Christian Living

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We all have things we believe in, things we feel strongly about. Here in Kenya, the media have in the recent past continuously demonized the clergymen for the uncompromising stand they have taken on the abortion issue. The church of course differs with the rest on when conception really begins. I feel sorry for the tirade of abuses and accusations, that the clergy have had to withstand for staying put. In this instance, as in many others before it, it becomes apparent that we Christians, who have chosen the long and narrow path, will always be under persecution and especially if it goes contrary to what the masses think or want. We should however not be shaken because the Bible is our guide. Most of us are now using Psalms 139 to explain that every child is as a result of a thought of God and that conception starts long before the parents get together. Verses 15 and 16 of this chapter conclusively put my mind at ease concerning the issue of conception and God’s purpose for our lives. This for me is what convictions are about; that we must be ready and willing to antagonize the whole world if we know that what we believe in and stand for is based on Scripture.

Convictions are thoughts and beliefs that determine our actions, responses, world view, approach to life and our general behaviour. Our convictions should be solidly based on Scripture. In Psalms 103:16 we firstly observe that they should be able to covey the message of our God as a forgiving God. The world is full of people who are weighed down by guilt from what they might be doing in secret and which is only known to them, such as indulgence in pornography or drugs. Whatever people are going through, we should be able to tell them that our God forgives us so long as we are willing to confess our sins and change. In 1John 1:9, He promises to sanctify us and make us righteous; however, we too must reciprocate by obeying His commandments.

Secondly, we should be able to communicate that our Lord heals all our diseases. It is not the Lord’s joy to see us ailing and suffering. However, we may have brought judgment on ourselves by not having forgiven those who have wronged us or those we have wronged; 1Corinthians 11:27-30 explains that this is sometimes the reason for our sicknesses. No wonder we are asked to carefully examine ourselves before partaking of the Lord’s super. In such instances, confession precedes healing.

Thirdly, the Lord redeems us and delivers us from the pit. Salvation is not a smooth road and never will be; pits exist along the way yet all we must do is to strive to reach the finish lie. There will, of course, be days of great discouragement, confusion, depression or simply that things will just not be working out. It pays to at such times remember that the glory of Israel, our God, has promised never to leave nor forsake us; this is another conviction that we carry along with us

Our God renews us. Let us find rest in him because He loves us enough to let us partner with Him so that we can share in his truth and in His reality. These, among many more, are our convictions as Christians and our road maps along the way to eternity.

Psalms 130:1-5

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