But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." -James 1:5-8
We live in a country that has almost anything that the world can offer, however, just because it is there accessible to us, it does not give us as Christians the reason to partake of it. Many a Christian has compromised their stand on the Bible as the word of God and as their final authority because of the way this world is heading. The world would like nothing more than for a Christian to forsake the way he/she believes and come down to eye level with the world. How can a Christian be of one mind and have an unwavering faith, if he or she is at eye level with the world? It is impossible...
We see in 2 Corinthians 10:5 where it says, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" and also 1 Corinthians 1:10 where it says, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but be ye perfectly joined together in the SAME MIND and in the same judgment." and 2 Timothy 1:7 where it says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." The world wants nothing more than for a Christian to either cave completely and conform to its image altogether or become a hypocrite, double minded and unstable as water. The world wants us Christians to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, to lay down our sword and shield and put a cloak of carnality over the armor that we have been exhorted to wear into battle.
Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virture, and if there be any praise, think on these things."When we place ourselves at eye level with the world, we show that we no longer fully trust the word of God as our final authority, that we see nothing wrong with the way the world acts, and nothing wrong with the lifestyle that the world embraces. Romans 12:1-2 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Serving the Lord is not something that you can go through the motions doing. When you surrender to serve the Lord, you are giving Him YOUR LIFE in servitude to Him. We are not freed from the bondage of sin and the bondage of the world to go back into the world and do whatever we want to do. We are freed from the bondage of sin and the bondage of the world for the purpose of serving our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ. If your faith in Him is not unwavering, if you are willing to compromise to the world standard for a Christian and not seek the old paths and do all you can to reach the standard set forth by our Lord Jesus Christ, you are double minded, unstable in all your ways, and will faint in the day of adversity. Many people look to celebrity "Christians" as role models, but when they cave, many of those who follow that celebrity will cave as well because that celebrity was an influential part of their life. We are not to place anybody or anything before God in our lives. When we do, the instability begins. When you take your eyes off the Lord, the instability begins. When you stray from the path the Lord is leading you down, you fall, you compromise, and oftentimes you will probably fail to realize it. When you fall and compromise, the word of God is no longer a joy to you, but every time you hear it preached and read it it convicts you of what you have done against Christ and you will not have joy until you repent and return to the path.
Christians, brothers and sisters in Christ, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of having unwavering faith in God. It is God who is the source of wisdom, the source of strength, the source of light, the source of life, the source of hope, and it is God who has called us all to service. We have a commission from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, it is Mark 16:15. Go. Preach the gospel. Stand for Christ. Stand for truth. Stand for righteousness. In the name of Jesus Christ, stand. In the name of Jesus Christ, defend. In the name of Jesus Christ, advance. This is not a calling for some. It is a calling for ALL WHO ARE BORN AGAIN, BLOOD BOUGHT, CHILDREN OF GOD.
Be steadfast, Christians. DO NOT compromise a single inch of ground to the world, the flesh, or the devil.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." -1 Corinthians 15:58
Your fellow warrior and brother in Christ,
William L. Payne
1 Corinthians 15:58
