North Korea may not have heard of the name "A.W. Tozer" ? Christian author, pastor. Man of deep insights. Flesh-bashing. Great man of God who left this life in the same year as JFK and CS Lewis, 1963. But he serves as an example of the kind of man needed to get the job done over there.
I heard a tape of him this morning on the way to work. You can believe me or not, but he said he was not as excited about the coming of Jesus as some of those around him. He wasn't fearing for his salvation but was well aware of his shortcomings and believed that Christians too must be judged before Christ. There, rewards and punishments alike will be handed out as our life is in review before God. He said he had simply wasted too much time in his life and feared to have to give an account of it. Yes, A.W. Tozer. Now, I have had those same thoughts, but with me they are infinitely more true. How about you?
As the battle for souls continues on in the world, to what do we give our time? I talked about the war effort in another article. Now (and this should have come first) the motivation for war, the "articles of war" if I may. Here are some Scriptures that point to Christians fighting. In the context of my ongoing mesages about North Korea, NK workers are called to fight for their own personal holiness and for the life and salvation of a nation. It is an awesome struggle. Yet I do not believe I have even convinced myself of how awesome it really is. I still eat too much and pray too little. I still complain too much and praise too little. I still enjoy this world too much and the next too little. And I forget about my suffering brothers all too often.
You must do your own confessing, but here are some "articles of war", admonitions from God's Word, to help get us back on track if we need it.
Article 1. Go, preach. Mark 16:15. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. The war is going on until that is accomplished.
Article 2. Fight. I Timothy 6:12. Fight the good fight of faith. Until all believe, the fighting must go on.
Article 3. Stay free. II Timothy 2:4. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life. You simply cannot be a warrior and a couch potato at the same time. Turn the world off! There's a war going on!
Article 4. Stay connected. Ephesians 6:11. Put on the whole armor of God. This isn't your war. He just needs loan of your body for awhile.
The battle is the Lord's, not only to fight but to win. Let's identify with Him and make it ours, too.
http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!
And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.
Low Energy People
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