Are You A Christian? If So, You’re On Trial!

“Christians” are sure getting a bad rep these days! It would rather seem as though (according to popular culture) that Christians are all old, outdated, boring, dull, “bigots” who just can’t seem to do ANYTHING right!

But behind the scenes looms a MUCH bigger picture, Christians, and that’s THIS: We’re ALL “On Trial!” Now…..what exactly do I mean by that, you might ask? The bible says that ALL those who TRULY wish to follow Christ WILL BE TESTED/PUT TO THE TEST! (Which puts a WHOLE new meaning to the popular saying,”Trial by Fire!”). 

So essentially, it’s like being in a spiritual courtroom of sorts. The non-Christian believer wants to TEST US and to try to see just how much of a TRUE Christian we actually are! They – along with Satan & his demons – are acting as impromptu “spiritual prosecutors” against us. And oddly enough, the MORE of a true Christian we are/prove ourselves to be, the MORE that Satan/his demons/adamant non-Christian believers tend to resent/hate us!

Why? Because they got the spirit of Antichrist on them. Please remember that ALL those who are ADAMANTLY AGAINST Christ currently HAVE the spirit of Antichrist on them, rather they realize it or not! (Agnostics, on the other hand, are ONE step closer to finding the Eternal Truth of Jesus Christ and Satan HATES THAT!)

In fact, 1 Peter 5: 8-9 in The New Testament says the following: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world”

Translation? Satan’s CONSTANTLY looking for Christians whom he can make FAIL in some way, shape or form……..even better (in HIS mind, anyways) if he can make them PERMANENTLY FALL FROM GRACE! But he can’t do it alone, folks! That’s WHY he needs the help of his various DEMONS, working underneath him! And these demons are put there in our lives to try to “tempt us” and to try to rob us of our personal joy & salvation that can ONLY be found in the BIBLICAL Christ Jesus! 

And folks, I’m gonna tell you something. As Christians, we’re CONSTANTLY on trial, while living down on this Earth. And it’s NEVER-ENDING……(until we take our last breath, that is). We’re on trial, not ONLY by Satan and his demons (and even BY the Lord Jesus Christ himself, who’s attempting in these last days to weed out the spiritual wheat from the tares) but also by various non-believers/those of other religions, all around us……….

Do we cuss? Drink alot? Smoke weed/hash? Gamble? Go to strip clubs? Watch alot of R-rated movies? Hold a grudge against someone/group of people? Lie to get our way? Manipulate to get our way? Get angry at the slightest thing? Show up late to work? Constantly gossip and/or complain about the boss?

Acquiesce (that means, reluctantly give into but NOT reject) on the concept of “abortion”, “pre-marital sex”, the “gay agenda”, etc? Do we hate our enemies and refuse to forgive those who hurt us? Do we flick people off in traffic if someone cuts us off or REFUSE to let someone IN to traffic when they’re making a turn or there’s construction? Etc? Etc? 

Folks, the truth is, we’re CONSTANTLY being watched & monitored (in a proverbial sense) by all the non-believers in our lives (friends, family members, coworkers, complete strangers on online message boards/Youtube/Facebook/in person, etc.)

And if WE CHRISTIANS (as a collective whole) are participating in ANY willfully sinful activities (and it doesn’t even matter WHAT the willful sinful activity IS), just what type of “message” does that send to all the non-believers/those of other religions out there? They either believe one or two things: That Christianity’s a farce (“If YOU don’t even believe enough in your own religion to faithfully follow it, then why should *I*?“ OR that WE as Christians (or that Jesus Christ AS Christ) are WEAK!) 

Because if they can get YOU – the true, biblical-roots Christian – to DEFY the biblical Jewish Jesus Christ and/or the bible and its “commands” in ANY type of way – they think they’ve won and that YOU – the true, biblical-roots Christian – are WEAK, folks! In fact, just look at how the LGBT Activist folks has OVERTAKEN the Christian churches of today, as well as education, pop culture AND public policy!

They’ve think they’ve WON, folks! They really, truly do! Plus they ALSO think that WE CHRISTIANS are…..WEAK (as a whole) and FAR outnumbered! Satan has these poor folks SO DECEIVED that it’s not even funny, anymore! 

But folks, we got to think about what types of “messages” we’re sending to the people around us in our lives, on a daily basis. Because if WE are not FULLY living for Christ, they will reason within themselves, then why should THEY? AS Christians, we’re expected to be the “salt and light of the world!” 

