Roark’s list is as deep as it is broad. The bulk of the books are theological, but he also includes others like biographies and fictional reads. What fascinates me the most is the sheer number of books he can cover in a year. I have always wondered how he does it. How does he get time to read all those books? Challenged by Roark, at the beginning of this year, I set myself a challenge to dedicate every free time I get to reading to see how many books I can get through by the end of the year. Here is what I found out: in three months, I have read ten books – more than I read last year! These are the books I’ve read so far. (As you may have guessed, the title of this article was suggested by one of the books I read).

I must admit, I surprised myself. Doing this has been a real eye-opener for me. Besides the many rich insights I have gleaned from the books I have read (I have enjoyed reading every one of them), I have proven to myself that I have time – valuable time that I can utilise to educate myself and develop my mind mentally and spiritually.

When I shared my experience with a good friend, he remarked, “I need a reading anointing.” So, how did I do it? Have I acquired a special “reading anointing” that remained elusive to me before now? In the rest of the article, I will share a few practical ideas that have made an enormous difference in my life, along with a couple of reasons why I believe anyone else keen to improve their reading prowess can easily achieve and surpass my record.

Redeeming time

As a Scientist, my work already involves an awful lot of reading. However, I tend to carry on reading about Science at the slightest opportunity I get (there are too many good papers to read and so little time!). Knowing when to switch off ‘work mode’ has been a challenge. I also volunteer for a few roles at our local assembly, which means I’m engaged in service for up to three evenings a week. Add these to the long days at work, and by the time we’ve dispatched our kids off to bed, I am ready to crash.

My wife and I have, in times past, used our ‘quiet times’ when the kids are in bed to read a book together. Progress with reading together has been slow, as we need to maintain the same pace (one cannot read ahead of the other), but it has been very enriching. When we don’t feel like reading, we just chat each other to sleep, catching up on happenings during the day and planning or praying for the future. At other times, we settle down to a movie. Agreeing which movie to watch, however, usually takes about 10-15 minutes, if not longer. We will endlessly flick through Disney+ or Amazon Prime, looking for a decent, interesting film. But then the moment we start watching one, someone will begin swearing or ‘talking dirty’ or strip naked, and we’ll shut it off, disappointed. Then we will resume the search, and usually before we can pick a new movie, we both feel sleepy, abandon the idea altogether and call it a night.

This year, I have given up movies altogether – save for the odd family movie time (as part of our Sunday evening group activity – see below). What time might have been spent on movies has been repurposed for reading. Additionally, my reading times have been:

•  The 10-15 minutes between getting ready and leaving the house for the morning school run.
•  When I’m by myself during lunch break, in between munches.
•  During the commute. On the train, especially on the tube, where the internet is too patchy to do any meaningful work and seats are sometimes scarce.
•  After Lord’s Day service on Sundays. As a family tradition, we dedicate Sundays to family time – spent in worship, reading, and listening to God’s Word and being hospitable. Evenings are spent in a group activity agreed upon with the kids. Sunday afternoons have been gratifying reading times when we don’t have guests over.

As you can tell, my default mode now is to always have a book handy, and to not leave home without one!

Viewing Life in Numbers is Quite Revelatory

In an online blog article, Daily Infographic, drawing from various sources, offered a meticulous breakdown of how the average person—assuming a lifespan of 79 years—allocates their time on Earth. According to the available data, we spend 33 years of our lives in bed, segmented into 26 years of actual sleep and an astonishing seven years spent trying to fall asleep. We spend four years and six months eating, 235 days waiting in queues, six months at stop lights and a year and a half looking for lost items! When it comes to time spent at work, the average individual dedicates 13 years and two months to their profession, including one year and two months of overtime.

Astonishingly, we spend 11 years and four months looking at screens, divided between 8 years and four months of television viewing and three years navigating social media. This is only about two years less than the time we spend at work and more than 12 times the time spent in primary and secondary school. After a long day, most people ‘escape reality’ through social media or streaming movies online. This analysis suggests that the time spent on television and social media alone is substantial enough to educate ourselves several times over or even take up a second job! For most people, this might probably represent the single most significant opportunity to redeem time for reading.

A Deeper Issue

Proving that it is possible to carve out time for reading is helpful, but there is an even deeper motivation for developing a reading habit as a Christian. If you’re a Christian reading this, how do you deal with the nudity, profanity and foul language in most of the screen content out there?

It was R. Kent Hughes who pointed out in his book, ‘Disciplines of a Godly Man’, that “if we are to have Christian minds, there are things we must put out—and this extends beyond TV to what we read, listen to and laugh at.” As David avows in Psalm 101:2-3:

I will ponder the way that is blameless. … I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.

Sadly, the Christian community consumes the same content as the world does, and as research shows, at an even faster rate. In a survey by the Barna Group in 2014, practising Christians in America watched 30 minutes more TV per day than those who identified as atheists. If we are to have the mind of Christ, we must intentionally feed on Christ-exalting, God-glorifying, and gospel-centred resources. Reading Christian literature is a great help in this regard.

What If I Don’t Like Reading?

Thankfully, a lot of books now have audio formats available. Blogs like Desiring God offer audio formats for articles. Thus, one can still feast on rich Christian content by listening if reading proves challenging. The added advantage to audio formats is that one can listen and learn while completing house chores, walking the dog, going for a run, or driving to work. The opportunities to enrich the mind and soul are endless!

