Stand up and be counted

One of the most convincing evidences of the resurrection of Jesus was the action of His followers shortly before and after His death. Shortly after His arrest, Peter denied even knowing Jesus. Immediately after Christ was crucified and put in His tomb, all of His remaining disciples went into hiding, scared, and full of doubt. Upon seeing Him after His resurrection, they boldly went out into the world preaching the gospel knowing that it would lead to their own gruesome deaths. Some were crucified themselves, one upside down, one was be-headed, and they were put in prison, and in spite of the danger preached the gospel with reckless abandon.

What turned these wimps into courageous and fearless men of God? Jesus Christ and the entry and filling of the Holy Spirit’s presence into their bodies after Jesus returned to heaven! I have heard people tell me that if they could see a sign today. If God would perform a miracle, talk directly down from heaven, etc., they would believe. I do not think so. These disciples had seen Jesus raise the dead, walk on water, make the blind see, heal the sick, order a storm to subside, and feed over 5000 people with one basket of food. Yet at the first sign of trouble they deserted Him and even denied knowing Him. God led the Jews out of Egypt with miracle after miracle and even led them with a pillar of fire, yet they rejected Him.

Today is no different than times past. A day is like a thousand years to the Lord. He is the same today, as yesterday, or a million years into the future. We are the same. Some of us will accept God’s gift of reconcilement through the blood of Jesus Christ, and some will not. We have a free will. Either you will accept what Christ did for you upon faith or you will not.

Those of us who do accept it should stand up and have the courage of our convictions. Some people worry about what other people will think if they dare to admit being a Christian. How about you? Are you an ambassador for Christ, or a secret admirer? Are you afraid that you will look like a religious nut? When we die, the only thing that will matter is what God thinks. Stand up for your convictions and stand up for God. What is in it for us if we stand up for God and if we do not?

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Luke 12: 8
“Also I tell you, whoever confesses
Me before men, him the Son
of Man also will confess before
the angels of God.
But he who denies Me before
men will be denied before the angels
of God.