Fire on Earth

The other day I was pondering the fact that the world is totally and utterly opposed to the things of the Church. There should be no compromise or appeasement with the world even though that may mean persecution and maybe death! 

I thought about Shadrach, Mishach and Abed-Nego in the fiery furnace - they were opposed to the world and they were cast in very hot fire. A true Church should be opposed to the world - no compromise, no appeasement, just standing firm on the rock! Even if the world casts the first stone (they are good at judging the Church), we stand firm. No compromise, no appeasement. 

The Church has been in the middle of the furnace throughout the generations - the fire has burned stronger at times, than other times, but still the battle rages on around us!

I began to think about being in the furnace on earth - I would rather be in the furnace on earth for a short time, than to spend eternity in hell with no escape! There is a way in, but no way out! The thought is horrific. To experience God's wrath and damnation forever - UGH, no thanks!

For the world there is no fire - they stoke the fires with their persecution of the Church. They can sue, burn (literally), murder, destroy but they will never be able to take away the fact that the Church is saved and protected. 

"Vengeance is Mine!" says the Lord and His Church will one day be vindicated!

Take heart believer - you are eternally safe. It may be dangerous on earth now, but none can snatch you out of His hand!

Some questions about me

There are a few posts going around FB which are basically questions you answer about yourself! Well I thought I would post some about my Christian life :)

BEGINNINGS

1. Have you always been a Christian? NO
2. When did you become a Christian? 10th December 1990 at about 21:00
3. Where were you when you became a Christian? Rue du Bemel, Woluwe Saint Pierre - which was my atheist employers' house
4. Did you go to church? Yes - The International Baptist Church in Wezembeek-Oppem 
5. What influenced you to search the Christian faith? I read John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and saw that going to church didn't make you a Christian - it was faith in Jesus Christ which saved you! Of course the Holy Spirit first of all ;)
6. Have you been baptised? I was christened as a baby and I was fully immersed as an adult believer on 27th January 1991 in the International Baptist Church 
7. Was there ever any other religion you may have considered? What? Yes - Buddhism - a trip to Thailand put pay to that!
8. Would you ever consider converting to another religion now? NO

BIBLE, LITERATURE, HYMNS etc

9. What is your favourite Scripture verse? There are so many, but at the moment it has to be Matthew 6: 19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
10. Who is your favourite Bible character (other than Jesus ;) )? Why? The apostle Paul (who has had so much grief from people saying he's a misogynist - people who have never read anything by the rabbis of his day) the man was resolute and immoveable and did actually respect women. Peter is also another favourite because he also put his mouth into gear before his brain - like me :o
11. Which book of the Bible is your favourite? The one book I have found much comfort and rest in, is Isaiah, although I do like the rest of the Bible! I also love Daniel and Revelation
12. Which book of the Bible has surprised you the most?
There are 2 which I didn't think I would like - Leviticus and Job - I thought I would find them difficult, but I didn't!
13. What is your favourite  book (besides the Bible ;) )? The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom - it's an autobiography
14. Who is your favourite author(s)? - Corrie ten Boom, CH Spurgeon and AW Tozer
15. Are you reading a Christian book at the moment? No, but I plan to read Heaven and Hell by Prof Edward Donnelly, soon!
16. Which Christian poem, you wrote, is your favourite? I wrote one about Jairus' daughter and I think that is one I really got into when writing it!

PRESENT

17. What is your doctrinal position? I am an amillennial reformed evangelical Christian, but I do believe that everybody who has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour will be in glory one day and we will all worship Him together as one!
18. Is there anything amazing (other than conversion) which has happened during your Christian life? Where do I begin? - so many amazing things, prayers answered, lessons learned, growth, times of coldness, but also times of phenomenal warmth. One day I was sorting my sons' vests out and only thought - They need more vests, but we can't afford them. I didn't tell anybody, not even my husband and then 2 days later a neighbour knocked on the door with a bag full of vests and pants! Not just physical things - being able to truly forgive people, having peace in my heart about certain situations etc!
19. Do you pray? Yes, but not as often as I should! 
20. Do you read the Bible - Yes, but as above - not as often as I should!