Stonewall Jackson was a true believer in God’s sovereign protection.  The dude would stand out there and people were shooting, and he’d come back with holes in the uniform, and he was never wounded through a number of those battles.  So, Jesus comes back, this the sinless sacrifice, and willingly goes on that cross and took all of your sin, all of my sin, on Himself; amen?  How does Paul say it in the book of Corinthians?  “He became sin with our sin; that we might be made righteous with His righteousness.”  I still can’t comprehend that.  I have knowledge; I know it.  I’ve experienced the benefits of it, believing that was sufficient to buy eternal life on my behalf.  I was made righteous with His righteousness.  I am now in right standing with God because of what Jesus accomplished.  I know that, but I’m just like, this is too good to be true!  How can anybody turn that down?  Second Corinthians 4:4, “Because Satan, the god of this world has blinded the eyes of people, lest they believe the truth of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.”  Blind eyes.

So, what do we do?  We’re called to enlighten them.  But how can they hear without a preacher?  We’ve got to go.  Somebody’s got to tell them.  And that is what brings what the apostle states here.  If you’re living a godly life, boldly sharing this gospel, letting people know there are not many ways to God.  “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one can come to the Father, but by me.”  Period!  Amen?  Guess what?  People aren’t going to like you.  They want many paths.  They want to create their own savior.  Most trust in their own intellect and their own abilities.  Many make no bones about it.  “I want to eat, drink, and be merry.  Serve my flesh.”  Paul said it in the first part of the chapter, “Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”  Where’s our persecution?  We should be like that one little commercial.  What was that?  “I want my Maypo!”  Right?  We should be like, “I want my persecution.”  Let’s love the lost the way we should; love them enough to tell them the truth.

The secular humanists trust in themselves.  Man makes a lousy god.  Let me get this straight.  You’re wanting me to believe you instead of Jesus?  All forensic evidence, verifiable facts—the Man Jesus Christ lived, died, was raised from the dead, ascended to the right hand of God the Father, and according to the Bible, is going to return at any moment to receive us to Himself. 

True Christians are going to be persecuted.  The endurance is what prepares us for where Paul was going here, to endure to the end, to say, “I finished the course.”  He goes on and says, “Evil men and seducers are going to wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned….”  What?  The Bible!  Verse 15, “That from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which make you wise to salvation.”  Remember, with everything that’s being promoted out there today—ideologically, the secular perspective—this Bible came not from men; it was God‑breathed.  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may come to maturity, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  Preach the Word!

The time will come when men will not listen to these sound words.  They’re going to mock the Bible.  Truth will fall in the streets.  They will call good evil and evil good.  We’re in that hour.  Humanity is insane because of their hatred toward God, their rejection of the truth.  People think it’s so profound—“What is truth?”  Jesus answered it, “I am the truth.  I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man can come to the Father, but by me.”  So, let’s be bold in our sharing the gospel, in our ability to give an answer of the hope that’s in us.  “Study to shew yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  Put the Word in your heart and in your mouth.

Father, we thank You for Your love for us and we need Your grace.  You know our frame.  You know our weaknesses.  You know how difficult many of these things are for us.  But when we choose to obey at those moments, Your strength is manifest in our weakness.  When we’re weak, then we’re strong.  When we have no confidence in ourself, then You rise up and bring glory and honor to Your own name.  Father, we just ask this one thing: here am I; send me.  I want to go out into this fight.  I want to put the armor on.  I want to go out and win some souls.  I want Jesus to be glorified in my life.