Michael continues: Genesis chapter 6 says that the Spirit of God will not always strive with man. He is the Creator and we are creatures of His creation. God has set up His Word as His righteous standard by which everything operates and is measured against. God is no respecter of persons, however, He is a respecter of His Word. His laws are intended to benefit and protect those who choose to enter into fellowship with Him, walking in His blessed will and way, and live under the canopy of His blessings; under the shadow of the Almighty; under the Banner of God.
However, when God’s people commit two evils by forsaking Him - the fountain of living waters (renouncing or turning away from entirely) and hewing out for themselves broken cisterns that can hold no water. Left to their own devices they will not break God’s law. They will break themselves upon the secure pillar and solid ground of the truth by leaving of the canopy of God’s protection.
Believers will be blessed when they witness the truth of the Word of God, for they taste and see the love of God; the truth manifest in the lives of Christians who speak and live the savor and salt of God’s truth. As the salt of the earth, we preach not ourselves, but the Good News of Jesus Christ and Him crucified for the sins of the world. Disciples of Christ fulfilling the Great Commission to reach the unsaved are the sweet smelling fragrance of salvation. But to those who do not believe, the followers of Christ do not bear the Good News of the Gospel for they choose to remain dead in their trespasses and sins. Jesus Himself states in John 3:19-20This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
To accept Jesus as Lord means to forsake the darkness of self-serving pride. This is the root of the problem with the rich young ruler In Matthew 19, Mark 10, and Luke 18, who approached Jesus and said, “Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life.” Jesus knew what was in the heart of man so he replied, “Why do you call me good? There is none good (in the flesh). Only God himself is good.” Jesus continued, “You know the law: Do not commit murder, do not steal, do not commit adultery, do not bear false witness, honor your father and your mother... in other words, love your neighbor as yourself.” The young ruler said filled with pride, “These things I have done since my youth.” Then Jesus said, “One thing you lack. Sell all your goods and give the proceeds to the poor. Then come and follow me.” The young man went away sorrowful, for he had great material wealth.
The rich young ruler may have kept part of the Ten Commandments, but he did not honor the first of the ten commandments ... Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. The gods he worshipped were his material possessions and his own self-serving pride. According to the Aramaic text, this verse says, “Thou shalt have no other gods between your face and my face.” He had the wrong gods that came between him and the one true God. The first and great commandment is to love God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength. When we do the first commandment, the other nine will fall in line. Why? Because in truly loving of God you naturally live by His holy and righteous Word, Will and Way and breaking God’s Moral Law is naturally repulsive sin to the redeemed child of God.
The problem with the church is nominal, fair-weather or casual Christians. A casual Christian follows Christ only when it’s convenient, easy, and without heartache, trials and tribulations. Casual Christians are casualties in the spiritual battle because one foot is always in the world. Jesus said you have to count the cost of following me. Jesus says in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” The last of the 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. Are you willing to go as far as being persecuted for your faith? Jesus said in John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. Remember, darkness hates the light.
There is a difference between a Jesus that is a Savior but not the Lord and Jesus Lord and Savior of all. A Jesus of our own devise is a broad way that leads to destruction. Jesus – the Son of God sent to saved the world and Lord of all is the narrow way through the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. The true Jesus says count the cost, take up your cross daily and follow me, but come on God’s terms. His terms are unilateral and non-negotiable according to the Word of God; obey no matter what, make decisions based on faith and look to the things of God for you are bound by the bond of love. You are servants of whom you obey, whether sin unto death or the Spirit of God unto eternal life.
The world wants you to be politically correct. Jesus wants you to be biblically correct. Truth is absolute. Jesus is my Lord, so our circumstances are working out for the good of the gospel. Therefore, be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The peace of God is not dependent on circumstance but upon the presence of Christ.
Jesus says study the Word of God for the renewing of your mind that you will be transformed that you may prove what is the good and perfect and acceptable will of God. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, be not deceived, bad company corrupts good morals. You’re most like those with whom you choose to associate. We are called to the church, the body of Christ, so that we can link together with likeminded men and women of God in the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Despite the brokenness of this fallen world, our hope is not in our nation but in the country of our new birth for we are born-again citizens of heaven.
God doesn’t call the qualified and equipped. He qualifies and equips the called. The qualification and the equipment is the power of the Holy Spirit. God did not call us to deliver the message, but to be the message and to be about our Father’s business. Our heavenly Father’s business is to be the salt of the earth and to be witnesses of the truth and the message of salvation, to reconcile people back to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This is our mission and our great commission: to go give ‘em Heaven that together we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace! Be the salt of the earth.
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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