Concluding Thoughts

In conclusion, it’s clear that the potential for integrating reading into our daily routines exists for all of us. It requires a deliberate pause to recognise those ‘redeemable moments’ that, all too often, slip unnoticed in our busy lives. Embracing reading with intentionality—making it a point always to have a book within arm’s reach—and fostering a disciplined approach to our use of time can transform fleeting minutes into windows of opportunity for growth and learning.

In the end, the commitment to finding time for reading is not just about the act itself but about what it represents—an intentional choice to prioritise our development, and, importantly, our spiritual growth. The rewards of this choice, as I have discovered, are indeed inestimable.

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It is an encouragement and a source of great pride whenever I hear about the growth and advance of the gospel across the continent. All over the world, Africa is touted as the continent with the fastest-growing number of Christian converts. I praythat this growth will be accompanied by growth in personal holiness and depth of understanding of God’s Word.

I address this letter to you, saints, for two reasons. First, it is the pattern we see in Scripture. The apostle Paul, in almost all his letters, did not address the pastors or overseers in the churches, but the members of the church. He believed that the members were the true guardians of the truth and purity of the church.That is why in Galatians 1:6-9, his frustration was not with the false teachers but the members of the church:

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

The second reason why I have addressed this letter to you, saints of the church in Ghana and across Africa, is because false teachers have crept into the church. In the early days of the rise of ‘one-man’ churches—independent churches planted by individuals—around the 1970s, there was much speculation about whether these teachers were intentionally spreading false teachings or if their errors were simply a result of ignorance.Over the years, it has become increasingly evident that these false teachers are not ignorant of the truth but willfully deceiving others for their own gain. Paul spoke of such people in Romans 16:18, “For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” It is futile to address them since they have no desire to change their ways. It is incumbent on us to grow in our discernment as believers, to recognise and avoid these harmful teachings that undermine our faith and bring disrepute to the name of Christ.

The Bible teaches that on the last day, everyone will give an account of themselves to God (Romans 14:12). This will be an individual affair, which means each of us must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). The more reason why we cannot leave our faith in the hands of others, especially pastors who care more about the “seed” we sow into their ministries and the size of their congregations than where we will spend eternity.

As we work out our salvation, we must bear three key principlesin mind. 

Don’t Assume Your Faith

According to Paul, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10). It is very clear from these verses that no one is born a Christian, and neither can the faith be inherited. Christianity is not like Islam, where one is born into the faith. Each of us must individually repent and put our faith in Christ Jesus.

As a people, we are so religious that there is a tendency and temptation to assume the Christian faith. Unfortunately, many of our pastors contribute to this confusion. I was once part of a church for two years, and throughout my time there, no pastor spoke to me about how I came to faith and the fruit I had borne after that. I remember one Sunday after the church service, all visitors who wanted to join the church were invited to remain behind. One of the ministry leaders spoke briefly about the process of becoming a member. Our photos were taken, and ID cards were issued. That is how I became a member of that church. No questions asked if I knew the gospel, believed it or was baptised as a believer. It didn’t matter which church I had attended and why I had left it. Perhaps, it may have been because I was disciplined. But none of that mattered.

This starkly contrasts what we read about Jesus in John 10:14, where he said, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” The Greek word, poimen, translated as pastor,can also mean shepherd. Therefore, every pastor is an under-shepherd of Christ (1 Peter 5:2). They are representatives of Christ in their shepherding responsibilities. This means Pastors must know their members, and their members must likewise know them. Sadly, in most mega churches today, the shepherds do not know who the sheep are; the sheep have never interacted with the shepherds. Therefore, it is unclear how these shepherds intend to give account for the sheep they don’t even know (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17).

Moreover, the New Testament makes it clear the church comprises people who have repented of their sins and put their trust in Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-37). To that end, it is the duty of the pastors or elders of a church to act as the doorkeepers and lead the congregation in ensuring that whoever enters the local church has a credible profession of faith. Unfortunately, not many churches exercise this watchfulness. As a result, many churches in Africa are filled with people who are not saved. It is no wonder there are so many people in the church, yet the continent is known for corruption and all kinds of ungodliness. Some of our churches are more anti-gospel outposts than the pillar and buttress of truth they are meant to be (1 Timothy 3:15).

If you are part of a church where no pastor has ever spoken to you about your faith or how you came to know Jesus Christ; and the fruit you have borne subsequently, you are likely not in a healthy church. And in the case throughout your Christian life, your profession of faith has never been examined by any church, you should approach the pastors of your current church and ask them why no one has ever asked you about your faith. In any case, Paul’s advice to you would be to “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourself” (2 Corinthians 13:5). I strongly recommend you read this article on God’s love; it will help you in your examining process.

Your Allegiance Should Not be to Your Pastor or His Churchbut to Christ.

When Jesus declared in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” He meant it, and he is doing that all across the world. From Asia to Europe, Americas to Africa, wherever the gospel has been preached, it has borne fruit and the church of Christ is being built. This universal church, the Bible teaches, is the body of Christ.

Sadly, in Ghana and across Africa, churches have become personal properties of Pastors. It is their pictures that are on the signboards. In many places, the personal brand of the pastor is more popular than the name of Christ. If you are in a church where the preacher’s name is more known than the name of Christ, you should know you are in an unhealthy church; and leave as quickly as you can.

Over the years, many Christians in Africa have become more discerning and are beginning to ask questions. However, I continue to hear stories where members feel they have no alternatives, so they stick it out in these unhealthy churches. In other cases, members feel so loyal to the “Man of God” that even though they know something is not right, they feel they cannot leave because they would be branded as disloyal.

