A day is coming for believers when we will have to, for the last time, stand up for the name of Messiah - even if the price of loyalty is our own mortal lives.
In our minds' eyes perhaps we envision ourselves as valiant during the hour of temptation.. shining the way Stephen did at his trial.. stating firmly and unwaveringly whatever words are given us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
But before that day arrives, all we who claim the name of Messiah will increasingly have our respective metals tested against the ever-encroaching mandates of the Establishment.. and each choice made is cataloged and counted, either for us or against us.
It is perhaps easy to imagine an end-of-time grand finale of unyielding support for our Savior.. In the hour that our testimonies are given we will have one choice : obey Messiah or obey sin - a choice most believers would say is 'an easy one'.. but how do our choices measure up on a daily basis.. how 'easy' is it to say "No" to the System in our everyday lives?
At work.. at school.. at church.. in our circles of friends.. with strangers.. by ourselves.. when the choice is presented - is it found to be as easy as we'd like to believe it would be? Usually not, from what i've found.. but i've also found that choice gets easier to make the more it's made.
Recently the company where i work began a practice of saying the "Pledge of Allegiance" before the morning shift begins.. the first time it was announced, just before i was leaving for the day, i remember putting my hand over my heart, turning, along with everyone else in the room, and facing the flag. During the two seconds it took for me to do that i asked myself "What are you doing?"
I didn't want to pledge my allegiance to the flag.. any flag.. or anything or one other than Messiah.. i didn't say the words of the pledge.. and not wanting to make a scene, i stood still in my place.. while i remained there silent i wished that i had been walking out instead.. but i stayed.
Regret was instant, and i considered the choice i would make if that same opportunity was presented again.. and it was. This time as the room full of people, with hands over hearts, turned toward the flag of the government which hates them - i walked out in the opposite direction.
This time there was no regret.. no racing heart asking "what should i do?".. just a calm reassurance that the Almighty likes it when His children honor Him. Perhaps this seems a small choice to make against the Establishment of Evil, but we all have to start somewhere.
Believers have been, and will continue to be, implored to act in a manner unfit for His children.. and we all have to consciously decide whether we will stand up for what is right in the name of Messiah - or if we will sheepishly go with the flow of the System - and then we have to physically act on that decision.
Acting on the conviction that we will not yield to evil is something for which believers on Yahushua are known - and there is no better time than today to make that stand.. but how do we stand firm in our conviction without appearing to be a nut?
How? - by being meek.. by exhibiting strength under control.. by calmly exercising the rights given us by our Creator. If your job starts saying the Pledge.. refuse to participate.. if the cop asks for your SSN.. simply tell him 'no'.. if the government demands a head-count.. deny it that violation..
These days will draw closer to the end, riding the waves of injustice and mercilessness - but we, as believers, can reject the pressure to conform and instead rely and remain strong in our loyalty to Messiah. It is, after all, His authority which shall remain when the authorities of the world perish.. and it is to Him that we must answer when all is said and done.
"No"' doesn't go over very well when it comes from what seems to be a raving lunatic..
Instead, as believers, and as individuals who will be judged by the Almighty, let our every 'no to the Establishment' in these days be given in meekness.. with a calm knowledge that Messiah has purchased and owns us, and none can take us out of His hand.. so that in the hour of temptation we will not be doing a new thing, but will be accustomed to doing His will.
"Yet Miyka'el the high messenger, in contending with the devil when he disputed about the body of Mosheh, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "Yahuwah rebuke you" (Jude 9)