“I
verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name
of Jesus of Nazareth.” – Acts 26:9
Hypothetically,
if you could poll every drunkard, wife abuser, slander, anyone and everyone
that is living in sin among us; if you could poll all of them with this
question: “Do you think you are doing many things contrary to the name of
Jesus of Nazareth?” What do you think their answer would be? Take
a moment and think back, those of us who have been called out of sin and into
the fellowship of Jesus Christ; think back to when you were lost……Did you feel
you were doing many things contrary to Christ? I myself confess I did not
feel that way, and then, all of the sudden, I most certainly knew that I did.
Perhaps for many of us, when
we were lost in sin, did not go out each day thinking “I am going to do many
things contrary to Christ today.” We just went out and lived how we
wanted to live; according to our own lusts and desires. Then, by and by,
we began to leave a pattern of “bad deeds.” You can fill in the blank, we
each one know our sins against God. The sum of them is this, we didn’t
love God and we didn’t love our neighbor; we loved ourselves. Allow me to
digress a moment, in our land and country today the home is under attack by the
devil. He is working hard to destroy the sanctity of marriage and by default
Godliness in the home. He is doing this
not only in the deception that homosexuality is “ok”; because it’s not; it’s a
sin like any other. The homosexual needs to be saved, just like the
drunkard; and Jesus has all power, he can save to the uttermost! Both
might say “well I was born this way”; true enough, you were “born in sin and shape in iniquity” like
we all, and God can CHANGE your nature. He can drive out every propensity
to do contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Furthermore, the devil
is working hard to belittle the covenant; to the point that we have some
earthquakes that last longer than marriages these days. Beyond this,
those that do “stay together for the kids” create an environment for their children
that often produce only more of the same; all the while the institution of the
home, a pillar of humanity is being eroded. Godliness in the home is slowly
becoming a lost ideal, and yet, few believe that they are doing “many things
contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.” Our lives are too busy to
think about things like this right? Why concern yourself with trivial
things like your soul? We need to GO, GO, GO! There is not a moment
to lose! The realization that one is
doing many things contrary to Jesus of Nazareth is masked by the gluttony of
worldliness. Yet even now many things are being done.
Saul before he was Apostle
Paul made distinct and calculated steps to suppress the ministry of Jesus
Christ. He thought about it, and made conscious steps toward resisting
it. There may be one reading just now who is committing the converse
error. One who is taking distinct and calculated steps to suppress the
ministry of Jesus Christ, but doing it unconsciously. If that is your
testimony; good news! There is hope for you; just as there was for
Saul! If the Holy Ghost is pricking your heart and speaking to you
saying: “you are doing many things contrary to my name and you can deny it no
more.” If that is occurring in your being, even now; resist no
longer! Stop reading and fall on your knees this very instance and
repent. Care not for the words to say or phraseology to use; only pour
out your heart to God! He will save you,
and he will help you. Jesus Christ will forgive
and make you anew. Whether you are consciously
or unconsciously doing things “contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth,” continue
down this path no longer; “repent and
believe the Gospel.” For one thing
is certain “it is hard for thee to kick
against the pricks.”(Acts 9:5)
