The Cost of Going All the Way with God, 2

by David Wilkerson

What To Expect

Again, if this has happened to you since God awakened you, you are not alone. God's Word warns what to expect if you are determined to go all the way with Him. You can expect any or all of three reactions: 1. You will be rejected. 2. You will be cast out. 3. You will be stoned.

1. You Will Be Rejected

Jesus warned, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:19). Show me a believer who has become both a lover and a doer of the truth, and I'll show you one who has been rejected and persecuted by the entire lukewarm Church. Rest assured, if you give up on this world, it will quickly give up on you.

Jesus had many followers -- that is, until the word He preached was perceived to be too hard and demanding. The miracle-loving crowd heard his claims and forsook Him, saying, "This is too hard! Who can receive it?" Then Jesus turned to his disciples and asked, "Will you also turn away?" or, in other words, "Is My word too hard for you too?" Peter answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68).

No, Peter and the rest of the disciples would not walk away. They loved the word that most people said was too harsh and demanding; they knew it was producing in them eternal values. They wanted to follow the truth, no matter what the cost.

This is the question every Christian must face in these last days: Will we turn aside from truth that convicts us -- that points out our sins and commands us to tear down our idols? Will we ignore truth that tells us to take our eyes off materialism, off the things of this world and off ourselves? Will we allow the Holy Spirit to probe and expose us?

Genuine truth always exposes every hidden thing. When Jesus began to shed His light on the hidden sins of the religious Jews, they sought to kill Him. Jesus said, "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you" (John 8:37). "You seek to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth" (verse 40). "He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God" (verse 47).

Multitudes of Christians today do not love the truth. God says it is because they hide their sin and secretly take pleasure in unrighteousness. These compromising pleasure-lovers are deceived but, like the Jews of Jesus' day, they are convinced they see clearly.

They believe that they are God's children, but they reject ferociously every word that exposes their deep, inner secrets and lusts. Something other than truth holds their hearts; they do not embrace God's Word like a priceless pearl. Instead they coddle whatever that thing is -- a hidden pleasure, idol, sin, or false teaching that caters to the flesh.

You must understand that those who reject you and forsake you because of truth have good reason: It is because they see you as a threat to something they hold dear. Your separated life is a rebuke to their compromise and lukewarmness.