by David Brenneman
"For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He watches all his paths." Proverbs 5:21.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
John 3:16-21.
We really do appreciate it when life certainly looks like God is watching over us and if we're being honest, we really don't like some of those times.
We sin, and in spite of our best efforts to call it something else, it's still sin and inevitably gnaws at us.
The reality of life is that there are indeed those around us every day who love the darkness rather than the Light of Jesus Christ. There's even Believers who love aspects of the darkness rather than the Light. Scripture say that it's a daily battle to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus. When Believers don't see the fight for what it is then they're willing participants of these things. They might even do as the world does and begin to redefine words in order to feel better about the sins that so easily entangle them.
Satan's schemes include redefining whatever he can of any and every single thing possible to weaken those in the faith as well as keep the rest from finding salvation in Christ Jesus.
We either are fighting the good fight as Paul wrote of or we aren't. In all cases, The Lord Jesus Christ sees it all, knows it all, and nothing escapes His notice.
He knows when we choose to do something else rather than spending time with Him.
He knows why we chose to do something else rather than spend time with Him.
Nothing escapes His notice.
We read the other day of a chief reason why the world hates Jesus is that He testifies that their deeds are evil. "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed."
My Dear Reader you always have it before you to do right by God's word or to go your own way. Scripture says of itself that the Word of God is able to know your reasoning.
"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Hebrews 4:12-13.
Before you rush out and jump into whatever is crossing your mind...stop.
We shouldn't just rush into thoughts and intentions without considering the consequences. There's a whole world out there that isn't and refuses to believe it's necessary.
To take every thought captive requires intentionality on our part.
Praying for help in this before we step out of bed, let alone before we get dressed, for the day. Until we get to Heavens gates, we shouldn't trust ourselves because we are at war with our inner man(or woman). As one put it, war is Hell. In physical war you cannot afford to let your guard down.
When we aren't focusing on our Great Shepherd's voice then we aren't listening for His instruction.
What are you avoiding by choosing your ways first? Might you be avoiding the truth that you're holding onto sins that the Spirit is really trying to get you to acknowledge and repent of?
Might you actually be taking what passions you have that belong to your relationship with Jesus and are in fact giving them to other people or things?
Are you wasting your money, time and energy on what is useless instead of investing in your new life in Christ?
The choices we make in this here this now, we will give an account of some day before Jesus and there will be no hiding from the truths of our intentions. He was with you throughout all your life and will already know why you did your own thing rather than what you could have done with Him. He will know why you did, at times, truly follow Him.
Look at the Gospels. Look at what the Disciples submitted to in following Jesus.
Jesus, at the Great Commission, told them to go, make more disciples, teaching them all that He commanded them. Teach them to be and to live as He taught them to be and had lived with Him.
In doing this they would indeed be lights in this world. They would indeed expose them.
"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. " Ephesians 5:6-17.
We should really be considering that we do not walk this world alone. Those saved by the blood of Jesus Christ always have Him with them. We shouldn't remain in the sins we have been forgiven of. We should seek out what the will of God is for us, which we read the other day as being our sanctification.
Ask Jesus what you need to change in your life. Ask Him where you're not truly living life in a God honoring way. Ask Him for help in becoming the Disciple of Christ that you're supposed to be. Give yourself less of a reason to be embarrassed, mortified, before Jesus on that day you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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