Hebrews 12: 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Verse 1 admonishes us to lay aside anything that might weigh us down in this Christian race and states wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. We’re not running, living, and believing in the blind. The world is in darkness; we are in the light. Verse 2 says looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider the One who endured. The world sees us as a contradiction. Our generation used to have respect. Sinners used to have respect for the church, the Bible, and Christians. Now we’re viewed as a contradiction. The focus is on such issues as a woman’s right to choose and every alternate lifestyle from homosexuality to transgender. The whole world is falling apart. While our borders are unprotected and the Middle East is heating up, the real problem is the destruction of the USA. We, the Christians, get the blame for much of it. To many, we are the cancer that is in the body of our nation. We are the dangerous ones.
Before you get too discouraged and feel defeated, remember Jesus had a fight on his hands every day he was here. He didn’t come to fight with mankind; he came to save. The religious crowd became his enemies because they wouldn’t accept the Word of God. Religion is killing America today. There is any kind of religion you can think of; even atheism is a religion. If we stick with the Bible and the old paths God set forth we are labeled by the world. Jesus was labeled a heretic and was even called the child of the devil. He didn’t let it get to him. We don’t have it near as bad as Christians in other countries. That has made us somewhat soft. Others resist under blood. My testimony has not caused me wounds. The time may come for that. We need the Lord now more than ever. Be careful that we don’t become a contradiction. Don’t verbally stand one way and then do something else.
The Sanhedrin could find no accusations against Peter and John. They couldn’t find anything against Paul and Silas. They really didn’t have anything on Jesus. We can withstand. We can overcome and be a shining example. In a society where everything is fake and enhanced let there not be anything put-on about us. If I can’t be real then I need to get out. Society thirsts for something real. The only place to find it is in the church of Jesus Christ.
Think of our forefathers. They contradicted the King of England, pretty much the king of the world at that time. Thirteen colonies dared to defy the world. Their strength came from God and they penned it down: One nation under God. Our nation has drifted, and the only thing holding back total judgment is you and me. The contradiction may be there but stay on the right side.
Jesus wears the scars in heaven that his contractions caused him. One day all the contradictions will be left behind. We’ll drop the robe of flesh. Let them wound us and call us names. As long as the Lord calls our names, we’ll be all right. Endure. Suffer for the Lord with joy. What Jesus has made us is real. Let’s face tomorrow in the name of Jesus Christ.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 