Fighting for the Truth-Even If it Hurts

How many times has one heard, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."? It's hard to voice an opinion knowing when you are in the minority. These days if you aren't politically correct you stand to be ostracized by society, friends, or peers. There is a clear illustration in the Bible which demonstrates such an occasion. There was a blind man in Jerusalem that Jesus healed on the Sabbath. This man in particular was born blind. The Pharisees and Sadducees were extremely angry that Jesus performed a miracle on the Sabbath day. They demanded to know how the blind man gained his sight and even doubted if he was blind in the first place. They called for his parents and asked them, "Is this your son who you say was born blind? How then does he know see?" (John 9:19). Instead of repeating what their son told everyone how Jesus healed him, the blind man parents caved under pressure from fear of being kicked out the synagogue. He parents said to the Pharisee and Sadducees, "He is of age; ask him" (John 9:21). That simple statement is indicative of how people choose not to get involved in situations that make them uncomfortable due to fear and wanting to be accepted. At the end of your life, when you take your last breath, will you be more comfortable knowing that you went out of your way to make everyone feel better or did you take a stand for what you know to be true in Christ? Jesus said, "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 10:33) To "deny" means to refuse to recognize or acknowledge; disown; disavow; repudiate. Knowing the principles of Christ, do you acknowledge evil when facing it? Unless one uses Jesus as the compass, during these Last Days, it's difficult for some to discern right from wrong and wrong from right.

Relying on your instincts is a part of daily life. Usually, your instincts are indicative of your feelings regarding a particular situation. Yet, there may be occasions when you ignore your instincts and decide to step out on faith. That is what the disciples had to do. They were faced with life or death because they proudly proclaimed to be believers in Christ, it hard not to imagine that they wanted to live. Nonetheless, they stood up and died for what they believed in. The apostles were outcasts, harassed, assaulted- ultimately put to death, yet they did not deny Christ. Political correctness was not a word in their vocabulary, they openly called evil evil and sin, sin.

Political correctness has run rampant in our society. Sinners have become overly sensitive when a light is shown on their sinful behavior. Not to mention, they have the support of an ill-informed world behind their evil and sinful deeds. Matter of fact, the world condemns those who cast a light on the darkness which permeates the world. Isaiah, the prophet warned, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20) How sad, it seems that the United States has developed more laws of protection for the guilty than the innocent.

In this politically charged atmosphere, a voice that carries a different tune definitely stands out. The question I have for many is, will you use your voice or will it stay in silence? Don't allow the weight of this world to change what you know to be spiritually and morally correct in Christ. Apostle Paul cautioned people. "See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men's ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah). (Colossians 2:8 AMP) This directive entails guarding the mind against anything that contradicts the Word of God. If and when an opportunity presents itself for you to stand for the truth in Jesus Christ, "Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand (Ephesians 6:13)." As the days quickly approach before Jesus' return, times in this world are going to get more difficult, especially for followers of Christ. Remember not only to stand for what you believe in, but also:

• Stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around your waist
• Have the breastplate of righteousness in place
• Keep your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace
• Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one
• Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
• Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests

Please stay in prayer for we will need the mercy of God to see our nation, America, through these Last Days. Don't be afraid to stand and speak the truth against obvious sin within our society-staying silent may indeed mean that you have fallen for anything.