Living in Austin, Texas during the early 1970’s, I was working on my bachelor’s degree. It was during the hippie days of the counter culture, anti-war movement , anti-establishment, anti-government, anti-everything . And the people most involved in this lifestyle found their habitation on a street we called “The Drag,” also known as Guadalupe Street. Along with the regular street vendors that sold everything from candles to drug paraphernalia, there was also a smorgasbord of every kind of religious fanatic, political extremist, revolutionary, and musician you can imagine. I guess the word that comes to mind is the word STRANGE. It is where the saying “Keep Austin Weird” came from. There were some flakey people on that street. You knew people who could tell you all about the stars and the future, but could not remember where they lived!
Who knows where or what they are today. Flakey.
Jesus warned his disciples about being “flakey”. He said that some people received His word and really loved it, but because they were too religious and never really got grounded, they lost it all.
Mark 4:17 (NASB) and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.
So many times as a pastor I have seen people start out with great plans and expectations. They seem red-hot and unstoppable, but something happens and they just kind of lose it.
What happened to them? Jesus said it was affliction and persecution.
Affliction means trouble and pressure. Some people preach a gospel that has no trouble to it. Become a Christian and all your troubles will be over! Just trust the Lord and all will be easy. The truth is all will be good, but not easy. Jesus said trouble and pressure come because of the Word of God. When a man or woman receives the word of God in his or her life and begins to live it out, he finds himself becoming a walking, talking contradiction to this world system we live in. Where once he or she lived by the motto “get all you can and can all you get,” now he is living by another motto –“give and it will be giving to you”. Where once she lived by-“revenge is sweet,” now she lives by “ love and pray for your enemies” and “vengeance is mine, says the Lord” And this creates pressure. To live the fruitful life that Jesus promised means we have to unlearn and change our way of life. The Bible even says that in order to do God’s good will, we have to change our thinking.
Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Change hurts. It is uncomfortable. But it must happen.
Jesus also said that persecution comes as well. This is a biggy. Living a Christian life puts a person in direct conflict with the values, likes and dislikes of their existing friends and family. People will persecute the man or woman who chooses to live by the Bible.
St. Augustine, who had been a real party animal, was confronted by one of his old buddies after he had been converted to Jesus Christ. His friend invited him to go and participate in his old sins of drinking and womanizing. His response to them was, “THAT Augustine is dead.”
Don’t give up your faith when things get hard, or you are under persecution or affliction. God will be with you, and He promised to never leave you or forsake you!