Monday, April 14, 2008

The Reaction To Truth

John 8:59, “Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.”
He stood before an assembled crowd of Pharisees and learned men, and spoke the truth of the Kingdom to them. Love compelled Him to reveal His true nature, in the hopes of reaching their hearts, in the hopes of causing their eyes to be opened to the reality that the Son of God was standing in their midst.
Although He was attempting to reach them, He did not water down His words, for His desire was not to beguile them or entice them, but to speak the uncompromising truth to them. Often times the price of speaking the truth is rejection, and on some occasions it is even met with violent outbursts and retaliation. Some would question why Christ would hide Himself, and the answer is not because He was fearful of the stones, or afraid for His life, but merely because His time had not yet come.
The greatest pain for a man of God who is called to be in a public arena and preach the Word, is not death, but rather indifference toward the truth, and rejection of the message of repentance and salvation he preaches. This is the most noble of pain, because it is not fueled by personal interest, or one’s ego.
It was not failure that preoccupied the apostles when they were persecuted, but the baseness of those who rejected the good news, unwilling to open their hearts and minds. Martyrs do not bemoan their own deaths, but that of their persecutors.
Today the Pharisees are still throwing stones, still defending their preconceived notions, their denominations, or certain brand of doctrine. Unwilling to see the truth before their eyes, they resort to the one thing they can, violence, in the hopes of silencing the messenger.
Time is the great equalizer, and has a way of vindicating the truth sooner or later. One who speaks with the authority of God, knows that eventually the word will come to pass for they were not his words, but the words of He who is eternal. Though for a season they may suffer rejection and even persecution, the eventuality of fulfillment is as sure as the sun rising every morning.
It is easy to grow discouraged, and if not for the wall of prayer and fasting that accompanies the life of every true believer, being met with constant rejection can have an impact on your heart, until finally one considers throwing in the towel, justifying his actions by saying 'I have no vested interest in continuing on, I gain nothing from my labors, my only reward is scoffing and rejection.' But then you gaze upon the One, the Christ, and see His witness, see His perseverance, see His steadfastness, and it gives you the strength to go on one more day, to write one more article, to preach one more sermon.
All one can do is press on in faith and obedience, knowing that the reward of obedience is by no means a small one. The path is never easy, and the reaction to truth runs the gamut, so much so that even after decades in ministry one is still often surprised. Truth will outlast us all, and when we are but dust and ashes, brittle bones hid beneath the ground, truth will still abide.

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea Jr.

10 comments:

Kate said...

Dear Michael,
I just want to encourage you today, after reading your blog, I sensed a real burden that's heavy on you...keep running the race set before you...for you don't know how many seeds you are planting, your words are heard and they are seed, for someone, they will one day become real to them...you will have your reward, and blood will not be on your hands, as it will be on some others. I thank you, and I thank God for the few like you that have the courage to tell the unpopular truth.

kate

Anonymous said...

Michaelplease never stop preaching the truth. We need you. You encourage those ofus,like myself, who have given up before, but now continue to try and press on one day at a time. Please pray for me my freind. I have asked God to be able to give you the money to go on television with your message. I believe this is Gods will. I want to help. God bless you sir. Glenn Fountain

Anonymous said...

I just want to say a BIG THANK YOU for sharing your heart! and Oh how timely! Be encouraged brother, you are not alone. No, this road is not easy and I do pray there was another way...but never the less, it will be worth it all one day!....

Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,
We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We'll share the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

These words have comforted my heart recently and I thought I would share.....

Sincerely,
your sister in Christ

Anonymous said...

Greetings in Christ in Michael, this is a word of encouragment from the august/september hand of help newsletter as a reminder - "Not in God's eyes," brother Nelu answered sternly. "He has used you and He has a plan for you and whatever work you are in is beyond anything you can imagine ...". May the Lord bless and prosper you in all things. Love in Christ Jesus, Gary and Joyce

Anonymous said...

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Matthew 5:10-16 Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Bro. Michael, thank you for being obedience to the calling the Lord has placed on your and your wife's lives and for the sacrifices made to accomplish that calling.
Your sister in our Lord

Anonymous said...

Well done Bro. Mike. I recall Rick Joyner sharing how the Lord told him to remember to "behold both the kindness and the severity of God" that to only focus on one or the other is error.I like that balance I find in your sharings. I am not one who has experienced the type of visions/dreams that yourself & Matthew Stephen have. I can understand how others react with disbelief or incredulity.

James Kinsman said...

I question if God was really in what I was saying. If those who are of Christ reject it, then perhaps I missed God's voice, and spoke out of turn. How come preaching just what is true is hated by those who supposedly love the truth and claim to be ministers of Christ?

Why is this such a difficult task?
Lord please give me strength and fire to preach your Word.

Anonymous said...

Through a secular blog link, in a circuitous manner, I arrived at the Wikipedia page for Dietrich Bonhoeffer. This was a quote from his book on discipleship & its cost, written during his resistance to the Nazi, published posthumously as he was hanged by them for treason. "Cheap grace is the mortal enemy of our church. Our struggle today is for costly grace." That was a sharp warning to his own church, which was engaged in bitter conflict with the official nazified state church.

Bonny said...

Thank you again, Michael. How many times has the Lord kept me and sustained me in what has seemed an intolerable situation. His love and just a tiny portion of His strength has enabled me to overcome, and remain in a place of obedience when the flesh has really had enough and is weary.

Anonymous said...

Dear Man of God:

Know that you are well loved, greatly blessed and highly favored.

I/we need Him through you!!!

The remnant is indeed very tiny; we the remnant value our Father's messages through you and thank Him for you.

His deep Shalom and precious Blood permeate you and yours in all your being and in all your ways, known and unknown, seen and unseen. This we ask Yahveh expecting to receive, in Yashua's precious Name ... so be it. Hallelujah.