The Tyranny of the World and the Salvation of the Individual

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Joh 15:19  

The Death and Resurrection Life

The one chief beneficiary of Christ’s redemption work is the individual. It is not the world. ‘For God so loved the world…’ but the world rejected him and killed him – ‘that whosoever believeth in him [counting from one individual] should not perish, but have everlasting life.’

It is for the one dejected individual of this world that Christ died, for the blind Bartimaeus who cries that ‘Lord I might see.’ The world wanted Bartimaeus to shut up. But Bartimaeus persisted until Christ said, ‘Don’t stop him. Let him come.’

There are individuals in the world who are burning to see Jesus. But the world tells them to shut up and they obey. And the world is a peremptory master. It demands instant obedience. And so they shut up, but they shrink from inside, and their lives never ‘grow to the height of a man.’

They are lonely. They feel fake. Worse they feel they are wronging God himself but again the world will crucify them if they dare change or preach. They are told not to judge and not to be negative and not this and not that. And daily they watch their hearts go up in flames but they can’t say anything. Years later they are completely consumed in the inferno. And cemeteries are full of such people. The world killed them.

But Christ is risen. They killed him but on the third day he rose again. You too can arise. Do you believe that?

Beauty from Ashes

Life is a calling. God made you for a purpose and that’s why you burn. You are unique but the world wants everyone to sleep in its bed. It will deride you if you don’t. It will crucify you.

If it has done that to you remember it did the same to Christ. It killed him but on the third day he rose again. You can rise again too!

It grieved the Lord to see you so lonely and dejected in the world. That is why he came down especially to save you. Is today your third day? I pray that it is!

So the world ordered Bartimeaus to shut up. If he had heeded that call he would have died blind. He would have been another stone in the cemetery.

Who is ordering your life, God or the world?

You are Different Because God Made You Different

You have been different since childhood. You see things differently. That is because it is God who made you that way, for his own glory. Grow to your full height because God has promised that you will not be alone. He will be with you up to the end. Please believe that.

If you hate yourself it is probably because you hate God. If you love him you wouldn’t mind how you look.

God chose you from before the world began. That’s how deep his love for you is. That’s how far you have come. Your beginning is out of this world, and so will your end be.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit. Joh 15:16a 

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Eph 1:4-5 

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 1Pe 2:9  

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 1Jn 5:19  

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 1Jn 5:20  

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Joh 8:36  

Life is a Battle. Get Ready for War!

Change is not easy. You have to fight for your freedom. The calling and salvation of God is free, but you still have to make the decision yourself. Yes, you will feel the heat for a while, the pressure and the wrestling in your own heart because Satan doesn’t let go easily. He fights back but Christ exhorts us to cheer because he has overcome the world. Now arm yourself and get ready for that war because it is coming (Eph 6:10-18)!

But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. Heb 10:32-33  

And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. Heb 11:15-16  

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. Heb 11:25-26  

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1Jn 4:4  

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1Jn 5:4