Baptism by Fire
Soldiers who have been in combat will tell you that all that stuff they said about patriotism, and love of country evaporates in the heat of battle. They are no longer fighting for their country or some ideology, but are fighting for their lives and the lives of the man to the right and left of them. When one of those men goes down, another will be sent to take his place in the line. Though the replacement wears the same uniform; has the same commander; and has had the same training, he has no chance of being accepted until he proves himself in combat. Until he undergoes a baptism by fire, no man is brother to those who have been tested.
The Bible is not riddled with contradictions as some suppose, however it is home to many paradoxes. To save your life you must lose it; give and you shall prosper; to name a couple. Here is another, Jesus said: “ Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division... “ He, the Prince of Peace, also told the same disciples: “ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you...”
The life and teachings of Jesus Christ will bring you peace of heart, mind and soul. They will not bring you peace with the world. On the contrary, they will engender division and strife. It is a division that today's Christian sees growing with each passing day. Those who look for the coming of the Lord must face the fire of the world's hatred. Until we pass through that fire with an unrepentant, uncompromising, confession of Christ, we will never experience the peace of salvation.
“ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ...” The world hates Him; we love Him, and a great gulf separates the two. To pass from one side to the other is to pass through the fire. We are baptized by fire; not even the scent of smoke clings to us. We are washed in the blood; not a spot or a wrinkle shows. We are saved by grace and no power in hell or on earth can remove us from His hand.
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