Superstitions may abound on many a bound life; black cats, broken mirrors, Friday, the thirteenth, etc. Yet we laugh at the poor ignorant natives for some of their strange beliefs! One of Webster’s definitions of superstition is: “An irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God, proceeding from ignorance . . . a belief in magic or chance, or the like.”
“And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). What possible difference can the chance path of a black cat, or the date of an ordinary Friday make to a child of the King?
This is the Lord’s danger signal, in other words, Stop! Look! and Listen! Every day we know the value of watchfulness. The foolish man will carelessly cross a busy street looking neither to the right nor the left, but we watch when we cross; we want to live. And to live spiritually, how careful we must be. Most of us do a lot of watching. Yes, this is needful too, but the thought here is “looking to thyself” (Galatians 6:1). Jesus instructs, “Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). How vigilant we must be, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8).
There is an urgent need for men who “Have conviction, will stand”! Many are as spectators at a contest, on the sidelines trying to see which way the game is going, and have not yet entered the fray. They are yet children, “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine”. Others are still straddling the middle of the road, some with the plea that they don’t want to take sides. It’s not a matter of taking sides with men, but with the Lord. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
The identity of who we are in Christ has become a “Sunday’s best outfit” with no real demarcation of the salt and light that we should be really portraying, we have quit being like men. “Brethren, be not childish in mind: . . . in mind be men” (I Corinthians 14:20). It is not a matter of strength, how well one holds his liquor, or whether or not he makes a lot of money that makes one a real man in the sight of God. Are you a man “in mind”? Anybody can say, “Me, too”, and climb on the bandwagon. But a man will ask, “What does the Scriptures say?” (Galatians 4:30).
Though many others may grow faint, and thus yield, yet “be strong”. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.(1 Corinthians15:58). Paul then follows with these words with “Let all that you do be done in love”. Not a syrupy love that will cause you to “love all— offend none”, but a love of the truth of God, and nothing should be stronger than your love for that truth.
