Even If i Walk Alone

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

salvation

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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No Ordinary Child

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Once upon a time in a land far away, a baby was born into a poor family. Having little money, the mother had no choice but to give birth among animals in a stable. But this was no ordinary child. No, this baby was born to be a king. Both his mother and father were of royal blood, so their child was the legal heir to the throne of their country.

The current king was so afraid of this child that he sought to kill him, but he failed thanks to angels intervening on the child’s behalf. The baby lived and grew to be a respected and admired young man, full of wisdom and knowledge (Luke 2:52). When he became an adult, he traveled throughout the land bringing hope and healing to all who would believe in him.

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The Whole Counsel of God

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The modern Church has a tendency to pick the parts of the Gospel it finds most palatable to talk about. To the contrary, the Apostle Paul preached the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:26–27). The whole counsel means the entire purpose, will, and plan of God. When we leave out part of the Gospel, we keep people from seeing and understanding it in its entirety.

We should never try to hide any part of God’s glory. That our culture finds some of the Gospel abhorrent or difficult to swallow does not overrule our responsibility to proclaim the whole truth of God’s Word. It is not up to humans to decide which parts of God’s Word are true. Only God is truth, so only He gets to say what is true (John 17:17; Isaiah 45:19).

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Pain and Darkness

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One day we are all going to have to answer for the wasted opportunities and squandered blessings in our lives and of our generation. Each of us is aware of the moments we let slip by without seizing them for the glory of God’s Kingdom (Ephesians 5:15–16; Matthew 25:14–30). The memories are so painful we don’t often dwell on them, but we all know they are there in the deepest recesses of our minds.

This reminds me of when Jesus said He would cast all those who reject Him into the outer darkness (Matthew 22:13). That’s a darkness deeper than the blackest night any of us has ever experienced. Imagine combining such darkness with the pain of every regret, sorrow, and evil we have locked away in that deep closet in our minds. That is a small taste of what Hell will be like for all who don’t bow to Jesus as Lord. That pain and darkness will never end.

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