Loyalty

Contrast: The definition of Loyalty is: a strong feeling of support or allegiance. A loyal person is someone who won’t sacrifice their beliefs to social pressure or persecution but holds fast to their convictions even under extreme pressures. We need only look to the Christians of old to see a great example of loyalty. These Christians of the past were hunted and persecuted for their beliefs, and when captured, many were put into arenas to be eaten by lions for the amusement of onlookers. They were also crucified and tortured, and the fortunate ones were only beaten. Through the ages, many brave Christian men and women went to violent deaths refusing to renounce Christ Jesus. They were heroes of the faith and had an unwavering loyalty to God. Great is their reward. Now contrast that to modern times. It seems like we can’t go but a few months before a well known “Christian-Singer, Christian-Author, or some other well known Christian-Figure” denounces the faith in a public statement. Usually, phrases like this are used to cite their reasoning, “I have been questioning for a long time” or “If God really exists why does he allow suffering?” More often than not, in these statements, there is also a slap to the face of Christianity and an overt self-righteous display. These modern-day former-Christians that publicly decry God as false didn’t have their feet held to the fire, or tortured for days on end to renounce Christ Jesus, but instead, simply discarded their faith in Him. Tragic, but every person has to make their own choice. So why is this happening? One reason would be that as the church continues to accept and propagate the false morality that the world preaches, then it will produce these results. How can we expect people to be loyal to God when churches model their worship, teaching and preaching to what is culturally popular? Simply stated, If you want to act like the world, then your loyalties will be with the world, not with God. “Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” — James 4:4. The modern-day church needs to ask itself, are we preaching the Gospel of Christ Jesus or the latest trends in society?

Rebels: The Bible is filled with examples of disloyalty and mankind wanting to alter the truth of God. One of these powerful historical lessons is perfectly displayed in the book of Exodus. We pick up the scripture when Moses has led the Jews out of bondage from Egypt. At this point, the Jewish people had witnessed all the signs and wonders of the plagues and had just miraculously crossed the Red Sea. They saw God deliver them from the Egyptian armies and were now camped safely at Mount Sinai. Then Moses, directed by God, went up to the mountain as the people waited below. “Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” And Aaron said to them, “Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.” So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. “They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it, and have sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’” — Exodus 32:1–8. What an incredible display of arrogance by the crowds below. In this scripture, we can see Aaron, who was Moses’ mouthpiece and right-hand-man during all the miraculous wonders, give in to social pressures. The people wanted something they could touch and see to worship as their God, so Aaron gave the people what they wanted. The interesting thing was they were borrowing the practice of Egyptian cow worship, so in essence, they were taking what was popular at the time and proclaiming it was God. Whenever mankind tries to make God more like the world it ends in disaster. As a result of that act, and the constant obstinance of the people, that generation wandered in the wilderness for 40-years. This scripture is a warning that should be heeded by churches today because the more the modern-day church becomes loyal to what society wants, the more belief and faith in Him will fade among the flock. Jesus also dealt with people who were easily swayed away from Him and was constantly asking His followers if they still believed. “But there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father.” As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore. Jesus said therefore to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. “And we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” — John 6:64–69. God is looking for those who are faithful and true. He is also compassionate and longsuffering when we sin. So let us hold fast to Him and not exchange His glory for the falseness of the world.

God is Always Loyal: The wonderful thing about God is He is always loyal to mankind. God loves us so much He went to the cross and paid the price for our sins. But for God to commune with us we must accept Him and be loyal to Him. “Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” — Deuteronomy 7:9. The Lord also looks for our relationship to be more than acting the part of a Christian for social status. He looks for our deep and true loyalty. “For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” — Hosea 6:6. God offers us new life and an eternal Kingdom to come. He gives this freely out of His lovingkindness even though mankind doesn’t deserve it. Yet, He is loyal to us and offers His salvation to all who accept it. We only need to endure and believe in Him and not give into the pressures of the world. “For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.” — 2 Timothy 2:13.

In Him,

Tim and Will