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” – [Matthew 5: 13-16]

Believe it or not, the Lord Jesus Christ WANTS to use YOU to witness to all of THEM (all the non-believers and those of other religions) in your life. Therefore, they’re CONSTANTLY gonna be asking you about/trying to SEE for themselves what types of TV shows you watch, what movies you see, what music you listen to, what types of things you do in your free time, what types of things you post on Facebook, what types of things you say when you’re upset, etc. 

Because in a sense, THEY want to know what it is exactly that sets you apart from them. THEY want to know what being a Christian is vs. NOT being a Christian is. And so, when they look around and see many “worldly” Christian churches (AND Christians) supporting such things such as homosexuality and abortion, it sends a message that the “Christian” and non-Christian “aren’t so different, afterall” and thus, for THEM, in their minds, the NEED for a Saviour becomes “convoluted” and “inactive”. 

Parents, your children are CONSTANTLY watching you (rather you realize it or not). So be sure to set some good, Christian examples! Christian employees? Again, all your non-Christian coworkers are silently taking note of your every action at work (rather you realize it or not). They’re CONSTANTLY looking for things like: “Ah-ha! He/she lied about being late to work! He/she’s no Christian! He/she’s no better than I! Therefore, I shouldn’t have to change MY life at all since there’s really no difference between him/her and I!“ and/or “Wow! He/she never smiles and always looks depressed and SERIOUS all the time, therefore, it MUST not pay to serve Jesus at all! Therefore, why should I?”

Do you SEE where I’m going with this, folks? We’re CONSTANTLY on trial with non-believers and those of other religions. CONSTANTLY. In line at Walmart/Best Buy/Baskin Robbins/the airport/etc. In traffic. At home, work or school. On an airplane. On websites and/or social media. In print (if a published author/reporter/blogger). At social events/protests. At the mall or movie theater. At the hospital/doctor’s/dentist’s office. In museums/national parks/tourist destinations. At social gatherings. Inside restaurants or fast-food joints. In public. At family functions. There’s just NO getting around it, folks! 

Oddly enough, it is Jesus’s, Satan’s, the demons AND the non-Christian believers way of testing us to see how truly “authentic” of a Christian we are. And WHEN a non-Christian believer DOES come across an “authentic” Christian, it sends a POWERFUL MESSAGE about just what a true Christian IS and what a true Christian ISN’T! (And even serves to drawl them closer & closer the Eternal Truth, which can ONLY be found in Jesus Christ, ofcourse!)

However though, like I said, the more truly AUTHENTIC of a Christian a person proves themselves to be, THE PROUDER & PROUDER JESUS CHRIST & HIS ANGELS IN HEAVEN GET and THE ANGRIER & ANGRIER that Satan and his demons get! Why? The answer can be found in Revelation 12:12 in the New Testament: 

“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” – [Revelation 12:12]

Translation? Satan’s angry and knows he has but a SHORT TIME to try to deceive AS MANY Christians (as well as non-Christians) as possible before Jesus’s soon 2nd arrival upon the Earth!

Likewise, MANY Christians, at the VERY first sign of “trouble”, “conflict”, “drama” or “trial/tribulation” get all panicked and freaked out about it and aren’t sure what to do! But HERE is what the bible says about that:

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” – [1 Peter 4: 12-13]

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” – [Matthew 5: 10-12]

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 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. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 

But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause” – [John 15: 18-25]

“And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say” – [Luke 12: 11-12]

Therefore, I say this in conclusion: As a “Christian”, what types of messages are YOU sending to all the non-Christian believers in your life? Are YOU truly living for and representing Christ? ARE you a true ambassador for Him, the one and ONLY true God, maker of the heavens and the Earth? How do YOU know FOR 100% SURE? If Jesus were to arrive in the room right now (for example), would he praise or condemn your actions of the past week? Why? 

Let us look lastly at what the “Fruits of the Spirit” are (the HOLY SPIRIT, that is). According to Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”

Therefore, do we love others as ourselves? Do have inner peace and joy? Do we have what it takes to OVERCOME/become a longsufferer? Are we gentle & kind? Do we have FAITH (TRUE ABRAHAMIC-LIKE FAITH) in Jesus where, for example, if we knew the world economy crashed tomorrow, that we’d have the faith that Jesus would somehow see us through, etc.? And do we have FAITH in His Written Word from Genesis to Revelation? And are we MEEK and humble (as in, “I’m just ONE person, one person of MANY, I am NOTHING without Christ?”) 

