Faith in Times of Peace

"Satan claimed that it was impossible for human beings to keep God's law. In order to prove the falsity of this claim, Christ left His high command, took upon Himself the nature of man, and came to the earth to stand at the head of the fallen race, in order to show that humanity could withstand the temptations of Satan." "When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own."  {PCP 24.5, COL 69.1}

One aspect of Christ's character that we seem to have forgotten about was that
Christ was wholehearted for God at all times. In times of peace. In times of turmoil. In times of ease. In times of crisis.

What about us? It seems that for us--we sleep on in halfhearted worldliness unless something comes along to disturb our peace and ease.

But the character of Christ will not be perfectly reproduced in us if we are only true to Christ in times crisis and persecution. If the only time we serve God wholeheartedly is when our emotions are stirred to the highest pitch by the chaos around us--then we are only halfheartedly serving Christ. And Satan may well say that we are not truehearted followers--that it takes some external pressure to make us Christians.

Job, on the other had served God faithfully in a time of peace. During a time when he had riches, and houses, and lands, and sheep, and oxen, beautiful children, and peace with his enemies--everything his heart could desire--in a time of perfect peace--it was said of Job that he was "a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil."

What about us today? In the remaining time of tranquility that we have: what are we doing? Have we made the decision to live for God 100% even in these fragile times of peace?

Jeremiah 12:5 "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?"

If we are not fully Christ's in times of peace--if we are waiting for troublous times to get our act together--then we have failed of perfectly reproducing Christ's character. And not only that--if we cannot and will not give ourselves unreservedly to the service of God now, in times of peace, we will fail miserably in the "swelling of Jordan" and be lost.

"Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work."

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17, 1 John 3:2-3.

Let's submit ourselves to Christ now. And whether times of peace continue for weeks or years--let's truly consecrate ourselves to live like our Master to help and bless others starting today!