The Coward and the Conqueror (Part 2 of 2)
Barak
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Every challenge is accompanied by a reward. According to the clarity
that one has, he can judge whether the reward is worth the cost. And
according to that understanding, if he is honest, he can foresee
whether he will be proven a Coward or a Conqueror.
Will you face the challenge?
What if it was the Son of God who set the challenge?
What if the goal is making His Kingdom come on earth as it is in
heaven?
What if the call is to love, just as He loved?
What if the cost is everything... yes, even your own life?
The one who only sees the goal becomes the Conqueror.
The one who conquers will inherit all things, and I will be his God and
he will be my son. Revelation 21:7
The one who only sees the obstacles is the Coward.
But for the cowardly and unbelieving... their part will be in the lake
that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
(Revelation 21:8)
First you must hear the call, the challenge...
"Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you
will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow
Me." (Mark 10:21)
"... whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My
disciple." (Luke 14:33)
"Be saved from this perverse generation." (Acts 2:40)
The one who heard the call (by grace), understood the call (through
faith), and walked away,[1] proved to be the Coward.
"But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had
great possessions." (Mark 10:22)
"Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that
the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it,
and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to
the Gentiles." (Acts 13:46)
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he
who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who
does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."
(Matthew 10:37-38)
The one who heard the call (by grace), understood the call (through
faith), and paid the price, became the Conqueror.
Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed
You." So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there
is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother
or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's sake, who
shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time -houses and brothers
and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions -
and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10:28-30)
For "by grace, through faith" one is saved IF he is actually SAVED
through the faith that came by grace. To pay the price that He said to
pay is not "works." It is what the faith that came by grace would
persuade you to do, lest anyone should boast.
"Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts
14:22)
So what makes the difference between the Coward and the Conqueror?
"If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching,
whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself." (John 7:17)
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[1] John 3:18,36; 12:48
(excerpted from "The Coward and the Conqueror" found at
www.thelitmustest.org/coward-conqueror.html)
Coming next week: AMAZING GRACE - Introduction, What Grace Is