
promises of God and their fulfillments and they challenge our
faith. Believers are to accept these challenges as a part of their
spiritual course. The Son was challenged at Calvary in the hardest way,
as it is written in the Scriptures:
“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers
and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able
to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a
Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” Hebrew
5:7-8
The cry “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” is enough to express the
sufferings of our Lord at Calvary. Behind this cry of distress, we can
identify the great faith that leads Him to accept the will of the
Father. Yea, He knew that God will “not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” and he was to rise up within 3 days. Beyond the power of death, the Lord perceived the victorious power of the resurrection.
I don’t need to write anything further about the basis of faith. Let
us remember that beyond beautiful or painful feelings, only three things
remain: Faith, Hope and Love. It is important for believers to make
sure which kind of Faith, Hope and Love will remain. Only what we
receive according the Word remains forever. I would encourage you to
live in a way that is worthy to the Holy calling of the Word. Let
believers, who are heirs of the glory, be examples for others in order
to be a witness of the power of Christ for the world and the future. I
beg you to live according the Word of God in order to chase the powers
of darkness that generate doubts in your heart. The overcoming faith
that casts out the doubt comes by hearing the Word of God.
Only a church based on the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ will
remain, for beyond the protection of the Word of God the destroyer
destroys. Let us keep His Holy Testimony.
Your brother in Christ,
Youcef Nadarkhani[end of letter]
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