The Heartbreaking Reality of Christianity(Acts 20:18-38)

"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace,
which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities,
 and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things,
how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all."

-- Excerpt from the Scripture Reference

These days are the last days! Not that I know of, when would be the Lord Jesus Christ's return, but as revealed unto His Word, "these times are the last days". But herein, daily or weekly, having seen and heard of many things of the church, grieves me greatly. How that the picture and kind of Christianity or the church of God, purchased by His own blood (v. 28), at the time of the Apostles have greatly diminished and have now become vain or worthless. I do not say that Christianity or the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ is gone, it's just that, it is a rare thing to find the kind of believers of the Lord Jesus Christ from which they are likened to a star that shines even in the midst of darkness, where everyone sees the light, whether Jews or Gentiles, or whether they believe in Christ or not.

These are the heartbreaking reality of Christianity... And the truth is? Christians can't do anything about it! Why? Because it's written already in His Word. How that even in the midst of the church or His people, wolves wearing sheep's clothing or deceivers or false teachers shall come driving others away from Christ and drawing the people towards themselves... Many hunger of power, position and possession will come to stand in the midst of the congregation drawing others towards their own selfish ambitions (v. 30). And the sad thing is, they continue to prosper here on earth, while many continue to suffer and die not knowing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Having been with my father in the ministry for almost 3 years now, I've seen and heard realities of the what the Word of God continues to declare and teach. One of which greatly amazes me but pricks my heart, is the reality of what Jesus have taught with the 4 kinds of soil or ground, which depicts the true status of man's heart (Mark 4, Matt. 13). The saddest reality of it is that, there would be so called professing followers of Christ, yet they are not. Matthew 7:21-23 affirms it! True, I cannot judge the heart of man whether they are true believers of Christ or not, but the evidences of Faith in Christ is of which we could see (Matt. 7:20). And usually, "churches" these days having this kind of heart, "deceived heart", becomes a great hindrance for the church to grow. Let us just look in a simple illustration of the plants we sow, if a weed grows nearby the plants we sowed, would the plant grow? I don't think so. If we are the farmer, we would be taking out the weeds. But that is not the work of the Christian! That is the work of our Lord, for He is the Farmer. Nevertheless, we should continue to pray hard and indeed pray hard and plead to the Master.

Other heartbreaking realities of today, is the lack of passion for the lost souls. Sometimes I wonder, who amongst our leaders or pastors of today have the kind of character that of the Apostle Paul? What I'm sure of, they are not many. They are rare, few and numbered. If it were countless, I'm sure Christianity will not be as dull or as likened today as "routine" Christianity. Though of course, I do not say that this pictures the general status or condition of the whole world, because I cannot say such over the kinds of the reality which we could see in places of which Christians are oppressed, killed or murdered, just for the sake of their Faith in Christ. Theirs are such a heartbreaking truth and should be eye-opener to those of us who freely roam and declare "we are Christians!"

Too often my heart breaks hearing or seeing the kind of situations of Christians on other places where Christianity is not open. Yet in places where we are free, how is it that we don't have so much initiation or passion to do our best in doing ministry or service for our Lord and Master? True, this question is not just for those who read but also a question towards me. It's a question we all need to answer. As for me, I greatly rejoice for every opportunity given, in taking part of sharing His Word and the gospel of Christ Jesus. I may not be like my father who's gift is to evangelize, but I can always assist in every help I could give, such are opportunities no enough money or riches could equate to. Of course, I do not say that giving in terms of finances is not good. I'm simply saying that opportunities given to serve in terms of laying your life for God is such an honor and worth taking for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Such is what apostle Paul has been mentioning as well in his farewell speech.

But the discouraging realities of today, so few leaders, teachers, pastors seem to have the kind of heart. So few! How that selfishness runs so easily. Apostle Paul's advantage perhaps was that he had nothing to lose. He gave everything, he gave his whole life. Whereas, we? We are so connected, bound in this physical life. We have a family, friends and people to mind. We have to work for our financial needs and others. This is the picture of this era. Where God seem to have no more place. And when we make time and place for Him, usually it's a dragging picture. The heart for it is gone.

Yet still, many are lost! Many have not heard the gospel of Christ, His Word! One of which we reach out is the place we call "Cubabeng". It's a 2-hour drive away from home. And my father goes there only once a month. It's a great encouragement and joy hearing that the people in that place, even kids, are very eager to learn of the Word of God... Very eager... and that's one sad thing about it. How that we can't fully take advantage of that? Because we simply depend on the few? Where are those helping hand? For a truth, these are attacking questions, but I think it's one thing needed these days to wake up the church, the Christians. What are we indeed living for? for ourselves? for our love ones? We Christians are bought with a price! And that price was through the blood of Christ! We are no longer of our own. This understanding or thought or principle seem to have been lost in the minds and heart of those called Christians. At some point, many may be angry at me writing these things, nevertheless, I place myself on the side of which these questions are also given. These questions, even in the changes of time shouldn't change just because many things change. Because Christ's suffering & death and the reason of being through it never changed. He came to seek and to save that which was lost! That reason never changed. Therefore if we lose focus, lose ground of these things on which we're supposed to stand for, "What profits or reason for us being so called Christians?" Why  call ourselves the followers of Christ, when we do not follow Him?

There are many heartbreaking realities of Christianity today, but may this simple reminders challenge us or even wake us up if we are "sleeping Christians" in doing the will of our Father in Heaven.

"And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship."

-- Excerpt from the Scripture Reference