As I look at all the news, and the way the country is headed, and while talking with a friend on line this morning; it hit me.  Again we can learn from the Bible, and the teachings of Jesus as he prepared His disciples for what they must face.

It’s not merely enough to announce to the world that Jesus is the Christ.  In Mathew chapter 16 we find Jesus asking his disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”  Only Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ’.  Then Jesus said, “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…”  Then he warned the disciples not to tell anyone, for his time for revealing had not yet come.  What comes next I find very interesting.  Jesus was predicting his death, and Peter couldn’t accept that.  He wouldn’t accept that, he thought he would die defending Jesus.  You see even though Jesus had just given them the knowledge that they would have the keys to heaven, they didn’t understand fully that it was the will of the Father, that Jesus should die on the cross to give us freedom and life.  Peter was going on his will and not the will of God!  

How many times have we as Christians done this?  I have.  In fact I’m still wrestling with it evidently.  I’m going about my Father’s business warning people about the times we’re living in, but am I really getting the message across that the time has come to prepare for the will of the Father and Christ’s return.  The keys to the Kingdom of heaven has been passed down to us through Jesus and the disciples.  Do we know what a gift that is?

I heard some disturbing news yesterday, Rick Warren and others are starting a new radio campaign to plant their version of churches all across the country.  Are we so self absorbed that all we can think about is the me, me, me, gospel of prosperity and the watered down version of Christianity?  What about the campaign to show the world that Jesus is the only way the truth and the Life?

This new campaign will kick off with Rick Warren appearing with Oprah Winnfrey, you know the Queen of “There is more than one path to God.”  Jesus gives clear instruction next in the chapter as to what he wants.

Mathew 16:23-27

• Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Wow!  He had just given the keys to the kingdom to Peter and then say’s that.  Peter must have been crushed.  The church today has this same opinion.  They do not have the things of God in mind, but the things of Men, and are a stumbling block to the Gospel Of Christ.  Jesus explains next what it takes to follow Him.

• ‘If anyone would come after me, he MUST DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME.’
• ‘For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
• ‘What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
• ‘For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.’

So I  surely don’t want to be a stumbling block to Christ.  I’ll be asking Him to help me to take up my cross to follow him.  In order to do this I must overcome my interest in the world and worldly things, and look only to the Father.  It’s time for all of us to decide what we will follow.  It’s time to shout from the rooftops, GET BEHIND ME SATAN!  Your distracting me.  Keep your eye’s focused on God!  And ready your cross, for Jesus is returning and he is returning fast.

Categories: gospel of Christ

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