BABIES' BREATH

WE HAVE RECEIVED A TRUTH THAT CAN NOT BE WALKED AWAY FROM WITHOUT DECISION. WHAT DO WE DO NOW? WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? IF WE ACCEPT THE CALL TO MAKE DISCIPLES THAT MAKE DISCIPLES AND RECOGNIZE THE MISSION OF PURSUING SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION WE CAN EITHER DENY THEIR RELEVANCY TO US OR BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS. THE CHOICE IS AS EVIDENT AS THE CALL ITSELF, AND TO RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH OF JESUS’ COMMISSION IS TO BEGIN LIVING BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR THE PURPOSE OF FULFILLING THIS MISSION.

MANY TEMPTATIONS WILL COME AND EVEN ARE ALREADY CLEAR, BUT WE CANNOT LOSE THE TRUTH OR COMPROMISE OUR GOAL. HIS SACRIFICE PROVES WE HAVE NO COST COMPARABLE OR OF GREATER VALUE IN ANY WAY. THE TEMPTATIONS I SEE LOOMING OR POSSIBLY AS THE MOST RATIONAL TO OUR NATURE ARE PROBABLY ALREADY COMING AT US. FIRST OF ALL, MANY PEOPLE OR EVEN BOOKS WILL TRY TO TELL US THAT THIS MISSION ISN’T RELEVANT TO THE COLLEGE STUDENT. MAKING DISCIPLES? HOW CAN A COLLEGE STUDENT HAVE TIME FOR SUCH INVESTMENT? WHEN? AND THESE QUESTIONS CAN BE VERY PERSUADING, HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT VALID. THE TRUTH IS, IF THIS MISSION DEPENDS IN ANY WAY ON US, IT WILL FAIL. WE CAN NOT LIVE AS IF THE WORK DONE IN OTHERS COMES FROM US, IT IS ALL ABOUT CHRIST. HE IS THE GOD WHO IS RAISING HIS CHURCH, WE ARE SIMPLY TO OBEY AND KNOW THAT HE IS FAITHFUL.

IF THIS TEMPTATION DOESN’T INTRIGUE US, ANOTHER TACTIC OF THE ENEMY MOST ASSUREDLY WILL SIMPLY BE TO CONTINUE LIVING AS IF IN IGNORANCE. BUT CAN WE DENY THE TRUTH THAT WE HAVE HEARD? I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT SOMEONE SOMEWHERE PROBABLY HAS, BUT THIS IS ONLY AN EXAMPLE OF “CARDIOSCELOSIS,” WE CANNOT LET OUR HEARTS BE HARDENED. THE FUTURE FOR THOSE WHO REJECT THE TRUTH IS NEVER GOOD, BUT THE ENEMY’S DESIRE WILL BE FOR US TO BUY INTO AN IDEA OF LIVING THE SAME WAY. THE MESSAGE AND POWER OF THE GOSPEL IS TRANSFORMATIONAL AT ITS VERY LEAST. MOST FRESH IN MY MIND PERSONALLY IS THE PASSAGE OF JOHN 9. THE MAN SPOKE OF IN THIS PASSAGE ENCOUNTERS CHRIST AND HIS LIFE IS CHANGED. THERE IS NO GOING BACK AND LIVING IN ANY WAY THE SAME AS BEFORE, NEITHER CAN WE. THE DECISION MUST EITHER BE TO PURSUE THE TRUTH OR DENY IT. WE CAN NOT LET THE ENEMY CONVINCE US THAT WE CAN LIVE AS IF THE SAME- JESUS NEVER ALLOWED THAT. ALONG THE LINES OF TRANSFORMATION WE HAVE EVEN MORE TEMPTATION.

COULD IT BE THAT TRANSFORMATION COULD OCCUR LATER? AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO ENCOUNTER CHRIST, WHEN DID JESUS BRING PEOPLE TO THE POINT OF DECISION ONLY TO TELL THEM “THINK ABOUT IT.?” I CAN’T FIND THAT PASSAGE ANYWHERE? THERE REALLY WILL BE POINTS OF DECISION COMING FOR US ALL. DO WE CONTINUE THE SAME WAY AS BEFORE, PRETENDING WE DIDN’T HEAR ANYTHING TOO DECISIVE? DO WE ACCEPT THE MISSION ITSELF, BUT POSTPONE OUR ACTION AND PURSUIT OF ITS FULFILLMENT? I DON’T THINK ANY OF THESE OPTIONS ARE VIABLE. IN FACT, I DON’T THINK WE REALLY HAVE AN OPTION. IT SEEMS THAT OUR CALL IS CLEAR. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS, AND THERE ISN’T REALLY A LOWER BAR TO AIM FOR. TO OUR BETTERMENT, THOUGH, WE EACH HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AS WELL AS EACH OTHER. WE MUST CONTINUE TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT, WE MUST CONTINUE TO APPROACH THE THRONE REPEATEDLY AND WITH CONFIDENCE, KNOWING THAT OUR LORD IS FAITHFUL TO COMPLETE THE GOOD WORK WHICH HE HAS BEGUN IN US. LET US ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY AND CONTINUOUSLY LIFT EACH OTHER UP IN PRAYER. GOD IS MOVING, BUT THE OPPOSITION WILL DO ANYTHING TO KILL IT. WHEN IS THE MOST OPPORTUNE TIME TO MAIM OR DISABLE ANYTHING? WHEN IT IS YOUNG.

WE ARE AT OUR INFANCY, GOD WILL BRING MORE TO HIMSELF SOON, BUT EVEN SO, THE ENEMIES’ GREATEST OPPORTUNITY IS NOW, AND WE MUST KEEP LIFTING EACH OTHER UP. LET US REMAIN FAITHFUL AND ENCOURAGING.
-G.N.