Council Against FaithAfter Jesus resurrected Lazarus, the Jewish religious leaders were thrown into a quandary. "Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation" (John 11:47-48)Off the record, even the enemies of Jesus Christ acknowledged the miracles that he performed (John 3:2; 12:42). These miracles were intended to cause belief in the Lord and his Word (John 2:11, 23; 20:30-31). How wonderful to think, unobstructed in anyway, every honest heart would believe on Jesus Christ. Yet, this proposition horrified the religious leaders of the day, for they would lose their position at the helm of contemporary religion and the worldly esteem that accompanied it. Their solution was to erase the miracle under consideration; they plotted to murder Lazarus. "But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus" (John 12:10-11).Unfortunately, there is still a council against faith today. The chief-executive-officer (CEO) is the devil himself. "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).The devil and his board of devious directors disguise themselves as servants of God, thereby deceiving countless souls. "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works" (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).Consequently, this unholy company represents itself with false Messiahs (Matthew 24:5), false apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13) and false gospels (Galatians 1:6-9). These are the ploys that obstruct the faith of millions. Even the children of God must be careful lest they succumb to such devilishness (Matthew 24:24). Each Christian must discern between true and false prophets (1 John 4:1); and, the tool for this discernment is God's Word alone (Acts 17:11). Potential danger may lurk without or within the Lord's church (Acts 20:29-30). Whereas denominationalism is an obvious departure from Bible truth to the clear thinking student of the God's Word, more subtle deviations are brandished by some among us. How wonderful that, unobstructed, the world would gladly believe on Jesus. Yet, how sad, because of numerous obstructions and the relentlessness of the evil army of darkness, headed by Satan himself, most of the souls who have ever lived, have already, or will cross the threshold of eternity ravaged by sin and lost. How horrible! Then, how momentous the mission of the army of light, with Jesus the Captain of our salvation leading, to counter these obstructions and inoculate the lost instead with saving truth. Every Christian is a soldier (on active duty); each congregation is a fighting unit (surrounded by hostile forces); and, the brotherhood is the nation of God (engaged in mortal combat). The future of the entire free spiritual world depends, in part, on each child of God. Are you well trained, able and willing to faithfully serve the Captain of your salvation, unto death if necessary? If not, why not? If not now, when? |