Although I’ll have to admit I’m not really sure here what is meant by “goodness” and “temperance”. I THINK temperance means the ability to “maintain our temper” and remain calm in any and all situations but I could be wrong. As for goodness? It likely means the PURSUIT of things that the BIBLE/JESUS calls “good” (the fight for Pro-Life, the fight for Pro-bible, Pro-Traditional Marriage/Family, etc.)

But folks, one thing’s for sure. We CAN’T let our guards down at ANY PRICE! Cause like I said, we Christians are ALL ON TRIAL at ALL TIMES in our lives, at ANY given day, place or time. So let us all try to let Christ live THROUGH US to the best of our knowledge and ability and try to get the most “spiritual growth(s)” out of our own personal trials & tribulations as we possibly can!

Cause ya never know……YOUR successfully coming out of a “trial” in your life (be it great or small) may just be the ONE very thing that turns a non-Christian believer INTO a believer! So remember that, folks! Set good examples (both for yourselves AND for others) and DON’T back down on the gospel at ANY PRICE! And may the BIBLICAL Lord Jesus Christ be with us ALL during these here End Times! AMEN! 

Ashamed/Bored/Indifferent Towards the Old Testament? If so, You’re Denying Him!

Many of today’s Christians in the Middle East and Asian countries ARE in “hiding/underground” due to the “hostile nature of living in a “non-democratic society” (though Egypt & Iraq could be possibly be considered “partially democratic”?). 

But here in America & around the world (as far as Western/Democratic/European nations go), it seems as though “Christians” have made some sort of “Mass Exodus” from society. It would seem that they are “in hiding”. They (as a whole) are trying to hide from having any outside identifiable mark of being a “BIBLICAL Christian” while also trying to hide their “hearts” from Jesus, as well! 

Back around the 90’s to early 00’s, homosexuals were “hiding in the closet”, sort’ve speak, while Christians were hanging about in the open, public square, unafraid of Jesus and/or their religious affiliations. In fact, it was even considered a “good time” to be a Christian, then…..The Left Behind Series by Jerry B. Jenkins & Tim LaHaye was really taking off and getting people to consider/question their “Eternity”, while no “Christian businesses” were getting sued for this or that. 

But here in the year 2017, things have changed. NOW – due to the anti-Christian rhetoric swirling about in today’s world from the radical left – many Christians are now currently “living in fear” and “hiding in the proverbial closet”. This is tragic.

Luke 9:26 in the New Testament states: “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me [Jesus Christ] and of my words [the bible], of him shall the Son of man [Jesus Christ] be ashamed, when he [Jesus Christ] shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels”

Translation? If YOU, as a “Christian”, are ashamed of Jesus Christ and/or his words – ANY of his words (Old OR New Testament) – Jesus Christ will be ashamed of YOU during the Great White Throne Judgement/Judgement Day IN FRONT OF THE PRESENCE OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER AND HIS HOLY ANGELS!

Now think about it for a minute. Think about what that truly means. Let it sink in for a bit………

“If I, a Christian, am ashamed of Jesus Christ and/or ANY part of his gospel (Old OR New Testament), then Jesus Christ will be ETERNALLY ASHAMED of ME, on Judgement Day, in the presence of the Heavenly Father & His Holy Angels!” 

Matthew 10:33 echoes this sentiment: “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven”

Conclusion? To have Jesus Christ condemn an unfortunate soul to “the lake of fire” for denying him – on Judgement Day – is ONE thing. But for him to do it IN FRONT OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER & HOLY ANGELS? It’s more like a PUBLIC SENTENCING/ EXECUTION, FOLKS!

In the New Testament, we read the case of the apostle Peter denying Jesus 3 times. But afterwards, Peter repented and went about preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

So does that mean if you deny Jesus ONCE before someone, that that means you’re automatically going to the lake of fire after you die? No, ofcourse not, ESPECIALLY if you quickly repent and vow to never deny Him again! What it means (in that bible passage) is that a person PERPETUALLY denies Him before others (rather that person denies Him in their heart or not is besides the point), and is PERPETUALLY ASHAMED of the gospel (ANY part of the gospel, be it Old or New Testament or BOTH!) 

Some Christians, sadly, probably feel “ashamed” about the Old Testament, since in it, there’s lots of warfare and because Eve converses with a “talking serpent” in the Garden of Eden. They might even go so far as to say/think: “Adam & Ever didn’t REALLY happen……….it’s just *allegory* of sorts”.

