Confession --
No greater commendation has ever been bestowed than that received by our Lord when there came from heaven these word is from God Himself, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased?' "For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (2 Pet. 1:17.)
Worlds have no value in comparison with the approval of our Lord God. The human mind cannot comprehend the magnificent glory and honour, nor understand the significance of what it means to be well pleasing to God on high. But there will come a day, when you and I will stand before the judgment bar, and what will it mean to us then if we may hear the Master say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." We will understand it better by and by.
God has revealed to us that Jesus Christ is His Son. Surely we can confess what God Himself has confessed. Can you believe in God if you cannot believe and confess before men that which He confesses? How firm this rock of truth upon which is built the church of Christ! God has confessed; who will deny?
No one believes in God who does not believe that Jesus is His Son; and yet his belief rests solely upon that which God has revealed. If a man believes this truth, he is obligated to believe all that God reveals. He cannot take one and reject another offered upon the very same basis, and still be consistent. We need to learn that nothing is good religiously unless it is revealed of God; and to fully accept with complete assurance the things that are revealed by Him. These do not need to be further substantiated, or approved by the wisdom of man.
When a man, confessing that which is in his heart, declares that Jesus is God's Son, he exalts the Christ and obligates himself to be in subjection to Him. He admits His relation as God's Son, whom the Father has exalted over all, and also His right to obedient service, worship, and praise. This is seen in the quotation from Jesus, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46.) There is no answer to this question, for it is absurd to acknowledge Christ as Lord while refusing to obey Him in all things.
Sometimes, in order to please the Lord we must displease men, and vice versa. What shall we do when this happens, as it so often does? Are we going to confess that Jesus is God's Son, and then turn away and serve men rather than Him? God forbid.
In Matt. Chap. 10, is recorded an address by Jesus to His disciples who were being sent forth to preach. He outlined some of the oppositions and persecutions that would befall them, and much of what He said is applicable to the present day. They were being sent forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, and He warned them to beware of men. Brother would deliver up brother, and they would be hated for His name's sake. Since men had called the Master Beelzebub, they would call them names also. However, they were not to keep things covered or hidden because of fear, but fully proclaim the truth. They were told to fear not those who may kill the body but cannot harm the soul, "but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Not even a sparrow falls to the ground without the knowledge of God and they were of much more value. But their peril would be great and so Jesus said to them; "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 10:32-33.) Let us keep in mind these solemn words of the Lord no matter how hard the going gets And in our eagerness to make confession and thus gain the favor and approbation of some man, no matter how "big" (?) we may think he is, or he may think he is; let us be very sure that we do not deny the Lord in the process.
The love of money is the root of all evil, and surely the desire for popularity must be a tree that springs forth from that root. "But thou, 0 man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness," for "it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons." (Col. 3:23-25.)
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:" (I Tim. 6:12-14.)
Remember the words of Jesus Christ the Son of God, "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels" (Rev. 3:5.) Let us be servants of the Lord.