Fear No More

   There is something weighing on my mind lately, and as the days pass the burden for it becomes heavier. As a Christian, SOLD OUT to Jesus Christ and living my life intentionally serving Him, and only Him. I trust Him. I have faith in Him, and I have such reckless faith in Him that it probably seems outlandish, and foolish to non-believers, perhaps even some other "believers", but it's not. Let me explain.

   In the last several months we as a nation and as a people have been tested, and because this is America, and quite frankly, we're spoiled, we have been tested far beyond the limits some ever expected to endure. Being told to "socially distance," "Stay home," "limit contact with friends and family," "no hugging, or embrace," etc. Many people haven't handled it well. They haven't handled it well at all. Especially older populations who didn't grow up in the information age and aren't in tune to using electronics as their primary means of communication. It's been a real struggle for a whole lot of people. 
   In the time since all this madness began, people have been waiting, most of them patiently for things to go back to normal. Now, months later, things are still very far from normal, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight, and what I'm noticing more and more is that people are losing their hope. Not just that things will return to normal, but they're losing their hope generally, and that means their faith is wavering, which is the scariest part. 

Hebrews 11:1 says: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

   I see a whole lot of people walking about scared to death. They're hearing many different things about staying safe, and they just want to do the best they can. The problem is, even the Christians have been rocked to their very cores. The church is literally divided over mask mandates, and whether or not they should meet in churches. In this dark day, the western church is being revealed for the lukewarm, if not cold climate it has become. Churchgoers by the thousands who haven't read their bibles mindlessly following like sheep to the slaughter whatever is told to them. They're not standing on the word of the Lord, not standing up for their freedoms, their right to choose, their free-thinking minds. They have succumbed to an agenda of following the leader. The most frightening thing about all of it is that it reflects brilliantly how little the people of the church care about their rights to worship as they see fit, and how much they're willing to just give away. I promise you the government won't soon if ever forget that. 

Listen y'all, I'm not here to cheer on some conspiracy theory, that's NOT what I'm doing. I am here to tell you something you need to hear if you are a Christian and you're sold out to Christ. Don't you dare bend on your faith. Don't you dare give up your right to worship where, when, and how you see fit. Trust the Lord! Isn't that what you proclaim to do? Isn't that at the very foundation of the faith you say you have; trust in Him? How is anyone going to keep faith and hope alive in times like these if they see the people who are supposed to love and trust Jesus running scared?
     Okay, I know at this point I've made some of y'all mad, but speaking the truth never got me many fans or anyone for that matter. The bible is very clear about these times and speaking truth. 

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.   2 Timothy 4:3

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.     Romans 10:17

   My encouragement to you today is to get into the Bible and be strengthened by the very word of God. Return hope and faith to your own life and the lives of others through obedience to the Father. Reject the fear the enemy has brought upon this nation. If you love the Lord, you have nothing to fear. So many right now need the hope you proclaim to have; give it to them!
    I hope I've left you with some things to think about, and some indication of where my faith lies. I have hope for a beautiful future, if not here, then in the ever after. This place is not our home, and so I move forward expecting great things from the Lord, and without embracing fear in my life. I pray this for you as well. Be encouraged today. He is still on the throne. Until the next time, be blessed and please share this if you know people who would benefit from the read. 


XOXO
Jen