God says,
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 12:17
Many Christians believe their lives are very difficult. They look at the challenges and make decisions based upon immediate circumstances. Often, though God directs differently, they choose an avenue of least resistance, sacrificing long-term blessing for short-term relief.
The scripture above describes the “remnant of her seed.” The seed speaks about the leftover parts of the Manchild. Relative to the church age, this speaks about those who were “left behind,” when Christ raptures His bride.
The cost of disobedience only increases the longer you disobey God’s voice.
No matter how difficult it is to be the Bride of Christ, or the Manchild, it pales in comparison to the hardships that the remnant will face. At that time, the world will be given over to the Antichrist and the Dragon, the Devil herself, will persecute all who still name Jesus as Savior.
I often wonder what people are thinking when they exchange the glories of the world to come for a bit of bread and pottage in the present creation. Such people mouth the words of Christ, yet they do not live them. Comfort and acceptance of others outweigh the words of their Savior, who gave all that they might choose Him.
Be part of the whole cloth
It is the “remnant of her seed,” which means that they were, at one time, part of the whole cloth. These people were part of the greatest move of the Holy Spirit the world has ever seen, yet they did not rise to meet Christ. Why is that, what caused them to fail?
I believe that people are rarely honest with themselves. They say all manner of Christian platitudes, mouthing doctrine, but when it comes right down to choosing Christ, their commitment fails. In the coming move of Tabernacles, a great many will come for the loaves and fishes, yet few stay to the end with Christ.
God also says,
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
Mark 13:13
And,
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
Revelation 12:11
All of us will be tested, all of us will have to make the choice, everyone will love not their lives unto the death. Either you are committed to death prior to the rapture, or you will pay with your life after the rapture. It takes God’s grace to face either one, but nobody escapes choosing Christ above all else.
Commitment matters
When confronted with hardship in this world, commitment before God matters. We cannot simply modify our allegiance to Jesus when the going gets tough. If you fail in the day of your adversity, your strength is small, no matter how much you boasted beforehand. Likewise, if, when confronted with choosing Christ and His calling, you fail when you are tested, you commitment is little. If you are only a “Christian” when in need, are you really a Christian at all?
In conclusion, don’t lose your eternal birthright simply because you are hungry for a morsel of food today. Prove to God that you meant all those things you said in your hour of need, now that the pressure is off. Do everything and more you promised and be counted among the faithful, the heroic, the people of the Most High who are worthy to meet Him in the air.