Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Are you ready to shine? Are you ready to stand? Are you ready?

What if we ARE living in the time we’ve heard about since we were children? What if we ARE living in the final chapters before the Lord’s return? What if time IS running short for those who are lost?

And the rubber may be about to hit the road.

Did we mean it when we said we belong to Him?  Did we mean it when we gave our lives to Him?  Did we mean it when we agreed that we would endure in any way necessary to obey Him?  Did we mean that we were willing to leave our comfort zone in order to stand for truth in love?

If He calls us to boldness, are we ready? If He calls us to go knock on our neighbor’s door and tell them about Jesus, would we? If He calls us to speak the truth in love and we know it will cost us our reputation, will we?

How serious are we about our commitment to Him?

What if it really IS going to happen soon that we either inject the computer chip into our hands or we won’t be able to bank, buy, sell, have access to food, send our children to school? Who will we obey?

Jesus was radical.  He came during a time when men had many wives and instructed one man to one wife. Radical.

He claimed He was God Himself. Radical.

He said God would forgive ALL sins.  There were unforgivable sins in the teachings of the church. Radical.

He hung out with sinners and called religious leaders to account.  Radical.

He mentioned birds, an insult at the time because God was so much bigger! Radical.

He said don’t worry about what you eat and drink. Radical.

He appealed to those in and out of the church. Radical.

I could go on.

Are we radical like Jesus?  Are we radical enough to say no when under massive amounts of societal pressure?  Are we radical enough to say no when paying our taxes means we are complicit in the murder of babies if we do?  Are we radical enough to go to church when the governor says we aren’t allowed but God says do not forsake it?  Are we radical enough to sacrifice our entire lifestyle in order to obey God?  Raise our own children?

I’m concerned for our answers.

I’m concerned for my own.

BUT! Lest we retreat in any form of shame….

Heads up! Prayer works! And He is faithful!

Get ready, folks! We are living in the time of radicals. Indeed, they are all around us.  But many are radicals in promoting evil, not good.  The enemy always brings a counterfeit.

Perhaps the truth that lines up with his counterfeit is us, the radical Christians who will indeed STAND!

Lord,

If it is Your will, cause us to “want to want” to be radical for you.   Even if we don’t want to now, cause us to want to, Father, if that’s where You are calling us.    We delight in You, Lord.  Place in us the desires You want to have in our hearts!  (Psalm 37:4)

If this is a time of preparing, let us remain awake and alert. (Matthew 24:42-43)  Let us not be caught sleeping.  Let us not be caught with our eyes on the world more than they are on You, Lord.  Prepare us and give us the degree of boldness You alone desire.

We are yours, Lord, and anything in any of us that doesn’t line up with that proclamation, we rebuke in Your name.  We call everything in us to account to line up with  our willful decision to surrender our lives to You.  Make us radical, Lord, if it be Your will.  Prepare us and show is where to go, what to do, when to speak, when to be silent.   

May we know You more through every bit of it, Lord.  We love you, we worship You, we praise You, Father.

Amen