I KNEW A GUY years ago before I became a believer who claimed to be “saved”. I was in a close relationship with this man and so I was able to see his life close up. He cheated on his wife and had multiple affairs. He emotionally abused her and isolated her. He was cruel and called her names, made her cry all the time. He never spent anytime with her, but left her alone and isolated in order to go out drinking with his buddies at the bars and strip clubs. And then on Sunday morning he would take her to church. Looking at his life, not knowing the Word of God, I was puzzled.

His life looked like others I knew in the world. There was nothing different about him. He was part of a church that told their people, “if you just believe, you will be saved”. There was no repentance in him for his sin, no sorrow over his inquities, no change from death to life. He had communion with darkness, but he adamantly proclaimed, “I am saved! I believe in Jesus.” David makes a very stark proclamation, “I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, Because they do not keep Your word.” Psalms‬ ‭119:158‬. Psalm 119 is all about a love for God’s Word, ways, laws, precepts and principles. The word “treacherous” also translates as “traitors”.

I see the traitors to God, those who claim to know Him; but their actions prove vehemently different. These made a confession of faith, but did not walk in His ways. David says, “I am disgusted” yet, that’s not a strong enough word in the Hebrew. He says, “I am so sick to my stomach because of these traitors, I want to vomit. I am sickened by their behavior. They do not keep Your Word.” I feel those words now.

How many people are like the man in my story? Living lives of sin confessing Christ? Now that I know His Word, I know that his actions proved himself to be a liar. His witness made me not want to have anything to do with Jesus. He deceived himself and was deceived by his teachers into believing he was saved. Don’t come at me with your “Don’t judge!” attitude. Read the Word of God! “No one who abides in Him [who lives and remains in communion with and in obedience to Him–deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] commits (practices) sin. No one who [habitually] sins has either seen or known Him [recognized, perceived, or understood Him, or has had an experiential acquaintance with Him].” 1 John‬ ‭3:6‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

David called these men who don’t keep God’s Word traitors. And so do I. You cannot live in His kingdom and not live according to His kingdom laws. You cannot call Him king and not be loyal to His Word. You are committing treason and that makes you a traitor. #runyourrace

To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page