The Character of Christ or of the World*

      Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks is approaching, which we also know as Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out in spiritual tongues of fire upon the disciples in the upper room. This event followed the Feast of First Fruits, when Jesus was resurrected from the dead. As it is written in 1 Corinthians 15, both Christ and those who are in Christ are first fruits of the resurrection (v. 20-23). I am therefore concerned with the words and behavior of those professing Christ. Who are those who are truly in Christ? Should those who profess to be in Christ be calling for violence, revolution and a new civil war as I have heard them doing?

     How does Christ behave and speak? In Mt. 12, Jesus scolded the religious Pharisees saying: "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." (v. 34-37, also Lk. 6:43-45). Violent words spoken about revolution, or a civil war are based upon retribution and revenge and do not represent the character of Christ but of the world. We are not to be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of our mind. This is the way that we prove the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. (see Rom. 12:1-2). In being transformed we are to "recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide all things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men....avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay saith the Lord." (Rom. 12:17-19, see also Heb. 10:30). Vengeance belongs only to God even if anger seems justified.

     The LORD said: "To me belongeth vengeance and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste." (Deut. 32:35). Don't look forward to the day of judgment although the signs of the times indicate the nearing of that day. We should not be caught by surprise by this day as the world will be. Because it is near, Paul wrote that knowing the time, we should cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, walking honestly, not in rioting, drunkenness, strife or envying: "But put ye on the LORD Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." (Rom. 13:11-14, Gal. 3:27). We are to identify with Christ's death, burial and resurrection. How is this to be exhibited in us?

     Proverbs is the Book of wisdom, knowledge and understanding in the LORD, and says: "Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work." (Prov. 24:29). These thoughts are in our hearts which is why God says that His people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. Get wisdom and understanding. God is the One who takes vengeance.

     We are to produce Christ-like fruit rather than the fruit of the world: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit....I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth...and withered...and cast...into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (Jn. 15:1-7, excerpt). Those branches that bear fruit are purged and pruned in order to bring forth more fruit. The Father removes things from us so that we can bear more fruit. I don't want to be a branch that is cut, withered, and cast away to be burned. We must abide in Christ and His Word. We need to humble ourselves and repent for being of the world rather than of Christ who carries the promise of eternal life (see 2 Chron. 7:14, 1 Jn. 2:25-29).

     Jesus said that we are the light of the world, and our works should reflect that light before men so that they will glorify God (Mt. 5:14-16). If our eye of light, which is to be singly focused on Christ, is evil and darkness instead, then it is a great darkness (Mt. 6:22-24). Paul wrote: "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." (Eph. 5:6-8). Peter also wrote that we were called out of darkness and into His marvelous light.  

     Though man declares peace and safety, it is not a lasting peace. It is a deception. The day of the Lord will not come in "peace" but like a thief in the night. It will come suddenly with destruction and without escape for those who dwell in the darkness and night of the world. However, as for the children of the light and of the day through Christ, that day should not overtake us. (1 Thess. 5:1-5).  With war in the Middle East, and the hostilities and aggression of Russia, Iran, and the other nations prophesied in Ezekiel, there is talk now of peace treaties. We also see the works of darkness, perversion and deception into lies that deny God's Word. We are living in a time when the prophetic signs written in the Word of God are lining up and coming to pass. There are those who deny the soon return of the Lord and His judgment, even some who believe in Christ, but the signs indicate otherwise. We who are to be light in this time are to love others the same way that Jesus loves - not leaving us the way He found us but loving us and them into righteousness.

     The Lord has even given us the armor of light to withstand the wiles of the devil and the deceptions of the rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness that come against us to turn us away from the Words of Christ. Our armor starts with the belt of truth, knowing that God is true and every man a liar. We wear the breastplate of righteousness - not our righteousness, but the righteousness of God in Christ and His blood. Our feet are covered with the Gospel of peace. to all the world. Our shield of faith in the Lord and His Word extinguishes every fiery dart directed towards us by the wicked. We wear the helmet of salvation, protecting our minds with the assurance of salvation through Christ who died for us. In our hand is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. In this armor we watch and pray continually, not only for ourselves but for all the saints. This is the overcoming character of Christ. Let us examine ourselves to see if we are walking in that character rather than the character of the world.

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 6/9//24 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook.