Neutrality

I believe it was yesterday I read a comment from a brother George, sharing how as a minister of the gospel the enemy's attacks have been more frequent and pronounced as time continues its march. The following is a roundabout way of putting my two cents in, and hopefully encouraging those of you that are going through similar situations. I believe all those who strive for holiness have felt the enemy's attacks growing in frequency and outright force, which should only serve to encourage us, as we realize the enemy is getting desperate, and he is well aware his time is soon at an end.
For many Christians today, neutrality is a lifelong pursuit, an endeavor, which robs them of intimacy, fellowship and solid relationship with the heavenly Father. Many choose to pursue neutrality for the simple reason that spectators are never in danger of being wounded when the battle is raging. If the enemy attacks, it will most likely be those standing on the frontlines, those who have come not for a day of relaxation, ego stroking, or ear tickling, but to wage war against the darkness, to stand true and strong, unflinching in the face of the enemy.
In large part the church today has become a great mass of spectators, rooting on their favorite preacher or evangelist, unwilling to put for the effort, to get into the battle, because it would be too exhausting, and time consuming. We watch as the great debaters of our time attempt to convince and persuade people as to the veracity of their denominations, and even though we see them as doing battle, their constant struggle to sway people to their way of thinking rather than guide, lead, and direct them to Christ and Christ alone, shows the deficiency of their endeavor.
When it comes to the great commission, we cannot have individual agendas, or attempt to promote ourselves, because any hidden agenda, will inevitably lead to compromise in order for the individual to reach his or her desired result. Christ must be our all in all! Anything less is unacceptable.
The enemy is unconcerned with the neutral among us. Those who have chosen not to bother with putting on their armor, who never learned how to use the weapons of their warfare, are not those with whom the enemy has quarrel. It is those who strive and endeavor to live according to the Word, those who have learned to trust in the Father, and have established a foundation of truth that the enemy makes war against, it is they against whom the enemy rages.
What many who have chosen neutrality when it comes to their faith fail to understand is that one cannot have victory absent of conflict and battle. Absent the sufferings of Christ in us, we will never know consolation and comfort through Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:5, “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.”
By our continued attempts to make this present life easier and more comfortable, by our unwillingness to stand for truth for fear of men’s opinions and the enemy’s retaliation, we are living in the midst of a generation that has grown dull, static, inactive, and indifferent toward the fact that God’s scale is impeccably calibrated, flawless and beyond dispute in both execution and outcome. Only upon hearing the words booming with the authority of a sovereign and omnipotent God saying “you have been weighed in the balances, and have been found wanting”, will some realize the error of their ways, and the consequences of choosing neutrality over obedience, choosing the comforts of this present life over the consolation that abounds through Christ.
There is no suffering, no hardship that a child of God will endure in this world of trial, for which he will not also experience the comfort and grace of God. An abundance of suffering births an abundance of comfort and consolation. It is the means by which the grace of God works. We would never know God’s comforting embrace, if we had not first known the sufferings of Christ.
The most beautiful rainbows are those that have dark clouds for a backdrop. In fact there could be no rainbow absent of rain. Rainbows are produced by the refraction of sunlight going into and coming out of raindrops, with reflection of the light inside the drops. The darker the clouds of suffering for Christ the more hardship one endures, the more beautiful and vibrant the rainbow of God’s comfort.
When great trials abound, the grace of God abound evermore. The more difficult our labors, the more we will see the hand of God aiding us, strengthening us and comforting us.
Even when clouds surround the summer sun, it gives the earth more warmth than the winter sun at its zenith. The smallest consolation or comfort that comes from the throne room by way of the Holy Spirit is greater and more priceless than the greatest joys this earth has to offer. Though trials abound in the lives of believers, their inner peace is always greater in their trials, than the world’s in their debauchery.
We rejoice in suffering, we rejoice in sadness, we rejoice in tribulation, for the consolation that comes through Christ is never far behind. As we are partakers of sufferings, we will also partake of the consolation. This knowledge gives us strength to persevere, boldness to stand, and endurance to press ever onward toward the prize.

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea Jr.