Stay!

Proverbs 2:20-21 says this in the NLT, “Follow the steps of good men… stay on the paths of the righteous.  For only the godly will live in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it.”

Ahh.. such a powerful message for the current climate and condition of our world.
Because I believe there has never been a time more critical in all of human history for the people of God to… stay.
And I believe with all that is within me that He is raising up a company of believers who will stand faithfully, contend earnestly, live purely, and endure attentively to His voice.  Those who will stand on the edge of eternity with a burning in their hearts for a revival that will alter the eternal destiny for scores of those currently separated from Jesus.

But it’s going to take righteousness and integrity to get us there.

“The land of the living” is described in both Exodus and Leviticus as the “Promised land”, and was reserved only for those who were upright in heart, those who lived with a renewed spirit, those who possessed grace, lived a faithful life unaffected by circumstance, those who loved well, were consumed by hope, and who maintained consistency in godly living and virtuous speech.

All throughout the book of Proverbs we are warned to steer clear from evil company which inevitably leads to evil practice.  The description is that it fills the head, consumes the heart, and eventually makes it’s way by outward display that infects our lives and affects those around us.

Those of us who are passionate in our pursuit of Jesus must have integrity.
Integrity means this = the state of being whole, entire, undiminished, unimpaired, and in perfect condition.  The Aramaic translation is “without blemish.”

And we cannot do this without the help of the Holy Spirit.  In our human depravity, we cannot obtain this kind of integrity apart from the Father.

And so the call is this: Stay.
Stay in the Word.
Stay in communion with God.
Stay clinging to Jesus.
Stay attentive to the condition of your heart.
Stay clean and pure.

And the promise? We will REMAIN. Meaning, we will be strengthened, confirmed, established, preserved alive, and get this, "to have more than enough.. to have an 'excess'" according to the Aramaic description!

WOW!

In a most crucial time when we are seeing individuals falling away from the faith, leaving their posts to serve self, stopping short of seeing the promised land for themselves and damaging lives along the way, it is vital for the remnant to rise up! 

This is a battle.
And only the strong will survive.
A strength that comes from staying.

Stay, friends, it matter so much more than we could possibly imagine!