One truth we should firmly hold on to as Christians is that the church belongs to Christ; therefore, our loyalty must be to himand not to any particular individual. If you discover that your church is unhealthy and you cannot effect any change, you should strongly consider leaving. By God’s grace, there are many relatively healthy churches springing up. We should fervently pray that God, in his kindness, will raise more of such churches. However, even in cases where there are no viable options, you should pray for the courage to start a gospel-centred Bible fellowship which could eventually covenant as a church,

In Ephesians 3:10, Paul said, “Through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” This means inasmuch as a true and healthy church is a powerful gospel witness, a bad church has a powerful destructive effect on the advance of the kingdom of God. As a matter of truth, some churches in Ghana and across Africa must close for the advance of God’s kingdom and his glory. Therefore, being part of a bad, unhealthy, anti-gospel church may display loyalty to a human being, but in the long run, you are doing damage to the advance of God’s kingdom. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

Examine Yourself to See If You’re Bearing Fruit

In John 15:16, Jesus told his disciples and, by extension, all his followers, “I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” As Christians, we are in the fruit-bearing business. According to Jesus, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:19-20).

As Christians in Ghana and across Africa, we must constantly examine ourselves to see if we are bearing fruit and what kind.Each of us – not the usual pointing at the other person, must look ourselves in the eye and ask whether we are bearing abiding fruits; because it is illogical that the continent with the highest rate of Christian numerical growth would also have the highest level of corruption. In Ghana, for example, more than 70% of the population professes to be Christian, with the majority of this number in church every Sunday, yet the country is plagued with thick darkness.

In Galatians 5:22-23, apostle Paul lists “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” as the nine-part character traits produced by the Holy Spirit in every Christian. The effects of these fruit are not confined to the four walls of a church building. As we live our lives in the public square, evidence of these fruits would be seen in how we work, study, lead our families and raise our children as Christians (James 2:14-17).

It is not loving or faithful for a Christian politician entrusted with a public office to take for themselves resources belongingto the state. It is not kind, good, or faithful for a civil servant to take bribes irrespective of whether their pay is adequate. It is not a display of love that, as a trader, your goods are priced to take advantage of unsuspecting customers. The sad irony is that many corrupt officials and business people profess to be Christians and regularly attend church.

The state of Christianity on our continent is a colossal anti-gospel witness. One of the most striking truths in physics is that regardless of the thickness of the darkness, a single matchstick can dispel it. Therefore, if Christians are the light of the world as described by Jesus in Matthew 5:14, how is it that our continent is languishing in so much darkness when the majority of us claim to be Christian, unless it is the case that many of us hold an appearance of godliness, but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5)?Even though Africa is touted as the continent with the fastest Christian growth rate, sadly, the growth is cancerous. As Jesus rightly said, “You will recognize them by their fruits.” The fruits many of us are bearing indicate we do not belong to Christ, andthe warnings of Jesus in Revelation 3:1-2 is timely for all of us, “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.”

Having said all this, I am also convinced there are many faithful saints on the continent because God always leaves himself a remnant (Romans 11:4-5). It is because of them the continent is not consumed. It is my prayer that “our God may make you [the remnant] worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

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Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me,bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy (Psalm 103:1-4).

You remember the Biblical charge “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and might”? (Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:37). Here is a demand on the totality of our whole being–holding nothing back. Without any trace of doubt, King David wouldn’t be oblivious of this. Thus in his moment of praise, he employed his whole soul and all that is within him.

From my experience, the natural response when one ponders what God has done in their lives should be praise. According to Matthew Henry,

“We make nothing of our religious performances if we do not make heart-work of them, if that which is within us, nay, if all that is within us, be not engaged in them.” ¹

In 1 Chronicles 17:16-20, after God has given David a promise to establish his house and his throne, he went into the temple and poured his heart out in praise to God. David was a man with an appreciative heart, as we must also be. In many places in Scripture, we are admonished to give thanks to God. Infact, Jesus threathened, so to speak, that if we do not praise God, God is able to raise stones to praise him. That my dear friends is sobering.

Looking closely at David’s praise, here are three things he praises God for.

God’s Holiness

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

The starting point of David’s praise is the acknowledgment of God’s holiness. That infact appears to be the proper pattern of Scripture. And Jesus taught it in what is commonly called The Lord’s Prayer saying; “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9). “Hallowed be your name”: that is reverence! When we approach God in praise, we must come with awe and adoration of his holiness: “Reverence for God’s self-revelation is the heart of the third commandment (Ex. 20:7) says R.C. Sproul. ²

God is holy–he is purely distinct from all others. Holiness is the highest of God’s attributes. All other things from God flows from his moral perfection. He is pure and there is no darkness in him. (1John 1:5). After they had crossed the red sea and the Israelites had witnessed all of God’s power, Moses, together with the people broke forth in praise singing: “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11 ).

Acknowledging God’s holiness puts our lives in proper perspective. He is holy and we are not. Albeit, we have been called upon as believers to partake in God’s holiness: “Be ye holy, for it is written, I am holy.” (1Pet 1:16). This command looks daunting because the standard for holiness is God’s standard. How then can we sinful humanity get to be holy as God? “No attribute of God is more dreadful to sinners than His holiness.” This dread showed in the Prophet’s Isaiah encounter of God’s holiness in a vision, he literally shuddered: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5). For us who have come to saving faith, we are indeed sure of this one truth that God will work through us to attain the desired result–holiness (Phil. 1:13).

