Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

salvation

Persevere to the End

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Life is the ultimate dichotomy. It is both short and long, and we feel the tension between the two every day. Our time on this earth is not even a blip on the timeline of eternity. We are but a vapor that is here one moment, and gone the next (James 4:14; Psalm 103:15–16). But the time spent living in that “blip” can seem grueling and never-ending. This is true for our walk with Christ as well. Not that Jesus Himself is taxing in any way; His burden is light and we find our rest in Him (Matthew 11:28–30).

But the world makes living for Jesus one challenge after another. We must choose Christ over our sinful nature every second of every minute of every hour of every day. Sometimes it can feel like a grind. It is why so many fall away (Matthew 13:20–21), and why we are called to persevere to the end (Matthew 24:13).

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Too Late

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In 1872, J. C. Ryle wrote, “At present, we must all be aware, the vast majority of professing Christians care nothing at all about [genuine salvation]. They have no sense of sin. They have no love towards Christ… Repentance, and faith, and grace, and holiness, are mere words and names to them.” He concludes by adding, “Knowledge, conviction, the value of the soul, the need of a Savior, shall all burst on men’s minds one day like a flash of lightning. But alas! It will be too late.”

Over 150 years later, nothing has changed. Countless professing Christians are no more saved than their pagan neighbors (Matthew 7:21–23; Titus 1:16). Decades of watered-down, feel-good, easy-believism teaching from pulpits and stages around the world have damned the souls of millions (Jeremiah 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:3–4).

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Living to Die

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The reason Jesus came to earth and lived as a man was to die. His purpose from birth was to lay down His life so that we might live (Mark 10:45; John 10:10–11). . Now we must surrender our lives and let Him live through us. If we are to be genuine disciples of Jesus, we must spend our lives living to die (Luke 9:23–24; John 12:24–25). We must die to our passions and dreams. Die to our hopes and ambitions, and die to everything we ever wanted to be.

The funny thing about death is that it means the end of us, and until we come to the end of ourselves, we will never understand what it means to be alive (Matthew 16:25). If we would walk as Jesus walked, we must die to everything and everyone (Luke 14:26–27). Having been crucified with Christ, we no longer live (Galatians 2:19-20; Colossians 3:3).

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Freedom

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Freedom is ever on the lips of people. Those in the West cling to it as a birthright and are quick to rail against any infringement on their freedom. For those in oppressive and authoritarian countries, freedom is a hopeful ideal but an unrealistic reality. No matter our circumstances, the human soul longs for freedom and many times will do whatever it takes to obtain it.

We fight wars in the name of freedom, and build ideologies around it. We shed blood and exchange ideas in both civil and not so civil manners, all in the name of freedom. On earth, we can win or lose freedom, and we can cherish or squander it. But most have no idea what it even means to be free.

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The Return of Christ

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The return of Christ necessitates that we live in ready and anxious anticipation of His coming. Woe to that person caught unawares at His return (Luke 21:34–36; 1 Thessalonians 5:2–3). His second coming has always been the plan, and Jesus made certain we understand that (John 14:2–3; Acts 1:11). What then should be our response? I like how J. C. Ryle put it:

Man thinking about the return of Christ contemplating the second coming with reverent fear and purpose in recognition of his need for salvation and discipleship

“Our plain duty then is to live always prepared for His return. Let us walk by faith and not by sight. Let us believe in Christ, serve Christ, follow Christ, and love Christ. So living, whenever Christ may return, we shall be ready to meet Him.” That sounds like a plan to me! Jesus is coming back, and we have no excuse not to be found ready (Matthew 24:44; Luke 12:40).

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