Study of the Bible will invariably challenge your emotions. Your emotions can often influence what you think about God. The Bible teaches us that our familiar ways are inherently evil and the way we see things will need to change if we are to obtain wisdom and ultimately, salvation. In spite of our perceived level of intelligence, education or heartfelt beliefs, we are in no way as wise as the word of God reveals. Heartiness and arrogance is the fastest way to condemnation. For example, the Bible says,
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).
This is exemplified when we diligently study and maintain a sense of “self-honesty” that God’s wisdom reveals to us throughout our lives. It is a life-long process.
One of the reasons and certainly not the only reason, that some people reject the biblical teaching of unconditional election is that it seems to be out of sync with what we feel. In some cases scriptures appear difficult or in conflict – like the compassion of God for people or the moral accountability of people before God. It seems to many that God can’t choose unconditionally to save some and not others and then also feel compassion for those he does not choose, yet hold them accountable for their sin. The fact of the matter is that in reality, God is isn’t doing the choosing, we are as individuals. He simply has provided the word so that we might voluntarily choose eternal life over death. God is pure love and just as you might punish the child you love, you still have compassion for them.
The problem here is that our intuition for what is right or possible for God does not fit Scripture. The danger of this ignorance is that we shape scripture to fit our feelings. This is most prevalent in those people who attend a church because of the way they feel or how they’ve come to understand scripture in a way that fits their lifestyle. They choose God on the condition of their ‘happy factor’ (so-to-speak). Subconsciously, the thought goes something like this:
“I want to serve God in every way I can as long as I can keep living with my girlfriend, having casual sex, doing drugs, maintain my social status, etc”. Or, “I will work for God as long as He works for me”.
These subconscious thoughts seem somewhat extreme but its exactly what is going on in the heads of the people who place conditions on serving God. Whether they would acknowledge it or not, anytime God is not first in our lives, he is second or something other than first. In some peoples lives, He doesn’t even make the list half the time. Yet these very conditions are what keeps us from ‘knowing’ God and His nature and receiving the full opportunity of His blessings.
Living a life in Christ is the most rewarding experience you could ever have. When unconditional surrender is achieved, It is filled with blessings beyond what you could ever expect or dream of on your own. It means living a life filled with confidence and joy knowing that you are totally loved in spite of your shortcomings. It means knowing where you will be when this vapor of an existence is over. When you think about it this way, then few things become important in this mortal life other than increasing your relationship with God. Love by fallible man is volatile, love by the infallible God is forever stable.
In spite of popular belief, living a life in Christ is not walking around destitute and looking miserable carrying your Bible pretending to be happy. Nor does it mean you have to stand on a corner preaching the end of the world to passersby in a vain attempt to prove your faith. It doesn’t mean you have to “catch the spirit” falling out in the floor like a fool or giving up your whole paycheck to the church. It doesn’t mean you have to live a wholly legalistic life full of church specified restrictions and around people who don’t really like you. Such things do not represent true Christian living.
This doesn’t mean there aren’t rules to follow or that you aren’t subject to being reprimanded by God for bad behavior after you’ve accepted Him and been in obedience. God knows you will not live a completely sinless life. He expects perseverence but His grace is not a license to sin or do as you please. God is more fair than most people are willing to accept. The scriptures is the rule book and the restrictions are only on things that you probably know you shouldn’t be doing anyway. Lying, cheating, stealing, slandering, murdering, fornicating and cursing among other things are obvious sins. Some sins are not so obvious but its amazing what you can learn about yourself from the study of God’s word and personal honesty on your part. It is a revitalizing experience once you overcome any apprehensions of your character. God knows your heart so you can’t fake it.
God asks that you worship Him on the first day of the week and tells you how to worship Him. He also asks that you not forsake the assembly with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. All this is for your benefit. There is nothing ‘legalistic’ about being a Christian but you must have the self-motivation to grow spiritually and build your relationship with God.
God wants to bless his children and desires for us to lead spirit filled, prosperous lives. It is not a sin to have wealth as a Christian provided your heart remains true to Him. He wants you to have the desires of your heart (providing your motives are correct). But to receive God’s blessings in this mortal life, you must first love Him totally and completely.
Mat. 22:37 Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
What this means is that you must change nearly every aspect of the way you think about this life and the things that you were taught to be important regarding it. Whatever it is that you think is important in this world is least important to God. Why? Because your sight should be set on that which is above and beyond and not on things of this world. He is all powerful and if you truly trust in Him, He’ll take care of whatever problems that trouble you in this short existence. God wants your complete and undivided attention, 100% of the time so that you can listen to what He wants of you. He will take care of the trifling issues you have such as paying your bills, getting the car fixed, and even recovering from your soon to be foreclosed home. To love God completely means to implicitly rely on Him for everything you need both small and large and to ‘trust’ in Him on all things mental, moral, physical and spiritual. This is usually no easy task since most Christians struggle with ‘control’ and wrestle with God over what they want or think should be done and in what time they want it done. But this is a little like being hungry and biting the hand that is feeding you because to you it seems that the spoon is not reaching the mouth fast enough.
We must also remember that it is not in our nature to do what is right. Paul speaks of our nature in Rom. 7:14-25 concerning the struggles between the flesh and the spirit and it manifests itself essentially in our struggles for earthly pleasures against matters spiritual and of God. Has it ever occurred to you that ‘sin’ is pleasurable? If it wasn’t, then you wouldn’t want to do it. Sin has to incite desires of our fleshly minds or it wouldn’t work. There isn’t a single person in this world who hasn’t had sinful desires and failed. The only person to ever walk this earth that didn’t was Jesus.
Suffice to say that if you are struggling between the flesh and the spirit, then it’s a clear sign that you are probably on the right track. Satan doesn’t bother you when he knows he has you. But as soon as you convert to a life in Christ, he increases his efforts to bring you back into darkness. This is especially so with newborn Christians who have not developed the spiritual strength to resist temptations. Think of a helpless newborn baby. Naked, hungry and crying for comfort. Spiritually, there is little difference. This is why it is critically important for new Christians to be nurtured in the word of God after being converted and for the rest of the body of Christ to support new converts with a fervent love. Eventually, Satan will give up the onslaught and wait for a weak moment and attempt to overthrow you again and again. After a while with growth in the spirit and diligence in prayer and study, you can see it coming and avoid sin more effectively.
Living a life in Christ means denying the desires of the flesh and the temporary pleasures of this world. It means enjoying a love shared with God and fellow brothers and sisters in the body of Christ, which is His church and forsaking the things of this world for the things above. Jesus said it best;
Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.
Mat 11:29-30 – “Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