God’s Benefits

forget not all his benefits

What a loaded phrase. The Psalmist prompts himself not to forget all what God has done for him. Humans do forget but as believers we must not allow our hearts to fossilise in forgetfulness in our walk with God. Paul writing to the Philippians repeatedly prompted them to rejoice. And is quick to note that “To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.” (Phil. 3:1). You see, one of the ways by which we learn is repitition—constant reminders.

Martin Luther in his commentary on Galatians says this about gospel preaching: “Most necessary it is, therefore, that we should know this article well[the gospel], teach it unto others, and beat it into their heads continually.” That speaks about repitition—constant reminders about gospel truth so we don’t forget. Have you ever paused to ponder your life before God? As the hymn writer said: “Count your blessings, name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” Do you consider all what God has done in your life? Can you pay back? Then praise him.

God’s Salvation

Who forgives all your iniquity

Dear believer, “do you thank God for your salvation and that of other believers”? Perhaps many of us may thank God for numerous things in life but not our salvation. We may take it for granted that we are saved. If that is the case, you must repent because salvation came at a high cost—the cost of the life of Jesus Christ. See, he has redeemed our life from the pit—from desruction; from death, from eternal damnation. In our natural, unbelieving state as humans; God still saved us. That calls for praise. Praising God for our salvation appears to be the pattern of Scripture. David in this Psalm makes the work of God’s salvation the basis of his praise: “Bless [him] … who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.”

Apart from David, we see other biblical characters praising God about salvation. When Paul pondered the great work of salvation wrought by God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son and applied to our hearts through the Holy Spirit; he burst forth into doxology.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved (Eph. 1:3-6).

The Apostle Peter in like fashion as Paul, gave us words celebrating the great work of God’s salvation: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you (1 Pet. 1:3-4).

In salvation, God has extended his mercy to us who are unworthy. We who are undeserving of anything from God yet he has saved us: “who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.” We can only be grateful and live our lives for him. Amen.

Notes:
1 Matthew Henry, “Psalms 103”, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/psalms/103.html, accessed 31st March, 2019

2. R.C. Sproul, The Reformation Study Bible (Orlando: Florida, The Reformation Trust, 2016) 1763

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The Bible asserts and claims to be the very word of God. In 2Tim. 3:16 the Bible testifies of itself to be inspired by God. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” In other words, every word of what we call Scripture is a word from God Himself. The phrase “breathed out by God” is translated from the root word, “theopneustos”. Its use in the above text is the first in Greek literature. Led by the Holy Spirit, Paul aptly chose a word that describes the real source of Scripture: God Himself.

“But”, you may be asking, “how can we know that the Bible is indeed the Word of God?” This article discusses four reasons why you can trust the Bible.

Prophecy 

I believe the Bible is what it claims to be because when it predicts something, it happens. For example, Joshua, after the battle of Jericho, made these pronouncements regarding the city walls and its gates: Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, “Cursed before the LORD be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. “At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates.”
(Joshua 6:26)

This curse was fulfilled verbatim during the days of King Ahab, in Hiel the Bethelite some five or six hundred years later: In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
(1Kings 16:34). In 1Sam. 8 the people of Israel requested Samuel to appoint a king to rule over them, as Samuel’s days as a prophet and judge were coming to an end (v4-5). In response, the LORD told Samuel to warn them of the implication of their request (vv. 10-18). Samuel’s words of prophecy of what their kings will exact of them and the kind of lifestyles they would lead read like a script of a play that each of the kings of Isreal would later act out, as clearly and precisely as was prophesied by Samuel.

The rest of the Old Testament is dotted with several of such fulfilled prophecies, few of which are presented below.

Concerning Jeroboam’s idolatrous dynasty
And as soon as he was king, he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He left to the house of Jeroboam not one that breathed, until he had destroyed it, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite (1 Kings 15:29).

He even pulled down the altar at Bethel, the high place set up by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin. Then he burned the high place, ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole. And as Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the hillside, and he sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar to defile it, according to the word the LORD proclaimed by the man of God who had foretold these things (2 Kings 23:15-16; cf 2Chron. 34:3, 5).

Concerning King Basha of Israel
When he began to reign, as soon as he had seated himself on his throne, he struck down all the house of Baasha. He did not leave him a single male of his relatives or his friends. Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet (1 Kings 16:11-12).

Concerning Jezebel, the wife of Ahab
When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. And she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out of the window. And as Jehu entered the gate, she said, “Is it peace, you Zimri, murderer of your master?” And he lifted up his face to the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out at him. He said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down. And some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her. Then he went in and ate and drank. And he said, “See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king’s daughter.” But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. When they came back and told him, he said, “This is the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel, and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jezebel.’” (2 Kings 9:30-37).

Concerning Jesus and New Testament prophecies
The grand statement to the fulfilment of Biblical prophecies is manifested in the life of Jesus. In the Old Testament, there are altogether more than 300 prophecies written about Him, of which He fulfilled all. Mathematicians have worked out the chance that just eight of those prophecies will be fulfilled in any one individual; a probability of 10 to the power 17—quite plainly, a humanly impossible feat. However, Jesus did accomplish all that was prophesied about Him.

