A TIME OF CRISIS
By Charles W. Wages
Life is sometimes described as one crisis after another. We often think of a crisis as being an emotionally significant event that causes a radical change in that persons life. Sometimes the crisis is caused by events outside our control, such as accidents, wars, recessions, severe illness of self or loved ones. The causes of crisis are so numerous that we are all affected whether a believer in Christ or not. What is the answer to a victorious life in time of crisis?
It shouldn't take a severe crisis to bring a person to Christ, but often it does.
From Crisis to
Christ
Sometimes a person needs a crisis in their life to see their need of salvation. Often, self dependant, successfully active people are blind to the fact that they are sinners by nature and practice. They are self-sufficient and self-reliant and never think of being blind and lost. The crisis often causes a person to see how helpless they really are and their need for Someone to help. The crisis doesn't save them, but their turning from self to the Saviour and trusting Him as Saviour and Lord results in salvation. The gospel of Gods grace is sufficient to save from the guttermost to the uttermost all who believe.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Sometimes, a crisis turns believing people to greater service for the Lord. We could speak of this as,
From Crisis to
Challenge
The apostle Paul spoke of a door being opened unto him to serve the Lord.
For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. (1 Corinthians 16:9)
However, he was quick to write, and there are many adversaries. The devil is quick to respond every time an opportunity is offered the child of God to serve in some manner or capacity. The needed advice is given in verses, 13-14,
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with love.
We are also admonished in Galatians 6:10,
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
In 1 Thessalonians, chapter 1, the apostle Paul thanks God for the believers and their faithful work for the Lord. In verses 2 and 3, he writes,
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.
Note how the service of these saints is listed,
. work of faith
. labor of love
. patience of hope.
We must remember these saints were ministering in a time of great crisis and challenge. Also, it is . . . wonderful that these three virtues of service are those familiar three virtues found in 1 Corinthians 13:13,
And now abideth faith, hope, and charity (love); but the greatest of these is charity.
These three should be the basis for our service for the Lord in time of crisis, not the love of money or fame. Someone wrote,
Shamger had an ox-goad;
David had a sling;
Dorcas had a needle;
Rachel had a string;
Samson had a jawbone;
Aaron had a rod;
Mary had some ointment;
But all were used of God.
One thing is sure, that if we turn to the Lord in times of crisis, it will become a
Crisis to
Victory
Who could forget or not be moved by the apostles cry of victory in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57,
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We read much today about victories on the battlefront, and in the air, but to the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, the spiritual victories are the most important. A soul saved; a prayer answered; a fallen believer reclaimed; the understanding of Scripture; the fellowship with other believers, etc. These are spiritual victories that build us up in the faith. We then can explain and proclaim,
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13)
These are the things that bring victory out of every crisis. The saying of an enlightened saint is true today. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life that I might enjoy all things. In times of crisis let us turn to Christ, prevail in service.
King James Bible
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