26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Ever been ashamed of Jesus? Ever been ashamed of His Word? Ever wonder why we are? Scripture alludes to this in John chapter twelve:42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. John 12:42-43 (NIV)
Unfortunately, we sometimes find ourselves in the exact same situation as the above scenario. The praise of man falls so sweetly upon our ears that we tend to disregard the gentle whispered truth of our Master. We have a tendency to care more about what man thinks about us than what God thinks – big mistake! Jesus is returning and, as Isaiah tells us, His reward is with Him and His recompense accompanies Him: 5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Isaiah 40:5 (NIV) 10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. Isaiah 40:10 (NIV) He will arrive with power, might, reward and glory to bestow upon His faithful ones honor, prestige, respect, recognition, approval and distinction (not to mention glory!). While believers now often suffer public shame and ignominy in the eyes of men, the Holy Spirit inwardly testifies through the gospel that in the eyes of God they are honored and that one day, therefore, in the eyes of men (especially their persecutors) God will honor them. This occurs solely because of Jesus’ work on the cross. I am reminded of Psalm One: 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. Psalms 1:5 (NIV)
The Bible Knowledge Commentary states about the above verse: “On the basis of the contrast between the godly and the wicked, the psalmist wrote that God will separate the righteous from the wicked in the judgment. The righteous are those who are related by covenant with the Lord, who live by His Word, who produce things of eternal value. God will divide the righteous and sinners as a man separates wheat from tares.” Paul also tells his beloved Timothy:8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 2 Tim 1:8-12 (NIV)
Confident that his work and sufferings for his Lord were not in vain, Paul encourages timid Timothy to follow his wonderful example; all the while knowing for certain that Christ’s power is made perfect in our weaknesses. The strength and grace He bestows in sufficient measure to meet each need is made manifest in the life of His saints who live according to His purposes and for His glory. Paul also states the gospel as being God’s panacea for the spiritual need of mankind in Romans One:
16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:16-17 (NIV) Christian, why afraid, ashamed or alarmed? The only hope for the world is Jesus – proclaim Him with boldness! “We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum. God offers life, but not an improved old life. The life He offers is life out of death. It stands always on the far side of the cross. Whoever would possess it must pass under the rod. He must repudiate himself and concur in God’s just sentence against him. He must repent and believe. He must forsake his sins and then go on to forsake himself. Let him cover nothing, defend nothing, excuse nothing. Our trouble is not that we refuse to believe right doctrine, but that we refuse to practice it.” A.W.Tozer