The words and works of Jesus

The New Testament records some predictions of Jesus Himself, notable among them the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem (Mark 13:1-2) and Jerusalem itself (Luke 19:40-44). This specific prophecy was precisely fulfilled in AD70 when emperor Titus Flavius Vespasianus (Caeser Augustus) besieged Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. By AD135, every stone of the Temple Mount had been thrown down—precisely as Jesus said it would. There are many other recorded prophecies of Jesus, and of His apostles who through the Holy Spirit foretold of events to come, which have happened just as predicted. These lend proof to the fact that everything else the Bible predicts to happen in the future to come will likewise come to pass.

Jesus’ life is in and of itself is the most compelling evidence to the supernaturality of the Bible. He believed the Old Testament writings were true, as can we. His birth, life, death and resurrection stand as the ultimate testament to the veracity of the Bible.

Miracles

The Bible also attests to its supernaturality with the recording of several miracles—which can only be as a result of the involvement of a supernatural being—God! And we know that the Bible is true because the miracles it records were witnessed by real people—they did not happen in a closet. For example, when Jesus Christ rose from the dead, we are told that more than 500 people saw him (1Cor. 15:6). When He ascended to heaven, His disciples saw him. People living at the time saw him die and rise again—as some historians have in their writings corroborated the Biblical records of these events.

The frankness with which the details of miraculous events are recorded in the Bible is further proof to its authenticity. For example, the gospels record that Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus after His resurrection. If the reports of His resurrection were made up, we have reason to believe the disciples would have hidden the fact that it was Mary who first saw the resurrected Christ; because the testimony of women was not highly regarded in the cultural setting at the time.

The experience of a changed life

The Bible promises a transformed life to those who believe in the Gospel—its central message. It promises forgiveness of sins and freedom from the power of sin, and peace through the grace of Jesus Christ. This is something I have personally experienced in my life.

I have a hope and firm security in God’s promises in the Bible concerning the future. Meditating on God’s promises fills me with a joy that only God can provide. Thinking of the truths taught in the Bible keeps my thoughts pure. The Bible keeps me at peace because in it I encounter the Prince of peace. David attests to this in Psalms 119:165 when he wrote, “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.”

The word of God is my anchor in whatever situation I find myself in: in trouble and in joy; through trials and temptations; in times of sickness or sorrow. The Bible claims to be alive and active. It produces life in those who read and believe it. Jesus said it is in them that we find eternal life (John 5:39-40). In Psalm 19:7-9 the Bible testifies of itself as making simple people wise, of being pure, of being perfect, of enduring forever—all of which claims it produces in those who submit themselves to its truth.

I accept that personal experiences are subjective. Nonetheless, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Would you like to verify the claims of the Bible for yourself? If you give it a chance, it can transform you completely. It can give you the confidence to face life here and in the afterlife, give you hope for now and the afterlife.

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Our fathers refused to obey him[Moses], but thrust him aside , and in their hearts they turned to Egypt (Acts 7:39)

The heart in the natural or biological sense is the organ that powers life in a human being. When the heart stops; life stops. When Scripture uses the word heart, it is analogus to what the heart is in the human body. The heart in a spiritual sense is the seat of our affections and desires. And
all the evil and sin we engage in first originates from the heart. The human heart, according to John Calvin “is a factory of idols…Everyone of us is, from his mother’s womb, expert in inventing idols.” The Bible also has a host of things to say about the condition of the human heart:

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23).

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander (Matthew 15:19).

The Scriptural passages above tells us of the role the heart–our affections and desires–plays in our lives. The heart is where all the issues of life comes from—whether good or evil. In the theme text; Stephen tells us what happened in the wilderness when the Israelites were journeying to the promised land. They rebelled against Moses and ultimately against God when he, Moses, had gone up the mount of sinai to receive God’s commandments for them.

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him (Exodus 32:1).

Sin Originates From The Heart

Recounting what happened, Stephen notes that “in their hearts they turned to Egypt.” Though they were in the wilderness, their heart—desires and affections—had turned to Egypt where they were released from bondage. They desired to go back to Egypt (Numbers 11:1-6). Rightly diagnosed, we see that their rebellion originated from their hearts. Our human nature is depraved from the fall of our parents Adam and Eve, passing on to us the ramifications of their disobedience. So our very nature is sin (Rom. 3:9-23).

According to R. C. Sproul, we are not sinners because we sin, but rather we sin because we are sinners. Sin is our nature and we live everyday of our lives fulfilling its impulses. Every sin begins from the heart. We nurture and plot evil in the heart before we eventually live it out in the open.

Sin Leads To Idolatry

When the Israelites turned to Egypt in their hearts; the result was a making of a calf for worship “And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands.”(v.41). Sin leads to idolatry. In our modern life, we may not necessarily bow down to graven images, nonetheless; we build idols when we make other things take the place of God in our lives. Sin and idolatry is setting God aside and relying on our own strength. The things we love and crave for can be an idol in our lives when it takes the place of commitment to God. Richard Keyes posits that

An idol is something within creation that is inflated to function as God. All sorts of things are potential idols, depending only on our attitudes and actions toward them…Idolatry may not involve explicit denials of God’s existence or character. It may well come in the form of an over-attachment to something that is, in itself, perfectly good…An idol can be a physical object, a property, a person, an activity, a role, an institution, a hope, an image, an idea, a pleasure, a hero – anything that can substitute for God.

