LET US LIVE WHAT WE BELIEVE
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans: "Kom ons leef wat ons glo"
Sometimes I get a bit upset when I see how many Christians, through being ignorant, make being a Christian seem ridiculous.
There is an Afrikaans saying that goes:
"He is complaining with a white bread under the arm."
I always say that a Christian has nothing to complain about. Because firstly we know that:
ROM 8:28 And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.
There are few things that seem so hopeless to me than when a professing Christian speaks to me about a “Blue Monday”.
What an insult toward God don’t you think?
Just think of this miserable confession:
"I am a child of God, and He takes care of me in such a way that He's going to start my week off with a blue Monday.”
Speaking of depressing confessions, I've already said it and I'll say it again –
If a blood-washed child of God complains, we actually confess to the world that:
"I'm a child of God but just see how poorly He takes care of me."
I just have to think about it for a moment and I will see how absolutely wrong it is to complain and feel disgruntled about my circumstances.
When my children were still small, I played the following game with them one day:
I told them that I want to show them how important one's hands are.
They had to make their hands in fist and the one whose hands stayed fists the longest would win the prize.
I can no longer remember everything that happened, but one thing I will never forget:
We were busy playing the game for a couple of minutes, when my little daughter came to me and said that she couldn’t play anymore because she had to go to the toilet.
So when I talk to Christians who complain, I usually make the following suggestion:
If you think that life is treating you badly, do the following this evening and then I only use these three options, however there’s a lot more that I could add:
Just to show you have it bad and that you have reason to complain – when you wake up choose one of the options below and then you have to stick to your choice for an entire day:
* You are not going to use your legs.
* You are going to make your hands fist and keep it all day long.
* You are going blindfold yourself for the whole day.
At the end of the day you can re-evaluate to decide whether things are truly that tough on you, if you already have one of the above disabilities, you will have to choose one of the other options.
The reason I'm talking to you about this matter is because we sometimes reflect a very bad image of Christianity to the world.
You see, as a Christian I should say:
2 COR 4:6-9
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory and majesty of God [clearly revealed] in the face of Christ.
7 But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves.
8 We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair;
9 hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed;
PHIL 4:11-13
11 Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances.
12 I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need.
13 I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]
You see, we should change our perspective. We are on our way to Heaven. All of this is something that we should be continually grateful and excited about.
PHIL 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!
Please bear with me when I close off with one of the two sayings that I have come to love very much:
“If we believe it, let us live it.”
Kind Regards,
Sakkie