II Corinthians 4:5-7
"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
September 24th
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." II Timothy 4:3-5
Humans are weather-vane-fickle. Only those with Christ DEEPLY entrenched, will continue to stand by. Many turned away so soon as the Christ entered into "STRONGER meat" (Jn. 6:66): they looked for A CALL TO ARMS – by Israel's great Prophet – to drive out the Romans. But no signs thereof were forthcoming. So, they thought, "Let's go back home!"
I warn you: the DISinterest is going to deepen until the day He has called out the Firstfruits. Howbeit, when several nations attack Israel, that will perk up, or stimulate interest among many.
My friend, the Lord doesn't call "pantywaists." And even those with mettle He will TRY! "He that OVERCOMES…!"
I doubt not but that Jesus felt grief in His heart when multitudes turned away; He even wept over Jerusalem (Lk. 19:41). But it was also THERE He determined to suffer and yield up His life for you and me.
We may dream of running away to live for Christ. But THAT in its ultimate analysis becomes SELF instead of OTHERS (for whom our Lord's entire life was given).
Letter 10/6/78