by David Brenneman
"Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” John 12:42-50.
Fitting in. Not fitting in. The dilemma of mankind for centuries. Fear of being ostracized. Even the parents of someone personally healed by Jesus feared being kicked out of the Synagogue if they didn't speak just so with the Pharisees.
Even in modern day churches there's those creating positions in the church in order to garner public acclaim and all the attention.
There's those who seek greater social networking in churches but to their own ends not for edification or growing in Christ.
Jesus tried again and again to show these obstinate people what a real relationship with God the Father was like.
Oh how shocked and surprised these same Pharisees and Sadducees were when having died to not find themselves where they thought they would be. Had they not come to Christ for salvation that is.
That passage about the man born blind is a personal favorite of mine. Fear of these leaders was very apparent. Yet their fear of God was less than that. I have noted before that after this healed man was kicked out of the Synagogue Jesus found him and formally introduced Himself. Then the man bows down to worship Him and these same Pharisees didn't rebuke him for doing that.
I believe that there is in Hell at this very moment Pharisees who can't stop thinking about what they said and did towards the true worshippers of God. There's nothing they can do. They chose the wrong view of life and it cost them a place in Heaven.
Choice is what the cross of Jesus Christ brought. You and I have the choice to believe and come to Christ for salvation or to reject it. The truth of Christ is that rejection that isn't dealt with in this life is met with eternal separation from God after one dies.
People today live and die by their social networks. How accepted they are by their followers on social media.
In Heaven there's only those who look to Jesus. They think not of themselves but of their risen King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Here on Earth we are to live life in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. Regardless of what people think about that. We are promised persecutions because of this.
This here this now is all that you have. 12 to 14 inches separates you head from your heart. Acknowledging Jesus vs a relationship with Jesus. The Pharisees and Sadducees acknowledged Jesus they just rejected Him as being the Son of God and therefore lost out on the free gift of salvation. They admitted He spoke the way of God in truth. Their fears were of losing their followers and that the Romans would take away their place and their nation. Their social status.
Same as today.
People fear that more than they fear standing before Jesus having had rejected salvation in Christ Jesus alone.
Check your heart and mind. Be sure of your salvation in Christ Jesus if indeed you have come to know your need before God for it.
You, not your reputation before the multitudes, will stand before Jesus and be asked why should you be let into His Heaven.
You will give an account of your life before Jesus.
At the end of that review the book of life will be opened and a careful search of it will be made to find your name.
If you weren't saved in Christ Jesus by His shed blood for the forgiveness of your sins then the judgment is against you and eternity in torment in the lake of fire is your destination.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He came to save. Not to condemn. We condemn ourselves if we reject Jesus before we die.
Your social status vs what God sees concerning you. Which is more important?
Your answer makes a Heaven or Hell difference.
All New American Standard Bible Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. A corporation not for profit.
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