Standing Strong

Jesus told people in His Sermon on the Mount, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Well, we cannot serve both light and darkness either. We cannot serve God in the Light and serve ourselves in the darkness. The ways of the world are in opposition to the ways of God. The way of darkness leads only to the devil, and that is the way to hell. The way of Light is the way of God, and that is the path to Heaven. If we stand strong and stay on the path of light, we find we will have to go against the ways of the world, we find we will have to endure criticism and ridicule, or maybe worse. There may be times when we may have no choice but to stand alone, abandoned by family, friends, and perhaps even other church members.

An American woman soccer player by the name of Jaelene Hinkle withdrew from friendly competitions against Norway and Sweden. During the month of June 2017, it was announced the U.S. soccer team would require all players to wear the rainbow pride colored jerseys of the LGBT community for both the home and away games. Hinkle, a devout Christian, withdrew for “personal reasons” but everyone knew it was because she would not wear the jerseys as homosexuality is against Christian doctrine. Gay pride activists have chastised her for her beliefs. In 2015 when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriages, Hinkle wrote on her Instagram: “Jesus didn’t come to save those who already believed in Him. He came so that the lost, rejected, and abandoned men and women would find Him and believe. I believe with every fiber of my being that what was written 2,000 years ago in the Bible is undoubtedly true. It’s not a fictional book. It’s not a pick and choose what you want to believe. You either believe it, or you don’t. This world may change, but Christ and His Word NEVER will. My heart is that as Christians we don’t begin to throw a tantrum over what has been brought into law today, but we become that much more loving. That through our love, the lost, rejected, and abandoned find Christ. The rainbow was a covenant made between God and all creation that never again would the world be flooded as it was when He destroyed the world during Noah’s time. It’s a constant reminder that no matter how corrupt this world becomes, He will never leave or forsake us. Thank you Lord for Your amazing grace, even during times of trial and confusion. Love won over 2,000 years ago when the greatest sacrifice of all time was made for ALL mankind.” If anyone thinks they can find a better way to say this they are free to try, I know I can’t.

Jesus did come to be the greatest sacrifice of all time. It was His desire that all people be saved and Jesus stood strong in the face of His betrayal, the trials, the crucifixion, and finally the punishment from the Father that allows all men and women to have the ability to go to heaven. It was His sacrifice that paid the price for all people’s sins; we now have been forgiven and our sins no longer held against us. All God wants from us is to not throw His gift of faith and forgiveness away; it is far too precious and paid for by too high a price.