Some Questions Worth Asking

The confirmation and acid test of ones love for God is expressed in another question that needs to be asked. DO YOU LOVE GOD’S COMMANDMENTS AND FIND OBEYING THEM A JOY AND A BLESSING? Do you rejoice to hear His Word taught and preached, even when the Sword of the Spirit cuts with conviction deeply into your heart? Those who are not saved feel quite the contrary. They hate the Word of God and flee from the conviction of sin it brings. If this is not so, why do we not have our pews always filled to the overflowing and a crowd standing outside clamoring to come in? Begging and demanding to hear the Word preached in all its purity? I mentioned an article recently critiquing the Purpose Driven Church philosophy. The whole thrust of the article and the underlying prob- lem that is challenging and compromising true Bible-believing churches, is the idea that a church should design its services and activities to attract, entertain and please the worldly crowd. The absurdity of such a philosophy is shown again and again by statements in the scriptures about the world’s hatred for God, His Word and His people. The record of the deaths of millions of Christian martyrs through the centuries stands as a an open testimony to this self-evident fact. The action of those who would compromise scriptural conviction in order to cater to the worldly crowd, depreciates the sacrifices our forefathers in the faith made to maintain the purity of their faith and testimony. Such action desecrates their memory.

If this is not the case, why does the culture in which we live so strongly oppose the prin- ciples for which we stand? Why do they make fun and call us Bible-bashers and wowsers? Why do they not only support immorality in our nation, but promote it as well? Why the drug scene, pornography and break down of marriage and family, if the world is does not hate the commandments of God and the people of God who would obey them?

In contrast to the world’s view, do you rejoice to hear the Word preached? Do you know the deep love God’s people showed for the scriptures when they stood weeping for joy for hours in Ezra’s day to hear the recovered Word of the Lord read in their presence? Or is a thirty minute Bible message too long for you? Is the Word as a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path? Do you desire to hide it in your heart that you might not sin against God? Do you desire the sincere milk and meat of the Word. Is it as bread and honey to your taste?

Do you love to obey the commandments of God? Or are they grievous to you? Do you find them a joy rather than a burden? The first test of obedience for the saved person is following the Lord in scriptural baptism. Have you done that? Was it a day of great joy in your life, to simply obey this commandment and follow the Lord Jesus Christ in scriptural immersion? Do you love to attend the house of God at every opportunity? Are you glad when they say, “Let us go into the house of the Lord?” Would you rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord - or dwell in the places of the wicked? Is it a real joy to bring your tithes and offerings to the house of God? Does it thrill you and give you great joy to sacrificially give to the Lord? Do you love the brethren as He has commanded? Someone has scripturally said, “Love God, love God’s people, love God’s people, love God.”