And YES….this same type of theoretical person might proudly proclaim the name of Jesus everywhere they go and be “proud” of the New Testament, even testifying OF/ABOUT the New Testament to others……..But IF they’re “ashamed” of the Old Testament in ANY type of way, (either in the depths of their hearts/minds/souls and/or among other people), then they are, in effect, ashamed of PART of the gospel since the Lord is the same yesterday, today and evermore; He’s everlasting!

John 1:1-3 states: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made”

Therefore, if a Christian is all in love with the New Testament but despises/is ashamed of the Old Testament, then essentially, in a nutshell, that Christian is LITERALLY metaphorically saying to Jesus: “I like you in the New Testament but I don’t like you at all in the Old Testament”.

Newsflash: JESUS WAS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT! In Luke 9:26 and Matthew 24:30 in the New Testament, he calls himself the Son of Man, right? Guess what?

Daniel 7:13-14 in the OLD TESTAMENT says: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed“

1 John 5:10 and Romans 1:4 in the NEW Testament, respectively, proclaim: “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son” —-“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead”

While Daniel 3:25 in the OLD Testament reads: “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God“

Denying the Old Testament (or being “ashamed” of it), is really no different than metaphorically saying to Jesus: “I like your white garment but I HATE your sandals!” Or “I totally dig your sandals but your white garment is something no self-respecting individual would wear”.

THE BIBLE IS NOT A CAFETERIA, FOLKS! JESUS’S WORDS ARE NOT A “CAFETERIA!” 

And just like Peter, there’s many Christians today who proclaim: “No Jesus, I’d NEVER deny you!” 

So why then do they reject the Old Testament and see it as “no longer viable or relevant?” Why do they treat Jesus’s words AS IF they’re a “cafeteria” where they can just pick and choose which words they like (Old Vs. New Testament) and which words they don’t?

There’s even Christians out there today who pick apart the Old and New Testaments THEMSELVES, such as: “Well……I like THIS part of the Old Testament but I hate THAT part of the Old Testament” or “I like THIS part of the New Testament but DESPISE THAT PART”.

THE BIBLE IS NOT A SHOE STORE WHERE ONE CAN JUST “PICK OUT” WHAT SHOE FITS AND WHAT SHOE DOESN’T! JESUS’S TRUTH DOESN’T REVOLVE AROUND *FEELINGS & EMOTIONS* AND WHAT *FEELS/SEEM RIGHT*! THE BIBLE AND JESUS’S TRUTH SIMPLY **IS** AND THERE’S NO TAMPERING WITH IT! 

THE BIBLE’S TRUTH (JESUS’S TRUTH) IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND EVERMORE. IT’S EVERLASTING!!!!

What ALOT of Christians don’t realize today is that Jesus Christ was PROPHESIED OF in the Old Testament, while ALSO simultaneously making “pre-flesh appearences” IN the Old Testament – known as “Christophanies” – (look it up on Google). So essentially, that’s WHY people are – in effect – actually DENYING JESUS *when* they deny/ignore/are ashamed of the Old Testament! 

In fact, let me take this a step further. There’s OVER 333+ Messianic Prophecies in the Old Testament, foretelling of a coming (in-the-flesh appearing) of a “Jewish Messiah” that were SUCCESSFULLY FULFILLED BY Jesus Christ in the New Testament: https://yeshua777.wordpress.com/m/

Therefore, the New Testament is “Volume 2” of Jesus’s Words, a CONTINUATION of the Old Testament. So who are WE to DENY “Volume 1” of God’s Truth (Old Testament) that FORETOLD of “Volume 2 (New Testament)?” 

So I leave you all with THIS question: Do YOU believe the bible (the COMPLETE bible – Old + New Testament) – is the FULL written Word of God? If not, why? Because HOW you answer that question will determine your fate before Jesus on the Day of Judgement! I pray that any person who reads this WILL accept the COMPLETE written truth of Jesus!

[Please note: IF you live in a country or region where ONLY the New Testament is available or ONLY the Old Testament is available, or where practically NO bibles are available, don’t fret, Jesus knows! Although you should try to do everything in your power that you possibly can TO GET access to BOTH Testaments, Old and New. Jesus will HONOR your quest for The Truth! 😉 And remember: to die for Christ is GAIN, while to live for the Devil is SPIRITUAL FOOLISHNESS!].