I John

A Foundation of Truth

August 21, 2023 by Tim Sherfy

These days may not be the most evil the world has ever seen, but they certainly must rank as some of the most wicked in history. As the prophet Isaiah wrote centuries ago, the world is calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). The truth is under assault, and without a foundation of truth, we have no anchor. We will drift aimlessly and hopelessly into eternity.

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For years, the church would stand in the gap of evil and false teaching, but no longer. In some revolting instances, the church has become complicit in many of the lies being told by our culture. Just as disturbing is the apathy of professing Christians to what is happening around them.

What are You Afraid of?

August 10, 2023 by Tim Sherfy

What are you afraid of? There are a multitude of things in this world that make us fearful. Natural disasters, violence, death, tragedy, injustice, job loss, lack of food or shelter… the number of things we could list is almost endless. The more pervasive sin becomes, the scarier and riskier this world appears.

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No one is safe from the depravity of man, but Christians have historically been singled out for some of the worst abuses this world dishes out. While many minority groups have experienced long periods of horrific mistreatment, it is Christians who have most consistently been persecuted for the past two thousand years. This is because Satan’s war is against anyone who calls on the name of Jesus.

The Hard Road

August 7, 2023 by Tim Sherfy

J. C. Ryle once said, “The true Christian is called to be a soldier and must behave as such; he is not meant to live a life of religious ease, indolence, and security. He must never imagine for a moment that he can sleep and doze along the way to heaven, like one traveling in an easy carriage.” That’s the exact opposite of how many Christians live today. Bad theology and teaching have created a generation of believers who lack an understanding of what it means to follow Christ.

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Never in history have those most devoted to Jesus lived a life of ease. Why would we think anything has changed? As long as God allows Satan to roam the earth, the devil will make sure followers of Jesus will be harassed, hated, and persecuted (John 15:18-20; John 16:33). The narrow path is the hard road (Matthew 7:13-14).

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Our Brothers and Sisters

July 31, 2023 by Tim Sherfy

“Christians in other nations are not a topic about which we can be uninterested or a cause that we can occasionally champion. They are our family, our brothers and sisters for eternity,” writes Voice of the Martyrs president Cole Richards. Violence against Christians is ramping up in many nations. As the days grow shorter and evil increases, the people of God are increasingly finding themselves the target of man’s hostility.

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Because we may still have a modicum of religious freedom where we live is no excuse to forget our brothers and sisters who are suffering. We should be on our knees every day praying for their strength, perseverance, and deliverance. We must also realize that the same persecutions are coming for us, and we must be ready to stand with the same resolve as our brothers and sisters.

Is It What You Expected?

July 17, 2023 by Tim Sherfy

How long have you been a Christian? No matter your answer, I have a question for you: “Is it what you expected?” When you came to acknowledge Christ as your Lord and Savior, what did you imagine would be the result? Increasingly, I see Christians encouraging someone down on their luck by pulling random verses out of context and assuring those people that God has big plans for them if they will only trust in Jesus.

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In one sense, those well-wishers are correct. God has big plans for everyone who calls on His name. He plans to give them eternal life and bring them into His presence forever. There couldn’t be a bigger plan. But I know this isn’t what these people have in mind. Too many so-called Christians today have believed the lie that believing in Jesus is the way to success, health, and wealth in this life now.