One Chair One Choice

One Chair One Choice 

Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. JAMES 4:4 

When Luciano Pavarotti was a boy, his father introduced him to the wonders of song. He urged Luciano to work very hard to develop his voice. Taking his father’s advice, Luciano because a pupil under Arrigo Pola, a professional tenor. He also enrolled in a teachers college. On graduating, he asked his father, “Shall I be a teacher or a singer?” His father replied, “If you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one chair.” Luciano chose one. After seven years of study, he made his first professional appearance. After another seven years, he reached the Metropolitan Opera. He went on to say, “Now I think whether it’s laying bricks, writing a book—whatever we choose—we should give ourselves to it. Commitment, that’s the key. Choose one chair.” In regard to your spiritual life, you must also make a choice. Will you serve God or the world? You cannot be faithful to both. For if you choose to be a friend of the world, you automatically become an enemy of God. There is no room for split alliances, no room for a divided heart. You must choose one chair.  - Dr. David Jeremiah Morning and Evening 

It's been a theme of sorts in a great many posts on here concerning the truth of God that you cannot serve two masters. This story drives it home a little bit better. 

There are some severely bad results when we struggle better two. 

We bring along some seriously negative nasty habits. 

Read Colossians 3, NASB: 

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.  But now you also, rid yourselves of all of them: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you stripped off the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free, but Christ is all, and in all.

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

When we attempt to live two lives, which is what trying to serve two masters is about, we introduce the things warned about in Colossians 3. We cannot seek things above when the other master demands our attention here. We tend to forget our identity in Christ. 

We start going down the path of sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed which amounts to idolatry.  We tend to have anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene speech.  Lying becomes easy.  

There's another analogy besides chairs. You cannot put on Christ and another coat too. You cannot navigate life trying to wear both.  You can also not wear a coat of this world and the full armor of God as shown in the book of Ephesians. 

If your passions are not kept in check you will easily be seen by the world as being no different than they. There will be nothing to show them of why they need salvation in Christ Jesus. 

If your anger is out there for the world to see then again you show not the Jesus who saved you but rather you show someone who is no different than them.

Using forgiveness as a get out of guilt free card just so that you can continue to try to live two lives is going to come back to bite you.  You cannot continue in intentional sin.  The Bible is pretty clear on that in Romans. 

You must choose. Joshua's famous quote isn't just for the nation of Israel. You must choose this day whom you will serve. There's but one throne to sit on in your life. Either Jesus sits there or you do. 

There is no other way to really live life than to live it the way God intended for you to live. 

God's Word. Scripture itself says by way of Jesus Christ Himself that not one jot or tittle would ever pass away of it. Every single part of it would be fulfilled. Every knee will bow, every single tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. Every single life will have its day before Jesus. All believers for the deeds done in the body. All unbelievers for their rejection of Christ Jesus for salvation. 

As believers we may not have lived very obedient lives up to this point in our lives, but we can choose from this day forward to live as we ought to be living. 

As unbelievers reading this. Many professing Christians might have given you the wrong idea about what coming to Christ is about. You might have been saying no to it because of that. Seek out others. Ask God to show you the truth. In regards to true salvation He will indeed answer your prayers. This world will always have several bad apples ruining the bushel. Satan can influence even Christians to compromise their lives. It's those not living in obedience that give many who are a bad name. 

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Matthew 6:24.

The footnote for the word wealth says this: Gr mamonas, for Aramaic mamon (mammon); i.e., wealth etc. personified as an object of worship. 

Wealth can be anything that positions itself in God's place in your heart and mind. 

We serve God for but one purpose. To continue what Jesus started. To seek and save the lost. He's returning soon. Will He find the believers in this world being about the Father's business or will He find people living for themselves?  

The choice is yours.