Life is Really Only About Jesus and His Glory- Nothing Else Matters ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba %

We witnessed the brutal assassination of a brother in Christ this week. My heart filled with sudden heaviness. I was certain this warrior of Christ was called home. Yet, as part of the body of Christ I felt a part of me was ripped away. Suddenly I felt the darkness of the spiritual warfare surrounding me and all who proclaim Christ as Lord and Savior. Yes, for Charlie Kirk, he died a martyr for the cause of Jesus Christ. He believed life is really about Jesus Christ and His Glory first. Nothing Else Matters as much. Believing that, also meant he believed in family and in truth. He said only Jesus Christ can transform one’s life. Only Jesus gives meaning and purpose.

Urging always the youth of this nation to never be afraid to speak the name of Jesus. He would say, “Jesus is Risen! … The risen Christ continues to change lives today. Jesus is the most significant historical figure ever. He defeated death, so you may live. Accept Jesus in your heart today. Jesus changes everything.”¹ He would explain that to be saved meant to recognize yourself a sinner. Repent of your sins (turning aside from), and accept by faith Jesus Christ as Lord of your life. Then you place Him first above all else. Family second. It is then your duty to stand for truth, freedom of speech, and your country. Hearts can be changed by debate. Never by violence. Believing the youth would learn to lead the way, he went into the lion’s den of society-the university campuses.

Much like Stephen who was stoned to death after a winning debate in the Synagogue. They wanted him silenced at whatever cost. Yet, like Stephen, Charlie’s message lives on with greater fire than before.

The Story of Stephen

Truly the story of Stephen is one where life is only about Jesus and His Glory. Nothing else matters. Yet, in the same Jesus shares His Glory as it is bestowed upon Stephen. On fire for Jesus Christ, Stephen boldly went to proclaim the gospel in the Synagogue. Jesus meant so much to him that he wanted everyone else to know about salvation. Filled with the knowledge of the Old Testament, he debated more skillfully than anyone else. His style of debate very gentle. Yet so powerfully filled with the truth. It was obvious to Saul that Stephen’s message about Jesus Christ would transform many hearts. Something had to be done.

Stephen was declared a traitor and taken out to be stoned. The ones stoning Stephen laid their robes at the feet of Saul. Hence, this act indicating he oversaw the event.

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:54-60 NKJV

Jesus Christ was standing at the right hand of God. He did not remain merely seated on His throne as Stephen was called home that day. Yet, the ultimate impact of that day raised up shortly thereafter another leader to spread the gospel. Namely Paul, who had been Saul. No doubt the vision of that day added to the fire within Paul. Drove him to spread the truth of the gospel everywhere he went. That is once he accepted Christ as His Savior shortly thereafter. I listened to several post vigil interviews last night. Several mentioned how acquaintances and friends they knew accepted Christ as Savior. This only after the tragic events of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Stephen was killed because his words rang true which created anger in those who disagreed. Charlie Kirk was killed because his words rang true.

Only About Jesus and His Glory. Nothing else Matters.

What others mean for evil. God can use for good. That is why we have hope, no matter what surrounds us. Look at what Paul wrote in Romans 5

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5 NKJV

How is it that hope does not disappoint? The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given us. There within our hearts we have the Holy Spirit, pouring forth the love of God within us. Reminding us of all He has done for us. Creating that abiding, steadfast joy. John Calvin wrote in his commentary:

“We are stimulated to patience by tribulation, and patience is a proof to us of divine help. This further encourages us to hope, for however we may be beset and seem to be worn out, we do not cease to feel the divine kindness towards us. This is the richest consolation much more abundant than when all is well with us. Since what appears to be happiness is misery itself when God is hostile to us and displeased with us, so when He is favourably disposed toward us, our very calamities will undoubtedly issue in prosperity and joy. All things must serve the will of the Creator, who according to His fatherly favour towards us (as Paul again repeats in chapter 8, overrules all the trials of the cross for our salvation. This knowledge of the divine love towards us is instilled into our hearts by the Spirit of God, for the good things which God has prepared for those who worship Him are hidden from the ears, eyes, and minds of men, and the Spirit alone can reveal them. The participle shed abroad is very emphatic and means that the revelation of divine love towards us is so pliful that it fills our hearts. Being thus shed abroad through every part of us, it not only mitigates our sorrow in adversity, but like a sweet seasoning gives a loveliness to our tribulations. He says further that the Spirit is given, i.e. bestowed on us by the unmotivated goodness of God and not conferred in return for our merits.”² _{Calvin, John, Calvin’s Commentaries, The Epistles of Paul The Apostle to the Romans and to the Thessalonians, Vol 8, Tranlator Ross Mackenzie, The Paternoster Press Carlisle/William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1960, page 107-108}

This Paul further delineates as he writes on.

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5: 6-9 NKJV

And even further, if He loved us that much before we accepted Him. Imagine, how much we are loved now justified by His son.

Life is Only About Jesus and His Glory—it has always been So.

So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people because all sinned— for before the law was given, sin was in the world, but there is no accounting for sin when there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam until Moses even over those who did not sin in the same way that Adam (who is a type of the coming one) transgressed. But the gracious gift is not like the transgression. For if the many died through the transgression of the one man, how much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ multiply to the many! And the gift is not like the one who sinned. For judgment, resulting from the one transgression, led to condemnation, but the gracious gift from the many failures led to justification. For if, by the transgression of the one man, death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ! Romans 5:12-17 NET

All of life is Jesus and His Glory-as we also see in His prayer

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. John 17:1-6 KJV

Jesus came that we might live. He died and rose again that we might be able to be justified. Many will be made righteous as a result. That is all who accept Him as Lord and Savior. Our security, our hope, and our love filled hearts come from Him Only.

Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Romans 5:18-19 NKJV

How then do we Live, knowing that Our Life is for Christ Only and His Glory?

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised… 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 21 ESV

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. I Corinthians 6: 19-20 KJV

whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31 KJV

Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. I Peter 4:11-12 NET

It is by Him, through Him and to Him that we live this life that is only about Jesus and His Glory. And how do we get there? It is often through suffering. Yet, once there we realize we are in a place of greater peace and joy than we had ever known before.

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. I Peter 4:1-2 KJV

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

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Do You Have Hope that Overrides Every Tribulation with Joy?

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Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible except where otherwise indicated

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