Sin Is Independence From God

Sin is a cry for independence from God. When we sin, we are making a statement that we want our way; rather than God’s. A remarkable statement is made by Stephen when he described the rebellion of the Israelites: “they were rejoicing in the works of their hands.”. This means their confidence was in what they had produced. They blasphemed God and said the idol was going to go before them (Exodus 32:1). They trusted in their own works.

However we attempt it, the works of our own hands cannot save us from our sins. Rather, it brings the wrath of God upon us. We note that “God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven…” (v.42). What a trajedy for the God of the universe to leave us on our own because we trust in ourselves and the works of our hands rather than in him. Instead of trusting in the works of hands; Scripture calls us to faith and repentance. In Ephesians 2:8 Paul says “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Today, you can turn away from your sin and idolatry by placing your faith and trust in Christ alone for your salvation.

–This article was originally posted on: sovereigngracegh.org

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And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:60).

The above text captures the very last words of Stephen as he was martyred for his faith. He was one of the leaders appointed over the affairs of the church in Acts 6 when a dispute arose over the distribution of food. Apart from “serving tables” as the Scriptures puts it, we are also told Stephen was used mightly with signs and wonders in the witnessing of the resurrection of Christ:

“And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8).

You would have expected that this will go well with the people. Instead, Stephen got into trouble with the people and religious authorities. Not only did he get into trouble with the authorities; false accussations were made against him.

Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false d witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us. (Acts 6:8-14).

Now brought before the council, Stephen was given the opportunity to defend himself:

“And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” (Acts 7:1).

In his defence which spans from vv1-59, Stephen basically recounted the history of the Jewish people from the call of Abraham up to the revelation of Christ. Then he uses the word of God to judge the people for killing Christ. That agitated them and he was eventually killed.

But the words he spoke before he died are of great interest, as I believe it holds instructions for how Christians are to respond in times of suffering. Let’s examine the text and see what we can learn from it.

Forgiveness

To be gracious is to show mercy, kindness or forgiveness. It is also to treat people with respect and courtesy especially in the face of hostilities. In the text we see a remarkable example of forgiveness even in the face of suffering and death. Now most of us reading this will not come to the point of losing our lives just for what we believe. The Hebrew writer made that point when he called his readers to perseverance:

“In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”(Heb. 12:4).

That said, living in a fallen world amongst fallen people (ourselves included), we will face situations that will demand we treat people graciously and with forgiveness. As believers, we will be mocked, insulted, misunderstood, and treated badly by others. When this happens, how do you respond? Like Stephen, we must deal with people graciously and learn to forgive. Stephen, even in the face of death asked for forgiveness for his enemies. He was a man “full of grace“, the Scripture said (Acts 6:8).

The Example Of Christ

Stephen’s actions ultimately points us to the example of Christ. Beginning from Isaiah’s Messianic prophecy, we learnt that though he was oppressed, Christ didn’t open his mouth. Christ actually “lived” this prophesy so to to speak. On the cross, he forgave those who wrongfully murdered him:

“And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34).

Christ, in his death, which was for the forgiveness of sins, demonstrated that forgiveness for which he was killed.

As a believer, you have been forgiven so much. Once an enemy of God, Christ has reconciled you in his death and forgivenss. So from the example of Stephen and ultimately of Christ, let us learn to forgive one another.

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The warning signs that many professing Christians have compromised their stance on sexual purity have been staring us in the face for a while. A youth pastor is arrested for child pornography. Elsewhere, another pastor is charged with secretly recording female congregants using the Church restroom. A worship leader is also caught with hundreds of thousands of pornographic images and videos on his laptop. These are few of the damaging headlines from 2017 alone. In 2014, an online article chronicled 25 shocking incidences of sexual crimes involving pastors of protestant churches in the month of May alone, details of which are too gory to re-tell. Paul’s words in Eph. 4:17-20 and 5:3-7 are a sharp rebuke to our fallen standards as a Church.

So, how did we fall so low? What is to blame for the deplorable state of morality in the Christian Church? On my part, I believe that a departure from faithful gospel preaching in most of our pulpits largely accounts for the type of Christianity that is evident today. The Gospel teaching is that God’s grace saves sinners from the doldrums of sin, and produces in them fruits of righteousness in keeping with their new nature which is fashioned after the image of Him who created it (Col. 3:9-10, Eph. 2:10). Simply, the gospel produces saints out of sinners. It produces a people who are zealous for good works (Tit. 2:14). When we look at ourselves in the mirror of the gospel daily, we see the sin that nailed our Saviour to the cross for what it really is, and the gospel spurs us on to hate that sin and the sinful life we previously lived. In response to a genuine conversion by the gospel, believers strive with Paul to put the body of sin to death daily through the energy of Christ which so powerfully works in them (Col. 1:29). As Bruce Ware puts it, when we imbibe the gospel effectively, it first penetrates our minds, travels from our minds to our hearts, and to our hands and finally to our habitat. The effects of preaching the gospel to ourselves daily is that our belief systems and thought processes; our emotions and affections; how we work and live and our environment is impacted by our good works produced by the grace of God in us. A departure from a due emphasis on the gospel from our pulpits conversely produces Christians who are malnourished in the diet that spurs their growth and maturity in the Lord. It is the faithful word of the gospel that sanctifies. Thus, our Lord prayed, sanctify them by Your word, (for) Your Word is truth (Jn. 17:17). The Word shapes our thoughts and hence our affections, as we meditate on things that are noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable and praiseworthy (Phil. 4:8).

