I recently posted the link to an article on Twitter with which I agreed. It brought criticism, not for the content, but for the source of the article. Nothing other than that for the criticism. And truly; I understand that critic's reasoning. There are some sources that I don't even bother reading or listening to because I know I cannot trust them. They've proved themselves unworthy of my trust. However, when an article comes across the net and there are other articles, and even individuals, who can confirm the truth of the article, it behooves me to heed the facts of the matter. Even a person I disagree with, at times, can be right on the facts.
I got into a conversation yesterday with a person who said they'd rather burn in hell than to live in heaven with Christians. That, my friends, was a horrific picture in my mind. Even the people I find abhorrent in my life, those who have hurt me beyond all measure of hurt, would be welcome in heaven with me. I say this because when we are in heaven, we are at peace with all. The Lord promises that there is no more sorrow, no more pain, no more darkness, no more hate. So to have any individual who may "hate" me on earth end up in heaven means that the individual has changed, been transformed, by the power of the blood-- by their own repentance and acceptance of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
If there is anything I know, I know that people can be changed and transformed by their relationship with Jesus Christ. I know this because there is no other reason for how some I know have changed. None but Jesus. His presence in their lives, and mine, has been the catalyst and the process by which they've gone from darkness, evil and selfishness to light, righteousness, and generosity. I've been there. I've walked in total and complete darkness and dallied with the evils of this world. I've been laughed at, rejected and ridiculed for the changes I've made in my life through Jesus Christ. And it's okay. It's okay today that people laugh and scoff and try to provoke me to wrath. It's perfectly okay.
"For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day." 2 Timothy 1:13
For some reason, the most hateful and vile comments can be found on the internet when a person voices an opinion about their faith, their religion, their consciences. It's the way of the world.
The key in dealing with these vitriolic comments is to be calm and to set yourself apart from the comment and the commenter. The slam, though admittedly directed at you, is not really meant for you if you are a believer-- its target is Jesus. It is said to hurt you, but you are protected by the blood of Jesus-- the power of His victory, the shield of your faith in Him. He has already won the war. He is the victor. Christians are just standing in faith, in the gap, waiting. We're waiting to see the Eastern sky part-- to join our Savior. The best part about it, is nothing can separate us from His love. We don't have to prove anything. We don't have to convince anyone. We are simply to tell of His great love-- His great deliverance-- His great hope. If that message is rejected or trashed by the vile haters of this world, it is not our problem. The problem falls upon that person's own decision to reject the message of we the messengers. Our only responsibility is to represent the Lord as best we can-- without hate, without anger, without venom, without arrogance.
Ours is to yield to the Holy Spirit of God and pray for his continued fruit to pour forth from us. Lord, how I fail at that with a testy attitude and irritated spirit at times. Who'd want to join me at the Lord's table with an attitude like that? Hmmmmn.
We can invite the unbelievers to the table of the Lord, but they have every right and free choice to reject our invitation. For me, I'll keep inviting, until an individual tells me to go away. And I will. I will kick the dust from my feet and move on. Discouragement only settles upon those who allow it. Press on, my friends. Press on to the prize set before you.
