In these times we hear many complaints about the powerless Christianity, and rightfully so. Many Christians cannot stand this and engage in various humanitarian projects. Besides, when - out of humanity - one commits oneself fully to a cause, the own problems become so deliciously irrelevant.
But for heaven’s sake, let us dare to face the fact that the core mission of the church on earth is practically neglected! Many do not even know anymore what this core mission is because they themselves no longer heard this message: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near’ (Matthew 4:17).
If we, as Christians, do not love the Lord wholeheartedly anymore - to the extent that He means everything to us - then it will be an hour of great anxiety when somebody will ask us what Jesus means to us. How many of us are embarrassed to talk about Him in our inner circle... We rather donate some of our surplus to missionary work or we donate to help the ‘underdeveloped countries’ to take part in our degenerating culture - believing in a super sweet god - than that we commit ourselves to our neighbors with prayer and fasting, so that they may find Jesus as their Savior and not will be lost.
The author of Proverbs was a wise man, not wise in his own eyes, but wise in the eyes of God. He foretold, all those thousands of years ago, why the strength of the believers would be so small. It is true, we rather say conveniently, ‘But we knew nothing about this...’, than that we tell those who are being led away to death about Jesus. Anyone who falters in this, will receive no strength in the hour of anxiety.