C.S. Lewis said “that security is mortals’ greatest enemy.” When we stop stretching and dreaming, we wake up and realize that life has passed us by.

Discipleship cannot occur on autopilot. If we turn off our minds, we can’t follow Christ. How do we give up the fleshly for the spiritual, eschew vengeance in the face of wrong or love our enemies without a conscious affirmation?

Christianity is about transformation (Romans 12:1-2) and we must remain awake and active throughout our days. When we become too secure and comfortable, we become easy prey (1 Peter 5:8).

Asa was the king of Judah and he went against the evil ways of his father and walked in righteousness (1 Kings 15:1-11). He restored the worship of Jehovah (2 Chronicles 14:2-6), and allowed God to lead his forces into battle (2 Chronicles 14:7-15).

Asa’s wealth and power made Baasha, king of Israel, jealous. Baasha came against Asa and instead of turning to God, Asa took a portion of his wealth to seek help from Syria (2 Chronicles 16:1-3.

God sent a prophet to indict Asa of his sin and the king jailed the man of God (2 Chronicles 16:7-10). Even later, when Asa became ill, he relied on doctors instead of God (2 Chronicles 16:11-12).

What lessons can we learn from the story of Asa?

First, familiarity can be a villain. Asa became too comfortable. God’s and Asa’s things became blurred in his mind. He began to take God for granted and decided that God would follow him wherever he went.

As Christians, we serve for decades and we begin to think we’re above the masses and we have things figured out. Then the trap is set.

Second, Asa forgot God’s enormous power (2 Chronicles 14:11; 16:8).

Third, Asa became too big to repent. He had arrived and decided that God favored him, so he could do as he pleased. We foolishly think that we’ve built up enough points so God will overlook our sins (Ephesians 2:8- 10).

Fourth, Asa forgot that we can’t reach our destination without finishing the journey. It doesn’t matter how righteous we’ve been, we’re called to be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10).

When we get too comfortable physically, we get sleepy.

Why should it be any different spiritually?

by Richard Mansel

on October 27th. Jesus and His disciples took breaks and we believe in following His example.

The Sign of the Fish

Do you know what offends me?

You’ve no doubt seen the sign of the fish on some peoples’ car bumpers. It is one of Christianity’s oldest symbols. You may have also seen another sticker, presumably in response to it. The second one shows the fish with what must be a Darwinian amphibian, mouth wide open, consuming the symbol of Christianity.

That offends me.

Please understand; I am not suggesting that an atheist or proponent of Darwinist ideas has no right to express his views. Nor am I fearful of Christians’ ability to stand in the debate with Darwinists and survive. Don’t worry, truth has nothing to fear, and the Genesis account of creation is the truth.

Consider, however, the sign of the fish for a moment.
Early Christians formed an acrostic in Greek out of various names given to Jesus. These were, Iesus (Jesus), Christus (Christ), Theos (God), huios (son), soter (savior). The first letter of each name formed the Greek word for “fish” – (ichthus). The symbol consisted of two intersecting arcs, the ends of the right side extending beyond the meeting point so as to resemble the profile of a fish.

In the first centuries of Christianity, when persecution was heavy, spies were a distinct possibility. Was the stranger in worship a secret representative of the Roman Empire seeking to infiltrate the church and identify Christians, or was he what he claimed to be, simply a disciple from another region? One member would trace half an arch in the sand, and if the other person understood the symbol, he would trace the other arch, thus forming the sign of the fish.

The early church – your brothers and sisters – lived in dangerous times. They exhibited stunning levels of courage and faithfulness to God. They should be an inspiration to us today. I am amazed in a day of political correctness, when one can hardly name a trait that might or might not be characteristic of an ethnic group or nationality, when a cartoon of Mohammed can cause riots in a dozen cities, that this sad, scary time of repression against Christians is used so derisively.

Debate Christians on the merits of our beliefs if you wish. But please don’t mock this period when it was illegal to be a Christian, and when countless hundreds of thousands died unjustly for their faith.

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold the devil is about to throw some of you in prison, that you might be tested, and for ten days you will receive persecution. Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life,” (Revelation 2:10, ESV).

–by Stan Mitchell