A Time of Vexation....the Wayfarer 1/8/15

 A Time of Vexation
 1/8/15

"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.

And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of the unleavened bread.)

(Acts 12:1-3)

James was a wayfarer!

His dedication to the gospel, and to the Great commission given him by Christ cost him his life, as it eventually did Peter as well.

Since the crucifixion of Christ, which brought salvation to believers, and condemnation to those still refusing to believe, many have been and are still being martyred.

These have endured, and are enduring as required by Christ.

From Herod, to Hitler, to Pol Pot, to Idi Amin to the many dictators, kings and elevated leaders of men promoting only themselves and their ideas, much suffering and persecution proliferated, and continues to proliferate, wherever and whenever faith is strong, as that faith stands in the way of those ideas and ideals of men.

The news continues to be filled with reports of atrocity after atrocity throughout the world, persecution and execution of any willing to stand for the TRUTH as did this simple fisherman that turned wayfarer to assure the continuance of the gospel before being executed for doing so.

The faith of this apostle cost his mortal life, yet that very faith assured eternal life.

It is that faith that demands the gospel be preached and followed as well.

His prayers had legs. He remained faithful to death, preaching that same gospel preached by Christ, that same commandment of love in the face of the hatred he himself was subjected to for having that faith.

It was, and is, that sustaining element of faith, that will alone, allow the LIGHT of Christ to shine in this dark world, as the prophecy given by Christ is proven true each day through the barrage of negativity and hatred that permeate a world in denial of Him.

In the darkness of that world, that LIGHT still shines for any willing the candle to be lit simply through the belief and adherence to that simple message taught by Christ, carried to us by the wayfarers such as James, John, Peter and all the Apostles who so willingly gave heed to the call to “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

That LIGHT cannot and will not be extinguished from among us despite those who continue to attempt to snuff it out, one bright candle at a time, only to find hundreds more lit by the single candle they thought to extinguish.

Christ demanded, and requires still, that that candle be carried by his disciples until his return.

It has been passed to this generation and will be passed to each generation that follows until the Light returns to flood the world with the love that was and is given through it.

Either you carry the candle, and give legs to the prayers uttered, or you allow it to wane and be snuffed out by those still holding the desire for the darkness that exists when it is no longer carried.

The time has come to feed the flame of that candle with the demanded love, to take a stand for the Light, or to allow the darkness to consume both you and those you love.

Active participation in carrying that candle is required.

 Apathy and inaction with lip service to that commandment of love will not suffice.

Again as stated so many times, either you is, or you aint!

Paul, yet another wayfarer reminded us:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

(Ephesians 2:8-10)

It is that gift of grace that powered and powers the continuation of that Light until the return of our Lord, and if that gift is truly accepted, then the works will automatically follow as well.

“So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty,

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he have faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body: what doth it profit?

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew the my faith by my works.

(James 3:12-18)

The time has come for those truly having faith to show that faith. No longer will words alone suffice as weapons against the onslaught of those attempting to snuff the Light from the world.

This simple sinner was and is indeed saved by faith through grace, and would that all were able to comprehend the simplicity of that gift given only by means of that grace.

This old soldier stands at the forefront yet and still demanding that those professing that faith hold high the candle that is held by those truly having that faith and make the difference that is required of us to make in the world of darkness around us.

Christ purchased us with his very blood. We are mere instruments in the continuing necessity to bring that gospel preached by the apostles and all the martyrs that daily show the brightness of that LIGHT by holding fast to that faith, and refusing to negate it in the face of adversity.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

2 Timothy 1:12-14 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

¹³ Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer