FIVE PILLARS NO EARTHQUAKE CAN DESTROY

(Preparing For The Lord's Return)

When Jesus Christ gave the signs that would preceed His coming, He mentioned a great increase in earthquakes. That has obviously come to pass. But far more dangerous is the "spiritual shaking" that is also taking place all around the world wherever followers of Jesus live and serve.

The Scriptures indicate a great shaking-a "spiritual earthquake"-will test God's people in order to shake loose from our lives anything that is not of God. I love the words in Hebrews 12:25-29 where God says He will shake heaven and earth (and your faith and mine) so that "those things which cannot be shaken may remain" (v27).

Each of us Christians is being seen by others. Once we say that we have been born again spiritually and love Jesus, we become walking advertisements. Some people will love us, others may laugh and pity us. Some will listen, others will turn away. Some will accept Christ because of our witness, others will reject Him. But no matter what happens in this world, or what the future holds for you and me, there are five pillars of character and life style that our Lord wants as part of each of our lives.

1) INTEGRITY-Where no one can say "He is a phony who does not keep his word and lives a lie." On the contrary, our walk with God will offer concrete evidence that our words and actions are based on honesty and truth. 2 Corinthians 8:21 "For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men."

2) TRANSPARENCY-It takes effort to maintain a pure conscience in a filthy world. If I sin against God, I make a sincere confession. If I hurt another person, I make restitution. That way, we will never allow our conscience to grow careless and become hard. Acts 24:16 "So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man."

3) FIDELITY-One word that should mark God's servant is "faithful". Living in the Scriptures daily and asking the Holy Spirit to control our lives will make "faithfulness" a moment by moment occurance: faithful to God, mate, family, close friends, neighbors, employer, teacher, students, etc. 1 Corinthians 4:2 ""Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."

4) HUMILITY-This does not come as pride disguised as "I'm just a humble nobody". It is the humility of Jesus that assumes its spiritual authority as one of the Lord's "kings and priests" and lives out this high calling by serving others and esteeming them "better than ourselves". Philippians 2:3-8 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!"

5) CHARITY (AGAPE LOVE) The New Covenant of Jesus does not allow any word, action or reaction to be excused because of what someone else has done to me. Since "God is love"; since Jesus calls love the highest proof of discipleship; since the very first "fruit of the Spirit" is love, it is obvious that the pillar of agape love is to be seen by others as proof of Christ's ownership of our lives. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Mark these five pillars in your Bible for easy reference to encourage other Christians. Great days of testing lie ahead. Those whose pillars go deep into the Word of God will be sought out by many in a world filled with fear and uncertainty. May the Lord make you and me part of those whose house is built on the solid Rock!