” And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
” Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity, for they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb”
” Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:1; 4).
Many times, we are all faced with decisive moment in life, be it a personal, political, group, corporate, and so forth. We are all aware of such moment around us at home, abroad, on the job, in our establishments, and our nations.
On what do we base our decisions at such moment, is it on the wishes of the multitude, our friends, or our convictions?
Also, can such a time of decision make a positive or unpleasant impact on the individual or others throughout their lives?
What influences such decision, loyalty to the group, or clicks, even when our consciences tell us the right way?
How then, do we know the path to get our cue when under societal, group, and personal ego pressures?
We may ask ourselves what influences our decision? Jeremiah 17:9 rightly tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?
Also, Romans 1:28 says,
” And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting”
The man, King David, was able to conclude that man is unpredictable, limited in understanding, and may falter in his way of reasoning. He saw the commandments and the law of God as the right reference and guide to the ways of man. He said,
” How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You! Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes! With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word” (Psalm 119: 9-16).
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).
One may also assume it is okay to declare loyalty to the group, so long as one still lives in Christ. The scripture declares “you shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many yo pervert justice” (Exodus 23:2).
Intimacy with the Lord requires consistency in our walk with Him, a holy living in word and action, ”And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine” (Leviticus 2:26). The Lord has called the Christian to a life apart from sin and He said, ”Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2Timothy 2:19).
Our life of intimacy can only be enhanced when we don’t play a double standard in our Christian walk. We are called to stand on the truth of the Word, so we do not grieve the Holy Spirit that lives within us.
David said,” Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law, he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1: 1-3).
It is generally uncomfortable to be a stand-alone Christian. We all feel comfortable to flow along with the trend and group norms. We are scared of the consequences of disloyalty to group collaboration, ideas and prefer to go with the flow; even when our conscience reminds us the decisions are inaccurate or untrue.
Many made terrible decisions to appease friends and family, which ended up disrupting some of their freedom, integrity, and peace. This group of people live in remorse wishing they understood the implications of their past decisions of falsehood.
We discussed earlier in the blog series about some four Hebrew children in the book of Daniel, Chapters 3 & 6. They decided to ignore the fatal outcome of being thrown into the den of lions and the blasting furnace of fire; they held on to their devotion and faith in God, living in the truth of God, rather than compromise with their accusers. The Lord delivered these men from the oppression, and exalted His name in the nation through their bravery to stand alone for Him.
There are many other stories in the Bible of men who stood for truth and righteousness because of their faith; and to this we have been called. Christians every day are vulnerable to many situations of persecution because of their faith, some have experienced, and many are currently going through the tests, up to torture.
At conversion we became heavenly citizens, we were translated to the Kingdom of heaven where Christ lives. Our stay here on earth is temporary, even for those who live on earth for over a hundred years. Therefore, let us meditate on 1 Peter 2, ” For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (v.21).
Colossians 3, ” If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians” (v.1-4).
” Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
Read and study the Word daily, for out of it is the wisdom of the Almighty God, the activation of the Spirit of God in man, which strengthens the spirit of man to walk with God and the ability to stand alone on the truth.
Use the link below to refresh on the book of Proverbs 7-9