Published: August 08, 2008 03:32 am            

Believers have the power to change their world

PALESTINE — I had the pleasure of borrowing a wonderful movie from my folks the other day. The movie was titled, "Amazing Grace," and it dealt with William Wilberforce and his effort to abolish the slave trade in Great Britain.

Mr. Wilberforce's old preacher was John Newton, the man who penned the famous hymn "Amazing Grace." Before his life as a pastor, Mr. Newton captained a slave ship, but during a violent storm he repented of his sins and dedicated his life to Christ.

Newton once noted, "I am a great sinner, Christ is a greater Savior."

For those who haven't seen the movie, it is inspiring to see Mr. Wilberforce's dogged determination to see the end of the slave trade and his reliance upon God. When he began his mission, he was one man alone, and he changed a nation.

We, too, can have that power.

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" — Romans 8:31-32

Familiar verses, aren't they? Now I am not giving a "name it and claim it" speech. What I am saying is the world cannot prevail against us when we put on the mantle of Christ.

There will be God haters, people who will seek to satisfy their own putrid lusts who will choose to rise up against us and ridicule us before an increasingly skeptical world, but we have the sure testimony of Christ who came and destroyed sin and death for us.

Listen to the words of the great apostle.

"Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." — Romans 8:33-34

I know there are a lot of people disheartened over the state of things these days. There are people bemoaning what is going on in churches as they see the word of God watered down to accommodate the shallow hearts of the masses.

People look at the political world and see it unraveling as a man who tries to wear the name of God like a scarf, yet rails against the sure teachings of the inerrant Word of God, is seeking to lead this country.

We see states like Massachusetts and California abandon all forms of godliness and then offer themselves up as a light to the rest of us.

It's easy to get down. It's easy to get troubled, but these are temporal things. Things of this world. Christ told us, in the days before his crucifixion and resurrection as he taught his disciples on the Mount of Olives about the last days, that the world would be hurtling toward its end.

"But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. But before all these, they shall lay hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able gainsay nor resist." — Luke 21:9-15

Those last words were for Christ's disciples, but I also believe they are for us. While we may not be persecuted now like Christ's disciples were, let us be aware that Christians are being killed every day for the name of Christ. Even in this country, true believers are being marginalized by society and increasingly being forced to the edges.

Christ also told his disciples, in verse 13, that even though the world is railing against us, it provides us with an opportunity to witness for Christ.

We are in those times where we must redouble our efforts to spread Christ's word because night is descending upon us.

With the immovable force of God behind us, hearts can be changed. We have the easy part, all we have to do is plant the seed, Christ will do the rest for us. It's easy work.

Like William Wilberforce, we should be single-minded for a purpose, and that purpose should be to serve God with all of our heart. We serve him by spreading his word to a lost and dying world, even though the world will try and spit us out.

"You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life." — Luke 21:16-19

We gain life by aligning ourselves with Christ. Remember the old saying, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."

Take it to heart. The world can only hurt our body, but if our hearts belong to Christ, then we cannot be harmed.

I will close with the words of Paul.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." — Romans 8:35-39

We serve a God who willingly died so that we may live. Then maybe we should start living like it. Maybe we should put working for God before anything else. We don't have to, but wouldn't it be nice to serve a purpose — to serve the gospel.

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If you need prayer, or would like to comment, Wayne can be reached by e-mail at etagnews@dctexas.net

        

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