There’s definitely something going on here lately. Some sort of revival. More people living out loud about their faith!!! More and more people coming to know Christ and becoming a part of Christian churches everywhere. It’s amazing to see it all over social media and also in social circles. People that you would have never thought would put their faith in anything other then the world are putting their faith in God and their lives are changing and becoming so enriched with love, life, success, relationships and the list goes on!
I wish this blog post stopped here but unfortunately there’s a “BUT”… a big one. As much as people are living their faith out loud, there are many others just as loud, giving their negative opinions about those who are turning to the Lord and changing their ways. I see grown men and women being bully’s on the Facebook playground, shaming believers and mocking their pasts. Some even going as low as to use horrific names and disgusting details to describe a woman and her body parts to try and keep her in a place she used to live. Does this remind you of anything? How about when Jesus told the crowd to put down their stones because of the adulterous woman? Or when people who went from loving Jesus to hating him and were screaming “crucify him” in his last days?
Sadly, and I mean reeeeeeallly sadly, those people who are mocking you don’t understand the message of Amazing Grace, or The Prodigal Son. They don’t grasp the concept of The Crucifixion, nor what God did for them so that they can enjoy a new and awesome life in him! They don’t understand that what they have done in their past is wiped clean and a new slate lies before them if they just decide to give their life to something bigger then themselves- Jesus. I hurt for those people. Truly and deeply. They are clinging ever so tightly to their old ways that you changing actually fuels hate in them. Jesus explains where these people are on their journey in John 3:19: “God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.” They don’t want to shed light on their issues. They are far more comfortable in their sin. Their hate then pours over into gossip and Facebook posts. But my question for you is, who’s shoes would you rather be in today? Yours or theirs?
Please, I urge and encourage you to keep your faith alive, loud and proud! Praise God for what he’s done for you even when there are people throwing stones at you. Do not allow anyone to say anything to put you back in a place you no longer live. In 2Corinthians 5:17, it says “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone, a new life has begun.” Whenever I have heard someone questioning my faith or mocking my beliefs, I remind myself of this verse. You are new! You are white as snow. Pure. Remember what God says about you, not mere man.
I read a meme on Instagram the other day that said it all, “Some people will not let you get past your past, but you have to get past those people.” And now I encourage you…..Walk on.
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Beautifully said Jill, keep shining your light threw this blog and the way you live out your life. My pastor has a saying. "When the Devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future" -Greg Laurie
1 Peter 4:3-4 NKJV
[3] For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles-when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. [4] In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.