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The louder he talked of his honour, the faster we counted our spoons.
- R.W. Emerson, 1803-1822.
Have you the, in the light of the above, ever wondered why some choose evil (atheism and unbelief) and some choose good (faith in the cause of Christ)? I have written a little piece of verse that (hopefully) explains it best:
Jesus Christ: The Humble Carpenter From Nazareth
© Copyright 2013 P.J. Stassen
So sad how the world at large so often
recoils at the Name of Christ and stands so indifferent
to the wonder of His touch ...
Admiration, it seems, was to come only
from the magi from the East; and
Worship, from those destitute millions
who have been forgiven much!
From childhood I've been taught that it takes time to be holy. Just as it takes time to become a barrister, a doctor, an architect or a brain surgeon, it takes time to become holy. Any goal worthwhile in life demands time, dedication, labour, concentration, focus and single-minded devotion for ultimate success. The Christian's highest goal on Earth is to be, or to become holy ("Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven").
Now I fully understand that, as believers in Christ, we have been sanctified by His blood (i.e. by His sacrifice at Calvary) and that our only hope for Salvation is the righteousness of Christ. Any personal merit based on 'good works' and 'an exemplary life' are considered 'tottered rags' in the eyes of the Lord. Yet, in spite of this cardinal Biblical teaching, the Bible also still teaches and admonishes us to be holy, and to pursue sanctification above all.
Is this an anomaly in doctrine? Not at all; bear in mind that, thanks to the sacrifice of Christ, our legal position in Heaven is that we have been justified (just-if-I-had never sinned) by His blood. There is, however, a big difference between our legal position (in Christ) and our moral condition (on planet Earth). Sanctification probably thus focuses on the effort and aspirations of the believer to bring his moral condition (on Earth) on par with his legal position (in Christ). This kind of sanctification probably presupposes consecration. Consecration, in turn, may include or comprise many things, such as e.g. confession of faith, baptism, discipleship, Bible-study and -devotions, evangelism, missions, soul-winning, witnessing to others, teaching, Sunday school work, intercessory prayer, a music-ministry, Bible- and tract-distribution, caring for the sick and elderly, supporting orphanages and outreaches to the homeless, and all and diverse kinds of other ministries, chores and tasks.
The purpose of consecration, however, is not salvation ... salvation comes through faith in Christ. Consecration follows because we are grateful to Christ and love and appreciate Jesus of Nazareth for who He is and what He had accomplished for us. Consecration is (and ought to be) the natural and spontaneous result of our fellowship with Christ.
Two major forces dominate this secular world ... the forces of the profane and the forces of the sacred. Consecration to Christ's cause and His great command ("Go ye ...") helps us to dedicate (consecrate) ourselves to the forces of the sacred (the noble things of Heaven above), whereas consecration to Satan's cause helps people to dedicate themselves to the forces of the profane (the evil and profane things below). There is no so-called 'neutral' demilitarised zone in this war of ideas ... we are either for Him or we are against Him. Atheism-Evolutionism and Christianity-Creationism are two mighty forces engaged in the clash of the titans. East is east and West is west, and never the twain shall meet ... except in conflict and (hopefully civil) confrontation.
Of course, it is believed that in this battle of the doves against the hawks, ultimately the hawks cannot win. Love will conquer hate, and God's Heavenly wealth and abundance will conquer Satan's derelict, defunct kingdom and decrepit moral poverty ... it cannot be otherwise: Hell simply does not have the moral capital with which to pursue this war indefinitely. The brutal, cruel and merciless wolves will fail and the sheep will survive. Wolves have no shepherd, and eventually will be scattered, but the sheep has a loving Shepherd who will watch over them from now unto Eternity.
If life is about choices, then what do you choose? You must decide, and you alone. The choice is easy ... provided you have been forgiven much!
(William D. Longstaff, 1822-1894/George C, Stebbins, 1846-1945)
Take time to be holy, Speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always And feed on His Word
Make friends of God's children, Help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy, The world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret With Jesus alone,
By looking to Jesus, Like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy, Let Him be thy guide,
And run not before Him, Whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow Still follow thy Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, Still trust in His Word.
Take time to be holy, Be calm in thy soul;
Each thought and each motive Beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit To fountains of Love,
Thou soon shall be fitted, For service above.
Piet Stassen
eLiterature/eLiteratuur:
- Scribd Publishing Site: www.scribd.com/PietStassen (ENGLISH & AFRIKAANS)
- eBook: 'Evolution: The Science That Evolved Into A Fairy Tale' (ENGLISH)
- eBook: 'Bertrand Russell Revisited: Rebuttal Of Bertrand Russell's 'Why I Am Not A Christian''(ENGLISH)
- eBook: 'Meditations & Contemplations: A Reader For Both Atheists And Creationists' (ENGLISH)
- eBook: 'Conservation, Rhino Poaching And Hypocrisy' (ENGLISH)
- eBook: 'Why Darwinism ('Evolution') Does Not Make Sense' (ENGLISH)
- eBook: 'Names And Titles Of Jesus Of Nazareth (ENGLISH)'
- eBoek: 'Darwin Of Christus: Suid-Afrikaners By 'n Kruispad!' [AFRIKAANS].
- eBoek: 'Bevryding Van Die Anti-Evangelie Van Ateisme-Evolusionisme' [AFRIKAANS].
- eBoek: 'Name & Titels Van Jesus Christus' [AFRIKAANS].
- eTracts, Christian (Free, Downloadable): Free, downloadable Christian eTracts for free distribution (ENGLISH)
- eTraktate, Christelik (Gratis, Aflaaibaar): Gratis, aflaaibabre Christelike Traktate vir gratis verspreiding (AFRIKAANS)
Bibliography
1. Andrews, Allen (1969) Quotations For Speakers And Writers. Newnes Books. Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd. London.
2. Peterson, John V. (1968) Great Hymns Of The Faith. ‘Take Time To Be Holy'. Singspiration Inc. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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