The Oppositions of the Godly

Opposition though a very bad word to someone's progress in life, yet through opposition people were able to break new grounds and achieve great results more than where there is none. People who experienced opposed in life come out better and sound than those weathered no storm of opposition. Though opposition, people have learned so many adaptation techniques which helped to overcome their troubles. I have come to discover afresh that it is opposition that builds a man stronger than was originally.

When Nehemiah was commissioned to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, he had to face the fires of opposition. The opposition that arose in his mission to rebuild, is what added flavour to his commission. We should remember that Nehemiah was not the only person that has ever received the commission to build. Also, accomplishing the task of his commission was not new either. What made the difference were the fires of opposition, which he beautifully surmounted. First it was ridicule, then attempted compromise, and lastly, a threat of violence! To meet this, he armed workers with weapons; and gave a prudent precaution: "The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God will fight for us" (Nehemiah 4:19-20). They were told to rally to the point of attack, and thus the task was finished with victory!

In a figurative, but very real sense, every Christian is called on to rebuild the walls of Zion; spiritual Jerusalem! It was there the Church had its beginning. The Bible declared that out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. The gospel was first preached in its fullness on Pentecost in Jerusalem, after Jesus ascended into heaven. Jesus was then proclaimed as risen Lord and Saviour. Men heard he gospel terms of salvation and obeyed them. With three thousand added the first day, the number jumped to five thousand men, a company of priests became obedient to the faith, the number was multiplied, and that greatly. Again there was opposition by ridicule, offers of compromise, and finally open violence descended on the people of God! Though driven from Jerusalem, the work went on as they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word of God.

We should understand here that the greatest force of destruction was opposition to God's word: the gospel! Paul addressed this insidious evil when he discovered the Galatian believers getting easily deceived and being removed from Christ that called them and were fast embracing another gospel, though not really another gospel, but there were some people among that troubled them, perverting the authentic gospel of Christ and mixing it with fables. Also, knowing the onslaught that would be made against them, Paul was quick to warn the elders at Ephesus to take heed. The reason for the warning is that deceivers would soon invade their assembly, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. He was them to prepare their minds against the rise of false teaching after he might have gone away from them.

The godly will always receive opposition because evil men love and desire darkness more than light. In the dark, evil people operate better and more successful than where there is light. The Bible accurately predicted that there would be a period when people will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, turning away their ears from the truth but would take delight in fables. It is vitally important that every Christian should guard against all false teaching and compromise and listen to the sound and life-giving message of God's Word.

Vitus Ejiogu is a writer and publisher with the Fire-Brand Int"l Ministries, a media ministry that is based in Nigeria.

He is the editor of FOUNDATION SATELLITE magazine also published by the ministry. He pastors a Church in Bauchi and is married with two children.

You can reach him at: firebrandhq@yahoo.com or: 234 80 8181 829.

Website: http://www.palmgates.com or http://www.firebrandhq.com