A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS
‘WHO ARE YOU THEN ?” THEY ASKED. “WE NEED TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO THOSE WHO SENT US. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF ?” HE SAID, “ I AM A VOICE OF ONE CRYING OUT IN THE WILDERNESS: MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD - JUST AS ISAIAH THE PROPHET SAID.” NOW THEY HAD BEEN SENT BY THE PHARISEES. SO THEY ASKED HIM, “WHY THEN DO YOU BAPTIZE IF YOU AREN’T THE MESSIAH OR ELIJAH, OR THE PROPHET ?” “ I BAPTIZE WITH WATER”, JOHN ANSWERED THEM. “SOMEONE STANDS AMONG YOU, BUT YOU DON’T KNOW HIM.” “HE IS THE ONE COMING AFTER ME.” …. “LOOK, THE LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.” EXCERPTS FROM JOHN 1 IN HOLY SCRIPTURE.
ARE YOU A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS ? This has been a challenging week for us all as Christians. Our Brother In Christ, Charlie KIrk, was brutally assassinated at a college event in Utah while opening up discourse about some of the things that have become so divisive in our Culture. Charlie’s death grieves me deeply. My wife and I had the privilege of attending an evening with Charlie and Dennis Prager in Scottsdale Arizona. One thing was crystal clear about Charlie…HE LOVED JESUS AS HIS LORD AND SAvIOR ! What a beautiful young man….sadly, taken way too soon. I am writing about him, because Charlie was truly, A Voice In The Wilderness ! He was not afraid to stand up for his FAITH, BELIEFS, and most importantly, GOD’S TRUTH ! John the Baptist was unafraid to call out Sin and Wickedness….and they took his life. The world does Not Like God’s Truth, and it despises those who fearlessly Proclaim It ! The world does its best to shout down or eliminate God’s Truth. The world tries to paint TRUTH as a bad thing, full of hatred and those who would Speak It as bigoted, unloving and intolerant. They just don’t understand. GOD DESPISES SIN. GOD IS HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS. HIS WAYS ARE PERFECT AND PURE….and HE WILL NEVER CHANGE. It begs a simple Question” for us all as Followers Of Christ. WILL WE BE A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS TOO ? Will we truly engage in a heartfelt way to SHARE OUR FAITH AND THE GOSPEL WITH OTHERS ? Charlie Kirk was driven by his desire to see everyone he met and engaged with hear the GIFT OF THE GOSPEL. To understand GOD AND HIS CHARACTER. TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH ! Not a self made Delusion about what any particular theory or depravity might worship….NO. HE SHARED GOD’S TRUTH ! Will We Also ? Will we Stand For Christ ? Most importantly, Will We Strive To Tell Our Personal Gospel Story Of Redemption and Transformation…or will we Simply Remain…Silent ?
FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL, FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION TO EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES, TO THE JEWS FIRST AND ALSO TO THE GREEK. FOR IN IT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS REVEALED FROM FAITH, FOR FAITH, AS IT IS WRITTEN, “ THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” Romans 1: 16-17
NOW AFTER JOHN WAS ARRESTED, JESUS CAME INTO GALILEE, PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL OF GOD, AND SAYING, “THE TIME IS FULFILLED, AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND; REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL.” Mark 1: 14-15
AND PETER SAID TO THEM, “REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.” Acts 2:38
We are called in the Great Commission in Matthew 28: 16-20 BY JESUS to “ THEREFORE GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. AND SURELY I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE.” WHY ? Because for each and every one of us, it is a Choice of Eternal Life With Christ in His Kingdom; Or, Eternal suffering and separation from God in a Lake Of Fire. ALL ARE FREE TO MAKE THEIR CHOICE, but God has Commissioned Us As Believers to SHARE THE GOSPEL, SHARE THE GOOD NEWS. GOD HIMSELF WILL DECIDE EACH AND EVERY PERSON’S FATE. I know that I must be a Voice and Light into the darkness to share Jesus Christ everywhere I go. God has given me the Gift and Purpose to WRITE AND PROCLAIM HIM AS LORD, SAVIOR, AND KING :) I will do it for as long as I am able to ! Write it, speak it, with joy, love, and sureness in His Love and with His Assurance and Authority. It truly is my heart’s desire. I so want for others to find the Love, Grace, and Peace that comes in a relationship with Christ. The clarity and comfort of being guided by the Holy Spirit. The Love and Caring of The Father. IT IS WHAT COMPLETES ME ! It is what completes everyone who has given their life to Jesus.
HE HAS SHOWN YOU, O MORTAL, WHAT IS GOOD. AND WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU ? TO ACT JUSTLY AND TO LOVE MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD. Micah 6:8
BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL. Matthew 6:33
HE HAS SAVED US AND CALLED US TO A HOLY LIFE - NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING WE HAVE DONE BUT BECAUSE OF HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE. THIS GRACE WAS GIVEN TO US IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, BUT IT HAS NOW BEEN REVEALED THROUGH THE APPEARING OF OUR SAVIOR, CHRIST JESUS, WHO HAS DESTROYED DEEATH AND BROUGHT LIFE AND IMMORTALITY TO LIGHT THROUGH THE GOSPEL. 2 Timothy 1:10
The world would like to Silence those who Follow Christ. The world would like to Be Your God. The world will promote every lie it can to supply you with False Truths that will UNDO YOU ! The world operates in Chaos, because Satan rules it for a time…but that time will soon come to an end with the Glorious Return Of Jesus Christ to claim His kingdom ! Our voices need to move INTO the wilderness that is The World. Fear Not, for Our God Is With US :) His LOVE will overcome the darkness that Evil has put into every corner of our world. BE GOD’S SALT AND LIGHT. Pray that those who have embraced evil will be changed, and find God’s Truth and Grace. Never stop sharing the Gospel. MAKE IT YOUR LIFE !
I’m thankful for all my brothers and sisters in Christ, for we are TRULY ONE IN JESUS. May we all stand together in Strength and Unity for all that lies ahead:). GOD BLESS CHARLIE/JAA
WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN BUT YOU ? AND EARTH HAS NOTHING I DESIRE BESIDES YOU. Psalm 73:25