Our refuge and secure stronghold

Members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) firmly believe that God is their refuge and secure stronghold in times of troubles and distress.

By GERSON S. NONATO

THE CHAIN OF unpleasant things besetting the world nowadays is a sign that the Second Advent of Christ, often ignored by many, is near: “And there shall be great earthquakes in divers places, and pestilences, and famines, and terrors from heaven; and there shall be great signs. … And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with great power and majesty” (Luke 21:11, 27 Douay-Rheims Bible).

The world can expect worse things to come as the day of Judgment draws closer, but that day is certainly the worst. However, that also comes with something great—beyond compare—as long as you are in the right “place”.

The significance of being in the true Church

“But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.” (Luke 21:28 Douay-Rheims)

It can be gleaned from these words of Christ that there are people who must not be disheartened no matter how dark and perilous the world would become. He instructed them:

“So when all these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up! For your salvation is near.” (Luke 21:28 Living Bible)

Salvation awaits those who have redemption, and by the way things are taking place nowadays, the wait will not be long—salvation is fast approaching. This means that people must act with urgency to be among the redeemed to be assured of salvation. In one of his epistles, Apostle Paul clarified those who have redemption are those who have been forgiven of their sins through the blood of Christ (Eph. 1:7). Apostle Paul pointed out where they are found:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation)

There is only one Church purchased by the blood of Christ—the Church Of Christ. This is where those who have salvation on Judgment Day or the Second Advent of Christ are found. Outside it man cannot be saved.

“So when all these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up! For your salvation is near.”

Luke 21:28

Living Bible

What the servants of God should firmly believe

While waiting for salvation, the members of the Church Of Christ are not spared from sorrows, woes, and pains. In the face of such predicaments, the servants of God and of Christ ought to know and do what the Bible teaches.

a. God is their help
“But, O my soul, don’t be discouraged. Don’t be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise him for all that he will do. He is my help! He is my God!” (Ps. 42:11 lb)

It is wrong for God’s servants to be discouraged, get upset, or to lose hope—that means lack of trust in Him and His power. There should be no room for hopelessness among God’s servants. For, they can always “expect God to act.”

An account in the life of Apostle Paul clearly shows the great advantage of being a servant of God when faced with dire circumstances. He attested:

b. Christ empowers them
“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].” (Philip. 4:13 Amplified Bible)

It is Christ Who empowered Apostle Paul. This is the great advantage of God’s servants. They are not alone. They have the Almighty God and the Lord Jesus Christ to help them. Christ’s empowerment is sufficient for the servants of God to overcome whatever hindrances they encounter, more so, with God’s help.

c. God answers their earnest prayers

True Christians are advised to imitate prophet Elijah:

“… The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on earth for three years and six months.” (James 5:16–17 amp2015)

As a human, Elijah could not stop the rain from falling. But it did for three years and six months because God made it happen when he prayed intensely.

Members of the Church Of Christ will experience problems and troubles which may be seemingly impossible to solve. But with a “heartfelt and persistent prayer”, God will make things possible.

“But, O my soul, don’t be discouraged. Don’t be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise him for all that he will do. He is my help! He is my God!”

Psalm 42:11

Living Bible

What God expects from His servants

As God endowed them with rights and privileges, He expects His servants to uphold their calling. The Bible teaches how:

a. Walk in integrity
“He stores away sound wisdom for the righteous [those who are in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk in integrity [those of honorable character and moral courage].” (Prov. 2:7 amp2015)

Having integrity is having the courage to do what is right. Righteousness is not measured through human standards. One is deemed righteous before God only if he follows the commands and the will of God. Those who follow Him are never on the losing end because the Bible assures that “He is a shield” to them. With God being the shield of His servants, nothing can penetrate to ruin them.

b. Forsake not the worship service

The servants of God receive His words during the worship service. And so the apostles have strict instructions regarding this:

“Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer.” (Heb. 10:25 Contemporary English Version)

Attending the worship service has something to do with receiving salvation on the nearing Second Advent of Christ, that is why the servants of God are instructed not to neglect the worship service. As that great day gets closer, life will be more difficult (II Tim. 3:1-5). Forsaking the worship service is not the solution to adversities. For, those who belong to God and worship Him have everything they need (Ps. 34:9).

Living in this world is full of uncertainties, but members of the Church Of Christ are certain that God is their refuge and secure stronghold in times of troubles and distress. Above all, they will receive salvation as long as they remain righteous in the sight of God:

“But the salvation of the [consistently] righteous is of the Lord; He is their Refuge and secure Stronghold in the time of trouble.” (Ps. 37:39 amp) ❑

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