Only One Way!

John 8:24 - "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

This is one of the most profoundly sad declarations of the Lord Jesus in the Gospels. His requirements have always been simple, yet not easy as those opposed to Him encountered. This was especially true for those steeped in the pride of life and self-determination. If we were able to interview the Pharisees that Jesus spoke with that day, I am certain they have mourned the tragic loss of their souls for nearly two thousand years.

Pharisees are still common today, yet not necessarily by that name. The root definition is "to become separate." The choice to not believe the Gospel is in itself a form of Phariseeism or separating oneself for selfish pursuits. However, when one becomes set apart for Jesus and believes in Him, then this verse juxtaposes hope and joy eternal rather than a somber warning. 

Overflowing Hope

Romans 15:13 - "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

The fruit of an obedient life is love and peace. However, these are not to be wasted on ourselves. Neither is hope when it is "abounding". These expressions of God's goodness are to be lavishly and graciously bestowed on all those who are feeling hopeless. Life becomes a romance when we lovingly wait for Him to fill us with His presence every day. We would see much more abounding hope and the power of the Holy Spirit if there was such expectancy every day when we arise to meet a new day.

Do we believe Christ is the hope of salvation? Then may we stop at nothing to ensure others can draw from this treasure within us.

Staying Awake

Revelation 16:15 - “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”

Are we fully awake spiritually  Have we cried out for wisdom and the fear of the Lord so that the day of the Lord will not take us unawares? While this speaks of the second coming of the Lord within context, we can certainly understand how the Lord is telling us to seek Him now while He may be found. There is a day coming in which it will be too late. 

We must clothe ourselves with His righteousness and reject the rags of sin and folly. His coming is as certain as the words of John's prophecy. Whether the Lord tarries and we pass from this life to the next through death, or we see Him in the clouds, we must be ready. When He comes for us, either way, eternity will not give us a pass for further preparation.

The Cure for Self-Destruction

Psalm 107:20 - "He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."

When God sends His word, there is always life in it. Even when God tells us to be still and to wait on Him for the answer we can be assured that He will eventually be the bearer of life in our regard. If God tells us in the Proverbs that death and life are in the power of our tongues, how much more so when God speaks (Proverbs 18:21)?

The bottom line is this, beloved. We are either being delivered into destruction or out of it. We are either experiencing continual healing or we are not. Do we love the word of the Lord, or are we satisfied with our own attempts to deliver ourselves by our own knowledge? The latter is born out of pride where the former is birthed out of a surrendered, humble heart.

Desiring Nothing But Jesus!

Psalm 131:2 - "Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child within me."

The zenith of Christian maturity is when our souls are not continually wrestling with the Spirit of God within us for "more!" This is what a baby does, as they cry out when their needs aren't met. A weaned child, however, is content to rest against its mothers breasts without trying to suckle. There is a desire just to be with the mother for who she is.

Have we come to that place where we love not what God does for us but instead who He is? Beloved, God desires that our souls (our mind, emotion, and wills) be at rest with Him, trusting in His presence and not continually looking for His blessings. They will come, supernaturally, if we will but abide in Him.

The King's Kindness

II Samuel 9:7 - "David said to him, 'Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly.'”

Often, I have heard God's great gift of salvation referred to as "religion" and as a "crutch" for those too weak to stand on their own. Tragically, those who say such things are those who do not see they are dragging themselves through life, unable to stand as they imagine. When you know you are crippled and unable to walk, a crutch is a wonderful thing!

I shudder to consider our state if God had not sought us out in our lameness and restored to us a place of honor at his table. While we may feast on God's goodness here on earth, there will be a day when we will forever be at His great banquet table. There we will know that we were once crippled by sin and that our Great King redeemed us --- not on our own merits but through his love and kindness as our Creator.

Godly Provisions

Romans 13:14 - "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."

Making provision for our respective bodies is only natural. We provide it food, water, warmth, and the things needed for general health. However, spiritual conflict results when we make provision to selfishly overindulge in those things meant to give us life. Food is good when we use it to sustain a healthy life. When we abuse it, it becomes gluttony. Sex is a God-given joy given to mankind. However, outside of marriage between a man and a woman, it becomes perverse.

The Christian life is fundamentally simple. If we spend our time doing the "do's" then we won't have time to do the "don'ts". God is not trying to be mean and withhold any good thing from us. He merely wants us to be like Him, the Creator of His creation. Turning to Him will always starve the flesh and deny its provision.