Ladies and gentlemen, the world is full of uncertainties. These uncertainties include health crises, economic crises, racial conflicts, social injustices, and international relations. All these continue to cause fear into many people’s hearts.
As Christians we know that God is in charge and there is nothing to fear but yet…we hear from many of our Christian friends that their anxiety is out of control, and even crippling.
Apostle Paul’s warning in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 indicated that the days to come would increasingly be filled with false teachings about God, and false doctrines of men.
2 Timothy 3:3-4
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Apostle Paul stressed a growing wave of spiritual deception, false doctrines, and strong delusion that will surround false teachers. He continued even to warn the elders at Ephesus that the wolves were at the doors and soon would be attacking the church as soon as he left (Acts 20). He warned Timothy and all pastors after him in 2 Timothy 1:14, to guard the teaching of truth, and even described the false doctrines that were taught as deadly and destructive as cancer. (2 Timothy 2:16-18).
Jesus Christ had also warned of the faith of believers being assaulted by these waves of false teaching and teachers in Matthew chapter 24. Jude and Peter resounded this same warning and pointed that false teaching and teachers had already made inroads in Christ’s church. At the end of the New Testament era, John also writes that the false teachers’ teachings had deeply impacted the local churches.
The Shipwrecked Faith
What causes a shipwrecked faith?
False teachers who continue to teach false doctrine.
1 Timothy 1:19-20 says, “…. having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
A good conscience is the rudder that steers the Christian life. Because they rejected the pangs of conscience and the truth, it is no wonder that many suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. It is possible for a believer to have his faith shipwrecked.”
It is common for Christians to wreck their usefulness, virtue, and sanctification by believing error if they do NOT safeguard their faith. Apostle Paul warns that false teaching can shipwreck your soul as well. That is why God wants men who are sound in the faith as teachers and leaders.
The four habits to steer clear of so you don’t find your faith shipwrecked:
- Loving the World. It starts so innocently. We never intend to desire the things of the world more than the things of God. But before we know it, we have made idols of the objects of our desires and our faith pays the price. Scripture warns us: “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). The world will vie for your love and affection. Be wary of loving anything in this world more than Jesus. When something else captures your heart, it will eventually destroy your faith.
- Neglecting God’s Word. One of the easiest ways to become attached to the world and to pursue the temporary, rather than the eternal is to neglect God’s Word. If we aren’t constantly pouring God’s Word and principles into our hearts and minds, we will be stained by the perceptions and priorities of the world in which we live. In His parable of the sower, Jesus warned of “the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). Reading and understanding Scripture strengthens our faith in the God we sometimes struggle to understand. Don’t neglect God’s Word.
- Trusting Your Feelings. While we should be discerning of the Holy Spirit’s direction and aware of His conviction on our hearts, we can never put our feelings over the facts of Who God is and what His Word says. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure….” Our feelings can mislead us by making us think God has abandoned us, when the facts of His Word say He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Our feelings might tell us God is angry with us and will not give us another chance, but the facts of His Word tell us “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Base your faith not on your feelings, but on the facts of Who God is and What He says in His Word. Your feelings constantly fluctuate but the facts about God (that are found in His Word) never change.
- Relying on Self. We live in a world that praises self-reliance. But Jesus never did. He stressed God-reliance, which takes faith. When we rely on God, our achievements, and successes are no longer about us and our abilities. If they were, we’d have only ourselves to thank. Are you trusting in your abilities to “wow” people when it comes to that job interview? Are you depending on your own strength or wisdom when it comes to a crucial decision? No longer relying on yourself propels your faith forward in ways you can’t imagine. However, to remain “self-sufficient” is to remain “faith-inefficient.”
Ladies and gentlemen, we must remain aware that in these last days, truth is under attack and lies are abounding. Believers who are not grounded in healthy doctrine will suffer shipwreck. They will easily be tossed about on the rocks of doubt and despair. Their lives will be wasted with feelings of hopelessness. Jesus Himself also warned against false teachers and counterfeit religion in Matthew chapter 24.
Matthew 24:3-8
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
How do you keep your focus on Jesus and even strengthen your faith even when the trending worldly news seem so big and scary threat?
First, we must gain assurance that the Lord’s voice is active, and His presence is alive in His Word 24/7.
Secondly, we must realize that God is NOT going to do everything for us. There is a man-ward side and a Godward side. We must engage ourselves in prayer and even fasting, reading of God’s Ward and keep encouraging each other in the Lord.
Let us look at Ephesians 6:11-16 “11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
The referenced Scriptures provides us with advice on how to stand firm in the Lord. We learn that standing firm in the Lord is done by putting on the full armor of God. According to these verses, this includes filling your life with truthfulness, righteousness, peace and faith.
King Solomon said it best: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23). We guard our hearts against all kinds of distractions from our faith. Our heart is fragile. We have to do what we can to protect it and that is feeding the Word of God daily.
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