What really matters...

 

When I was growing up, and through into my 50’s, it was common to hear the phrase “Let’s just agree to disagree” when family, friends and neighbours shared differing opinions or beliefs. After all, relationships were built on so much more than opinions and beliefs. So, we did not allow those differences to be magnified, in light of the relationship built up over years, decades, even a lifetime.

I grew up in a respectful home with my grandparents, a home where belief in the teachings of the Bible wasn’t necessarily preached from the doorstep, but was openly lived out each and every day in how we treated each other, and how we treated others. Common courtesies and kindness were the normal observance I saw over and again from Nana and Pop; a willingness to help those in need; being quick to listen – really listen – and slow to speak.

Unlike social media today, their thoughts weren’t written down for all the world to see the minute they came to mind, or in response to what someone else said or shared…in fact, often they just kept their thoughts and opinions to themselves, or if they were unsure of something, they’d simply say “Well, I don’t know anything about that.” They never considered themselves experts on any subject, and did not aspire to be one. They simply got on with their lives, caring for each other and me, in their tiny little flat, with two precious pets who loved us dearly.

Nana and Pop set themselves apart from aggressive people, choosing their own company and the company of those who were of a gentle spirit, a kind spirit, and a mindset that did not feel the need to be right, nor try to force it down the throats of others.

They were incredibly peaceable, my Nan and Pop – but they were not hiding from reality, just choosing to remember the lessons learned from their childhood during WW1, and then raising a family through the Great Depression and WW2.

The recent events we have witnessed with the murder of Charlie Kirk, left me reeling with sorrow and grief at a young life taken so hatefully because he had a different opinion and different beliefs to the one who decided to quiet Charlie for good. A young man full of what appears to be deep hatred, kills another young man whose heart overflowed with deep love for his Saviour, for his family, for the younger generation, and for his country.

How different would this have been if the man with the gun had chosen to stand before Charlie, as thousands of others have done, and say he did not agree but “Let’s agree to disagree”, and then walk away.

It has also grieved me to hear of the multitude of Christians who openly support Charlie’s death, and have thrown their anger at genuine believers who are grieving the loss of a God-fearing, Bible-believing, Bible-living husband and father.

Charlie spoke from the Bible every opportunity he had – even his political choices came from what he learned (and was still learning) through the daily study of God’s own words in that precious Book. To those who are angry at Charlie, and still call themselves Christians, you have confused me – aren’t you really shaking your fist at God Himself? After all, Charlie was teaching from the Bible, a book that God Himself wrote.

It's become more and more common in these last few decades, for churches and professed believers to expect God to fit Himself into their own sinful, broken images; to allow things that were never allowed; to behave in ways that wiped out entire nations by His hand in the past. We are commanded to become more and more like Jesus, not the other way around.

The wrath of God is not a story; it is an event that will come upon everyone who lives a life apart from God, lives that are ‘of the world’, lives that reflect their personal preferences, lusts and actions.

“Come out of her my people!” is our warning, meant to bring us all to our senses, to draw us from man’s and the world’s deception, into His absolute truth. If you have been sitting in a place of rejection for any or all of God’s ways given us in His Word, please repent, truly repent, confess your sins, let the blood of Christ wash you whiter than snow, and be obedient to His Word only.

The road to heaven is narrow, the road for the lost is wide and will lead only to death. But God gave you free will, and the choice is yours. Dear ones, I am praying for you to choose what is holy, righteous, and honouring to God. Be brave, be courageous, be strong in the TRUTH of God’s Word, and step away from anything that lures you away or distorts the living, breathing words of life in the Bible.

Don’t be concerned when others ‘cancel’ you for declaring your obedience to the Lord for we are called to serve God alone, not man. We are called to be set apart from the worldliness and violence that has settled as deepening darkness across our nations.

My hope is in the Lord of heaven and earth, and I praise Him for the sacrifice of my precious Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, and for the gift of eternal life that I earnestly seek when my time comes to pass away.

I do not think I’ll ever write another blog post, but this one is offered humbly, as a testimony of my faith in Christ alone…my blessed Redeemer.

Lastly, let me say this - To serve Him is to truly love Him, and to be willing to give all for that privilege. That’s what Charlie Kirk did, but it is also what millions of Christian martyrs the world over have done for thousands of years. It’s also what martyrs across the globe are dying for today, and tomorrow, and until Christ returns. We do not know their names, but Jesus does, and they are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. May the Lord help each of us to serve Him today, and to be obedient to the call He places on our own lives, not looking for earthly fame or providence, but to have our names written in that book too.

I hope to meet you in heaven one day, dear ones, but in the meantime, keep the faith, honour God, and walk in confidence with your Saviour no matter where the road leads…

Love and prayers,