Warned for a Reason

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I’ve been writing and speaking on the topic of standing firm for several years, many have been supportive, but as you can imagine I’ve faced pushback. You may have some pushback for me, but before you send that email, please hear me out.

First, I completely agree with the criticism towards Stand Firm for the Great Commission—making disciples and reaching the lost—is the most important issue the church should be focused on. By no means is the topic of standing firm and facing challenges to our faith even on par with sharing the Gospel, but I think we could agree that the message of perseverance should be included in the mix of overall teaching though. I ultimately believe it’s our wholehearted commitment to the Great Commission that ultimately helps us stand firm.

Second, the most prevailing pushback has been, “Jake, yes many are leaving the church, and many seem to be turning away from the faith, but that’s just what the Bible says is going to happen. It’s just part of it. Jesus said there would be both wheat and tares in the church.”

Again, this pushback is Biblical, for Scripture states in many places there will be those who will not truly believe nor will persevere. This is seen in the Parable of the Soils—it’s reality that some who seem to profess Christ will have that Gospel seed not take root, burn up, be snatched away by the evil one, or be choked out by the world. As mentioned, there will be wheat and tares in the church at the end of the age harvest. There are those who will have done seemingly great things in the name of the Lord who will hear, “Depart from me I never knew you.” There are those who wimp out as John Mark did in his journey with Paul, those who shipwreck their faith as Paul mentioned, those who love the world too much like Demas, and others who are in danger of having their opportunity to be a lampstand of hope removed because they’ve fallen from their first love, hold to the teaching of Balaam, tolerate the woman Jezebel, have dead deeds, or have become lukewarm.

The Bible teaches that there will be those who turn away and are at a minimum found unfaithful, but I believe that there doesn’t have to be the number of faith casualties that occur. These verses on turning away aren’t simply declarations, they’re warnings. By their nature warnings express that some may be spared if they heed that warning. Through the power of Christ expressed in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we can be found faithful. We can stand firm that’s the reason we’re warned.

These verses on turning away aren’t simply declarations, they’re warnings. By their nature warnings express that some may be spared if they heed that warning. Share on X Through the power of Christ expressed in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we can be found faithful. We can stand firm that’s the reason we’re warned. Share on X

There’s five simple key concepts I’ve tried to keep at the forefront of Stand Firm. I’ve written about the first three. First, we must realize our faithfulness to God is important especially in the age to come—our faithfulness matters. Second, we must also understand that our faithfulness is being challenged. Each and every day we will face challenges that could impact our faithfulness. Third, as you have just read, with those challenges we could turn away. Many have turned away already and we’re not even at the end of the age—the particular time mentioned in Matthew 24. Since, all of these things are true—our faithfulness matters, our faithfulness is being challenged, and we could turn away—it’s clear we were warned for a reason.

 

 

This article first appeared in Jake’s syndicated column Stand Firm & Live Epic as published in The Baptist Trumpet and other publications. After six months the articles are adapted and published here. To read the articles at release subscribe here.

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