Yet it has no real root in him, but is temporary (inconstant, lasts but a little while); and when affliction or trouble or persecution comes on account of the Word, at once he is caused to stumble [he is repelled and begins to distrust and desert Him Whom he ought to trust and obey] and he falls away. Matthew 13:21 In his parable of differing soils (Matthew 13:3-9) Jesus specifies some of the reasons certain people initially embrace Christianity, often with a great deal of enthusiasm and fervor, but then after a while bail out never to establish a root system which bears genuine and lasting fruit. Those identified as the first to leave do so because of a time of testing. This is some kind of painful situation or persecution that arises in a persons life because of his or her new alliance with Christ. This is easy to imagine, knowing the power of social pressures and the unsympathetic friends who are quick to disparage and ridicule ones confession to follow Jesus. When Christ costs friendships, some new adherents of Jesus are quick to say forget it. The other primary reason is variously described as the cares of the world, the pleasures of life, or simply a desire for other things. The assortment of worldly attractions will certainly put ones supposed faith to the test. Time will reveal whether people who claim to follow Christ will actually experience a God-given consistency in following Christ, or will instead retreat to following their own cravings for the temporal things of this world. So, without being cynical, we must be cautious knowing that based on Jesus teaching, not every Im for Christ is genuine. SELAH!
Posted on: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 11:37:48 +0000
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