I Won’t Deny My Faith
I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold
fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas
was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
Revelation 2:13 NKJV
There are myriad pressures today to persuade believers to live by the norms of this age rather than by the Word of God. Daily, opportunities arose for early Christians to deny their religion. Nevertheless, even in the face of these enormous external forces, there has always been a core group of individuals who have refused to waver in their dedication to Christ, and the same is true today. This group of believers simply refused to yield to the relentless intimidation they faced. Jesus proclaimed, “And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith….”
During the latter decades of the First Century, as persecution escalated, some Christians chose to deny Jesus and leave their faith to avoid persecution. Fear of the opinions and scorn of others, dread of persecution, and even fear of death lead to this choice. In Revelation 2:13, Jesus chose not to address these defectors. He instead lifted His voice to affirm the core of genuine believers who did not disown Him during their time of difficulty. When Jesus said, “Thou hast not denied,” He effectively stated, “When you had the chance to violate your commitment and flee, you did not.”
Students are constantly pressured by their peers to engage in behavior that does not honor Christ. Music, movies, television, and other forms of media glorify wickedness. The laws of the land are turning toward the perverse, and believers are bombarded with opportunities that encourage and seemingly coerce them to deny their faith to fit in.
Not only does the gospel originate with Christ, but it is also firmly in His possession. Jesus is the Creator, Giver, and ultimate Overseer of faith; consequently, it is exceedingly valuable to Him. We are the recipients of the tremendous advantages of the gospel’s truth, but Christ is the one who purchased it with His blood. What one dies for, another lives for; Christ sacrificed His blood for the truth of which we participate freely.
We must communicate the faith in its most unadulterated form, even when the spirit of our age tries to convince us to modify the message of the gospel to suit the ever-changing whims of our culture. We cannot change the faith because we did not create it.
Reflect
Being a Christian means that you are counter cultural. Provide some examples of how your life stands in stark contrast to the norms that the world promotes.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Your Word has never changed, and neither will I. In these last days, I desire to be a part of the remnant who refuses to give in to the illconceived ideas of society and its ever-changing culture. I declare that Your Word sets the standard for my life, and I will remain faithful to the teachings of the Bible. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Upcoming Connect 21 Events
- Wednesday Zoom (Jan 18th @ 7pm via Zoom)
- Saturday Morning Prayer (Jan 21st @ Latimer Hall – The Way United Methodist Church)
- Sunday Morning Service (Jan 22nd @ 10 am at River Ridge High School)