Am I defending the faith?

Dearly loved friends, I had been planning to write you some thoughts about the salvation God has given us, but now I find I must write of something else instead, urging you to stoutly defend the truth that God gave once for all to his people to keep without change through the years. I say this because some godless teachers have wormed their way in among you, saying that after we become Christians we can do just as we like without fear of God's punishment. The fate of such people was written long ago, for they have turned against our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. - Jude 1:3-4 (Living Bible)

Today, as in Jude's day over 2000 years ago, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is under severe attack. As mentioned in last week's post, many anti-biblical ideologies are surfacing with the intent of silencing Christ-followers and further deceiving those who are not. Satan's plan is to intensify the anti-biblical cultural currents of this world and silence Christ-followers, effectively reducing them to "dead fish" floating downstream. The lost will continue following the anti-biblical current with no interruption from Christ-followers who are effectively floating down the same stream backward.

Jesus did not leave His rightful place at the right hand of the Father to come to earth, reduce Himself to the form of His created beings, execute life as we execute life although sinless, and die a horrific death on the cross as the sinless sacrifice for all mankind; to have those who have accepted his free gift of salvation execute life by floating down the cultural currents of this world as "dead fish."

Have I been rendered a "dead fish" in my defense of the Gospel through being silenced by the Satan-generated cultural currents of this world?

Take a couple of minutes to re-read the question above a few times and get introspective. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see yourself as He sees you and sensitize your heart to His leading as you intensify your efforts to contend for the faith.

The truth of God's Word is absolute and does not change with the cultural currents. Therefore, the Christ-follower must spend quality time each day studying God's Word and praying to be prepared to recognize and combat Satan's lies and the eternal impact they have on the lives of those who are lost.

If sinners are damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for. - Charles Spurgeon

Be Encouraged to contend earnestly for the faith.  

-Jeffrey Thornton