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The following is reprinted with permission
of The Timely Messenger
A TIME
OF CRISIS
by Charles W. Wages
Life is sometimes described as "one crisis
after another". We often think of a crisis as being an emotionally significant
event that causes a radical change in that person's life. Sometimes
the crisis is caused by events outside our control, such as accidents,
wars, recessions, severe illness of self or loved ones. The causes of
crisis are so numerous that we are all affected whether a believer in
Christ or not. What is the answer to a victorious life in time of crisis?
It shouldn't take a severe crisis to bring a person to Christ, but often
it does.
From Crisis to Chris
Sometimes a person needs a crisis in their
life to see their need of salvation. Often, self-dependant, successfully
active people are blind to the fact that they are sinners by nature and
practice. They are self-sufficient and self-reliant and never think of
being blind and lost. The Crisis often causes a person to see how helpless
they really are and their need for Someone to help. The crisis doesn't
save them, but their turning from self to the Saviour and trusting Him
as Saviour and Lord results in salvation. The gospel of God's Grace is
sufficient to save from the "uttermost to the uttermost" all who believe.
"
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it
is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph.2:8-9)
Sometimes, a crisis turns believing people to greater service for the
Lord. We could speak of this as,
From Crisis to Challenge
The apostle Paul spoke of a "door" being opened
unto him to serve the Lord. "
For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries."
1 Cor.16:9
However, he was quick to write, "and there are many adversaries". The
devil is quick to respond every time an opportunity is offered the child
of God to serve in some manner or capacity. The needed advice is given
in verses, 13-14,
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let
all your things ne done with love."
We are also admonished in Gal. 6:10,
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially
unto them who are of the household of faith."
In 1 Thessalonians, chapter 1, the apostle Paul thanks God for the believers
faithful work for the Lord. In verse 2 and 3, he writes,
We give thanks to God always f or you all, making mention of you in
our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour
of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of
God and our Father;"
Note how the service of these saints are listed
- work of faith
- labor of love
- patience of hope.
We must remember these saints were ministering
in a time of great crises and challenge. Also, it is wonderful that these
three virtues of service are those familiar three virtues found in 1 Cor.
13:13, "
And now abideth faith, hope, and charity (love); but the greatest of these
is charity."
These three should be the basis for our service for the Lord in time of
crisis, not the love of money or fame. Somemone wrote,
"Shamger had an oxgoad;
David had a sling;
Dorcas had a needle;
Rachel had a string;
Samson had a jawbone;
Aaron had a rod;
Mary had some ointment;
but all were used of God."
One thing is sure, that if we turn to the Lord in times of crisis, it
will become a
Crisis to Victory
Who could forget or not be
moved by the apostle's cry of victory in I Cor. 15:55-57,
0 death, where is thy sting" 0 grave, where is thy victory" The sting
of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be
to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
We read much today about
victories on the battlefront, and in the air, but to the believer
in the Lord Jesus Christ, the spiritual victories are the most important.
A soul saved; a prayer answered; a fallen believer reclaimed; the
understanding of Scripture; the fellowship with other believers, etc.
These are spiritual victories that build us up in the faith. We then
can explain and proclaim,
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Phil.3:13
These are the things that bring victory out of every crisis. The saying
of an enlightened saint is true today. "I asked for all things that
I might enjoy life; I was given life that I might enjoy all things."
In times of Crisis let us turn to Christ, prevail in service, and
rejoice in the victory.
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