YOU NEED ROOTS NOT TO FALL AWAY

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended (fall away) – Mark 4:16-17

There are Christians who will fall away in large numbers at this hour, in other words, those who will turn their back on the faith and not make it until the very end. These are Christians who have received the word with gladness. They’re happy Christians. These are ones who currently look like they’re doing well. They’re ‘blessed and highly favoured’ Christians. Their car sticker reads ‘too blessed to be stressed’. They go to church, they sing songs, they clap their hands and shout ‘hallelujah’ during sermons.

But when affliction and persecution come because of the word, they will fall away because they have no root in themselves. These are superficial Christians. They lack depth. They’re only in it for the good times. They’re fair weather Christians. God exists only to bless them. The Lord Jesus Christ loves them no matter what they do. The Holy Spirit gives them peace on the inside even when they club, drink, smoke, swear, fornicate, abort foetuses, love themselves, love the world and love money.

When persecution and affliction arise because the world hates us as it hated the Lord Jesus Christ, they’ll fall away. When the boots and guns and bullets and prison cells and beatings and death sentences come out, they’ll say, ‘that’s not what we signed up for’. They’ll peel off their bumper stickers and deny the Lord Jesus Christ. Their empty motivational sermons will fail them. They’ll deny the Lord Jesus Christ before men and He will deny them before the Father and His holy angels. Church, it’s time to get serious because only he who endures until the end will be saved. You need roots within yourself to make it to the end. You need the word of the kingdom which is the Doctrine of Christ.

PRAYER

Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, help me to have deep roots within myself. Help me to stand when I’m persecuted and afflicted for the word’s sake. May I not deny the Lord so that He may not deny me. Amen.