Michael continues: The days of Noah were similar to America today. God said to Noah, warn the people of the coming flood; of God’s righteous judgement to come. Noah preached for over one hundred years as he built the ark. Even though God was providing a way of escape, no one believed Noah. The laws of man cannot save us from God’s righteous judgement. Salvation is on God’s terms, not man’s. No one can save themselves; we are hapless, hopeless, and helpless in our own power. But God in in His love, mercy, and grace provides a way of escape. Jesus said, Now is the acceptable year of the Lord. According to 2 Corinthians 2: 6, For he says, ‘In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (ESV)
The agenda of “self” is contrary to the agenda of Christ. Our natural default position (with the emphasis on fault) is to rely on ourselves for our own self-protection. However, Jesus’ message was contrary to the doctrine of self. He said, turn the other cheek when someone slaps you to disgrace you. He said, If man’s law requires that you carry a soldier’s pack one mile, then carry his pack two miles. The first mile is from obligation…. The second mile is from a heart of love. The last of Jesus’ beatitudes says, blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven. He also said, In this life, you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.
Christianity is a rescue effort for desperate men and women. When we finally reach the end of ourselves and realize that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing, then we can come to God with a broken and a contrite spirit. As Mother Theresa said, God works best with nothing. When we approach God’s throne of grace with empty hands, then he can fill us with his spirit. The faith and courage to stand is developed, exercised, and becomes second nature in the moment-by-moment decisions of everyday life. In these small every day victories, we can celebrate our victories in Christ. Then when we fall short and succumb to temptation, and break fellowship with God, we can return to God’s throne of grace with a heart of repentance (real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of his holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence. This is called evangelical repentance, and is accompanied and followed by amendment of life. Repentance is a change of mind, or a conversion from sin to God). For if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Courage is developed on the practice field, but practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. Perfection is not in our fallen flesh, perfection is in the Spirit of God in “Christ in us”, the hope of Glory. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ has set us free from the law of sin and death. Therefore, we look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down upon the right hand of the throne of grace. From God’s perspective, He will show us that the standard of His righteous Word will stand. Despite the darkness of this fallen world, Jesus said, bless them that persecute you, pray for them that despitefully use you. Therefore, our responsibility is our response to God’s ability. As the Apostle Paul said, be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Men and women of God are not known for their ability, but for their availability. You can fake caring but you cannot fake showing up. Availability means to avail ourselves of God’s ability. It’s important to surround ourselves with the fellowship of God’s people. According to Hebrews 10, provoke one another to love and good deeds. Forsaking not the assembly of yourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. For we are God’s workmanship, his work of art, his poetry in motion, his poem written not with ink but in the tables of our heart, created in Christ Jesus unto good works that He has before-ordained that we should walk according to his purpose that despite the darkness of this fallen world, we may live as living testimonies to the praise of the glory of His grace. This is the right perspective.
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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