Day: February 1, 2012

True Christianity Is A Fight!

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J.C. Ryle 90x115by J.C. Ryle

"The Fight!"

"Fight the good fight of faith." 1 Timothy 6:12

True Christianity is a fight!

True Christianity! Let us mind that word "true." There is a vast quantity of religion current in the world which is not true, genuine Christianity. There are thousands of men and women who go to churches and chapels every Sunday and call themselves Christians. They make a "profession" of faith in Christ. Their names are in the baptismal register. They are reckoned Christians while they live. They are married with a Christian marriage service. They mean to be buried as Christians when they die.

But you never see any "fight" about their religion! Of spiritual strife and exertion and conflict and self-denial and watching and warring–they know literally nothing at all. Such Christianity may satisfy man, and those who say anything against it may be thought very hard and uncharitable; but it certainly is not the Christianity of the Bible. It is not the religion which the Lord Jesus founded, and His apostles preached. It is not the religion which produces real holiness. True Christianity is "a fight!"

Take It Easy

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Vance Havner 90x115by Vance Havner

“I will say to my soul, Soul, …take thine ease.” Luke 12:19

The rich fool was no fool as a farmer, he was a success. He was religious because he talked to his soul. So many seem not to know they have souls! But his clock was too slow. He said, “Many years,” but God said, “This night.”

He was never a bigger fool than when he told his soul to take it easy. No man ought ever tell his soul that. Too many souls are taking it easy. I do not believe in soul-sleeping after death, but plenty of souls are sleeping now.

The rich fool gave his soul the wrong advice. He put it on vacation. God does not give the soul a vacation, He gives it a vocation.

“Take it easy” is a familiar parting word nowadays which nobody heeds by relaxing and living sensibly in this age of stomach ulcers and aspirin tablets. But it is no proper word for our souls. Rather, “Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve and press with vigor on,” ought to be the theme song of stupefied saints at ease in Zion. And while the sinner orders his soul to take it easy he may gain the world but he loses his soul. He is forever damned because he took it easy and neglected so great salvation.

by Vance Havner