Beware of this danger

What is the greatest danger to our faith?

Doctrinal errors certainly abound, and persecution is on the rise in the West. But errors in doctrine are avoided with good teachers, who are easily accessible on the internet and persecution often serves to strengthen and focus the church (challenging though it is).

The greatest danger to our faith is a gradual rise in apathy. It’s an apathy caused by the comfort of modern living. Modern day distractions and the focus on leisure time all serve to dampen faith. When our needs are met (albeit with budgets that can feel stretched) it can lead to the Lord being relegated to a hobby instead of a do or die devotion. Proverbs 30:9

When we read the New Testament we read passages that talk of the zeal and passion of the early disciples as they lived for the Lord.

Acts 2:42, ‘And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.’

Philippians 2:12-14, ‘ Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1, ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,’

Romans 12:11, ‘Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.’

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

We see in the lives of people like Anna in the temple in Luke 2:36, ‘And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.’

Indeed all through the Bible, we see people sacrificing comfort on the altar of obedience (think Abraham with Isaac, Ezekiel lying on his side for over a year, Haggai marrying a prostitute in the Old Testament. And think Paul being willing to go to Rome even though he knows it means persecution, the apostles praying to be bold in the face of opposition, martyrs leading to multiplication and danger developing determined disciples.

This kind of wholehearted devotion is something we want to cultivate in our children. Our children need to be ready, resilient and focussed on the Lord if they are to stand in these days.

If this is the case the most important things we can do is to model such a life to them, both in home and in the church community we are part of.

The greatest warning on such apathy comes from the book of Revelation, as John shares the letter to the final church, the church of Laodicea. Revelation 3:15-16, ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.’

The antidote to such a lukewarm state is found a few verses later in verse 19, ‘So be zealous and repent.’

This is not a misguided zeal (Paul shares how he was zealous for the persecution of Christians before he was saved) but rather an acknowledgment of our absolute dependence on God and total gratitude for the salvation that we have received him.

With all God has done for us, NOTHING is too great for us to do for Him.

It is so easy for other things to crowd out the tranquillity that is found in His presence. We must fight, fervently to keep Christ at the centre of all we do. After all what other option is there? That we simply drift, failing to fulfil our purpose to glorify our saviour.

The more we encounter the love of God the more we are willing to devote everything to Him. The more we do this, the more we will inspire the next generation to do likewise.

It is God’s grace that led us to Him, and God’s grace that holds us near Him. When we see how it is all God’s grace how can we do anything but devote our entire lives to Him! (Even that desire to do so comes from Him!)

As the church prepares for the return of Christ we are described as the bride of Christ. A bride preparing for her wedding day is totally consumed in preparations for the wedding and thoughts of her groom. But we also know towards the end great endurance will be required and strength of some will fail.

Let the warning of these Scriptures stir us to be ready.

Let's give our all to the Lord, holding back nothing - He is worth it!