It is bad in America, and it is about to become worse. How much more succinctly can it be stated? In that, a diminishing number of this nation's Christians are going to be able to cavort about credulously with dopey grins on their faces, saying "I'm having a great day in the Lord 'cause every day is a great day in the Lord, hallelujah!" That face and those words will ring hollow to the lost man who is unemployed, up to his chin in debt, losing his home, and can't feed his children. Do you want to be a bold witness and show this man that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life? Do you desire this man and his family to know the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding? If you truly desire this, then shut-up the TALK and WALK the WALK!
Don't tell this man that every day is a great day for you, hallelujah. Instead, I would suggest asking him if there is anything that you can do to help. If you don't have anything to give him in regards to food or money - as chances are you may be undergoing a similar struggle - ask him if it is alright to pray for him and his family, right there, on the spot. If you are blessed to have food and/or money to give this man and his family; give it to them and pray for them anyway! And in this, please be passionate, compassionate, sober, humble, and sincere. Please ladies and gentlemen, remember that you are the hands and feet of Christ on this earth and doing will demonstrate more than saying. I can guarantee that if you are sincere in your walk, you will be given the opportunity to talk. And when you talk of Jesus, please do so with humility and sobriety, but do not suppress your passion, your peace and your joy. Yes, the eminence of sincere Holy Spirit-fueled joy is a wonderful thing. But, I can't help but wonder how many dopey grins coupled with goofy, overbearing, obnoxious witness are actually the work of Satan and not the Lord?Our walk with Jesus is not all sunshine and roses, and we in our witness should never attempt to convince a new believer or someone that is about to be found that it will be. Salvation does not mean that the rest of our earthly life will be a ride on the Gravy Train. The new believer in the Truth should know that once Jesus becomes the Lord of our lives, we will be at odds with the world. When we are at odds with the world there is rough terrain to be navigated. Many new believers become discouraged and fall away because they are somehow convinced that when it comes to an bountifully-blessed worldly life, they would merely have to "name it and claim it" in Jesus. As the Storm intensifies over the coming weeks and months, many may name it but they won't be able to claim it, as their mere survival will require real faith, consistent prayer, teamwork, sobriety, and humility. But, God will work as He is faithful, and it will be manifested in amazing ways.
The coming weeks and months that close out 2010 will require us to be real with the Lord, ourselves, and with others. We can no longer afford the luxury of being Christ's cartoons. The Storm will be financial, societal, militaristic, terroristic, seismic, meteorological, and spiritual - but it will not yet be the Great Tribulation. Lives and souls are in the balance, as this will be war. With the indwelt Holy Spirit at work inside of us, we can be sober and effective witnesses, for we are indeed God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
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