Our paragraph topic is: (He tells them of trials and hard times to come) Part 5.
There are those who believe with all their hearts and all their minds and all their soul. And they know within themselves the truth of who they are and what they believe. It is difficult to sway them or change their minds in what they believe. Trump believers are that way. They would die for what they believe in the man, the symbol of what he stands for and what they believe he would do for them.
In the days of Christ true Christians were that way also. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and gave their lives for what they believed and knew to be within them. They had the knowledge and the soul of Christ to guide them no matter what happened. True followers. Then there are those who were partial believers who only believed because they saw others believing and believed in what others believed. Their belief is partially based in what they knew from outside of themselves and not from the spirit that was within them. Then there were those who were borderline believers who may or may not believe. They were there only because it was something new and they did not want to be left out.
What happened when oppression came? What happened when Christians were persecuted for their beliefs? What happened when followers were put in jail, slain, killed, murdered, fed to the lions simply because they knew that there was a God who loved them? Did all fall away? Will the followers scatter? Will no one believe or worship as before? Who will believe? Who will carry the message? Who will gather? Who will pray and give alms, heal the sick, cure for the lame, feed the hungry, pray for the dying? Will all be lost. Christ told his disciples during this time of tribulation and many: "Will betray one another."
Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Those famous words of Christ as he hung on the cross asking that those who persecuted him be forgiven, how can we accept such compassion for such an unforgiving crime. Yet there it was, spoken from the mouth of our Lord and Savior, an example for us to follow, if we can only understand the depth of his wisdom and knowledge.
We are but grains of sand in the Father's hands and yet he knows each and every grain by name. He loves his creations of grains that he has given life to even though we are sinners. We strive to do his will daily and live without sin. That is our struggle, that is our battle. Score one for sin. Score one for justice. What will be the ultimate tally? God forgive us. God have mercy on us. God have pity on these grains of sand.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ . The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
