Living in faith

What does it entail and what benefit does one gain by living a life of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Are we living in the faith to simply receive such benefits? For if this is the sole reason of our faith then it is prudent to note that such a faith is futile. It is no small matter that the Christians of old suffered severe persecution, such that would make the hardest of men reflect on how such persecutions were carried out by our fellow human beings. By such sufferings these men and women have reaped eternal benefits by rejecting worldly and material benefits that some may view as 'blessings' from God, such was their rejection that they gave their very lives to attain a crown of glory.

It may also be prudent to state that a Christian may not partake in the benefits that faith in the Lord Jesus will bring unless suffering precedes such a benefit. Consider the words of Jesus "if anyone desires to come after Me, let Him deny himself, and take up His cross daily and follow me" Luke 9:23, but what does it imply "to pick up His cross daily" it implies carrying a great burden, it implies struggles over the flesh and over life and the worldly pleasures that please the senses. It also implies that to follow the Lord in faith will cause us to grow weary due to the endless temptations and trials that we will undoubtedly encounter along our journey. If we desire Him who loves us then we must be willing to suffer and put an end to the love of our self. We must kill our desires by resisting all forms of evil and sin, rather than falling a victim to such desires we should beseech the Lord through prayer, fasting and weeping so that He may assist us whilst carrying our cross. If our life as Christians consist of abundant benefits then we must ask ourselves, are we living a life of faith in the Lord Jesus, or are we living a secular life hidden behind a curtain of cliches? Oh wretched men that we are! We speak so eloquently about the Lord but our focus is on wealth, cars and property, our lips confess one thing but our hearts another and we deceive ourselves into believing that such blessings come from the Lord.

Desire those blessings that will allow you to empty your heart so that there is room for the Lord to dwell within, desire trials and sufferings always beseeching the Lord to assist you. How can we claim to be sanctified if we are yet living in our sins? Does a pig not lay in its filth completely satisfied in filling itself with waste? How then if we continue to live with a depraved heart can we claim to be sanctified? But be ever watchful, as the Lord states that "no one knows the day nor the hour" and "He will come like a thief in the night", keep yourself protected by prayer, fasting and giving of alms, reading scripture and always ensure that the Body and Blood of our Lord is taken regularly as by so doing He will "abide in you and you in He". Before benefits through faith are provided, suffering must occur, the Lord Himself suffered before being glorified with the Father so that through His sufferings we may suffer and be glorified with Him. Amen.