Much as faithful gospel preaching as the corporate responsibility of the church is a priority, the individual is also called upon by the gospel to actively apply its teaching to their lives. How ridiculous we will be if we looked in a mirror in the morning in preparation to go out, and realised a smear of toothpaste on the cheek, but didn’t do anything about it? James says we should not be hearers only, thereby deceiving ourselves, but we should be doers also (Jas. 1:22-25). Jesus calls us blessed if we hear the Word of God and do it (Luk. 11:28)! David would admonish the young man who wishes to keep his way pure to guard his ways according to God’s Word (Psa. 119:9, 11). When David advises on purity, we will do well to heed, as he speaks from experience! So, we have an active part to play as well in our sanctification; namely obeying God’s word and doing it!

Now let’s bring this home to the issue of sexual purity. How can we keep ourselves free from sexual impurity? I’m sure we can list so many biblical ways to do this, beginning with taking our Word intake seriously as already mentioned above. But in practical terms, what are some steps we could take to achieve this? Here, I believe, Job models for us a practical way godly people discipline themselves for the purpose of sexual purity. We turn our Bibles to Job 31:1-12. This is how Job opens that chapter:

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?”

The words of Job in what the editors of the ESV Bible call his ‘final appeal’ are very instructive. Job’s friends in the previous chapters summarily dismissed his sufferings as punishment from God for his wrongdoing. “God doesn’t punish the guiltless”, seemed to be their final verdict. Job in response, refuted their accusations and recounted how he had walked with integrity before God. Job recounts how he had taken a radical approach to sin, and consciously disciplined himself to obey God with a united heart and mind. In this chapter, he reveals how he wrestled decisively with sexual sins. We can glean at least three things from Job as we seek to defy the allure of sexual impurity.

1. A Covenant with the Eye

Job alludes to the fact that he had forbidden his eyes to look with lust at a virgin. He says he had bound himself thus with a covenant. Virgin here connotes an unmarried lady in the historical-cultural context. In v9, he expounds on what he means by this covenant. “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbour’s door,” he says. To Job, entertaining lustful thoughts was not a light thing to be toyed with. It called for drastic action. He vows that if he goes after any woman other than his wife, may another man do same to him! If he went against his word in this regard, let him sow and another reap, he says! (v8). In Ps. 119:106 we see David similarly swearing on oath to keep God’s righteous rules. Too many Christians today romanticise with sin. We take sin too lightly. We easily give in to the least temptation and turn around and blame the devil. Biblical examples like Job’s teach us that we have what it takes to say no to lust. Jesus similarly taught such brutal radicalism against sin when he said that if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out—for it is better to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to enter hell fire with both (Mk. 9:47)! Jesus is not literally calling for us to start mutilating the flesh like the worshippers of Baal, rather he is metaphorically calling for a decisive approach in dealing with sin. Like Paul, we need to prayerfully discipline our body and keep it under control (1Cor. 9:27). We are well able to, with the right motivation and the right mind set–God’s grace enabling.

2. A Conscious Awareness of God’s Abiding Presence
Job alludes to what theologians refer to as Coram Deo, to live each moment as in the presence of God, under His authority, to the praise of His glory! He says in v2 that the reason he will not give in to lustful desires is because God above looks, and rewards his actions. He is conscious of God’s presence at all times. If we lived with this consciousness, we will not do in the presence of God what we would not do in the presence of men. Because he walks daily as in God’s presence, Job has nothing to hide. He declares that God sees his ways and numbers all his steps (v4). He boldly exclaims God as his judge in faithfully esteeming the integrity with which he has kept his bond to not follow his eyes into sexual sin (vv. 6-7). This is a model of Christian integrity for contemporary Christians. A Christian who lives as in God’s presence has nothing to hide. He walks in the light so it will be seen that his deeds are godly and God-glorifying (Jn. 3:19-21).

3. Being Convicted About the Damaging Effects of Sexual Immorality
Job in his discourse makes some pretty heavy statements. They may sound extreme, but they convey a truth about sexual immorality which is echoed in several places in the Bible. He says, giving in to sexual sins (from lusting after a virgin to actually going in to them (v9)) is a fire that would consume as far as Abaddon, and burn down all his increase/profit. No doubt, many respectable men in society have lost their jobs, subjected themselves to public shame and ridicule, and brought untold griefs upon their families and loved ones by their sexual acts of indiscrimination. Some corporate men have suffered legal indictment for viewing or downloading pornographic materials on their official computers. The shame and reproach and the pain can be unbearable. Compare this with the wise man’s warnings in Prov. 6:24-33.

If you are struggling with pornography or lust or any other sexual sin, don’t despair, you can overcome it! If you set Christ before you as a motivation, you can discipline yourself to say no to lust. You are not a slave to lust, but to righteousness. Covenant like Job to discipline your eyes and your heart with God’s help to never give in to lust another day. God’s grace is available to you. Use it and fight!

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In many Christian circles today there is a strong emphasis on “faith”. We are often told if we have enough faith we could move mountains and do the impossible. It doesn’t matter the problem, all you need is a good dose of faith and God will come running because he is compelled to honour his own word if we activate it. After all, didn’t the Bible say “if you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you?” (Luke 17:6).

This part of the Bible’s message has always been a best-seller, however out of context it is applied (this article is not about defining what true biblical faith is, that will be the subject of another article). The popularity of the “Faith Movement” is evidenced in many overflowing mega churches, where people from all walks of life regardless of their true spiritual state line up to move their own mountains (unemployment, singleness, sickness, visa, infertility, etc.).

