The above Biography is one of the most pathetic biographies in the history of man. Every statement in that biography clearly brings to fore the fact that man can live in two worlds on earth. The first being the public world which is visible for all to see and the second, the private world which is not visible. These two worlds are inextricably tied together as what happens in the private world will eventually play out in the public world (Luke 8:17).
Unfortunately, Judas Iscariot lacked the understanding of this salient truth. There was a sharp contrast between who he claimed to be in private and public. Judas was numbered with the disciples publicly but chose to drift away from them privately. He was a disciple in public but a backslider privately. He was a believer who stood aloof from the kingdom agenda. He was numbered with them but he was never a part of them. Judas was numbered with them but absent. He was numbered with them but not committed. He was numbered with them but not consecrated. In summary, Judas was a huge deficit or liability in the Balance Sheet of Heaven. That is simply the Judas Syndrome!
Beloved, who you are in public is important but who you are in private is even more important. You can occupy an highly revered position like Judas – the Treasurer and still be a misfit or disappointment to God privately. It is possible for your name to be on the membership register even when you are not a genuine member like Judas. Outwardly, Judas looked like he fitted in very well but inwardly he was in a slow state of rot. There was a corrupt and decaying process going on secretly within him. Outwardly he looked like a disciple but inwardly there was a terrible cancer that was spreading its wide tentacles rapidly but unknown to many people. He was a superstar in public but a traitor privately. Hmmm! What a deceptive and hypocritic lifestyle.
The Judas syndrome is still brooding and infecting many people all over the world today. They are Judas-like in private but Christ-like in public. They have drifted away from the cross privately but pretend as if they were still carrying the cross in public. They don’t seem to understand that the further away they get from the Cross privately, the greater the propensity for them to fail and become a deficit to heaven in public like Judas. On the other hand, the closer we get to the Cross privately the greater the degree of God’s glory, power and love that manifests within or through us publicly.
This wonderful hymn below re-echoes what should be the prayer of anyone who sincerely desires to finish well and strong on earth:
JESUS, KEEP ME NEAR THE CROSS By Fanny Crosby (1869)
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calv'ry's mountain.
REFRAIN:
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star
Shed His beams around me.
Near the cross! O lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o'er me.
Near the cross! I'll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
May God keep us near the cross till we finish our race on earth. And may God revive His church and restore backsliders into the fold before it is too late.
Good day and God bless you.
Maranatha!
Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo
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