What is seen...

"“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;  nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

"Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”" John 8:12

"Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14

"You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4:4 

I am certain that today's post has more to do with stirring people up by way of reminders, as it says in 2 Peter 3, than anything.  

People can get a very wrong world view based on what lies they have been told growing up in life.  

I do not believe that what God shares with me this morning has anything to do with launching an attack on others.  As I am guided, so I write.  So if you have further questions then ask, I can try to answer, but I may not be able to.  Not that it means that there is no answer, but rather that I may not be able to locate one who knows more of the Scriptures than I. 

We live in a world that is pushing diversity.  That everyone should legally be granted the ability to do as they please and be accepted, without malice or anything else.

That's not what the Bible says and that's why most who support such a philosophy hate Christians and Christian beliefs.  It's why legal battles take place against those who are Christians wanting the same as those who cry for diversity.  To be able to live as they believe.  Yet the loud voices in opposition demand they be accepted by those who do not believe as they do. 

What makes matters worse is Christianity today seems to be so watered down compared to centuries past.  We 'enjoy' protections in most places from persecution and prosecution.  But not everywhere. 

Christ said what we are to be.  The light of the world. This...if you understand what light is, can be a threat to those who are not in that light.  To paraphrase Blackaby this morning, we aren't saved just to get out of Hell free.  We have a responsibility to share with others. To let the light in us shine in a pitch dark world. 

There's also parts of this life that indeed will seem to paint a target on you.  Because the darkness of this world cannot comprehend the light.  Scripture also says that.  The passage in 2 Corinthians is one many don't understand.  Some within the Church don't get it some outside of it don't get it.  Those outside of the Church and its sadly growing within it, do not understand.  God warns people about believers intentionally marrying unbelievers.  It's not about skin color.  

It's spoken of elsewhere by Paul concerning a marriage that already exists where one might be saved and one whom isn't.  Now where the world has a deep seated hatred for those whom hold to the truth of the Bible is that it IS only marriage as defined by God.  One man and one woman.  God has spoken on this and regardless of what anyone personally thinks, His truth on it is what is absolute. 

He says in the beginning male and female God created them. For this reason a man and wife shall leave their father and mother.  He says in a few places where specifically man should not lay with a man as a man should with a woman.  He says all the same of women. They should not lay with another woman as they would with a man.  God calls it an abomination. 

It isn't about getting with the times.  It's taking God at His word.  This so-called diversity worldview hates Christians who stand on God's Word.  

What maked life harder on Christians today is the silky chains of temptations and justification.  The chains of compromise.  The chains of acceptance. 

This is on the part of Christians.  They allow the world's ideals into their lives and don't see the truth of God as they should. Their friendship with the world has darkened their eyes to the things of God. 

They don't realize they renamed hatred into other things. Renamed zealousness into other things.  Have taken worship of God and made it more like entertainment. 

In this friendship with the world Christians have brought many an idol into their lives and do not realize it.  Why? Because to not recognize something in a room when YOU are the light, means you have compromised the light, dimmed it so that it loses its efficiency.  Some expressions of this are "Oh I wasn't serious, it's all in fun!".  

Realize this...here's the truth.  

Jesus is THE way THE truth and THE life. 

Jesus is THE light of the world.  As Scripture says within Him is no shifting shadow.  There is absolutely no darkness. 

No compromise.  What He has said is truth is truth.  He said what man is to be like towards one another.  He said what marriage is to be like. He said who should and should not be in a relationship.  He has not only said but proven that His words never fail.  He has said what is idolatry.  He proved His authority by His life, His death, His burial and His Resurrection.  Period.  

That is why there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth upon His return and His judgment begins.  People in their hatred of the light will not get it but will at the time of judgement be made to understand it.

Consider your thinking of what you do and why you believe what you do.  If you are indeed a Christian are you letting your light shine or are you dowsing it so as to not offend?  Jesus said the world hated Him they won't treat you any different.  But...He also said to those who stand on God's Word.  Be encouraged He has overcome the world.  

Look at your life and see who it is that you live for.  Are you living for Jesus or yourself?