Faith

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The innocent who suffer for the guilty
"My Good Reason for Hope"

As our civilization lingers to become righteous. I take pause to what I hope for in this generation? This effort in hope, is a continuing endurance that I need not worry, for the fight is not ours to bare. We only need to "make a stand" and let the Lord bring the victory to us. My journey toward this understanding began years ago, on a cross continental flight reading the bible as I did on most occasions. Verses, 1 Peter 3:13 -15 states:

"Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."

Reading this scripture, I began to process the events of this generation. Oil prices skyrocketing to new levels. Appling unduly pressure on the poorest countries of this planet. While the richest countries feed their fleshly desires. Greed! When I see the outstretched arms of crying orphan farm children, who's slaughtered parents, have created the new "killing fields of Dufur" in Sudan. How long must the untold millions of AIDS case lashing the content of Africa wait for salvation? Yes, even in our country the cost of health care for the elderly. Endure pain, as they survive their golden ages of life. All of these events beckon the attention to "make a stand" for righteous in the name of Christ.

This must be what 1 Peter 3:17 meant, "It's better if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. In the case of the Lord's suffering, he knew no sin, suffered instead of those who knew no righteousness. We must be hopeful, our Lord is with those poor countries struggling for every precious drop Oil. For Sudan and all those AIDS cases in Africa. He's with those elderly souls waiting for their prescription to arrive.

So, what can be done for the innocent? The work for them is complete in the resurrection of Christ. In the time before Christ, his Spirit came as a warning by Noah. Once the flood began, those spirits of disobedient sinners, were committed to the prison of hell, from whence there is no redemption. The ark on the water set Noah and his people apart from the disobedient sinners. Though the ark a temporal gesture, being baptized with water. An outward ritual of washing away the filth of the flesh. It was the inward sign of Noah's regenerated Spirit that enables him to repent and profess faith, with a purpose of new life, upright in the presence of God.

Here lies my reason for hope. In spite of worldly events, I know through the power of the resurrected Christ. I rest not upon outward effect rather the inward guidance of my spirit. For the guilty are willing to reduce religion to outward things. While many who were baptized contend with ordinances, remain without Christ, died in their sins, without hope of redemption. So, Christ died for all those innocent who now suffer for the unrighteous. In the time to come, rest not then till thou art cleansed by the Spirit of Christ.

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