The Marquee of Life.

Bunyan, like Paul wrote from prison. They both wrote with the resolve and conviction that the truth must be known. But for what were they thrown into jail? They recognized the supremacy of the gospel and the call of Christ.

Both were beacons of truth in the midst of Pharisaical times. Today it is much the same. Semi-recent failures are Jimmy Swaggart, Jim and Tammy Faye, Todd Bentley, and Ted Haggard. To the world, these names shine like marquees from the forehead of believers. Regardless of the failure and the aftermath, it is not solely the fault of the person who fell, the guilt lies equally with those whose raised hands held the figurehead up.

This is an old problem. Paul addresses the issue in 1 Corinthians 1:11-13. It is a historical observation to note that the name Christian was given because the followers of The Way Sect talked about Jesus Christ so often. You see, 1 John 4 says that the world looks from the viewpoint of the world, meaning not from the standpoint of faith.

They see us when we talk about the revival or the TV show or the healing and we attach names to them instead of connecting it with the power of God. Acts 5 tells the story of Gamaliel before the Sanhedrin.

Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

From this passage we see that following after man leads to destruction, but following after God leads us to salvation. We must learn to put our lot in with Almighty God and not fallen man. Similarly, we cannot follow church movements, revivals, renewals, and camp meeting. Instead, we must follow Christ.

People that follow these men and events are like those that followed Simon the Magician in Acts 8.

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.

And like Simon, they have a fundamental misunderstanding of the Holy Spirit.

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."

My prayer is that our life is the one that follows Christ not the events on a calendar or the face on television.