However, in the midst of the Faith buzz, another word that has vanished from many Christians’ vocabulary is the word “Faithful”. This is the word used by the apostle Paul to describe the Christians in Ephesus and Colossae. In the salutation of his letter to the Ephesians he writes, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus.” Again to the Colossians he writes, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae.”

What does it mean to be Faithful? It does seem that for Paul there is no difference between the two words, Christian and Faithful. He assumes that a Christian is also faithful, it is therefore not surprising that in both letters he put those words together. Real Christians are also Faithful.

Jesus, the Faithful One.

The Bible does not give a definition of the word Faithful, however it provides a picture of what it means to be Faithful both through the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews in 3:1-2 writes, “…consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was Faithful to him who appointed him…” Jesus’ life is the definition of what it means to be Faithful. He lived every day of his earthly life not pursuing his own will, but the will of him who sent him. He said of himself in John 5:30 “…I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” As Christians, Jesus Christ is our model of faithfulness, living a life that prioritises the will of God over our own comfort and self-preservation. He lived his life on earth not pursuing earthly gain or fame but seeking to accomplish the task for which his Father sent him. That’s what all faithful servants do.

The apostle Paul echoing the same truth said in Acts 20:24, “…I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus…” Paul lived every day after his conversion as a servant whose sole purpose and passion was to honor Christ.

How Does A Faithful Life Look Like?

Not only was the life and ministry of Jesus the full reflection of what it means to be Faithful, he also taught his disciples what a Faithful life should look like. Both Matthew and Luke record teachings of Jesus on what it means to be Faithful, three of which are discussed in this article.

Faithful Servants Stay Dressed for Action

In Luke 12:35-42 Jesus told his disciples “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes”…Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager…”

According to Jesus, a faithful life is one which is lived in readiness and expectation of the master’s coming. As Christians, God has called and entrusted us with the responsibilities of disciple making (Matt 28:18-20) and holy living (1 Pet.1:13-25). One day the master [Jesus] will come back and “each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12). The Faithful servant is the one who is living each day with that day in view. The day of the Lord should fuel our faithfulness. The reason why we have so much carelessness in Christendom today is because many Christians have lost sight of the master’s return.

It is striking that Jesus told this parable after he had warned his disciples against anxiety and preoccupation with the cares of this world. He said to them “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life… And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried”(Luke 12:22-29). The greatest enemy of a Faithful life is anxiety and cares of this life. As servants we can get distracted and lose focus when we take our eyes off the master’s agenda and get preoccupied with our own endeavours. To be Faithful means staying alert and focused on the Christian calling.

Faithful servants maximise the resources of their master

In Matthew 25:26, Jesus teaches that the opposite of Faithful is “wicked and slothful”. The story of the talents is one of the most famous stories in the Bible, where Jesus tells a parable of a man who entrusted his property to his servants in proportion of 5:2:1 to three servants and embarked on a long journey. After a long time, he came back requiring the servants to turn in their accounts. The servants who received five and two had doubled the talent entrusted to them, for which they were commended as faithful servants and given additional responsibilities. The servant who received one talent went and hid his accusing the master of injustice and heavy-handedness. The master called that servant “wicked and slothful”

As Christians we have each received resources from God, be it time, relationships, natural abilities etc. One thing we know from the story is that everybody received a talent, yes, they weren’t equal but they all had resources nonetheless. You may not be as talented in singing as the other person, or may not have the same relationships or natural abilities but the truth remains that we all have received some opportunities from God. The question is “are you maximizing those opportunities for the glory of God?”
Stop comparing yourself with others and get to work. It does not matter what you do, what matters is the person you’re doing it for (God). And it does not matter the size of your opportunity, because the reward for being Faithful is the same regardless of the size (Matt. 25:21, 23).

Faithful servants are good stewards

In Luke 16:10-12, Jesus told his disciples, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?” Unrighteous wealth here refers to money and possessions, and true riches refers to spiritual stewardship and responsibility in God’s kingdom and ultimately heavenly reward as well (ESV Study Note). In other words, your reward hinges on how well you steward whatever material resources God has entrusted to you.

Our approach to money says more about our spiritual condition than we realise. Here in Luke 16 Jesus is not only talking about rich people, rather he is talking about every Christian and how we used the material resources God has entrusted to us. Regardless of how much we have, we are all stewards and unless we are faithful with that which belongs to God, we might as well forget about any hope of receiving true riches in the kingdom.

How faithful are you with your resources? Are you using what God has entrusted to you to further the cause of his kingdom (giving for the advancement of the gospel and sharing with those who are in need)? And here I’m not talking about playing lottery with God – sowing seed so that He will multiply what you have given him (Matt. 6:19-21)

A Faithful Life Could be Risky but Eternally Rewarding

Living a Faithful life is risky, it may cost you your life, but the reward is worth the risk. My favourite church of all time is the Church of Smyrna. It was the only church among the seven churches in Revelation that Jesus didn’t have anything against, yet for their faithfulness they were likely to suffer dire consequences. In Revelations 2:8-10, we read,

And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: “The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Living a Faithful Christian life does not guarantee earthly blessing. You may have the greatest of faiths and still your mountain of unemployment, singleness, sickness, visa, infertility, etc. may not move. Jesus here in Revelation promises something of far superior value than wealth and health. He promises the crown of life. The words of Paul would be apt in concluding:

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18).

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