Saturday, June 27, 2020

Everyone does it...doesn't make it right

“. . . but you must not go very far.” Exodus 8:28 

This is a cunning statement from the lips of the arch-tyrant Pharaoh. If the poor enslaved Israelites must leave Egypt to sacrifice to God, then he bargains with them not to go very far away—not too far for them to escape the terror of his army and the observation of his spies. In the same way, our world does not love the nonconformity or dissent of Christians; the world would not have us go too far. It calls us be more charitable, not to handle disputed matters with too heavy a hand. The Christian ideas of dying to the world and burial with Christ are things that carnal minds treat with ridicule—so the biblical teaching that sets them forth is almost universally neglected and even condemned. Worldly wisdom recommends the path of compromise and talks of “moderation.” According to this carnal policy, purity is agreed to be very desirable—but we are warned against being too picky. Truth may certainly be followed—but error is not to be severely denounced. “Yes,” says the world, “be spiritually minded by all means, but do not deny yourself some pleasurable society, an occasional party, or some of the world’s entertainment. What’s the good of avoiding something when it is so fashionable, and everybody does it?” Huge numbers of professing Christians have given in to this cunning advice—to their own eternal ruin. If we would follow the Lord completely, we must go right away into the wilderness of separation, leaving the Egypt of the carnal world behind. We must leave this world’s principles, its pleasures, and its religion too, going far away to the place where the Lord calls His sanctified ones. When the town is on fire, our house cannot be too far from the flames. When the plague is spreading, a person cannot be too far from its path. The further from a poisonous snake the better, and the further from worldly conformity the better, as well. To all true believers let the trumpet call sound: “Come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them” (2 Corinthians 6:17 NLT). - C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening 

Is there any aspect of striving for holiness in your life?  Are your words, your actions, a mix of compromises and self desires?  Are you going along on the bandwagon of others comments and beliefs yet haven't tried picking up your own shovel to dig deeper for the truths of God?

Quit looking down into the ground where others before you have dug. You, like they - should you be a Christian, were sent into the fields to work, not play Forman and look and rate others work or progress. 

What are YOU doing with the tools that God gave YOU to use in the soil of your life?  Hmm? Anything? Nothing? Now is the time to be truthful, while you are still breathing and can change something before you stand before Christ to explain why you didn't.  

Remember that story of the wise virgins and the foolish?  Both were to be ready for the call to come out.  What are you being wise with and what are you being foolish with?

This is at me as well as all of you. 

You are as easily deceived as I can be about the things the world has to offer. 

Seems as though God is showing us all just how much compromise has infiltrated our lives.  The erroneous statement of 'you shouldn't judge' now added to it 'everything in moderation'.  Woe to those who cause someone to stumble before God it says.  

Are your actions telling other believers or God forbid unbelievers that what you do is ok by God? That your language is acceptable? That your choice in entertainment is acceptable? That your idolizing sports figures or people in Hollywood is acceptable?  How is any of that considered holiness in God's eyes?

What are you actively doing to strive for holiness in the eyes of your Creator?

Job, in all that we read, doesn't know that what befell him wasn't at the direct hand of God.  It was permitted and was at the hands of Satan.  Yet as you read it, the only perception he had was that it was God doing it.  By now he knows the truth. 

You can go on about your quality of life or about your rights or lack thereof.  You can go on about your upbringing and continue to make excuses that you came from a divorced family or that abuse was part of it so you can't say much. WRONG.  When you come to Christ you are given a NEW life.  Old things passed away behold new have come.  You can, and I can,  come up with any excuse that fits the sin in our lives to justify its being there. Read that again.

You can, and I can, come up with any excuse that fits the sin in our lives to justify its being there.  

Because of this happening or that happening. Because of my Dad going through so many divorces so I guess I will be, the infamous 'must run in the family' excuse. The moderation excuse.  That you aren't hurting anybody so it's ok. It's just you. The excuses you come up with aren't even original!!  Mankind has been using them before God for centuries!!

Jesus came to give us life, but not just life, life more abundant.  We have to be the ones to let go of the chains HE BROKE that surround us. He broke them and removed us from them but we climb back in and still cry out for help. Because everyone does it it must be that way. 

Where are you at in your holiness before God?  It's a command you know.  Be holy as I am Holy.  Are you still excusing yourself or are you going to draw a line in the sand.  This far, no farther, today I turn around to go God's way. 

While you have a breath, you have a choice to make.  

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