Over the weekend, I preached Jesus to a young man of twenty one years. He told me that he plans to get born again when he reaches the age of thirty, although he does not know whether he might die and go to hell before then. His reason for not accepting Jesus Christ now is that he has to first enjoy life as a young person. I am reminded of another man years ago, who, in the process of trying to con me of money, instead enabled me to share the gospel with him. His response, as he laughed so hard because I had not fallen for his con trick, was that since I had first made money and then got saved, he too was going to do the same. Of course his assertion was false because at that time I was a student at University, living off the little pocket money from my not-well-to-do parents.
It is so sad that the devil has deceived many would-be converts to Christ that there is nothing to enjoy in being a true Christian, and that poverty is the portion of those who get born again. The devil has further succeeded in this deception by pointing out Christians who have not been blessed of God. However, while he trades his lies, he never discloses to those he is deceiving the truth as to why those Christians are not blessed of God. We should expect this of the devil because, as Jesus said of him, he “does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him . . . he is a liar and the father of it,” (John 8:44).
The truth of the matter is that there is joy in our Lord Jesus, and He blesses, even with material things, His own who live in obedience to Him. The Bible says, “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore,” (Psalm 16:11). And it is also written that, “If you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today ... blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God,” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). And lest the devil deceives you that these blessings are simply spiritual, here are just two of those blessings from the same book and chapter: 1) plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, 2) lending but not borrowing.
A life lived in the will of God shall truly be joyful and blessed. This is not to say that every Christian who is well-pleasing to the LORD will become wealthy, but they all will be blessed of God – whether by little or much – and they will know it and be appreciative unto Him. And even if all they have is taken away, they will still have the ‘joy unspeakable’ if their focus remains fixed on Jesus. More so, when they pass from this life to the next, they will be received into heaven whose eternal joy and riches surpass anything anyone has ever dreamed or imagined. Hallelujah!
Therefore, explain these things to those who are still bound in darkness by the devil who deceives them that salvation equates to misery. At the same time, use this knowledge to benefit yourself – live in consistent obedience to God and He will bless you even materially. As the Psalmist wrote, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so,” (Psalm 1:1-4).
God bless you.