Whether we admit it or
not, the fountainhead of all our
deepest passions flow from our religion. Each reaction and
response we hold is dictated by the GOD (god) we worship.
To some it is fame, that 'mirror, mirror, on the wall';
others chase after fortune, or idols of various and sundry sort.
Passion in itself, makes for excellent fuel, but it is a lousy compass; and may
only serve to accelerate the soul in passionate misdirection.
Radical Islam is a splendid example, where their false god
passionately dictates the offering up of their sons to die for
him. What a contrast with the true GOD of the Bible, WHO
passionately gave HIS SON instead, to die for us!
Paul was caught up in
the passion of psuedo religion prior to converting to CHRIST;
spending his days and nights persecuting Christians, some even
to their death.
"I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things
contrary to the name of JESUS of Nazareth. Which thing I
also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in
prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and
when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them
to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I
persecuted them even unto strange cities."
It is not, what or who, you will live for, which betrays
the profundity of your religion, but, what or who you
will die for. Masses pitch themselves each day into
volcanoes of their own choosing; involved in everything from
leaping out windows over the grief of market levels, to flying
airliners through windows.
"I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of GOD, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto GOD, which is
your reasonable service."
The only death GOD demands however, is to
self and sin, that in turn, your life might be a living
testament of HIS power and ability to both save and sanctify the
sacrifice. Resisting arrest is a chargeable offense in
this realm; but in regard to eternity, every
fetter not of GOD is false arrest, to be withstood with all HIS
might.
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith CHRIST hath made
us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."